Recall 26V425 affects 3,788 2026 Nissan Leaf vehicles for rear seat belt retractors that release child restraints early. Free dealer repair once available.
Nissan is recalling 3,788 2026 Leaf vehicles because the outer rear seat belt automatic locking retractors can deactivate early and leave a child restraint system unsecured. An improperly secured child restraint system can fail to restrain an occupant as intended during a crash; the Nissan dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The rear outboard seat belts in the 2026 Nissan Leaf include an automatic locking retractor, or ALR. That mode is the seat belt setting used when installing a child restraint system: you pull the belt webbing out, let it retract, and the retractor is supposed to keep the belt locked tight around the child seat.
On affected Leafs, the retractor can leave ALR mode before the belt has fully retracted. Nissan traced the concern to an internal retractor setting tied to the rear belt webbing length, which was changed during pre-production. When the ALR releases early, the belt can loosen and fail to hold enough tension on certain child restraint systems.
There is no warning sign before failure. The issue shows up during child seat installation, when the belt webbing loosens instead of staying locked as it retracts.
Who's affected?
VINs became searchable on July 7, 2026.
| 2026 Nissan Leaf | seat belt |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 3,788 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
Not every 2026 Nissan Leaf is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
A child restraint system that is not properly secured can fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash. There is no warning for the customer, so confirm your VIN and plan the dealer visit when Nissan opens the remedy. Repair will be free at any franchised Nissan dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2026 Nissan Leaf is included in this recall.
- Watch for Nissan's interim owner letter dated July 17, 2026, then the later remedy letter once the repair opens.
- Call Nissan customer service at 800-647-7261 with questions and reference recall number 26V425 (Nissan recall R26A7).
- Avoid using the rear outboard seat belts to secure a child restraint until the repair is complete.
- Schedule the free rear outboard seat belt assembly replacement with a franchised Nissan dealer once Nissan says the remedy is available.
What happens at the repair
Once Nissan opens the final remedy, a Nissan technician will replace the rear outboard seat belt assemblies covered by the recall. The dealer repair will be free once available. Before that repair opens, Nissan's interim letter is set to notify owners about the safety risk and explain that another letter follows when the remedy is ready. If you've already paid out of pocket for a related seat belt repair, Nissan's general reimbursement plan covers documented expenses. Bring repair paperwork and payment records to the service desk.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| July 1, 2026 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| July 7, 2026 | Dealer notification began |
| July 7, 2026 | Dealer notification ended |
| July 7, 2026 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| July 17, 2026 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 26V425?
Recall 26V425 covers 3,788 2026 Nissan Leaf vehicles with rear outboard seat belt retractors that deactivate early. That defect can keep a child restraint system from securing properly. Nissan dealers will replace the rear outboard seat belt assemblies for free once the remedy is available.
What should I do if my 2026 Nissan Leaf is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 26V425. If it is, contact a franchised Nissan dealer and ask about remedy timing for recall R26A7. Nissan plans to send interim owner letters on July 17, 2026, with additional letters once the repair is available.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Nissan dealers will replace the rear outboard seat belt assemblies free of charge once parts and repair instructions are ready.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk involves child restraint protection in the rear outboard seats. If the automatic locking retractor deactivates early, the child restraint system does not secure properly. In a crash, that restraint does not hold the occupant as intended, increasing injury risk.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/26V425000 |
|---|---|
| Nissan customer service | 800-647-7261 |
| NHTSA recall # | 26V425 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 26V425000 |
Source documents
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on July 13, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →