2021-2023 Nissan Leaf Cruise Control Recall (23V494)

Recall 23V494 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021-2023 Nissan Leaf in recall 23V494?

The vehicle may accelerate unintentionally if the driving mode is changed ("D" to "B"; e-Pedal "On"; or "ECO" mode) after disengaging the cruise control.

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2023 LEAF vehicles. The vehicle may accelerate unintentionally if the driving mode is changed ("D" to "B"; e-Pedal "On"; or "ECO" mode) after disengaging the cruise control.

Is it safe to drive a 2021-2023 Leaf with recall 23V494?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Unintentional acceleration can increase the risk of a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: Unintentional acceleration can increase the risk of a crash.

There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Leaf shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the vehicle speed control, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 23V494?

Recall 23V494 covers 66,159 vehicles: 2021-2023 Nissan Leaf.

NHTSA lists 66,159 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the Leaf cruise control recall?

Yes. Dealers will reprogram the vehicle control module (VCM), free of charge.

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.

When was recall 23V494 announced?

Nissan North America, Inc. reported recall 23V494 to NHTSA on July 17, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as August 30, 2023.

This recall was filed 39 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 23V494?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V494 is open on your Leaf, it will be listed there.

Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 23V494000 is open on your Leaf, it will be listed there, along with Nissan recall number R23A6. You can also ask any Nissan dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.

What should Leaf owners do about recall 23V494?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 23V494000 applies to your Leaf.
2. Call a Nissan dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
3. Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
4. Write down when symptoms involving the vehicle speed control happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.

What are Leaf owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 170 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 11 of them about the driver assistance.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 170 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 11 of them involve the driver assistance. 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, 3 about the driver assistance
• 2021 Nissan Leaf: 56 complaints in total, 0 about the driver assistance
• 2023 Nissan Leaf: 20 complaints in total, 8 about the driver assistance

Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):

The vehicle has experienced approximately ten+ incidents while driving at freeway speeds on dry roads where the traction-control indicator illuminated and the vehicle unexpectedly lost power. During these events, the vehicle would not accelerate normally despite accelerator input, and vehicle speed decreased significantly.

2023 Nissan Leaf owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11743717, filed June 12, 2026

My Nissan Leaf entered turtle mode on the freeways 8 times over the course of about a week and a half. This causes the car to slow itself down, and severely limit acceleration. The first time was on August 16th, 2026. This is incredibly dangerous, especially on the interstate.

2023 Nissan Leaf owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11762055, filed September 4, 2026

The contact owns a 2023 Nissan Leaf. The contact stated that while in the drive position, the vehicle erroneously accelerated backward and crashed into a second vehicle that was also parked in the driveway. No injuries were reported and no police report was taken. The cause of the failure was not determined.

2023 Nissan Leaf owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11552876, filed October 31, 2023

Can recall 23V494 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.

Owners often ask whether this vehicle speed control recall means their Leaf qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).

Driver assistance systems such as automatic emergency braking, lane keeping and adaptive cruise rely on software and sensors. Phantom braking or a system that shuts off can be dangerous, and these complaints often return after an update.

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.

Frequently asked questions about recall 23V494