- Vehicles
- Cars
Power limitation indicator
Nissan LEAF power limitation indicator: traction power reduced
Risk level
High
Professional inspection is recommended.
Urgency
High
Quick answer
On a Nissan LEAF, the power limitation indicator means less power reaches the traction motor and the car responds less to the accelerator. Very low charge, a cold battery or a hot system can cause it. If you cannot keep a safe speed, pull to the side of the road in a safe area.
Safety first
Stop and check this first
- Nissan warns that the reduced speed may be lower than other traffic and increase the chance of a collision: if you cannot keep a safe speed, pull to the side of the road in a safe area.
Safe checks you can perform
- Keeping a safe speed
- Low charge, cold or heat
- Whether the indicator turns off afterwards
Leave these tasks to a qualified professional
- Do not attempt this professional task: Battery state-of-health report for the power limitation indicator
- Do not attempt this professional task: Check the electric system cooling
- Do not attempt this professional task: Stored codes behind the power limitation indicator
What a technician must be able to justify
Technician visit
These are the steps they must carry out and show you. Tick them as they work: if steps are skipped, do not accept a part swap.
These are not instructions for opening or handling the equipment yourself. They are the checks that should support a technical conclusion.
Battery state-of-health report for the power limitation indicator
What they doThe workshop pulls the high-voltage battery report with Nissan's tool: estimated state of health (SOH), module voltages and the temperatures logged when the power limitation indicator appeared.
They must show youthe battery state-of-health report with the date it was read.
In writingthe state of health read, whether any module is outside what Nissan accepts and whether the proposed repair falls under the battery warranty.
Check the electric system cooling
What they doIf heat is the reason, the workshop checks motor, inverter and battery temperatures in live data and the cooling system operation during a test.
They must show youthe temperatures logged during the test against Nissan's specification.
In writingwhether the cooling system works correctly or what was repaired, with the part reference.
Stored codes behind the power limitation indicator
What they doAt a workshop with EV-trained technicians, they connect a Nissan-capable diagnostic tool and read the stored and pending codes from the Li-ion battery, inverter, traction motor and cooling system, with the time and conditions in which the power limitation indicator was logged, before clearing anything.
They must show youthe code list with status, read while the power limitation indicator is active or freshly logged.
In writingthe codes read, the system they point to and which test confirms the fault before any part is replaced for the power limitation indicator.
Before accepting a part or repair
Nothing has been shown yet. Do not accept a part swap based on the code alone.
Follow these steps
Note: Follow the documented order. An error code identifies the affected system, but it does not prove by itself which part has failed.
Keeping a safe speed
- Who:
- you, driving.
- How:
- see whether you can keep up with traffic with the reduced power.
- Result that matters:
- whether your speed is lower than other traffic.
- If you cannot keep a safe speed:
- Nissan says to pull to the side of the road in a safe area; the chance of a collision rises.
- If you can continue safely:
- drive very carefully to a place where you can charge or let the battery cool.
- Evidence to keep:
- time and place where it came on.
Evidence: Nissan LEAF 2023 owner's manual: power limitation indicator light
Low charge, cold or heat
- Who:
- you, with the car stopped.
- How:
- check the battery charge, whether it is very cold outside, or whether you have been climbing hills continuously.
- Result that matters:
- which condition matches.
- If charge is very low:
- charge the Li-ion battery as soon as possible.
- If it is cold or the system is hot:
- move to a warmer place, or continue at a slower speed or stop safely to let it cool.
- Evidence to keep:
- photo of charge level and outside temperature.
Evidence: Nissan LEAF 2023 owner's manual: power limitation indicator light
Whether the indicator turns off afterwards
- Who:
- you, after charging, warming or cooling the car.
- How:
- check whether the indicator turns off once the cause is corrected.
- Result that matters:
- whether it turns off.
- If it does not turn off:
- Nissan says to contact a knowledgeable LEAF repairer; there may be a system malfunction.
- If it turns off:
- it was a charge or temperature limit; to reduce it Nissan advises charging more often in smaller amounts and keeping a higher charge level.
- Evidence to keep:
- note of whether it turned off and after what action.
Evidence: Nissan LEAF 2023 owner's manual: power limitation indicator light
Still not solved
If the error persists, stop here. See what the technician must do and show you.
Where this code applies
A code is meaningful only inside the right product and version context.
Primary scope
- System
- Vehicles
- Brand
- Nissan
- Product type
- Cars
Known code variants
- Aviso de limitación de potencia
- Indicador de limitación de potencia
- LEAF reduced power
- limitación de potencia calor
- limitación de potencia carga baja
- limitación de potencia frío
- Nissan LEAF tortuga
- Nissan LEAF turtle light
- power limitation cold
- power limitation hot
- Power limitation indicator light
- Power limitation warning
What it means
Nissan lights this indicator when the Li-ion battery available charge is extremely low, when the battery temperature is very low, when the electric vehicle system (motor, inverter, coolant system or battery) is hot, or when the system has a malfunction. A warning appears on the Vehicle Information Display. If it lights in other situations or does not turn off, there may be a malfunction, but the indicator alone does not identify which part.
Warnings and stop conditions
- Highsource verified
Nissan warns that the reduced speed may be lower than other traffic and increase the chance of a collision: if you cannot keep a safe speed, pull to the side of the road in a safe area.
Evidence: Nissan LEAF 2023 owner's manual: power limitation indicator light
Symptoms and causes
Probable causes · in order
- Extremely low battery chargeCommon
Recognised because it matches the low battery charge warning light and little remaining range.
Evidence: Nissan LEAF 2023 owner's manual: power limitation indicator light
- Very cold Li-ion batteryPossible
Appears in very low outside temperatures; the battery temperature may rise when it is being charged.
Evidence: Nissan LEAF 2023 owner's manual: power limitation indicator light
- Hot electric vehicle systemPossible
Motor, inverter, coolant system or battery hot, for example after continuous hill climbing.
Evidence: Nissan LEAF 2023 owner's manual: power limitation indicator light
- Electric vehicle system malfunctionPossible
If it lights in another situation or does not turn off, Nissan says there may be a system malfunction.
Evidence: Nissan LEAF 2023 owner's manual: power limitation indicator light
Virtual technician
Does Power limitation indicator still appear after these checks?
Answer a few questions to narrow down the likely cause and the safest next action. Guidance only - it never replaces a professional.
Sources and technical references
- 1
Nissan LEAF 2023 owner's manual: power limitation indicator light
Nissan UK · 2023 · manual
- 2
Nissan LEAF 2023 manual del propietario: indicador de limitación de potencia
Nissan España · 2023 · manual
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