Nissan North America, Inc. (7201T and NSANY ADR) is recalling 51 2026 model-year LEAF vehicles. The high voltage battery may have internal damage that can cause a short circuit within the lithium ion battery module.*
“Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures and should not charge their vehicles until the remedy is completed. Dealers will replace the battery modules or the battery, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed 17April 2026,” Nissan said in the mandatory Safety Defect filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this morning.
Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, not anticipated until July 2026. Owners may contact Nissan’s customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan’s number for this recall is R25F1. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall are searchable on NHTSA.gov. [NHTSA recall number 26V188 or 26V-188 – AutoCrat.]
*AutoInformed on
Chronology
- On 19 February 2026, a Nissan dealership in Osaka, Japan reported a thermal event (fire) had occurred on a model year 2026 Nissan LEAF vehicle. The report confirmed the affected LEAF vehicle was not charging at the time. The vehicle was turned off and parked outside. Nissan initiated an investigation along with the supplier. [Automotive Energy Supply Corporation in Japan – AutoCrat]
- February 2026 – Nissan reviewed telematics data from the subject vehicle and determined one battery module exhibited electrical characteristics that were outside the expected specification range. Nissan used telematics data to assess whether other MY2026 LEAF vehicles had similar battery data characteristics.
- On 2 March 2026, Nissan received a report of another thermal event that had occurred on a model year 2026 Nissan LEAF vehicle at a Nissan dealership within the U.S market. The vehicle was turned off, parked outside and not charging at the time. The dealer found evidence of thermal damage, and the vehicle was transported to Nissan Field Quality Center for investigation. Nissan identified the battery pack as the source for the thermal event and the battery was removed and sent to the supplier for further analysis.
- On 10 March 2026, as part of the investigation, Energy Supply Corporation in Japan identified damage to the battery cell cathode material may have occurred during the cathode preparation process. Specifically, after the cathode is cut to shape, a misalignment during transfer to a subsequent production step may allow the cathode to contact manufacturing equipment, which can result in a torn cathode edge. The supplier initiated manufacturing process improvements to prevent the subject condition. In addition, the end of line CDC inspection of electrical capacity was revised to ensure that battery characteristic changes are detected. Also, as part of the investigation, Energy Supply Corporation in Japan reviewed internal CDC inspection data records and provided the suspect Battery IDs that were found to have outlying electrical characteristics. Nissan has one-to-one traceability from Battery ID to VIN.
- On 17 March 2026, Nissan issued a stop shipment of potentially affected production vehicles and initiated a hold at the port as a preventative measure.
- On 24 March 2026, Nissan decided to conduct a Voluntary Safety Recall for all potentially affected LEAF vehicles to inspect the high voltage battery and replace affected modules.
Nissan has confirmed a total of two (2) thermal incidents related to recall. In Japan market, one (1) thermal incident occurred on 16 February 2026. In the U.S. market, one (1) thermal incident was reported on 2 March 2026. Nissan is not aware of any accident or injuries related to the subject condition.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Park Outside! Nissan Leaf Battery Fire Recall
Nissan North America, Inc. (7201T and NSANY ADR) is recalling 51 2026 model-year LEAF vehicles. The high voltage battery may have internal damage that can cause a short circuit within the lithium ion battery module.*
“Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures and should not charge their vehicles until the remedy is completed. Dealers will replace the battery modules or the battery, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed 17April 2026,” Nissan said in the mandatory Safety Defect filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this morning.
Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, not anticipated until July 2026. Owners may contact Nissan’s customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan’s number for this recall is R25F1. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall are searchable on NHTSA.gov. [NHTSA recall number 26V188 or 26V-188 – AutoCrat.]
*AutoInformed on
Chronology
Nissan has confirmed a total of two (2) thermal incidents related to recall. In Japan market, one (1) thermal incident occurred on 16 February 2026. In the U.S. market, one (1) thermal incident was reported on 2 March 2026. Nissan is not aware of any accident or injuries related to the subject condition.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.