2020 Nissan Leaf

In fall 2024 we noticed our Nissan Leaf starting to no longer be able to hold a charge. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to this problem. It would go from fully charged to zero with no warning (including when driving on the highway) and would stop accelerating above 35mph. This was stressful and unsafe. It took 5+ months to "repair" the battery at the dealership, only to have the same issue occur again a few months later. This time the dealership "fixed" the issue in a little over a month, only for us to drive it home and immediately have the issue occur again (on a busy highway - thankfully no one in my family was injured or killed). The car is currently at the dealership for a third time. Combine this issue with an active recall on the charging system for over a year with no known fix, this vehicle no longer feels safe for my family. The car battery is still well within it's warranty period. I do not feel safe driving this car any longer and have experienced dangerous situations three times in this vehicle in the past year (for myself, my family, and potentially others on the road). I do not trust any "fixes" by the dealership at this point - as we've been assured it has been fixed twice now only to find out it has not. Nissan acknowledges there is an issue, and I have copies of all the service records.

I am submitting this complaint due to Nissan's lack of action on a critical safety recall that has remained open without a remedy for over a year (NHTSA Recall Number 24V-700 / Nissan Recall Number R24B2). The recall involves a manufacturing defect in the high-voltage battery that can cause overheating and fire during DC fast charging. This is a severe safety risk, not only to owners but also to nearby vehicles and property at charging stations. Nissan’s only response has been to tell owners not to use DC fast charging, which was inadequate as a temporary measure and unacceptable as a long-term solution. Without access to DC fast charging, vehicle usability is severely compromised. Daily commuting is difficult, and long-distance travel is nearly impossible. Level 1 and 2 charging do not provide practical alternatives, and many owners rely on DC fast charging as their only feasible option. This feature is a basic expectation of modern EV ownership, and had I known I would lose it indefinitely, I would never have purchased this vehicle. After a full year, Nissan has provided no remedy, no timeline, and no meaningful communication. Even if a fix were announced today, implementation would take additional weeks or months. This is not a timely response to a major safety and usability issue. As an affected owner, I expect one of the following: (1) Nissan issues and implements a permanent fix within 30 days, (2) provides a free loaner vehicle until a remedy is available, or (3) repurchases the defective vehicles from me and other affected owners. Continuing with no action is unacceptable. As a repeat Nissan customer, this experience has been deeply disappointing and has caused me to lose confidence in the brand.

Note: Searching for similar complaints I found them under "Engine", "Electrical", and "Fuel". There are many such complaints! My 2020 Nissan Leaf has been under a recall notice since September of 2024 (12 months ago). Nissan warned the battery may catch fire during level 3 (rapid) charging. Nissan ordered owners not to use rapid chargers until a fix was in place. Such a fix was (and still is) promised by March 2025. That date is 6 months past now and yet their website still proclaims it. This, to me, demonstrates that Nissan is not actively working on the problem. They seem content to have shifted the burden of dealing with the problem onto their customers. Rapid charging is not a luxury, especially with large capacity batteries. Fully charging the car in 2-3 hours instead of 10-12 hours is a key selling point of the vehicle. To remove it amounts to a bait and switch. One year is an extremely generous amount time to allow for a solution. Obviously, they want a software solition to avoid the high cost of replacing the batteries. Obviously, they can't find a software solution. It is time for them to be forced to accept the higher cost consequence of releasing a faulty product. P.S. During a phone conversation with Nissan customer service in late July, I was told (after many denials that anything was wrong with them proclaiming a fix in March 2025 in July 2025) that a fix would be available in November. As their site still says March 2025 I must assume that was a blatant lie to pacify me.

To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally submit a complaint regarding an unresolved safety recall affecting my 2020 Nissan Leaf, currently with approximately 30,000 miles. The recall in question addresses a battery overheating risk associated with Level 3 fast charging (CHAdeMO), which Nissan has acknowledged and advised owners to avoid until a solution becomes available—scheduled for November 2024. I have contacted my local dealership, Flow Nissan of Fayetteville (4559 Raeford Rd, Fayetteville NC, 28304 - Tel: 910-323-4400), multiple times requesting assistance during this period. Unfortunately, the service department informed me that no temporary solution or loaner vehicle could be provided, stating that Nissan National has yet to authorize support. As a member of the U.S. Air Force Reserve, this situation poses a serious hardship. My duty station is located approximately 90 minutes from my residence, and I am required to report three times per month. The inability to reliably and safely operate my vehicle places not only my personal safety at risk due to the recall restrictions but also jeopardizes my ability to fulfill military obligations. I respectfully request that Nissan provide a loaner vehicle or alternative transportation during this recall period or offer compensation to secure a rental. This issue is not only a safety concern but is now directly impacting my professional responsibilities as a servicemember. Thank you for your attention and support in resolving this matter. Sincerely,