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As perhaps one of the most prolific electric bike reviewers on the internet, I spend a lot of time riding city streets and have occasionally wondered if this is the way I’ll go out one day. Yesterday, I nearly had the answer to that question as a police cruiser almost smeared me across three lanes of traffic.

It happened to occur while I was in the middle of filming a review of a Velotric Breeze 1 electric bike. With the rare opportunity of catching a moment like that on camera, it turned into a chance for me to take a second look at what I did right as well as what I might have done wrong to wind up in that situation.

And why keep that kind of analysis to myself? Come along with me while I Monday morning quarterback myself.

An uncomfortably close perspective on bike safety

As cyclists, we’re probably the most vulnerable road users out there. Out of necessity, that liability gives us a unique perspective – one that is even more well-rounded if you happen to also drive a car from time to time.

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In fact, an hour before I got an uncomfortably close view of a police cruiser’s grille, I was driving my family’s borrowed minivan, and only an hour afterward, I was going 0 to 60 in three seconds on my LiveWire electric motorcycle, so I’d consider myself a fairly holistic road user.

When I’m riding my electric bicycles in the bike lane, especially the unprotected bike lanes that are merely a strip of paint laid down on the shoulder of a busy road, I’m constantly scanning for threats. As you can see in the video below, that gave me around 1-2 seconds of warning as I saw a police cruiser accelerating hard as he prepared to blow past a stop sign to cross three empty lanes of a major road. The only problem was that there was a fourth lane there – a bicycle lane – and it was very occupied, by me.

See what I mean in the video below.

What happened?

Basically, the police cruiser appeared to be in quite a rush. The officer didn’t have the lights or siren on, so I’m not sure if it was official, but the car was booking it. I first heard the engine winding up before even seeing the car, and it was obvious he wasn’t preparing to stop, despite the stop sign at the end of the crossroad.

As soon as I heard the engine and turned my head to clock the car’s trajectory, I was on the brakes. The Velotric Breeze 1 electric bike I was riding has what I can now confirm are excellent hydraulic brakes and I immediately started slowing down. A fraction of a second later, the cop appeared to see me panic braking and started his own panic braking, sliding his cruiser across the stop line and halfway through the pedestrian crosswalk lines.

Once I saw his brake dive and could see he was going to be able to stop in time, I let off my own brakes to continue down the bike lane and not dangerously slide to a stop myself. I had a few choice words but figured I’d be better advised not to confront the cop lest I get hit with some sort of “attempted to damage government property with his formerly intact femur” charge.

I understand that the video above might not look as intense as it felt, but let me assure you that seeing 5,000 pounds of police car skidding towards you on a bicycle will have you leaving your own skidmark of sorts.

What went right… and wrong?

It’s important to remember that this kind of thing happens to countless cyclists every single day. As a bike reviewer, I was merely lucky to have a 360º camera recording during it and the privilege of having a platform to share it on. So why not take the opportunity to make the most of this and learn something useful from the situation?

First of all, let’s look at what went wrong. While this is mostly the fault of the cop, I’m not off the hook here, either.

The main issue here is that the cop was driving recklessly on a side road and intending to blow a stop sign before cutting across three lanes of traffic onto a major road, all while obviously not watching very closely for traffic. Now if he had been responding to a call, that would have been one thing. Police officers aren’t beholden to certain traffic laws and are allowed to disregard things like speed limits and stop signs when responding to an emergency call. However, that’s exactly why they have sirens and lights, to alert other road users. In this case, the cop either wasn’t responding to a call or didn’t turn on his lights or sirens. The fact that he still didn’t turn on his lights or siren even after nearly pancaking me means he probably wasn’t responding to a call, and was just gunning it down a side street because he could.

The second issue is poor road design. Not only was the cop at a disadvantage due to the relatively tall shrubs and retail signs on the side street that could limit a driver’s view of oncoming traffic on the main road, but the bicycle lane I was using was the worst kind: just a strip of paint on the shoulder. There’s no protective border, no green paint as a reminder to drivers, and no clear visual separation at intersections where conflicts are most likely to occur. The cop should still be looking for road users, including cyclists, but the road design didn’t make that any easier.

The last issue, which is on me, is that I was wearing dark colors and not highly visible. Black shirt, dark pants, black helmet – nothing that jumps out and says “look at me.” Now, I’m not a fan of the argument that cyclists should wear high-vis clothing because it smacks of the same kind of victim-blaming thought process brought to you by the folks who use “sure, he shouldn’t have assaulted her behind that bar, but did you see what she was wearing?”. So I could have been more visible, and shoutout to Velotric for offering lots of bright bike colors, but I shouldn’t have to wear a bright yellow vest in order for drivers to not kill me.

Ok, now let’s look at what went right. First of all, I know that I always have to be aware of my surroundings when I’m on a bike. When I ride, I don’t wear headphones and I don’t talk on the phone. My eyes are always scanning and I’m always listening for threats. In this case, I was talking to the camera while filming a review, but you can see I’m still looking around during it and I immediately heard the cop car’s engine accelerating hard as he prepared to swing out onto the road. That meant I could get on the brakes before he even knew I was there. Fortunately, I didn’t have to test the following theory since he saw me at the last minute and also slammed on his brakes, but I believe I could have stopped just short of the side street with my full-on emergency braking. Again, props to Velotric for using good hydraulic brakes on the Breeze 1 e-bike. So that part went well – always be aware of your surroundings and never needlessly mute one of your important senses like sight or hearing.

Next, I was riding at appropriate speeds for the conditions. That bike can do 28 mph (45 km/h) easily, and I enjoy going that fast on long straightaways and in areas where conditions allow. But as you can see from the video, there’s a cross street or retail parking lot entrance just about every few seconds and there are simply too many chances for something like this to happen. I was doing closer to 15-20 mph in this area due to the high number of intersections, which meant that I had more time to react when I detected the threat. At full Class 3 speeds of 28 mph, there’s no way I would have been able to brake in time and I would have been completely reliant on the cop not running that stop sign. Don’t get me wrong, I love going fast and I do it often. But I also slow down when conditions suggest it, and today, that paid off.

And lastly, as I mentioned above, the bike I was riding is an eye-catching bright blue color. In fact, only a few minutes earlier, another cyclist stopped me to tell me how much he loved the color. I truly think that when the cop did finally see me, he probably saw the bright blue bike before he actually saw me. I’ve long advocated for brightly colored e-bikes, partly because of my disdain for suggesting that cyclists should be forced to wear bright-colored clothing for their own protection. Personally, I like fun and bright-colored e-bikes, but I also accept that they help make us more visible regardless of the outfit we choose to wear that day. I’ll also point out that I was also wearing a decent bicycle helmet with a properly adjusted chin strap. It’s been a while since I’ve actually put helmet to pavement, but in the couple of times I’ve crashed over the last decade or so, I’ve been glad it was there.

The moral of the story, if there is one, is that hypervigilance is important for cyclists, and even more important for drivers. If you operate a vehicle that exposes you to the risks of the road, you have to watch out for yourself. And if you operate a vehicle that exposes everyone else to the risk of your vehicle, then the responsibility sits even heavier upon you.

Even ignoring the fact that, in this case, it was the very people we expect to keep our roads safe that ultimately caused the greatest danger, all car drivers simply must do a better job watching for all road users, and that includes the most vulnerable, such as cyclists and motorcyclists.

And as vulnerable road users ourselves, those of us who opt for two wheels must remember that among the few people who actually read my previous sentence, almost none will heed it, and that means we are the only ones we can count on to truly protect ourselves.

Perhaps one day more cities will have better ways to physically separate cyclists from cars through the use of improved road infrastructure and protected cycling lanes. Until then, we’ll have to rely on our eyes, our ears, and our helmets.

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Lawsuit blames Cybertruck door handles for death of three teens after Tesla crash

Published

6 hours ago

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October 3, 2025

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Lawsuit blames Cybertruck door handles for death of three teens after Tesla crash

cybertruck piedmont crash
Photo: California Highway Patrol

Two Bay Area families are suing Tesla over the death of their 19-year-old daughter and 20-year-old son after a crash which left them and one other teenager dead, trapped inside the vehicle due to what the lawsuit alleges is poor door handle design.

The lawsuit traces back to a 2024 crash on Thanksgiving Eve in Piedmont, California, where a Cybertruck carrying four college students crashed into a tree and a wall, causing a fire. As a result of the crash, the Cybertruck’s electronic door handles no longer worked, and the passengers were trapped inside.

A surveillance video released by the California Highway Patrol showed the Cybertruck’s final moments, rounding a curve at high speed and seeming to lose control of the rear of the vehicle as it crested a hill, with a large flash seen in the video after the Cybertruck leaves the frame.

A friend in another vehicle that had been following the Cybertruck stopped and managed to break the front passenger window after “ten to fifteen hits” with a fallen tree branch and pull one passenger out of the vehicle, but the other three passengers died inside of asphyxia from smoke inhalation and had burns on their body.

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Tesla vehicles typically do receive high scores for passenger safety in crash tests, and Tesla has touted its “armor glass” as being hard to break (despite a famously failed demo at the Cybertruck’s introduction). And it appears that the occupants did not die from the crash impact itself, but rather from being trapped inside and the resulting smoke and burns.

Krystal Tsukahara, 19
Jack Nelson, 20
Soren Dixon, 19
Photos: City of Piedmont

The three college students who died were 19 year old Krysta Tsukarahara and Soren Dixon, and 20 year old Jack Nelson. Dixon had been driving the vehicle, and post-crash investigations discovered that all three had been under the influence at the time of the crash. All were high school friends home from college for Thanksgiving and had spent the night out together on what is known to be one of the worst drunk driving nights of the year.

After the crash, Tsukahara’s family filed a lawsuit against the estate of Dixon, the driver of the car. The car belonged to Dixon’s relative.

The Tsukaharas have now amended their case to include Tesla as a defendant after post-crash investigations suggested the car’s design contributed to the deaths, blaming door handles that are difficult to operate and doors and windows that are hard for rescuers to access for their child’s death. Nelson’s family filed a separate lawsuit, with the same allegation.

Tesla’s door handles in focus

Tesla vehicles have electronic door handles, with outer door handles that are flush against the vehicle. This enhances the sleek look of the exterior, and also leads to small aerodynamic gains.

However, it also leads to confusing operation, as each car the company has released so far has had a different door handle in a different place on the vehicle with a different method of operation than the last.

This also means that the outer door handles can be hard to operate in an emergency situation. In the crash described above, the rescuer had to bash at the Cybertruck’s window “ten to fifteen” times, after having failed to punch it out with his fist. An externally operable door handle would have perhaps resulted in a different outcome.

Further, the interior door release can be confusing in an emergency situation. Normally one just presses the interior door release button, which operates electronically. However, when there’s a problem with the vehicle, that system can become disconnected and require a manual release.

Every Tesla has a manual release, but it’s often hidden in a place that passengers may not know to look, or may have difficulty finding in an emergency scenario, especially for rear seat passengers.

On the Cybertruck, the front manual door release is relatively easy to access, just in front of the window switches. Indeed, sometimes passengers will accidentally pull this lever rather than the electronic door release (which is not recommended, as it can damage the window trim). In the event of this crash, at least one passenger was described as “barely conscious,” and thus operation of the door handle may not have been an option.

Front manual door release
Rear manual door release, step 1
Rear manual door release, step 2
Cybertruck’s manual door releases. From Tesla’s Cybertruck owners manual

But the rear release is much harder to find. To access it, one must remove a rubber mat from the map pocket, revealing a mechanical release cable with a loop on the end, then pull it forward.

Tsukahara’s parents say that she “was alive after the crash. She called out for help. And she couldn’t get out.” It is conceivable that simpler door handles may have resulted in a different outcome, though three of the vehicle’s doors were obstructed by the wall and tree that it had crashed into. The right rear door, the seat occupied by Nelson, was unobstructed, according to the Nelsons’ lawsuit.

Tesla’s other cars have similarly hidden mechanical door releases in the rear, under carpet under the seat in the Model S, under the map pocket in the Model 3 and Model Y, or behind the speaker grille in the Model X.

These designs have resulted in criticism, and have been the focus of government agencies recently. Tesla is currently being investigated by the NHTSA over its door handle design, and Tesla has confirmed that it is finally redesigning its handles.

Elsewhere in the world, Chinese auto regulators are mulling a ban on retractable door handles, as many sleek new EVs have taken on the trend that Tesla started with its flush door handles.

There have been several lawsuits against Tesla for deaths in its vehicles, often associated with the company’s Autopilot or Full Self-Driving systems. The company typically chooses to settle these lawsuits out of court, despite CEO Elon Musk stating “we will never surrender/settle an unjust case against us, even if we will probably lose,” though it did refuse to settle a recent case and ended up with a $243 million judgment against it, in the first Tesla ADAS case that reached trial.

While this crash had nothing to do with the company’s driver assist systems, it will be interesting to see how Tesla responds to this lawsuit.

The two cases are Nelson v Tesla Inc. and Tsukahara v Dixon, both filed in the California Superior Court in Alameda County. Tsukahara’s case has been set for trial in February 2027.

Electrek’s Take

When I was in high school, a very similar accident happened. A large SUV was speeding around a curve, lost control, and rolled. The teenagers inside were under the influence, though the driver wasn’t in this case. It was national news, and significantly affected our community.

Many other communities have felt the same. It’s a common story. And yet, we still keep building these giant, lumbering land yachts, thinking that it enhances safety when it does not.

But that’s somewhat of an aside here. If the Cybertruck were more nimble or less “impenetrable,” maybe the crash results would have been different. But the focus on door handles is one simple, clear change that would have saved lives in this instance.

Tesla has always had weird door handles, and the door handles have always ended up causing some sort of problem. Whether it be overly complicated latches which make repair costly as in the Model S, overly complicated door which delay release like the Model X, oddly-placed manual door releases that can cause abnormal wear on the Model 3 and Y, or even the svelte door handles on my original Roadster which are currently giving me a weird problem I can’t even explain here, this is a pattern.

And the pattern doesn’t just apply to door handles, but to much of how Tesla works as a company, with the “move fast and break things” approach common in technology. While Tesla has been innovative, those innovations sometimes have come with less consideration for safety than they perhaps should have.

Now, with these Cybertruck deaths, maybe we can finally get a little reason and have Tesla be more normal with its door handles, at least.

The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.


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Rad Power offers $200 discount and up to $210 in FREE bundled gear on e-bikes from $1,399, Exclusive Anker S340 solar cam low, more

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8 hours ago

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October 3, 2025

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Rad Power offers 0 discount and up to 0 in FREE bundled gear on e-bikes from ,399, Exclusive Anker S340 solar cam low, more

It’s another EV-heavy day of Green Deals, headlined by Rad Power’s newly launched Haul-o-ween Sale that is taking $200 off one e-bike, while offering up to $210 in FREE bundled gear with several other new and legacy models, like the Radster Trail Off-Road e-bike and the Radster Road Commuter e-bike getting a $199 free cargo kit for $1,999, while other deals start from $1,399. We also secured up to $280 in exclusive savings on nine Anker eufy security devices, like the SoloCam S340 Solar Security Camera at a new $110 low. We also have new low prices on Heybike’s Hero Carbon-Fiber All-Terrain e-bikes starting from $2,099, an Autel 40A level 2 smart EV charger discount, and more waiting for you below. And don’t forget about all the hangover deals collected at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s exclusive new Jackery Explorer 3000 v2 (HomePower 3000) low price, and more.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

Tested: Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 portable power station brings ample support in a smaller and lighter unit

Anker is hands-down one of the most well-known tech accessory brands with an extensive lineup of consumer electronics, and its SOLIX sub-brand has making waves in the  portable backup power solution space. Its C1000 power station made big waves when it first hit the market in 2023, quickly becoming a popular charging solution for camping and other outdoor activities, in particular. Now, two years later, the Anker has introduced its SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station, which I was lucky enough to snag and test out, and which I believe will outshine its predecessor in the long run. Head below to get my hands-on impressions of this all-new solar generator.

To get our full hands-on impression of this new portable backup power solution, be sure to check out our review here.

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man and woman riding Rad Power Radster Trail e-bikes through forest

Rad Power’s Haul-o-ween Sale offers up to $210 in FREE cargo or starter gear with new and legacy e-bikes starting from $1,399

Rad Power Bikes has launched its Haul-o-ween Sale, with a $200 discount on its RadRover 6 Plus e-bike, as well as several other models (new and legacy) getting up to $210 in FREE bundle kits and accessories. Amongst the models seeing bundles attached, you’ll find the Radster Trail Off-Road e-bike getting a free $199 cargo kit at $1,999 shipped, with its Radster Road Commuter e-bike sibling getting the same kit for $1,999 shipped too. Just be sure to add the e-bikes and the cargo kits (all from the same landing pages) to your cart for the discount to automatically be applied. Originally going for $2,199 at full price since their release in March, we saw the brand officially drop prices to these rates mid-August, with the deals here giving you the continued lowest tracked prices alongside the free gear. Head below to learn more and browse the full lineup of deals while the sale lasts.

The stylish new Radster Trail and Radster Road e-bikes are very similar in their overall designs, with slight differences based on where you plan to spend most of your time riding – down streets or through trails and other off-road areas. They both come boasting 100Nm torque-producing 750W rear hub motors with 720Wh Safe Shield semi-integrated batteries powering them. This combination provides you with up to 65+ miles of pedal-assisted travel (supported by a torque sensor) at up to 20/28 MPH top speeds, depending on state-specific laws. Among the other shared features, you’ll be gaining hydraulic disc brakes, hydraulic suspension forks, auto-on headlights, brake-activated taillights, turn signaling functionality, rear cargo racks, a color display with a Type-C port, and more.

There are also the shared smart features here, which include passcode locking, an included security fob, and more. Where these models differ, as you may already be able to guess, is mainly in their tires. The Trail model bringing along 27.5-inch by 3-inch Kenda Havoc puncture-resistant tires for your off-roading fun, while the Road model has been equipped with 29-inch by 2.2-inch Kenda Kwik puncture-resistant tires, as well as some differing fender/handlebar designs too.

Rad Power Bikes Haul-o-ween discounts:

Rad Power Bikes Haul-o-ween bundle/accessory deals:

  • RadRunner Cargo Utility e-bike: $1,499 (No price cut)
    • 20 MPH for up to 55+ miles
    • gets FREE $210 starter kit (added on landing page)
  • RadWagon 4 Cargo e-bike: $1,799 (No price cut)
  • RadRunner Plus Cargo Utility e-bike: $1,799 (No price cut)
    • 20 MPH for up to 55+ miles
    • gets FREE $210 starter kit (added on landing page)
  • Radster Trail Off-Road e-bike: $1,999 (No price cut)
    • 20/28 MPH for up to 65+ miles
    • comes with FREE $199 cargo kit (added on landing page)
  • Radster Road Commuter e-bike: $1,999 (No price cut)
    • 20/28 MPH for up to 65+ miles
    • comes with FREE $199 cargo kit (added on landing page)
  • RadRunner Max Cargo Utility e-bike: $2,299 (No price cut)
    • 20/28 MPH for up to 60+ miles
    • gets FREE $210 starter kit (added on landing page)
  • RadWagon 5 Cargo e-bike: $2,399 (No price cut)
Anker eufy SoloCam S340 solar security camera with solar panel attached to house

Upgrade your security with up to $280 in exclusive savings on Anker eufy cameras and smart locks at new lows from $70

We’ve secured quite the lineup of exclusive deals for our readers from Wellbots on Anker eufy security devices, with most at new low prices, like the SoloCam S340 Solar Security Camera at $109.99 shipped, after using the exclusive code 9TO5EUF90 at checkout. Normally, this model runs for $200 at full price, which we’ve seen drop as low as $123 this year, while last year saw things fall lower to $120 during Cyber Monday sales. While these exclusive savings last, you’ll be getting $90 taken off the tag, landing it at a new all-time low price. Head below to learn more about this device and the others benefiting from exclusive discounts.

If you want to learn more about this camera, as well as browse the full lineup of deals, be sure to check out our original coverage of all the exclusive security savings here.

man on Heybike Hero e-bike atop mountainous terrain

Heybike’s premium Hero carbon fiber mid-drive and rear hub all-terrain e-bikes at new lows from $2,099

As part of its ongoing Prime Fall e-bike Sale, which has given us new low prices on the ALPHA all-terrain and Hauler cargo e-bikes, Heybike has also dropped the price lower-than-ever on its Hero Carbon-Fiber All-Terrain e-bikes too. You can find the 1,000W rear hub model down at $2,099 shipped, while its upgraded 750W mid-drive model is sitting at $2,299 shipped. These are some of the brand’s higher-end EVs, which normally go for $2,599 and $3,099 at full price, and which have mostly received $100 to $300 discounts over the year, save for select events, like its anniversary sale, where we saw things go lower to $2,199 and $2,499. Now the savings are bigger and better than ever, as the $500 and $800 markdowns here land the costs at new all-time low prices.

If you want to learn more about these two e-bikes, be sure to check out our original coverage of these deals here.

man charging vehicle with Autel EV charger

Bring home Autel’s 40A MaxiCharger AC Lite level 2 EV charging station with an AI voice assistant for $379

Through its official Amazon storefront, Autel is dropping costs on its MaxiCharger AC Lite Home 40A Smart AI Level 2 EV Charger to $379 shipped in both colorway options. This is an at-home charging solution that normally runs for $470 at full price, with regular discounts to $399 over the year, and only one-time falls to $376 and the $352 low, which appeared back during Memorial Day sales. You can pick it up here at only $3 more than July’s Prime Day rate, saving you $91 off the going rate for the third-lowest price we have tracked.

If you want to learn more about this EV charging station, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here, while its 50A counterpart can be found at $455 here.

Review: Ride1Up’s Revv1 DRT e-bike is a rugged off-roader with plenty of suspension and hidden punch

When it comes to e-bikes, most people’s immediate thought is a commuter model designed to get you through streets to your various destinations, but with Ride1Up’s Revv1 DRT e-bike, the fun is extended (and primarily focused) to off-road adventures, and boy, does this baby have some go in it. It’s been over two years since we reviewed the Revv1 FS counterpart, which we came away quite impressed with its SUPER73-like design. Now we’re heading off the beaten path with this newer off-road variant, which boasts improved specs that outshine its predecessors in the series.

To get our full hands-on impression of this e-bike, be sure to check out our review here.

anker solix early prime day power station sale
ecoflow early prime day power station sale
jackery Early Prime Day Power Station Sale

Best Fall EV deals!

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.


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Nissan LEAF hit with a big recall, more than 19,000 vehicles affected

Published

8 hours ago

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October 3, 2025

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Nissan LEAF hit with a big recall, more than 19,000 vehicles affected

Nissan-LEAF-Recall-19,000

It’s a good thing the new 2026 LEAF should be here any day. The recall affects over 19,000 Nissan LEAF vehicles, model years 2021-2022, because the battery may overheat during fast charging. Here’s the fix.

Nissan LEAF recall impacts 19,000+ vehicles

Nissan’s OG, the LEAF, has been hit with yet another recall. In a letter sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on October 2, Nissan announced a recall of 19,077 LEAF models from 2021 to 2022.

The recall only affects models that are equipped with a Level 3 quick charging port. Nissan said the battery may overheat during fast charging.

After an investigation, Nissan found that LEAF models built between November 3, 2020, and May 23, 2022, at its Smyrna Assembly plant, may have an issue with excessive lithium deposits within the battery cells. If that happens, the increased electrical resistance can cause the battery to overheat or catch fire during Level 3 charging.

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Nissan is preparing a software update to fix the issue. Once it’s ready, Nissan said owners of affected vehicles will be notified with an “Invitation to Repair Owner” letter, which will include further instructions.

Nissan-LEAF-recall-19,000
2025 Nissan LEAF (Source Nissan)

The letters are expected to be mailed out, starting on October 24, 2025. Dealers will update the battery software, free of charge. Until it’s ready, Nissan is urging owners not to use Level 3 quick charging.

For those with LEAF models that are no longer under warranty, Nissan will include instructions in the owner notification letters concerning reimbursement.

Nissan-LEAF-recall-19,000
2025 Nissan LEAF (Source Nissan)

Owners can contact Nissan’s customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan’s recall number is R25C8. You can also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or visit the nhtsa.gov website for more information.

Nissan-new-LEAF-EV
2026 Nissan LEAF (Source: Nissan

The outgoing LEAF has had several major recalls now, but the third-generation model, set to hit dealerships any day now, promises to fix some of its biggest issues.

Nissan claims the 2026 LEAF has “the lowest starting MSRP for any new EV currently on sale in the US” at just $29,990. It also has a fresh, new crossover SUV-like design, over 300 miles of driving range, and an NACS port (finally) to access Tesla Superchargers.

While Nissan focuses on the new LEAF, its electric SUV, the Ariya, will not be offered in the US for the 2026 model year.


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