The problem stems from excessive lithium deposits in the battery cells. These deposits can increase electrical resistance and cause rapid battery heating during Level 3 quick charging. This heating raises the risk of fire in affected vehicles.
Nissan urges owners of these Leaf models to stop using Level 3 quick charging immediately. The company plans to address the issue with a software update, which will be available at dealerships in November.
The recall impacts both 60 kWh and 40 kWh battery versions of the Leaf. All affected cars were built at Nissan's Smyrna plant and are equipped with a Level 3 CHAdeMO quick charging port.
Owners should watch for warning signs like smoke, unusual noises, interrupted charging, or thermal odors from the battery pack during charging. If any of these occur, drivers should stop charging right away.
While the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) hasn't mentioned any known fires caused by this problem, the recall is considered urgent. Nissan will send official recall letters to owners soon.
The NHTSA has assigned the recall number 24V700000. Owners can check if their vehicle is affected by entering their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the NHTSA's recall lookup tool.
Until the software update is available, Leaf owners should rely on Level 1 and Level 2 charging methods. These slower charging options don't pose the same risk as the rapid Level 3 charging.
Source: NHTSA
