The Nissan Motor Corporation has issued a recall for a small number of 2026 Nissan Leaf electric vehicles after identifying a defect that could potentially lead to a fire, even when the vehicle is parked and turned off.
According to reports, the recall affects a limited batch of Leaf EVs due to a battery-related issue tied to the lithium-ion pack. Nissan determined that a manufacturing defect may cause an internal short circuit, which can trigger a thermal event and significantly increase the risk of fire.
What makes this issue particularly concerning is that the risk is not limited to charging conditions. Unlike many previous EV-related recalls that were linked to overheating during charging, this defect can potentially cause a fire even when the vehicle is powered off and not plugged in.
The recall impacts just 51 vehicles produced between mid-July and late November 2025. Nissan estimates that all affected units may carry the defect, making the recall comprehensive despite its limited scale.
The root cause has been traced back to damage that may have occurred during the battery manufacturing process.
A portion of the internal battery cell material may have been compromised, which could lead to structural instability inside the cell. If this material folds or shifts over time, it can create the conditions necessary for an internal short circuit and overheating.
Nissan has confirmed at least two incidents related to the issue, one in Japan and another in the United States. In both cases, the vehicles were reportedly parked and not charging at the time of the thermal events. No injuries have been reported.
As a precaution, Nissan is advising affected owners to stop driving their vehicles immediately. The company has also recommended avoiding charging the vehicles and parking them outside, away from buildings or other vehicles, until a fix is implemented.
At present, Nissan has not announced a complete remedy but is expected to resolve the issue through inspections and, if necessary, battery replacements.
The situation underscores ongoing challenges in electric vehicle battery production, where even minor defects can lead to serious safety risks due to the high energy density of lithium-ion cells.
This recall adds to a growing list of battery-related concerns within the EV industry, reinforcing the importance of strict quality control and rapid response systems as electric vehicles continue to scale globally.
