The Recall Desk
HighNHTSA·23V048000·Announced 2023-02-02

Incorrect defroster instructions in Nissan LEAF owner's manuals increase crash risk

Nissan is recalling 2018-2023 LEAF vehicles because the Owner's Manual has incorrect defroster operation instructions, which may reduce visibility and increase crash risk. Nissan will mail updated instructions at no charge.

What this means for you

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves incorrect manual instructions for a safety system (defroster) that directly affects vehicle visibility and increases crash risk. Although no injuries or deaths have been reported, this is a risk-of-harm situation where the potential consequence is serious (crash), placing it in the High category per the rubric.

Plain-English summary

Nissan North America is recalling certain 2018-2023 Nissan LEAF vehicles due to incorrect defroster operation instructions in the Owner's Manual. The manual's instructions may result in reduced defroster performance under specific conditions, which could limit windshield visibility and increase the risk of a crash. These vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, which governs windshield defrosting and defogging systems.

The recall affects an estimated 64,732 vehicles. Nissan will mail affected owners an addendum with corrected instructions on how to properly operate the defroster at no cost. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on April 1, 2023.

To address this issue, owners should contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669 with questions about the recall. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or visit www.nhtsa.gov for more information. Nissan's internal recall number for this campaign is R22C5.

The recalled product

Product
NISSAN LEAF
Brand
NISSAN
Manufacturer
Nissan North America, Inc.
Category
Vehicle — Climate Control System
Hazard
Affected units
64,732

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (1)

  • LEAF

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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