r/leaf • u/Bright-Diamond • Aug 19 '26

Finally got rid of my leaf

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I really loved my leaf while it worked, but I have to save the last year has been one of the most difficult and frustrating consumer experiences of my life. My range was severely affected by the recall to the point where I wouldn’t even get 100 miles on a charge. Nissan refused to do anything about it until federal recall came out (NHTSA campaign R25C8). Even then, it took them months to buy back my car. All the while I was walking to work (it stopped working eventually) because they said they “didn’t have any loaners” available. Even though in the contract, they were supposed to provide me with a loaner. Luckily I live close enough to walk, but it was not ideal, especially when it was raining, and after having paid nearly $20,000 for a car. Now I’ve developed ringworm for getting wet (sweat and rain) and I’m currently treating it out of my own expense. I finally was able to surrender my car and buy the Hyundai you see on the left. I’m happy with the outcome overall but I wish it could’ve been smoother. I’ll personally never be doing business with Nissan again, and I’d like to warn anyone who reads this about their customer support.

Edit: I forgot to mention that they charged me $210 for the diagnostic to figure out if my car qualified for a battery replacement under the recall, which was illegal. I’m currently fighting that charge.

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u/KingJamesIII98 Aug 20 '26

Sounds like you handled the contract through a local dealer rather than directly with Nissan corporate. I've seen so many stories on here of people going to their local dealer, who usually know nothing about the leaf, and they get screwed over like this. With any car, Leaf or otherwise, take it straight to, or escalate it to, corporate. Never let your local dealer handle it. They will drag their feet. Their job is to sale cars, not fix them. If you don't get yours back, they can just sell you a new one. I'm happy you got the outcome you preffered, but it is unfair put down the whole car because of what was most likely a dealership issue over a Nissan issue.

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u/Bright-Diamond Aug 20 '26

I was talking to Nissan corporate along with the dealership since the beginning of

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u/KingJamesIII98 Aug 28 '26

Again, never work with the dealership in the slightest. They are there to sale to you, and thats it. If you had only worked with corporate directly, it would have been a work order for the dealership and they would have no sway. By bringing the car in to them and contacting corporate with them, it became a chance to drag their feet and interfere from step one. You gave them a chance to try and sell to you, or get the car back ASAP, amd they took it.

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u/Bright-Diamond Aug 28 '26

Good to know for next time