We found an issue with the rear seat belt that may prevent safe installation of a child car seat
Consumer Reports’ 2026 Nissan Leaf being evaluated at our Auto Test Center
By Keith Barry
Nissan is recalling nearly 4,000 Leaf EVs from the 2026 model year to fix a safety issue uncovered by Consumer Reports’ auto safety testers.
While evaluating rear-seat safety on the 2026 Leaf we purchased for our auto test program, our engineers discovered that the vehicle’s seat belt may not stay locked when used to secure an infant car seat base.
Specifically, the belt may suddenly loosen when the person installing the infant seat base attempts to tighten it to improve fit. This loose installation increases the risk of injury in a crash. According to Nissan, the issue does not affect adult passengers or the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children, or LATCH, system.
After Consumer Reports alerted Nissan about our findings, the automaker conducted its own evaluations and found that some of its seat belt assemblies did not meet federal motor vehicle safety standards for car seat installation, and that the problem was caused by a manufacturing error at a supplier. In response, Nissan initiated a voluntary safety recall.
Consumer Reports’ Emily Thomas demonstrates the seat belt issue in our Nissan Leaf during our child car seat testing.
Photo: Consumer Reports
To fix the problem, Nissan will replace the faulty seat belt assemblies, free of charge. According to Nissan, a fix will be available this winter. Owners will receive two notices: One to alert them to the recall and another to let them know when the free repair is available at dealerships.
In the meantime, owners should switch their infant seat bases to a lower anchor installation or move it to the center seat installed with the vehicle belt, says Emily Thomas, associate director of auto safety at Consumer Reports. The automaker says it is not aware of any crashes or injuries related to the issue.
Consumer Reports’ rear-seat safety evaluation is part of the more than 50 tests we conduct at our Auto Test Center in Colchester, CT. Every vehicle we purchase and test receives a safety verdict score for crash prevention and protection. That rating is in addition to an Overall Score that includes reliability and owner satisfaction survey results and our own road test evaluations.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s number for this recall is 26V425. Nissan’s own number for this recall is R26A7. Owners may contact Nissan at 800-647-7261 with any questions.
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