Consumer: Nissan LEAF Most Reliable Car (of 69 models from 23 brands).

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Consumer: Nissan LEAF Most Reliable Car (of 69 models from 23 brands).

Linuxluver

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Topic # 224192 7-Nov-2017 07:29

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The November 2017 issue of Consumer magazine rates the Nissan LEAF as the most reliable car in NZ of 23 brands and 69 models, with a 97% satisfaction rating.

That would certainly match my own experience. No issues at all in 17 months of driving a LEAF. Just keep the windscreen wiper fluid topped up and the tyres good.

Plus I don't buy any petrol and it costs about $2 / day to run in electricity charging at home. I've had it serviced by Manakau Nissan out of curiosity rather than need.....and they haven't found any issues. I did buy two new tyres after driving 40,000km in 9 months....

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Reply # 1896561 7-Nov-2017 08:34

Interested to know what the 4% major problems were? (not interested enough to buy the article).

BTW same experience after >2 years with our Mazda and after ~7 years with our Pajero (which works hard at times).

Zero minor issues, zero major issues.

Mike

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Reply # 1896587 7-Nov-2017 09:33

MikeAqua:

Interested to know what the 4% major problems were? (not interested enough to buy the article).

BTW same experience after >2 years with our Mazda and after ~7 years with our Pajero (which works hard at times).

Zero minor issues, zero major issues.

I see a huge issue: CO2 emissions. :-)

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surfisup1000

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Reply # 1896590 7-Nov-2017 09:36

Linuxluver:

MikeAqua:

Interested to know what the 4% major problems were? (not interested enough to buy the article).

BTW same experience after >2 years with our Mazda and after ~7 years with our Pajero (which works hard at times).

Zero minor issues, zero major issues.

I see a huge issue: CO2 emissions. :-)

But wrong? Around 80% of our electricity production is renewable.

MikeAqua

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Reply # 1896675 7-Nov-2017 10:57

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Linuxluver:

MikeAqua:

Interested to know what the 4% major problems were? (not interested enough to buy the article).

BTW same experience after >2 years with our Mazda and after ~7 years with our Pajero (which works hard at times).

Zero minor issues, zero major issues.

I see a huge issue: CO2 emissions. :-)

Not really a reliability issue though is it. The vehicles are expected to emit CO2, so are functioning at specification.

In fact if they were not emitting some C02, something would be wrong.

Mike

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Reply # 1896699 7-Nov-2017 11:24

Linuxluver:

The November 2017 issue of Consumer magazine rates the Nissan LEAF as the most reliable car in NZ of 23 brands and 69 models, with a 97% satisfaction rating.

My concern with this rating is that the survey will have to work very hard to filter out 2 rather large biases

The small number of Leaf owners, and The (relatively) small distances these cars are driven,

I am fairly sure if you surveyed other small cars and only asked about those that got used mainly around town they too would have few issues,

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Reply # 1896704 7-Nov-2017 11:31

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wellygary:

Linuxluver:

The November 2017 issue of Consumer magazine rates the Nissan LEAF as the most reliable car in NZ of 23 brands and 69 models, with a 97% satisfaction rating.

My concern with this rating is that the survey will have to work very hard to filter out 2 rather large biases

The small number of Leaf owners, and The (relatively) small distances these cars are driven,

I am fairly sure if you surveyed other small cars and only asked about those that got used mainly around town they too would have few issues,

A third source of bias would be Leaf owners' evangelical enthusiasm for their planet-saving vehicles

Mike

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Reply # 1896809 7-Nov-2017 13:33

MikeAqua:

Linuxluver:

MikeAqua:

Interested to know what the 4% major problems were? (not interested enough to buy the article).

BTW same experience after >2 years with our Mazda and after ~7 years with our Pajero (which works hard at times).

Zero minor issues, zero major issues.

I see a huge issue: CO2 emissions. :-)

Not really a reliability issue though is it. The vehicles are expected to emit CO2, so are functioning at specification.

In fact if they were not emitting some C02, something would be wrong.

The other big part of the survey is owner satisfaction. Anything that emits CO2 is a fail there for a growing number of people.

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WyleECoyoteNZ

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Reply # 1896821 7-Nov-2017 13:48

MikeAqua:

wellygary:

Linuxluver:

The November 2017 issue of Consumer magazine rates the Nissan LEAF as the most reliable car in NZ of 23 brands and 69 models, with a 97% satisfaction rating.

My concern with this rating is that the survey will have to work very hard to filter out 2 rather large biases

The small number of Leaf owners, and The (relatively) small distances these cars are driven,

I am fairly sure if you surveyed other small cars and only asked about those that got used mainly around town they too would have few issues,

A third source of bias would be Leaf owners' evangelical enthusiasm for their planet-saving vehicles

Also seems a little biased comparing an electric vehicle with very few moving parts, to that of an ICE with a more complex engine\gearbox etc.

It's a bit like comparing a handsaw to a chainsaw

graemeh

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Reply # 1896833 7-Nov-2017 14:02

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WyleECoyoteNZ:

MikeAqua:

wellygary:

Linuxluver:

The November 2017 issue of Consumer magazine rates the Nissan LEAF as the most reliable car in NZ of 23 brands and 69 models, with a 97% satisfaction rating.

My concern with this rating is that the survey will have to work very hard to filter out 2 rather large biases

The small number of Leaf owners, and The (relatively) small distances these cars are driven,

I am fairly sure if you surveyed other small cars and only asked about those that got used mainly around town they too would have few issues,

A third source of bias would be Leaf owners' evangelical enthusiasm for their planet-saving vehicles

Also seems a little biased comparing an electric vehicle with very few moving parts, to that of an ICE with a more complex engine\gearbox etc.

It's a bit like comparing a handsaw to a chainsaw

More like comparing a battery powered chainsaw to a petrol powered chainsaw.

Linuxluver

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Reply # 1896941 7-Nov-2017 16:13

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WyleECoyoteNZ:

Also seems a little biased comparing an electric vehicle with very few moving parts, to that of an ICE with a more complex engine\gearbox etc.

It's a bit like comparing a handsaw to a chainsaw

I'm not seeing the bias.

They asked people who own cars to answer some questions about how many problems they have had, how serious they were....and to describe how satisfied they were with the car from several perspectives.

Everyone got the same questions.

One of the cars was very reliable and its owners were very happy.

That's not "bias".....that's just how it is.

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Scott3

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Reply # 1897165 7-Nov-2017 21:07

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MikeAqua:

Interested to know what the 4% major problems were? (not interested enough to buy the article).

The leaf has a few known issues. Not sure what is classified as major.

Suspension struts need covering or they will rust
12v battery management is very poor. Float voltage is set very low (for efficiency), which leads to the battery not being properly charged. Weak 12v battery causes a wide variety of other issues that are had to diagnose. Also if you go away for a couple of weeks, and leave the car plugged in (without the timer set), the car will run it's 12v battery flat. Is fine if you leave it unplugged, or set a daily charge timer.
Some cars have had individual cell's in battery packs die.
Some of the aftermarket charge cords supplies by dealer are prone to failure.
Gen1 leaf charge cords (EVSE'S) from japan have an internal component that fails when used with NZ power, unless that component is swapped out (they are only rated for 200V, NZ uses 230V).

I think one New Zealander has an an coolant pump needing replaced.

As most people on here will know, the biggest issue with the leaf is that Nissan didn't provide active battery cooling on the leaf, unlike pretty much every other electric vehicle on the market. This leads to accelerated battery degradation. This loss of range happens slowly, partially in repetitively cool NZ.

MikeAqua:

A third source of bias would be Leaf owners' evangelical enthusiasm for their planet-saving vehicles

I think this may have played a substantial part, the link to the survey was shared on the EV owner Facebook page, and I suspect many responded with high owners satisfaction scores (to be fair they do really love their leafs, and are very satisified).

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Reply # 1897200 7-Nov-2017 21:58

kingdragonfly

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Reply # 1897257 8-Nov-2017 07:12

I guess everyone knows that Japan gives a NZ $6800 subsidy toward the purchase of a new Leaf.

It makes it hard for Nissan dealers to compete against the Japanese used Leaf market.

Linuxluver

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Reply # 1897306 8-Nov-2017 08:31

Batman:

Top Gear are notoriously anti-EV to the point of lying. They had written the negative script about a Tesla before they even received the car for testing. Elon Musk outed them on that one.

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tripper1000

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Reply # 1897433 8-Nov-2017 11:10

WyleECoyoteNZ: Also seems a little biased comparing an electric vehicle with very few moving parts, to that of an ICE with a more complex engine\gearbox etc.

It's a bit like comparing a handsaw to a chainsaw

I think you've missed the point of a reliability survey - they are biased towards reliability - not complexity!!!

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