2026 Nissan Leaf High-Voltage Battery Recall (26V188)
Nissan North America, Inc. · 51 vehicles · Reported March 25, 2026
Nissan North America, Inc. is recalling 51 2026 Nissan Leaf vehicles. The high voltage battery may have internal damage that can cause a short circuit within the battery module. A short circuit in a high voltage battery module increases the risk of a fire. Park outside and away from buildings until it is repaired.
Recall 26V188 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 26V188000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | R25F1 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | March 25, 2026 |
| Manufacturer | Nissan North America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2026 Nissan Leaf |
| Units affected | 51 |
| Build dates | July 17, 2025 to November 26, 2025 |
| Component | Electrical System > Propulsion System > Traction Battery |
| Safety risk | A short circuit in a high voltage battery module increases the risk of a fire. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2026 Nissan Leaf in recall 26V188?
The high voltage battery may have internal damage that can cause a short circuit within the battery module.
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.
Is it safe to drive a 2026 Leaf with recall 26V188?
Park it outside. NHTSA lists a fire risk for recall 26V188, so keep the vehicle away from buildings until it is repaired.
NHTSA lists this as a Park Outside recall because of a fire risk. Park the vehicle outside and away from buildings until the repair is done, even if you have not noticed any problem.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A short circuit in a high voltage battery module increases the risk of a fire.
Which vehicles are included in recall 26V188?
Recall 26V188 covers 51 vehicles: 2026 Nissan Leaf.
NHTSA lists 51 vehicles in this campaign, built July 17, 2025 to November 26, 2025. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Nissan | Leaf |
What is the fix for the Leaf high-voltage battery recall?
Yes. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures and should not charge their vehicles until the remedy is completed.
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.
When was recall 26V188 announced?
Nissan North America, Inc. reported recall 26V188 to NHTSA on March 25, 2026.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| July 17, 2025 | First affected vehicle built (per Nissan North America, Inc.'s filing). |
| November 26, 2025 | Last affected vehicle built. |
| March 25, 2026 | Nissan North America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 26V188000. |
| September 2, 2026 | Letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 6 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 132 days. 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 26V188?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 26V188 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 2026 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 26V188?
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 26V188000 applies to your Leaf.
- Park outside and away from buildings until the repair is done.
- 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.
- Keep a simple log of any traction battery symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- 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 2 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 2 of them about the ev and hybrid battery.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the ev and hybrid battery have been filed since recall 26V188 was reported (2) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 2 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 2 of them involve the ev and hybrid battery. 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.
- 2026 Nissan Leaf: 2 complaints in total, 2 about the ev and hybrid battery
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
The battery does not charge. Warning lights activated to check EV system. This first occurred about two months ago. Dash lights spontaneously resolved, but MIL light has remained on in Nissan App since that time. Dealership service initially said to return with vehicle when dash light and message reappeared.
2026 Nissan Leaf owner, CO, NHTSA complaint 11732845, filed April 21, 2026
The car had a faulty dc/dc converter one month after purchase. The vehicle has about 900 total miles.
2026 Nissan Leaf owner, TN, NHTSA complaint 11747001, filed June 28, 2026
Can recall 26V188 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 26V188000 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))?
Battery and electric drive repairs are among the slowest repairs in the industry. A 2026 Nissan Leaf waiting on a battery module or drive unit can sit at the dealer for weeks, and every day counts toward the 30-day figure in California's lemon law presumption.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the Leaf went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to 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.
Recall repairs depend on parts. Owners can wait days, weeks or months, usually about one to three months in our cases, and those days count toward California's 30-day out-of-service rule.
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 26V188
Is the 26V188000 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 26V188000?
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.
Can a battery recall reduce my EV's range?
Some battery recalls limit the state of charge or range until a module or pack is replaced. Check your owner letter for any interim limits, and keep notes if range or charging changes after the repair.
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.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
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 26V188000 (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.