Use cautionVehicle recall · NHTSA · Published February 2, 2023
Nissan Leaf 2020 Recall: Defroster Issues May Reduce Visibility
Nissan recalls certain 2018-2023 Leaf vehicles due to incorrect defroster instructions that may reduce visibility, increasing crash risk. Owners will receive updated instructions by April 1, 2023.
Nissan is recalling certain 2018-2023 Leaf electric vehicles because the owner's manual has incorrect defroster instructions that can reduce visibility in cold weather. This could increase the risk of a crash if drivers don't properly defrost their windshield. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/79938-nissan-leaf-2020-recall-defroster-issues-may-reduce-visibility.
“Nissan Leaf 2020 Recall: Defroster Issues May Reduce Visibility.” GovInfoNow, updated August 18, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/79938-nissan-leaf-2020-recall-defroster-issues-may-reduce-visibility. Based on NHTSA recall #23V048000 (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=23V048000).
Nissan North America, Inc. recalled 2018-2023 LEAF vehicles due to incorrect owner's manual instructions that may reduce defroster performance and limit visibility, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on Feb. 2, 2023. Nissan will mail free addendums with updated instructions. Owners can contact customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
How to tell if you have it
Nissan LEAF, 2018-2023
What to do
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.
The hazard
Reduced defroster performance can limit visibility out of the windshield, increasing the risk of a crash. The vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103 because the Owner's Manual instructions for defroster operation are incorrect.
Context
GovInfoNow's records show Nissan North America, Inc. has 229 other recalls on record since 2009-09-16. Other recent recalls of similar products include Ford 2026 Explorer: Defrost System Failure Risk (2026-03-31), Ford Mustang (2025) Recall: Wiper Failure Risk in Cold Weather (2026-06-30), and Chrysler Fiat 500E (2024) Recall: Headlights May Cause Crash Risk (2025-10-21).
How to tell if you have this one
Check if your Nissan Leaf was manufactured between 2018 and 2023. The recall affects all models in this range, but the specific issue is with the defroster instructions in the owner's manual.
Brand
Nissan
Category
Vehicle
Based on the official NHTSA remedy
What to do — step by step
Check for Notification Letter
Nissan will mail a notification letter by April 1, 2023, informing you about the recall and updated defroster instructions.
April 1, 2023
Contact Nissan Customer Service
If you haven't received the letter by April 1, 2023, contact Nissan at 1-800-867-7669 for assistance.
Official remedy
What NHTSA says to do
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.
How this recall unfolded
Recall timeline
1NHTSA received the defect report
2Owner letters expected (expected, per the notice)
Dates from the agency record only; steps without a date are left out.
Take action
Contact Nissan
We’ve drafted a message you can send Nissan to request your refund or repair — edit it as you like.
Subject: Recall 23V048000 — Nissan Leaf 2020 Recall: Defroster Issues May Reduce Visibility
Hello,
I own a Nissan Leaf 2020 Recall: Defroster Issues May Reduce Visibility that is covered by recall 23V048000 from Nissan.
The official recall notice states: 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.
I’m writing to arrange the remedy described in the recall (a refund, repair, or replacement as applicable). Could you please tell me the next steps to resolve this?
Thank you.
The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official NHTSA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.
Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on August 18, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the NHTSA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official NHTSA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.