Nissan Recalls 3,788 New 2026 Leaf EVs Over Child Seat Belt Flaw Discovered by Consumer Reports

Nissan issued a non-compliance safety recall on 14 July 2026 covering 3,788 model-year 2026 Leaf electric vehicles in the United States. The defect involves the automatic locking retractors (ALR) fitted to the outer rear seat belts: under certain conditions the retractors may loosen or deactivate earlier than required, preventing them from holding a child safety seat securely when the seat belt installation method is used. The flaw was discovered not by Nissan but by Consumer Reports engineers during the organisation's standard vehicle evaluation process. Consumer Reports notified Nissan on 22 April 2026, and the automaker confirmed it could replicate the problem shortly afterward. The root cause was traced to Autoliv Japan, the supplier of the ALR retractor assemblies. NHTSA assigned campaign number 26V425 to the recall. A permanent remedy — replacement of the affected retractor assemblies — is not yet available; Nissan expects to have replacement parts ready in the coming winter. Owner notification letters were scheduled for mailing on 17 July 2026. All repairs will be carried out by authorised dealers at no cost to the owner. The recall does not affect the Leaf's electric drive systems, high-voltage battery, or charging hardware.