Nissan Leaf 2nd gen (ZE1) Problems, Recalls & Lemon Law

backup camera blank; screen goes black in reverse; rearview camera distorted

Recall 19V654000 covers 2018–2019 Leaf vehicles where a software fault causes the backup camera display to go blank while the vehicle is in reverse — a direct violation of FMVSS 111 and a documented safety hazard for pedestrians and cyclists. Under Song-Beverly, a recall-backed FMVSS violation is strong evidence that a nonconformity existed at the time of sale. If your dealer performed the recall software update but the camera still blanks intermittently, each recurrence is a new repair attempt that counts toward the statutory threshold.

Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200.

backup camera blank; screen goes black in reverse; rearview camera distorted

Recall 20V412000 targets 2020 Leaf vehicles with a separate software root cause that causes the backup camera image to disappear in reverse. The recall began August 2020; if your vehicle was repaired under this recall and the camera later blanked again, that recurring failure is a distinct service event that adds to your repair-attempt count under Song-Beverly. California owners should request a printout of all ECU software version logs from the dealer to document pre- and post-recall firmware states.

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the back-up camera software, free of charge. This recall began August 31, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.

warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair

Recall 20V570000 covers 2020 Leaf vehicles where the rear window glass may detach from the vehicle — a structural failure that creates ejection risk for rear occupants and road-hazard risk for following vehicles. Because this defect was present at the time of manufacture, Song-Beverly's warranty nonconformity analysis applies from delivery. If your vehicle has exhibited rear glass movement, creaking, or seal degradation since the recall repair, document those visits separately as they may constitute evidence of an incomplete or ineffective remedy.

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the back window glass, free of charge. The recall began November 4, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC752.

warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair

Recall 23V048000 addresses incorrect defroster operating instructions in the owner's manual — an unusual recall that does not fix hardware but instead mails a corrective addendum. Under Song-Beverly, this recall type is evidence that Nissan acknowledged a safety-standard compliance deficiency for 2018–2023 Leaf defroster operation. If your vehicle's defroster continues to perform below specifications after following both the original and corrected instructions, the underlying hardware deficiency may constitute a separate nonconformity supporting a warranty claim.

Nissan will mail an addendum with updated instructions on how to operate the defroster, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 1, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R22C5.

brake pedal problem; reduced braking; unexpected braking; brake warning light

Recall 23V362000 addresses 2023 Leaf vehicles where production damage to the right-hand brake tube can cause corrosion, a hole in the brake line, and brake fluid loss — a direct brake failure risk. This is among the most serious defect types under Song-Beverly: brake failure is categorically a safety nonconformity, and any dealer visit prompted by brake pedal feel, brake warning lights, or fluid leakage before or after the recall repair should be captured in writing. If the recall repair did not fully restore brake performance, each subsequent brake complaint is an additional repair attempt.

Dealers will inspect and replace the right-hand brake tube, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 7, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC976.

warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair

Recall 23V494000 (Nissan R23A6) covers 2018–2023 Leaf vehicles that may accelerate unintentionally when the driving mode is changed after disengaging cruise control — a defect that has caused at least two documented collisions in the NHTSA complaint database. Under Song-Beverly, an unintended-acceleration recall is presumptive evidence of a safety nonconformity at the time of sale. California owners should verify their VIN was included in the recall scope and that the VCM reprogramming was completed; if the vehicle exhibited any surge or unintended acceleration event before or after the recall remedy, those events are independent grounds for a lemon-law evaluation.

Dealers will reprogram the vehicle control module (VCM), free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 30, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23A6.

backup camera blank; screen goes black in reverse; rearview camera distorted

Recall 24V071000 is the third separate rearview camera recall for the Leaf platform — this one addressing physical camera harness damage causing distortion or image loss, distinct from the software-only fixes in 19V654 and 20V412. Three overlapping recalls for the same system is significant evidence of a systemic design deficiency. If your 2018–2022 Leaf has been to the dealer for camera issues under any of these three campaigns, the total repair-attempt count across all three may collectively satisfy Song-Beverly's threshold even if no single recall had four visits.

Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 9, 2024. Owners

EV warning message; reduced power; charging fault; battery recall; fire risk warning

Recall 24V700000 (R24B2/P4A38/P5A22) identifies a fire risk during Level 3 DC fast charging in 2019–2020 Leaf vehicles — excessive lithium deposits in battery cells increase resistance and can cause thermal runaway. Nissan instructed owners to indefinitely stop DC fast charging pending a remedy; as of mid-2026 many vehicles remain unrepaired. Under Song-Beverly, a vehicle that cannot be used as advertised — specifically a BEV marketed with CHAdeMO DC fast charging — while the manufacturer has failed to provide a timely remedy, may support a claim for breach of the implied warranty of merchantability in addition to the express warranty lemon-law claim. The unusual duration of the open recall (18+ months without remedy) is itself relevant to the 'reasonable time to repair' analysis under the statute.

Dealers will update the battery software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed June 3, 2026. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are R24B2, P4A38, and P5A22.

EV warning message; reduced power; charging fault; battery recall; fire risk warning

Recall 25V655000 (R25C8) is the companion campaign to 24V700 for 2021–2022 Leaf vehicles — the same battery cell lithium-deposition defect causing thermal runaway risk during Level 3 DC fast charging. Two complaints to NHTSA documented actual battery fires in 2021 Leaf vehicles (ODI numbers on file). California owners whose vehicles remain unrepaired under this recall should note: if Nissan has exceeded a reasonable time to repair (courts have found 30 days out-of-service as a benchmark), the Song-Beverly Act allows owners to seek a buyback or replacement without waiting indefinitely. Restricting a BEV from its core charging feature for months is strong evidence of substantial impairment.

Owners are advised not to use Level 3 quick charging until the remedy is completed. Dealers will update the battery software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed June 16, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's Customer Service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R25C8. Vehicle Ide

e-Pedal fails to slow vehicle when foot lifted; car coasts unexpectedly; no blue regenerative braking bars on dash; vehicle does not hold on incline in e-Pedal mode; regen engages inconsistently at low speed; sudden coast-through at intersection

e-Pedal regen failure is a safety-relevant powertrain defect: California courts have held that braking-system defects — including regenerative braking used as the primary deceleration method in one-pedal-drive mode — constitute a nonconformity under Song-Beverly. Because the Leaf is specifically marketed with e-Pedal as a primary driving feature, repeated dealer visits that clear codes without fixing the root condition, or a VCM update that does not resolve the symptom, are the pattern that triggers the reasonable-number-of-attempts threshold. Document each visit with the symptom in writing on the repair order.

VCM software update (applied under recall R23A6 for mode-change variant). For broader regen-fail pattern, dealers typically update ECU firmware; if symptom persists, Nissan has replaced the inverter/motor controller assembly under powertrain warranty.

12V warning light at highway speed; 'Service EV System No Power' message; vehicle shifts to neutral unexpectedly; complete loss of motive power while driving; car will not restart; all dash lights illuminate simultaneously; vehicle stranded

Sudden loss of motive power on a public road is a safety defect under Song-Beverly — the statute does not require a collision to have occurred. If the 12V or DC-DC failure occurs within the powertrain warranty period (5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper or 8-year/100,000-mile EV components) and the dealer cannot replicate or permanently fix the condition after multiple attempts, California's reasonable-number-of-attempts presumption (4 repair attempts for the same defect, or 30+ days out of service in the first 18 months/18,000 miles) may be triggered. Owners should capture the 12V fault codes and any tow receipts as contemporaneous evidence.

12V auxiliary battery replacement (typically $200–$400 out of pocket after powertrain warranty expires). If DC-DC converter has failed, dealer replaces converter assembly under HV powertrain warranty while in-warranty. After warranty, converter replacement is $1,500–$3,000.

touchscreen completely unresponsive; infotainment locked and cannot be reset by power cycle; NissanConnect app cannot connect to vehicle; scheduled charging fails; remote cabin pre-conditioning unavailable; SIM card removal required to restore screen; range estimate stuck or inaccurate

California Song-Beverly covers defects in any component of the vehicle, not just the drivetrain. If the NissanConnect EV freeze disables safety-adjacent features — scheduled charging, remote diagnostics, or range display — and the dealer has been unable to permanently fix the condition after multiple repair attempts, it qualifies as a nonconformity. The infotainment system's role in managing EV charging windows and remote climate (battery pre-conditioning) elevates it beyond a mere annoyance.

Dealer reflashes head unit and TCU firmware. Nissan has issued multiple software updates to the NissanConnect stack; owners should verify their head unit is on the latest software version. Symptoms may recur after subsequent OTA updates.

automatic emergency braking activates without obstruction; ProPILOT accelerates toward stopped large truck or bus ahead; sudden violent braking on highway with no traffic present; AEB warning light flashes; ProPILOT disables itself mid-use; cruise control surges when lead vehicle changes lanes; forward collision warning without cause in cold or rainy conditions

Phantom braking and ACC phantom acceleration are active safety system failures that create collision risk. Under Song-Beverly, an ADAS defect that causes or risks a collision is a safety nonconformity, not merely a cosmetic or convenience defect. California owners who have experienced at least two separate phantom-braking or phantom-acceleration events and have documented dealer visits should gather all repair orders and dashcam footage before consulting counsel. A single confirmed dealer finding ('unable to duplicate') after a genuine incident does not preclude a claim if the condition recurs.

ADAS camera and radar module calibration update at dealer. In some cases dealer replaces the forward camera module. Nissan has not issued a mandatory recall for this defect pattern, though NHTSA has received repeated complaints.

range significantly below EPA estimate; state of charge drops suddenly at highway speed; battery percentage fluctuates erratically; turtle mode activated unexpectedly; battery capacity bars (leaf bar gauge) reduced; reduced range in warm climates; battery health percentage below 80% before 5 years or 60,000 miles; multiple battery cells diagnosed as degraded

Battery capacity loss that renders the vehicle unsuitable for its intended purpose can constitute a nonconformity under Song-Beverly even without a formal recall. If a Leaf's real-world range falls so far below the EPA-rated 150/212 miles (40/62 kWh) that the vehicle cannot perform ordinary daily use — and the dealer cannot restore capacity within the warranty period after multiple attempts — the owner may have a viable lemon-law claim. The critical evidence is State of Health percentage, dealer diagnostic printouts showing cell imbalance codes, and documentation of each warranty service visit.

Nissan's 8-year/100,000-mile battery capacity warranty covers packs that fall below 9 of 12 capacity bars (approximately 73.6% of original capacity). If the pack qualifies, Nissan replaces it under warranty. Owners whose pack degrades above the warranty threshold but below reasonable expectations have pursued warranty claims with documentation of abnormal degradation. Class-action settlement history exists for early ZE0 (Gen 1) packs; ZE1 owners should document State of Health readings at each service visit.

no cabin heat in cold weather; A/C compressor fails; 'Service EV System' warning; defroster inoperative; cabin temperature uncontrollable in winter; vehicle becomes undriveable after HVAC fault; range severely reduced by heater draw; heat pump (Plus trim) insufficient below freezing

Loss of cabin heat in freezing temperatures is not a cosmetic defect — it is a safety and drivability nonconformity, particularly when the same failure disables the drivetrain via the 'Service EV System' fault. California Song-Beverly applies to all components covered under the manufacturer's warranty. Repeated heater failures within the 5-year bumper-to-bumper or HV powertrain warranty window, especially after a dealer repair that provides only temporary relief, build the repair-attempt record needed for a claim.

PTC heater element replacement under HV powertrain warranty while in-warranty; A/C compressor replacement if failed simultaneously. Out-of-warranty costs range $1,000–$2,500. Nissan has not issued a hardware recall for HVAC failures beyond the manual addendum (23V048000).