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Nissan LEAF owner's manual gives wrong defroster instructions

NHTSA campaign 23V048000 · Reported 2023-02-02 · Nissan North America, Inc.

Reduced defroster performance can limit visibility out of the windshield, increasing the risk of a crash. The notice does not tell owners to stop driving.

What's wrong, in plain English

Nothing is broken on the car itself. The owner's manual tells drivers the wrong way to run the defroster, and following those directions can leave the windshield less clear than it should be in certain conditions. That can limit what the driver sees. Certain 2018-2023 LEAF cars are covered. Nissan is mailing owners a free page of corrected instructions to add to the manual; no dealer visit is needed.

What you should do

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if your LEAF is included. 2. Watch for the free corrected instruction page in the mail, or call Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 (recall R22C5) if it does not arrive. 3. Follow the corrected defroster instructions and keep the page with your manual.

Affected vehicles (4)

2018 Nissan Leaf
2019 Nissan Leaf
2020 Nissan Leaf
2021 Nissan Leaf

Who to contact

Nissan — official Nissan recall lookup

Customer service: 1-800-867-7669

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

The bigger picture

Nissan weight rating and label recalls: does the sticker matter? · all 4 Nissan recalls in this area

Official notice

Component: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2023 LEAF vehicles. The Owner's Manual instructions for defroster operation are incorrect, and may result in reduced defroster performance under specific conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."
Safety risk: Reduced defroster performance can limit visibility out of the windshield, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will mail an addendum with updated instructions on how to operate the defroster, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 1, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R22C5.

Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.