2013 Nissan Leaf Electronic Stability Control Esc Service Brakes Problems
2 owner-reported electronic stability control esc service brakes complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Owner Complaints (2)
SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND AS I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE FORWARD, SEVERAL WARNING INDICATORS PERTAINING TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM ILLUMINATED AND THE NORMAL BRAKE PEDAL NO LONGER APPEARED TO FUNCTION UPON BEING DEPRESSED. THE CAR WAS ABLE TO BE BROUGHT TO A STOP WITH THE USE OF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE FAILURE OF THE MAIN BRAKES COULD HAVE EASILY LEAD TO A CRASH.
THE LEAF WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET IN "B" DRIVE MODE. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP FROM AROUND 45 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME VERY FIRM, AND THE CAR DID NOT SLOW. I RELEASED THE BRAKE AND DEPRESSED IT AGAIN. THIS TIME THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT BRAKE TRAVEL AND THE BRAKES ENGAGED WITH A MECHANICAL MOANING SOUND. THE CAR SKIDDED TO A STOP AS ABS CEASED FUNCTIONING. I PARKED THE CAR AND TOOK A PHOTO OF THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS. SIMILAR SYMPTOMS OCCURS 5 DAYS PRIO, RESTARTING THE CAR RETURNED IT TO NORMAL OPERATION BOTH TIMES. THE WEATHER WAS ABOUT 65 DEGREES F AND DRY DURING ONE OCCURRENCE. A SIMILAR TEMPERATURE ON A MORNING FOLLOWING A RAINY NIGHT IS WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE SECOND TIME. THE CAR NEARLY ENTERED AN INTERSECTION ON A RED LIGHT. THIS PROBLEM LOOKED AND SOUNDED LIKE THE VIDEOS POSTED ON YOUTUBE IN VERY.COLD CLIMATES IN WHICH THE LEAF BRAKING SYSTEMS FAILED WITH THE EXCEPTION THAT THIS WAS IN MILD WEATHER. THIS CAR HAS RECEIVED THE BRAKE MODULE FIRMWARE UPDATE FROM NISSAN PRIOR TO THESE INCIDENTS.