Nissan Leaf recalls & complaint record (MY 2017–2026)

By Ivan H., EVCostIQ · reviewed against our public methodology · every source dated on this page

As of July 10, 2026, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) lists 13 recall campaigns and 528 consumer complaints for the Nissan Leaf (MY 2017–2026). The most-reported complaint areas are Electrical System, Fuel/Propulsion System, Service Brakes. Every recall is a free remedy — an open recall is repaired at no cost — so a recall adds nothing to what the Leaf costs to own. One campaign carries an NHTSA “park outside” advisory — see the timeline below.

Every Nissan Leaf recall campaign, by year

All 13 NHTSA recall campaigns on file for the Leaf (MY 2017–2026), newest first. A recall is a free remedy — the manufacturer repairs the defect at no cost. Source: NHTSA (nhtsa.gov), data as of July 10, 2026.

2026 — 2 campaigns

Seat Belts26V425000 · July 2, 2026 · about 3,788 vehicles
Risk: An improperly secured child restraint system may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear outboard seat belt assemblies, free of charge.
Electrical System26V188000 · March 26, 2026 · about 51 vehicles
Risk: A short circuit in a high voltage battery module increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures and should not charge their vehicles until the remedy is completed.
Park outside, away from structures, until repaired — NHTSA “Park Outside” advisory.

2025 — 1 campaign

Electrical System25V655000 · October 1, 2025 · about 19,077 vehicles
Risk: A quick charging battery that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to use Level 3 quick charging until the remedy is completed.

2024 — 2 campaigns

Electrical System24V700000 · September 20, 2024 · about 25,704 vehicles
Risk: A quick charging battery that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will update the battery software, free of charge.
Back Over Prevention24V071000 · February 2, 2024 · about 57,914 vehicles
Risk: A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary.

2023 — 4 campaigns

Vehicle Speed Control23V494000 · July 17, 2023 · about 66,159 vehicles
Risk: Unintentional acceleration can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the vehicle control module (VCM), free of charge.
Service Brakes23V362000 · May 22, 2023 · about 758 vehicles
Risk: A brake fluid leak can reduce braking performance and extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the right-hand brake tube, as necessary, free of charge.
Equipment23V296000 · April 26, 2023 · about 94,343 vehicles
Risk: Reduced defroster performance can limit visibility out of the windshield, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will mail an addendum with updated instructions on how to operate the defroster, free of charge.
Equipment23V048000 · February 2, 2023 · about 64,732 vehicles
Risk: Reduced defroster performance can limit visibility out of the windshield, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will mail an addendum with updated instructions on how to operate the defroster, free of charge.

2020 — 2 campaigns

Visibility20V570000 · September 22, 2020 · about 150 vehicles
Risk: Rear window glass that separates from the vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the back window glass, free of charge.
Back Over Prevention20V412000 · July 17, 2020 · about 6,157 vehicles
Risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the back-up camera software, free of charge.

2019 — 1 campaign

Back Over Prevention19V654000 · September 12, 2019 · about 1,228,830 vehicles
Risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge.

2017 — 1 campaign

Air Bags17V253000 · April 13, 2017 · about 30,038 vehicles
Risk: In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag doesn't deploy properly, it can increase the risk of injury to passengers.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge.

Where the Leaf’s recalls and complaints cluster

Recalls by component (13 campaigns total): Electrical System (3), Back Over Prevention (3), Equipment (2), Seat Belts (1), Vehicle Speed Control (1), Service Brakes (1), Visibility (1), Air Bags (1).

Complaints by reported area (528 total; a single complaint can cite more than one area): Electrical System (335), Fuel/Propulsion System (84), Service Brakes (31), Power Train (30), Engine (27), Forward Collision Avoidance (26).

Recall counts are NHTSA campaign records; complaint counts are consumer reports. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA.

Crash, fire, injury and death reports

Across those consumer complaints, NHTSA’s records for the Leaf (MY 2017–2026) include 16 crash reports, 6 fire reports, 9 injury reports and 0 reports of a death. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA.

Do recalls affect what the Leaf costs to own?

No direct cost. A recall is a free remedy: the manufacturer must repair the defect at no charge, so an open or completed recall adds nothing to the 5-year cost of ownership.
Resale is the one caveat. An unrepaired recall can make a used Leaf harder to sell or trade in — a buyer or dealer may want it fixed first — but the fix itself is still free, and completing it removes that friction.
How our totals treat it. Our 5-year cost-of-ownership totals use market-level depreciation estimates; they are not adjusted per recall campaign. See the honest 5-year cost to own: Nissan Leaf SV+ cost to own →.

Recalls & complaints — FAQ

How many recalls does the Nissan Leaf have?

As of July 10, 2026, NHTSA lists 13 recall campaigns for the Nissan Leaf (MY 2017–2026). Each is a free remedy — the manufacturer repairs the defect at no cost. The full dated campaign list is above.

What is the most serious Leaf recall?

Among the most serious is campaign 26V188000 (March 26, 2026, Electrical System): A short circuit in a high voltage battery module increases the risk of a fire. NHTSA advised parking outside and away from structures until the free repair is done.

How do I check if my Leaf has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s free recall lookup, nhtsa.gov/recalls. It shows any open (unrepaired) recall for your exact vehicle, and recall repairs are always free at a franchised dealer.

Do recalls make the Leaf cheaper or more expensive to own?

Neither, directly — recall repairs are free, so they add nothing to the cost of ownership. An unrepaired recall can make a used one harder to resell, but our 5-year cost totals use market-level depreciation and are not adjusted per campaign. See the Leaf cost to own.

About this data

All powertrains and trims. Figures cover all powertrains and trims sold under the Leaf nameplate for the model years shown (MY 2017–2026).
A recall is a free fix. A recall means the manufacturer must remedy a safety defect free of charge; it is not the same as a breakdown or a repair bill.
Complaints are unverified. Consumer complaints are unverified reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA — a signal of what owners report, not confirmed defects.

Source: NHTSA (nhtsa.gov), data as of July 10, 2026.