Nissan has issued a safety recall for certain Leaf electric vehicles after discovering that rear seat-belt buckles can fail to latch, potentially leaving passengers unrestrained in a crash. The recall, filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration under campaign number 26V425000, covers rear-belt assemblies that Nissan will replace at no cost through authorized dealerships.
The defect is straightforward but dangerous: the rear seat-belt buckle may not fully engage when a passenger clicks it into place. A belt that appears fastened could release under force or never lock at all. In a collision, an unrestrained rear occupant faces a significantly higher risk of serious injury or death. That risk is especially serious for children in booster seats, who depend entirely on the vehicle’s belt system to stay secured.
What the recall covers and what Nissan has not yet disclosed
As of July 2025, NHTSA’s public recall database confirms that campaign 26V425000 is active and that a remedy has been designated. However, several key details remain absent from publicly available records. Nissan has not released a breakdown of which Leaf model years are affected, how many vehicles fall within the recall population, or what production date ranges are involved. The manufacturer’s Part 573 safety recall report, the formal filing submitted to NHTSA, is the authoritative document for those specifics, and its full contents have not yet appeared in the agency’s searchable portal.
Nissan also has not publicly explained the root cause of the buckle failure. It is unclear whether the problem traces to a faulty supplier component, an issue introduced during assembly, or a design flaw in the buckle mechanism. No primary statement from Nissan’s engineering team or from NHTSA investigators has addressed the failure mode. The agency’s recall listing does not indicate whether any crashes, injuries, or consumer complaints prompted the investigation.
How Leaf owners can check their vehicles now
NHTSA has urged consumers not to wait for a mailed recall notification before taking action. Recall letters can take weeks to reach owners, and the defect poses a hazard every time a rear passenger buckles in.
Owners should enter their vehicle’s 17-digit VIN on the NHTSA recall lookup tool to check whether campaign 26V425000 appears for their car. Those who find an open recall should contact a Nissan dealership to ask whether replacement parts are available and schedule a repair appointment.
Owners whose VINs do not currently show the recall should recheck periodically. NHTSA’s database is updated as manufacturers refine VIN ranges in amended Part 573 filings, so additional vehicles could be added to the campaign over time.
Protecting rear passengers until the repair is completed
While waiting for the fix, Nissan Leaf owners who transport rear passengers should test each rear buckle before every trip. A properly functioning seat belt should click firmly into place and resist being pulled free without pressing the release button. If a buckle fails to latch on the first attempt, releases unexpectedly, or feels loose, that seating position should not be used until a dealer inspects it.
Parents and caregivers should be especially cautious. A buckle that fails intermittently can create a false sense of security, particularly when a child hears a faint click and assumes the belt is locked. Until replacement parts are installed and the repair is confirmed in writing, families may want to seat children only in positions where the belt engages reliably, or consult their vehicle’s owner manual and local laws about alternative seating arrangements.
The recall is a reminder that occupant safety can hinge on small, easily overlooked components. Owners can monitor their recall status and access additional safety information through the NHTSA datasets and recall resources page.
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