2026 Nissan Leaf Seat Belt Retractor Recall (26V425)

Recall 26V425 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2026 Nissan Leaf in recall 26V425?

The outer rear seat belt automatic locking retractors (ALR) may deactivate early, which can prevent a child restraint system (CRS) from securing properly.

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."

Is it safe to drive a 2026 Leaf with recall 26V425?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An improperly secured child restraint system may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: An improperly secured child restraint system may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during 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 retractor, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 26V425?

Recall 26V425 covers 3,788 vehicles: 2026 Nissan Leaf.

NHTSA lists 3,788 vehicles in this campaign, built June 10, 2025 to June 8, 2026. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the Leaf seat belt retractor recall?

An interim notice went out first. Check NHTSA to see if the final repair is now available for your VIN.

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.

When was recall 26V425 announced?

Nissan North America, Inc. reported recall 26V425 to NHTSA on July 1, 2026.

This recall was filed 3 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 363 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 26V425?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 26V425 is open on your Leaf, it will be listed there.

Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 26V425000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.

What should Leaf owners do about recall 26V425?

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 26V425000 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. Keep a simple log of any retractor symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
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 2 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 0 of them about the seat belts.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the seat belts have been filed since recall 26V425 was reported (0) 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 0 of them involve the seat belts. 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, 0 about the seat belts

Can recall 26V425 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 26V425000 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))?

A seat belt that does not latch or retract correctly on the 2026 Nissan Leaf affects safety directly, and a failed recall repair is a repair attempt under California law.

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.

California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.

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 26V425