Q: Delay in braking, computer doesn't recognize the brakes. 2011 Nissan Leaf

asked by on August 26, 2016

My car has a low mileage of about 45,000 miles. It has problems with the brakes. I went to the dealership due to this issue but they weren't able to find out what is wrong and fix it. When I drive and apply the brake, there is a bit of sliding to it and a delay in braking that last for about half a second. The computer doesn't seem to recognize that the brakes are applied and can't be started. I'm not sure what to do as this is a safety concern and they are stumped at the dealership. Do you have any idea what could be causing this?

Brake Pads Replacement $150.17 - $479.65 Get a Quote
Brake Rotor/Disc Replacement $258.18 - $1079.18 Get a Quote
Brake fluid is leaking Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

Hello there, this is a very unusual issue with the 2011 Nissan Leaf. The Leaf uses electronically controlled hydraulic brakes. What this means is that the brake pedal, booster, and ABS is all electric. A few different faults could cause the brakes to not grip well. The most likely would be a failed booster, brake pads are low, glazed rotors, pedal sensor or brake fluid leak. This vehicle should not be driven until the brake fault has been resolved. I recommend having a qualified technician, like one from YourMechanic, diagnose your braking system in order to have this correctly addressed.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

How should my tires be rotated?
Tire rotation is an important maintenance step. It helps to ensure that all four tires wear evenly. It should be done at roughly every other oil change, although your frequency may vary. You also need to follow a specific pattern....
Car overheating and shutting off
Hi. An engine that is not able to keep itself cool is at serious risk of significant damage. There is a good chance that the head gasket has been damaged as a result of overheating and should be replaced along...
Creaking noise from the rear struts
You should have the suspension checked to make sure the noise is something that is not broken and is still safe to drive until you can get the part replaced. This way you are being safe.
If the Cadillac converter is bad will it cause the transmission to act up
Hello. A failed catalytic converter (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/catalytic-converter-replacement) will cause symptoms within the engine that can then effect the transmission. Unfortunately the symptoms it causes tend to be related to shifting issues. As far as the jolt you felt, it would only...
Stalling at low speeds and idle.
You may have a dirty or failing idle air control valve. The idle air control valve reads the air intake as it is mixed with fuel prior to being injected into the engine at low speeds and at idle. Since...
While driving at a speed of 40 mph all at a sudden the car speed dropped to 10 mph and stopped with solid check engine light
Hello. Warning lights accompanied with stalling can be caused by many things. If the oil is low I would go ahead and top it off to prevent the possibility of engine damage, however, it is unlikely that low oil is...
Rough idle and engine stalls out.
A rough idle may be caused by many different things such as low fuel pressure, low voltage to the fuel injectors, dirty fuel injectors, a vacuum leak, a faulty Oxygen sensor or a dirty or failing idle air control valve....
RPM not increasing Yanmar 6LY2A -STP
Hi there - there are a couple of possibilities here for the "won't get to engine max revs" condition. This engine has a governor, set at 3,000, and a malfunction of the governor could be limiting RPM. It's also possible...
Engine light on
Check engine lights are just an indication to the operator that there has been a failure in the system and the computer will store a failure code for the failure. The problem you are having may be a misfire in...

Related articles

A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Nissan Juke
The The 2012 Nissan Juke is part crossover, part sports car, and part radical looking car. It has five doors, folding rear seats, and a rear hatch for easy access to the cargo area. The seats fold flat offering extra...
How Long Does a Brake Booster Vacuum Pump Last?
The The hydraulic braking system on your car is very complicated. Without all of the various components of this braking system working together, it will be very hard for you to retain the stopping power of your car. The brake...
How to Respond When Your Brake Warning Light Is On
Safe operation of your car relies heavily on your brakes working properly every time you need them. When you experience a Brake...