Nissan recalls nearly 4,000 new Leaf EVs after CR test finds seat belt issue

Nissan is recalling nearly 3,800 new 2026 Leaf EVs after Consumer Reports found the rear seat belts don't hold child seats properly. The outer rear seat belts use a locking mechanism meant to clamp down and hold a child seat in place, but in testing, that mechanism loosened or released too early, which fails federal safety rules for keeping occupants secure in a crash. The problem doesn't affect adult passengers using the seat belt normally, and it doesn't affect the LATCH system, the built-in anchor-and-strap hardware many child seats use instead of the seat belt.

Nissan traced the defect to a supplier and says no other Nissan models are affected. The company isn't aware of any crashes or injuries linked to the issue. A fix isn't ready yet, expected sometime this winter, but owners will get a warning letter by mail around July 17, 2026, followed by a second letter once the repair is available. When ready, dealers will replace the rear outer seat belt assemblies at no cost.

If you have a 2026 Leaf and use a child seat in the back, Consumer Reports suggests using the LATCH anchors instead of the seat belt for now, or installing the child seat in the center rear seat with the belt there instead. You can check if your car is included by contacting Nissan at 800-647-7261 (recall number R26A7) or the federal safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236, using campaign number 26V425.