Independent · Not affiliated with NHTSA or any automaker MethodologyData sourcesData refreshed Oct 6, 2026

2026 Nissan Leaf: Problems, Recalls and MPG

What this means

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2026 Nissan Leaf, most recently filed July 2026. Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system.

Data summary generated from official records. Methodology Data: NHTSA, DOT, EPA · Refreshed Oct 6, 2026
Caution Fewer than 50 complaints filed. With this few reports, patterns may not be meaningful.
Compare

Recalls (2)

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2026 Nissan Leaf. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗

Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.

Check on NHTSA ↗
Listed for 2026 Nissan Leaf. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 26V425000 Filed Jul 1, 2026

Rear Seat Belts May Not Secure Child Seat/FMVSS 208

Seat belts · rear/other · retractor
Official NHTSA text
Summary
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2026 LEAF vehicles. The outer rear seat belt automatic locking retractors (ALR) may deactivate early, which can prevent a child restraint system (CRS) from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence
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. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 28, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated October 28, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan's number for this recall is R26A7. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 7, 2026.
Repair progress not yet reported3,788 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 26V425000
Listed for 2026 Nissan Leaf. Not checked against your VIN.
Park outside: fire risk. NHTSA advises parking outside and away from buildings until the recall repair is done.
Recall 26V188000 Filed Mar 25, 2026

Park Outside: High Voltage Battery Modules May Short Circuit

Electrical system · propulsion system · traction battery
Official NHTSA text
Summary
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2026 LEAF vehicles. The high voltage battery may have internal damage that can cause a short circuit within the battery module.
Consequence
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. Dealers will inspect and replace the battery modules, as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 2, 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 became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 27, 2026.
Repair progress not yet reported51 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 26V188000

PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.

Owner complaints (2)

2 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.

0involved a crash
0involved a fire
0injuries reported
0deaths reported

As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.

Most-reported components

Complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2026 Nissan Leaf, by component (top 3). One complaint can list several components, so these add up to more than 2.Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints · Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 · Report a data error

How 2026 compares with other Leaf years

Best and worst Leaf years →
2017201820192020202120222023202420252026
This year (2026)Other yearsStill collecting reports

Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Fuel economy: up to 121 mpg combined

121
mpg combined
131
city
111
highway
EPA annual fuel cost
$650
CO₂ tailpipe
—
EPA class
Small Station Wagons

What it costs you to run

$540per year
$45per month
124gallons a year

Miles ÷ 121 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.

EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.

Specs by configuration

2026 Nissan Leaf configurations with EPA data
Engine · transmissionDriveCity / Hwy / CombEPA $/yrCO₂ g/mi
Electric · AutomaticFront-Wheel Drive131 / 111 / 121$650—
Electric · AutomaticFront-Wheel Drive122 / 105 / 114$700—
Electric · AutomaticFront-Wheel Drive110 / 96 / 103$750—

Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.

Used blue SUV on a sunny dealer lot with its hood open and a clipboard on the fender

Looking at a 2026 Leaf for sale?

Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.

All Leaf years

Where to next

2026 Nissan Leaf FAQ

How many recalls does the 2026 Nissan Leaf have?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 26V425000 (seat belt), 26V188000 (electrical). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.

What are the most common 2026 Nissan Leaf problems?

Owners filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (2), Fuel/propulsion system (1), Power train (1) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.

What mpg does the 2026 Nissan Leaf get?

EPA rates the Electric · Automatic version at 131 city, 111 highway and 121 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.

How does the 2026 Leaf compare with other years?

Among the 2017–2021 Nissan Leaf model years at least five years old, the 2017 drew the fewest complaints (17) and the 2019 the most (259). The 2026 drew 2. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.

How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes

Processing

  • Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
  • Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.

Limitations

  • Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
  • Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
  • Recent model years are still collecting reports.

Review

Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.

Changelog

  • 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
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