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2011 Nissan Leaf

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2011 Leaf.

Body PASSENGER CAREngine Electric

The 2011 Nissan Leaf is a compact passenger car powered by a dedicated electric drivetrain, a hallmark of Nissan’s early foray into zero‑emission vehicles. With a modest yet reliable electric engine and no recalls reported for the model year, the Leaf offers a dependable daily commute, though its 95 total owner complaints—primarily concerning air‑bag issues—highlight the most frequent pain points for that cohort. Compared to the broader model history, the 2011 Leaf sits on the lower end of the complaint spectrum, well below the 2019 peak of 251 complaints, suggesting a comparatively robust reliability record for early‑stage EVs.

Model year2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2018 2017 2011

Quick specs

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

Lug nut torque72-87 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

Tail / brake / turnSIDEOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Front wiper blades	288903NA1B alt 288903NA0C
Cabin air filter	272771FC0A

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

Independent published road-test results.

9.4–10.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.40 sec — 2011 SL Hatchback

107 hpHorsepower (as tested)

207 lb-ftTorque (as tested)

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2011	SL Hatchback Elec 80-kW 24-kWh	9.40 sec	17.20 sec	107 hp	FWD
2011	SL Hatchback Elec 80-kW 24-kWh	9.70 sec	17.30 sec	107 hp	FWD
2011	SL Hatchback Elec 80-kW 24-kWh	10.00 sec	17.60 sec	107 hp	FWD
2011	SL Hatchback Elec 80-kW 24-kWh	10.00 sec	17.60 sec	107 hp	FWD
2012	SL Hatchback Elec 80-kW 24-kWh	9.60 sec	17.30 sec	107 hp	FWD
2013	SL Hatchback Elec 80-kW 24-kWh	10.20 sec	17.70 sec	107 hp	FWD
2016	SL Hatchback Elec 80-kW 30-kWh	10.40 sec	17.90 sec	107 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

Torque lug nuts to 72-87 ft-lbs.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	Nissan CVT fluid NS-2
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	8.6
Automatic Transmission Fluid	Nissan Matic-S
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	1.3
Power Steering Fluid	EPS

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	72-87 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	133-136 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	.90 lbs
Oil Type	ND-11 or equivalent.
Oil Capacity	5.10 oz

Service checks

Radiator Cap Pressure Relief

Radiator leak pressure testing, 5 psi.

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	32 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	62 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0006 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.04 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.63 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	0.63 in
Rotor Minimum Machining	0.551 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the coolant at 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 30,000 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 mi	Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect)
At 30,000 mi	Hybrid Inverter (drain, flush & refill coolant)
Every 30,000 mi	Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Drive Axle Assembly (inspect) · Exterior Lighting (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap O-Ring (inspect) · Headlamp (inspect alignment)
At 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)
At 125,000 mi	Hybrid Inverter (drain, flush & refill coolant)
At 200,000 mi	Hybrid 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 2011 model year represents the first significant volume rollout for the Leaf, with complaints surging to 95 from just 1 in 2010, accompanied by 130 TSBs and the generation’s first three federal investigations, though notably zero recalls. While 2011 shows higher complaint volume than the subsequent 2012 model year (57 complaints), it precedes the severe spike to 251 complaints seen by 2019 and the introduction of safety recalls starting in 2013. The data positions 2011 as an early phase in the generational arc with elevated technical service bulletins—more than quadrupling the prior year’s 28—reflecting 28 air bag and 18 electrical system complaints, yet without the recall exposure that characterizes 2013-2020 model years. Given the absence of recalls, moderate complaint levels relative to the generation’s later peaks, and zero fire-related complaints, the 2011 Leaf emerges as a relatively stable entry point within this first-generation lineup, provided buyers verify that the documented air bag and electrical system concerns have been addressed per the available technical service bulletins.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

130

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

5 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

’10’11’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’25

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 95 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags28

Electrical System18

Service Brakes14

Air Bags,Seats7

Service Brakes, Hydraulic4

Vehicle Speed Control3

Unknown Or Other2

Electrical System,Fuel/Propulsion System2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 130 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
NTB09-131C	2026-04-13	Structure	CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision…
NTB09-131C	2026-04-13	Structure	CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision…
NTB13-107G	2024-05-20	Electrical System	VEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been…
NTB13-027D	2024-05-20	Electrical System	CAN COMMUNICATION – NETWORK DIAGNOSTIC FLOW CHART This bulletin has been amended. See…
NTB10-066C	2024-05-20	Electrical System	CAN COMMUNICATION CODES – DIAGNOSTIC TIPS AND GUIDELINES This bulletin has been amended…

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.

Front wiper blades 288903NA1B Cabin air filter 272771FC0A

Reference guides

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

Vehicle recalls & TSBs Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

Does the 2011 Leaf have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.