2021-2023 Nissan Leaf Owner's Manual Recall (23V048)
Nissan North America, Inc. · 64,732 vehicles · Reported February 2, 2023
Nissan North America, Inc. is recalling 64,732 2021-2023 Nissan Leaf vehicles. The Owner's Manual instructions for defroster operation are incorrect, and may result in reduced defroster performance under specific conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems." Reduced defroster performance can limit visibility out of the windshield, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 23V048 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 23V048000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | R22C5 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | February 2, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Nissan North America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2021-2023 Nissan Leaf |
| Units affected | 64,732 |
| Component | Equipment > Other > Owners / Service / Other Manual |
| Safety risk | Reduced defroster performance can limit visibility out of the windshield, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021-2023 Nissan Leaf in recall 23V048?
The Owner's Manual instructions for defroster operation are incorrect, and may result in reduced defroster performance under specific conditions.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2023 LEAF vehicles. The Owner's Manual instructions for defroster operation are incorrect, and may result in reduced defroster performance under specific conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2023 Leaf with recall 23V048?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Reduced defroster performance can limit visibility out of the windshield, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Reduced defroster performance can limit visibility out of the windshield, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the owners and service and other manual.
Which vehicles are included in recall 23V048?
Recall 23V048 covers 64,732 vehicles: 2021-2023 Nissan Leaf.
NHTSA lists 64,732 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2023 | Nissan | Leaf |
What is the fix for the Leaf owner's manual recall?
Yes. Nissan will mail an addendum with updated instructions on how to operate the defroster, free of charge.
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.
When was recall 23V048 announced?
Nissan North America, Inc. reported recall 23V048 to NHTSA on February 2, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as April 1, 2023.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| February 2, 2023 | Nissan North America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 23V048000. |
| April 1, 2023 | Owner notification letters scheduled (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 44 months ago. If your Leaf was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Leaf is part of recall 23V048?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V048 is open on your Leaf, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021-2023 Leaf vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should Leaf owners do about recall 23V048?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 23V048000 applies to your Leaf.
- Call a Nissan dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Write down when symptoms involving the owners and service and other manual happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Leaf owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 170 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 48 of them about the other equipment.
Since recall 23V048 was reported on February 2, 2023, owners have filed 43 complaints with NHTSA about the other equipment on these vehicles. 3 of them (7%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the other equipment and were received on or after February 2, 2023, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related other equipment issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 170 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 48 of them involve the other equipment. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2022 Nissan Leaf: 94 complaints in total, 27 about the other equipment
- 2021 Nissan Leaf: 56 complaints in total, 13 about the other equipment
- 2023 Nissan Leaf: 20 complaints in total, 8 about the other equipment
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
Rear camera sometimes does not work when backing up. When the problem occurs, the screen inside the car that is supposed to show an image of the area in back of the vehicle is completely black. The problem does not occur often. It is not easily reproducible.
2023 Nissan Leaf owner, NY, NHTSA complaint 11648495, filed March 15, 2025
Heat from HVAC system stops working at temperatures below 20 degrees F. It starts blowing cold air and cannot keep up with the cold, to the point that it becomes dangerously cold in the car, especially for my young children.
2023 Nissan Leaf owner, MN, NHTSA complaint 11700046, filed November 18, 2025
Backup camera image intermittently goes out and just shows a mostly black image. It appears to match a previous recall that does not yet cover our model year (2023): 24V071000. The image can sometimes be restored by slamming the hatchback shut, but it is not a permanent fix.
2023 Nissan Leaf owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11729340, filed April 6, 2026
Can recall 23V048 make my Leaf a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Recall 23V048000 does not automatically make your Leaf a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?
What matters for a lemon law claim is not the recall label but whether the defect substantially impairs the 2021-2023 Nissan Leaf and whether the dealer can fix it in a reasonable number of tries.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021-2023 Nissan Leaf has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Leaf been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Nissan Leaf recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 23V048
Did the recall 23V048 fix work?
Since recall 23V048 was reported on February 2, 2023, owners have filed 43 complaints with NHTSA about the other equipment on these vehicles. 3 of them (7%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed April 1, 2023.
Is the 23V048000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Leaf is part of recall 23V048000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 23V048000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Nissan. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.