Nissan LEAF Battery Recall Defect Estimate Rises to 10 Percent (And will probably go higher!)
What’s the Problem
Nissan has significantly revised its assessment of a battery defect affecting certain 2021 and 2022 Nissan LEAF vehicles. In an April 29, 2026 amendment filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Nissan increased the estimated percentage of recalled vehicles that may actually contain the defect to 10 percent.
The recall covers approximately 19,077 vehicles, including 6,545 model year 2021 LEAFs and 12,532 model year 2022 LEAFs equipped with a Level 3 quick-charging port.
At 10 percent, Nissan’s estimate suggests that approximately 1,900 of the recalled 2021–2022 vehicles may contain the defect. That calculation does not mean every affected vehicle will experience a fire or become disabled, but it represents a substantial increase from the one-percent estimate stated in Nissan’s earlier recall filing.
The defect involves excessive lithium deposits forming inside the high-voltage battery cells. Nissan states that those deposits can increase electrical resistance and cause fluctuations in the battery’s state of charge.
During Level 3 quick charging through the LEAF’s CHAdeMO port, the increased resistance can cause the battery to heat rapidly. If charging continues, a battery fire may occur and increase the risk of injury.
The latest amendment is significant because this is no longer simply a precautionary recall involving a theoretical risk. Nissan now reports ten confirmed thermal incidents associated with the condition. Eight involved model year 2021 LEAFs, while two involved model year 2022 LEAFs. Nissan states that it is not aware of any injuries related to the defect.
Allegations
LEAF owners have raised concerns that Nissan’s recall remedy relies first on software to detect a dangerous battery condition rather than physically replacing every potentially defective battery.
The final remedy calls for dealers to reprogram the Lithium Battery Controller and Vehicle Control Module. The new programming is intended to identify abnormal state-of-charge fluctuations and improve the warning messages displayed to the driver.
The software may reduce the risk of an undetected thermal event, but it does not remove excessive lithium deposits already present inside a battery cell. Instead, it is designed to identify the condition through vehicle monitoring.
If the specified battery diagnostic trouble code appears, the vehicle may require a complete high-voltage battery replacement. If the code does not appear after the required drive cycle and diagnostic inspection, the dealer will recharge and return the vehicle. Nissan states that the owner may then resume Level 3 quick charging.
The practical concern is that the diagnostic process may identify the battery problem only after the vehicle has already been placed back into service with the updated software.
During Nissan’s earlier focus-group testing, the software was designed to display a “Service EV System Power reduced” message and prevent the vehicle from recharging or restarting when an abnormal fluctuation was detected.
Although preventing the vehicle from charging or restarting may help prevent a thermal event, it can also leave the owner with an unusable vehicle while Nissan attempts to locate a replacement battery.
Recall / TSB
The campaign is identified as NHTSA Recall 25V-655 and Nissan Campaign R25C8. It applies to certain 2021–2022 Nissan LEAF vehicles manufactured at Nissan’s Smyrna plant between November 3, 2020 and May 23, 2022.
The affected vehicles are equipped with a quick-charging port that permits Level 3 charging through a CHAdeMO connector.
Certain model year 2019 and 2020 Nissan LEAF vehicles are covered by the related Recall 24V-700. That earlier recall involves approximately 23,887 vehicles and substantially the same battery condition.
Nissan began sending interim notices in October 2025 instructing affected owners not to use Level 3 quick charging until the recall remedy was completed. Nissan sent a second interim notice on March 31, 2026, again warning owners about the risk associated with Level 3 charging.
On April 14, 2026, Nissan decided to launch the final remedy for affected 2021–2022 LEAF vehicles. Dealers were scheduled to receive notice of the final remedy on May 15, 2026, with phased owner notifications beginning May 20, 2026.
Under the final remedy, the dealer will reprogram the Lithium Battery Controller and Vehicle Control Module. The dealer will then perform a drive cycle and check the vehicle for a specified EV battery diagnostic trouble code.
If no code is detected, the dealer will fully recharge the battery and return the vehicle to the customer. Nissan estimates that the programming and diagnostic process should take approximately two hours, followed by the time necessary to recharge the battery to 100 percent.
If the specified battery code is detected, Nissan instructs the dealer to replace the high-voltage battery with a new one if a replacement battery is available.
The most important new language concerns what happens when a replacement battery is not available. Nissan states that it will initiate a repurchase offer within three business days and provide the customer with a complimentary rental vehicle for a limited period.
This does not mean that every recalled LEAF automatically qualifies for a repurchase. Nissan’s stated process applies when the relevant battery code is detected and a replacement battery is unavailable.
Nevertheless, the language is important for owners whose vehicles have been diagnosed with battery failure and who are facing an indefinite wait for a replacement battery.
Symptoms
According to the recall documents, there may be no warning before rapid battery heating or a fire during Level 3 charging.
After the recall software is installed, an affected owner may see a “Service EV System Power reduced” warning if the monitoring system detects an abnormal state-of-charge fluctuation. The vehicle may also refuse to recharge or restart.
Other warning signs that should be promptly documented include a sudden loss of propulsion power, entry into reduced-power or limp mode, unusual changes in the displayed state of charge, charging that stops unexpectedly, an EV system warning, or a dealer-confirmed high-voltage battery diagnostic code.
Not every charging problem establishes that the vehicle contains the recalled defect. However, repeated battery and charging complaints should not be dismissed, particularly when they begin or become more severe after recall software work.
Owners should also distinguish ordinary battery-capacity degradation from the safety defect identified in the recall.
This recall concerns excessive lithium deposits, increased electrical resistance, abnormal state-of-charge fluctuations, rapid heating, and the possibility of a battery fire during Level 3 charging. A dealer should identify and document its diagnostic findings rather than treating every battery-related complaint as normal EV battery aging.
Morley Buyback Offers and KBB Plus 40 Percent
Some Nissan LEAF owners are contacted through Morley and receive a voluntary repurchase proposal described as Kelley Blue Book value plus 40 percent.
That formula may initially sound generous, particularly when compared with the vehicle’s present trade-in value. However, it is not necessarily the same as a statutory repurchase under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act.
A KBB-plus-40-percent offer begins with the LEAF’s current market value after several years of depreciation. A statutory lemon-law repurchase, when available, generally begins with the amounts paid or payable under the original purchase or lease, subject to lawful deductions such as the mileage offset.
Depending on the circumstances, a statutory repurchase may also include certain incidental damages and other recoverable amounts. Because the two formulas begin with different values, a voluntary offer can be materially lower than a potential statutory repurchase even after 40 percent is added to the vehicle’s current KBB value.
Owners should obtain the complete written Morley calculation and compare it with any potential legal recovery before signing a release.
Eligibility for a Song-Beverly repurchase is fact-specific. Used-vehicle claims can be more complicated following the California Supreme Court’s Rodriguez decision. The vehicle’s purchase circumstances, warranty history, repair opportunities, mileage, and time out of service may all affect the legal analysis.
A safety recall or battery diagnosis can be important evidence, but it does not automatically establish every element of a California lemon-law claim.
How to Proceed
Confirm whether your VIN is included in Nissan Campaign R25C8 or the related campaign covering certain 2019–2020 LEAF vehicles.
Follow Nissan’s charging instructions and schedule the final recall remedy if it has not already been completed.
Keep copies of recall notices, repair orders, battery test results, warning-message photographs, towing records, rental records, and communications with Nissan, Morley, and the dealership.
If the software update triggers an EV battery code, ask the dealership to identify the code in writing and state whether a replacement battery is available.
If Nissan offers a battery replacement or repurchase, request the complete proposal and calculation before signing a release.
Speak with a California lemon-law attorney about how the recall, repair history, warranty status, purchase history, and any Morley offer apply to your particular vehicle.
Call Valero Law
The latest filing gives Nissan LEAF owners important new information. Nissan now estimates that 10 percent of the recalled 2021–2022 vehicles may contain the battery defect, has confirmed ten thermal incidents, and recognizes that some vehicles may require complete battery replacement.
The filing also establishes a repurchase process when the specified battery defect is detected and a replacement battery is unavailable.
If your Nissan LEAF has lost power, entered limp mode, displayed an EV system warning, failed to recharge or restart, or remained at the dealership while waiting for a high-voltage battery, Contact Valero Law.
We can review the vehicle’s repair history, warranty documents, recall work, and any Nissan or Morley offer and explain how the available options compare under California law.