Nissan Leaf Owners Shouldn’t Fast Charge Until They Check For This Recall
Nissan Leaf owners shouldn’t fast charge until they check for a new recall, which affects approximately 19,000 Leaf EVs from the 2021 and 2022 model years. Nissan’s filings with the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicate a significant concern: a risk of fire under Level 3 fast-charging conditions. This issue stems from the vehicle’s battery potentially overheating due to excessive lithium deposits within its cells, which can lead to rapid battery heating and, in extreme cases, a fire.
What’s Causing The Problem: Excessive Lithium Deposits and Heat Fluctuations
The previous-generation Nissan Leaf, which uses the CHAdeMO connector for Level 3 50-kilowatt fast-charging, is at the center of this recall. Nissan explains that the “lithium-ion battery in affected vehicles may experience excessive lithium deposits within battery cells, increasing the electrical resistance and potentially causing a fluctuation in the state of charge.”
This fluctuation is critical because it can lead to heat issues, which, in turn, result in the “rapid heating” of the battery. If this rapid heating continues unchecked, a battery fire could break out. While the potential risk is serious, Nissan estimates that only about 1 percent of the total 19,077 recalled units might suffer from this specific problem.
Which Models Are Affected: 2021 and 2022 Leaf with Both Battery Packs
The recall specifically targets 2021 and 2022 Nissan Leaf models. According to Nissan’s recall filings, the 2022 models are significantly more prone to the issue, with 12,532 units recalled, compared to 6,545 units from the 2021 model year.
The recall covers both battery pack options offered during this production period:
- 40 kWh unit
- 62 kWh unit
Interestingly, Nissan’s filings also suggest that the car’s charge port plays a role, as specific production date ranges for the CHAdeMO ports (manufactured from 2018 to 2022) are mentioned, though further details are not elaborated upon by Nissan in its NHTSA filings.
How To Check If Your Car Is Recalled and What Happens Next
If you own a 2021 or 2022 Nissan Leaf, it is crucial to check if your vehicle is affected by this recall. Owners can verify their vehicle’s status through the NHTSA website.
The good news is that the proposed fix for this critical issue is a software patch. This software update is designed to “prevent progression to thermal incident,” effectively stopping the potential for a battery fire.
Nissan has outlined the following timeline for the recall process:
- Software in Development: The necessary software patch is currently still under development.
- Dealer Notification: Nissan dealers will begin to be notified starting October 3, 2025.
- Interim Owner Letter: On October 24, 2025, Nissan will issue an Interim Owner Letter to affected customers. This letter will specifically instruct owners not to use Level 3 quick charging until the software fix is ready and applied to their vehicle.
- Owner Notification: Once the software is ready and available, owners will be notified directly to schedule the necessary update.
Until the software patch is installed, Nissan Leaf owners of the affected model years are strongly advised to avoid using Level 3 fast charging to mitigate the fire risk.
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