12-volt battery charge warning light

Your Nissan Leaf utilizes a sophisticated DC/DC converter system, which is responsible for stepping down the high-voltage energy from the 400-volt Li-ion main battery to effectively maintain and charge the vehicle's standard 12-volt battery.

Under normal operating conditions, this warning light will illuminate briefly as a bulb check when the power switch is first turned to the ON position. It should automatically extinguish once the power switch is transitioned to the "READY to drive" position, indicating the charging system is operating correctly.

If this warning light illuminates while you are operating your Nissan Leaf, an audible chime will sound, and the following secondary warnings will typically appear to alert the driver:

• Master warning light (red)
• EV system warning light

Additionally, specific instructional messages will flash on your vehicle information display. If the car is currently in motion, you will see "Stop the vehicle," and if the car is stationary, you will see "When parked apply parking brake." Should these indicators appear, you must immediately bring your Nissan Leaf to a safe stop, engage the parking brake, and press the P (Park) button on the shift lever to secure the vehicle. Once the parking brake is set or the vehicle is confirmed to be in P (Park), the chime will cease. Please arrange for a professional inspection of the system, preferably by visiting a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer.

CAUTION

• If the 12-volt battery charge warning light remains illuminated while the vehicle is in the "READY to drive" position, it indicates that the DC/DC converter system may be malfunctioning. For your safety, stop the vehicle at the first available safe location and seek professional diagnostic assistance from a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer.
• Do not attempt to charge the 12-volt battery externally while this warning light is active, as doing so could potentially damage the DC/DC converter system. Continued operation under these conditions may exacerbate the issue, so please have the system inspected by a qualified technician at a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer as soon as possible.

NOTE:

• If your Nissan Leaf fails to transition to the "READY to drive" mode after you push the power switch and depress the brake pedal, you may need to perform a jump-start to initialize the system. Please refer to the "Jump starting" section of your owner's manual for the correct procedure.
• Avoid attempting a jump-start and instead contact a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer for an inspection if the following conditions are observed:
  • If the 12-volt charge warning light turns off after the vehicle enters "READY to drive" mode, the battery may simply be severely discharged, or there may be an intermittent fault within the 12-volt charging circuitry.
  • If the 12-volt charge warning light persists even after the Nissan Leaf is in "READY to drive" mode, it is highly likely that there is a failure within the DC/DC converter. In this scenario, professional service at a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer is necessary to resolve the fault.

or Brake warning light

When you transition the power switch to the ON or "READY to drive" position, the brake warning light will illuminate for several seconds as part of the system's automatic self-test. If this light activates at any other time during your drive, it serves as a critical notification that the hydraulic brake system of your Nissan Leaf may not be functioning according to specifications.

Should the BRAKE warning light illuminate while you are operating the vehicle, you must bring your Nissan Leaf to a safe stop immediately and arrange for a professional inspection of the braking system. We strongly recommend visiting a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer for specialized service and diagnostics.

Parking brake indicator

When the power switch is in the ON position, this indicator will illuminate whenever the manual parking brake is engaged, providing clear confirmation that the vehicle is secured.

Low brake fluid warning light

If the power switch is in the ON position, this light serves as a vital alert regarding the brake fluid level. If this specific warning activates, it is frequently accompanied by the illumination of both the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) warning light and the yellow brake system warning light.

If this warning light activates while your Nissan Leaf is in the "READY to drive" position and the parking brake is verified to be disengaged, stop the vehicle immediately and perform the following diagnostic steps:

1. Carefully inspect the brake fluid reservoir. If the level is low, replenish it with the manufacturer-recommended fluid and have the system thoroughly checked for leaks or faults by a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer. For more details on the correct procedures and specifications, please refer to the "Brake fluid" section of your owner's manual.

2. If your inspection confirms that the brake fluid level is already within the correct operating range, the issue likely resides within the monitoring system itself. Please have the warning system inspected by a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer as soon as possible.

WARNING

• Your vehicle's braking performance may be severely compromised if this warning light remains active. Operating the vehicle in this condition is hazardous. If you determine the system is unsafe, do not continue driving; have your Nissan Leaf towed to the nearest service facility. If you choose to drive, do so with extreme caution and at reduced speeds to reach the nearest repair center.
• Attempting to operate the brake pedal while the power switch is not in the ON or "READY to drive" position, or when brake fluid levels are critically low, will likely result in increased stopping distances. Furthermore, you will notice that the pedal feels different, requiring significantly more force and longer travel to achieve the desired deceleration.
• Under no circumstances should you continue to operate your Nissan Leaf if the brake fluid level is observed to be at or below the minimum (MIN) graduation mark on the reservoir. The vehicle must be serviced by a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer before further use.

Electric shift control system warning light

This warning light alerts you to a potential malfunction within the electronic shift control system of your Nissan Leaf. If this light activates in conjunction with the master warning light, an audible chime will sound, and the prompt "When parked apply parking brake" will be displayed on the vehicle information screen to ensure the vehicle remains stationary.

Please note that if you attempt to turn the power switch to the OFF position while this fault is present, the chime will sound continuously as a reminder to ensure the parking brake is firmly applied.

If this system warning light remains on, have the vehicle inspected immediately. It is recommended to contact a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer to perform the necessary system diagnostics and repairs.

or Electronic parking brake indicator light (if so equipped)

When you transition the power switch into the ON position, this indicator light will illuminate whenever the electronic parking brake system is currently engaged, ensuring you have clear visual confirmation that your Nissan Leaf is secured.

Master warning light

The master warning system in your Nissan Leaf is designed to be highly visible, featuring two distinct color-coded alerts: yellow and red. These lights function as a central notification hub, illuminating whenever any specific system warning or indicator light is triggered, or when important vehicle status messages are generated on the primary information display.

Specifically, this master warning light activates whenever a red-level alert is triggered within the vehicle information display, signaling that an urgent condition requires the driver’s immediate attention.

Seat belt warning light

To prioritize safety, both a visual light and an audible chime are utilized to remind you and your front passenger to fasten your seat belts before your Nissan Leaf begins its journey.

For added protection, the rear seating positions may also be equipped with an integrated seat belt reminder system to ensure all occupants are properly secured.

Security indicator light

This light serves as a deterrent and status indicator, blinking steadily whenever the power switch is in the ACC, OFF, or LOCK positions. This behavior confirms that the sophisticated security system built into your Nissan Leaf is active and monitoring the vehicle.

In the unlikely event that a technical fault occurs within the security system, this light will remain continuously illuminated while the power switch is in the ON position, indicating that professional diagnostics may be required.

Supplemental air bag warning light

When you first turn the power switch to the ON position, the supplemental air bag warning light will briefly illuminate as a system check. Under normal operating conditions, it will extinguish after approximately 7 seconds, confirming that the supplemental front air bag, side air bag, curtain side-impact air bag, and seat belt pretensioner systems are all fully operational and ready to respond.

If any of the following anomalies occur, it indicates that your supplemental restraint systems require professional servicing, and you must transport your Nissan Leaf to your nearest NISSAN certified LEAF dealer for immediate attention:

• The supplemental air bag warning light remains illuminated for longer than the standard 7-second initialization period.
• The warning light begins to flash intermittently while driving or while the power switch is ON.
• The light fails to illuminate entirely when the power switch is initially turned to the ON position.

It is vital that these components remain in perfect working order; unless they are inspected and repaired, the Supplemental Restraint Systems and seat belt pretensioners may fail to function correctly in the event of a collision.

WARNING

If the supplemental air bag warning light remains lit, it strongly suggests that the front air bag, side air bag, curtain air bag, or pretensioner systems may not deploy as intended during an accident. To protect yourself and your passengers, do not ignore this signal. You should have your vehicle inspected by a qualified professional at a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer as soon as possible to ensure your safety systems are fully restored to operational status.