NissanLeaf2020Electric/nissan/leaf/2020/electric/

2020 Nissan Leaf

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2020 Leaf.

Engine Electric

The 2020 Nissan Leaf Electric is an all‑electric model that continues the Leaf line’s zero‑emission trajectory. It has accumulated 158 owner complaints, with the electrical system as the most frequent issue and six recall actions recorded, placing its complaint level between the single complaint recorded in 2010 and the 251 complaints peak of 2019 across the 2010‑2025 span. Consequently, the 2020 Leaf exhibits a moderate reliability footprint within the model’s two‑decade record.

Model year202520242023202220212020201820172016

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque83 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

Tail / brake / turnSIDEOEM · verified
Tire sizeP205/55R16 89HOEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Front wiper blades288903NF2B alt 288903NF2A
Cabin air filter278919AE0A

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length176.4 in
Overall width70.5 in
Overall height61.4 in
Wheelbase106.3 in
Curb weight3439 lb
Track (front / rear)60.6 / 61 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)58/42

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

No 2020 road test on record; the results below are same-engine tests from nearby model years, each shown under its own year.

6.4–7.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.40 sec — 2019 SV Plus Hatchback
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2019SV Plus Hatchback Elec 160-kW 62-kWh6.40 sec15.10 sec214 hpFWD
2019SL Plus Hatchback Elec 160-kW 62-kWh6.50 sec15.10 sec214 hpFWD
2019SL Plus Hatchback Elec 160-kW 62-kWh6.50 sec15.20 sec214 hpFWD
2019SV Plus Hatchback Elec 160-kW 62-kWh6.80 sec15.40 sec214 hpFWD
2019SL Plus Hatchback Elec 160-kW 62-kWh7.10 sec15.70 sec214 hpFWD
2021SL Plus Hatchback Elec 160-kW 62-kWh6.70 sec15.40 sec214 hpFWD
2018SV Hatchback Elec 110-kW 40-kWh7.40 sec15.80 sec147 hpFWD
2018SL Hatchback Elec 110-kW 40-kWh7.50 sec15.80 sec147 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

Torque lug nuts to 83 ft-lbs.

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts83 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Oil GroupPOE
Oil Type80

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the coolant at 125,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 125,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect)
Every 22,500 miKeyless Entry Remote Battery (replace)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Drive Axle Assembly (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap O-Ring (inspect) · Steering Gear Box Assembly (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect)
At 125,000 miHybrid Inverter (drain, flush & refill coolant)
At 200,000 miHybrid Inverter (drain, flush & refill coolant)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2020 Nissan Leaf sits within a broader trend that peaked in 2019 with 251 complaints and 5 recalls, then declined to 158 complaints and 6 recalls in 2020. Compared to the 2018 baseline of 64 complaints and 4 recalls, the 2020 model shows a moderate rise in complaints—primarily driven by electrical system issues (82 complaints) and fuel/propulsion system concerns (11 complaints)—yet the recall count remains relatively stable. The single crash complaint and zero fire complaints in 2020 suggest that safety‑related incidents were minimal that year. Overall, 2020 represents a transitional year where complaint levels are higher than the preceding two years but lower than the 2019 spike, indicating that while the vehicle is not free of issues, the severity and frequency of recalls are comparable to earlier models. For a buyer, 2020 is a reasonable choice if they can accept the higher electrical complaint rate, but they should verify that any known electrical defects have been addressed by prior owners or dealers.

6
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
92
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
158
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 158 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System82
Electrical System,Fuel/Propulsion System13
Fuel/Propulsion System11
Unknown Or Other10
Electrical System,Engine4
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other4
Power Train4
Forward Collision Avoidance2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

20V412000Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: CameraReported 17/07/2020

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 LEAF electric vehicles. Under certain circumstances, the images for the back-up camera can disappear while in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply… Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the back-up camera software, free of charge. This recall began August 31, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at…

20V570000Visibility:Glass, Side/RearReported 22/09/2020

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Altima, Maxima and Leaf vehicles. The rear window glass may not remain properly secured to the vehicle. Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the back window glass, free of charge. The recall began November 4, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 92 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
Lithium - ion Battery2026-06-02Fuel/Propulsion System*****Dealer Announcement***** Nissan is committed to delivering the highest levels of…
NTB09-131C2026-04-13StructureCERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision…
NTB09-131C2026-04-13StructureCERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision…
NTB15-049CC2026-03-30Electrical SystemTELEMATICS SERVICE INFORMATION HINT: This bulletin applies to vehicles equipped with a 4G…
NTB19-042F2025-02-20Electrical SystemAUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING WARNING LIGHT BLINKING APPLIED SYSTEMS: Vehicles equipped…

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Leaf. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2020 Leaf have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.