Nissan Expands Leaf Battery Warranty After Capacity Complaints
Nissan will extend warranty coverage for battery capacity loss on 2011 and 2012 Leaf models in the US, following owner complaints about rapid battery degradation.
Nissan has responded to mounting complaints from US Leaf owners about rapid battery capacity loss by expanding the warranty coverage for 2011 and 2012 models. The new policy, announced in late December 2012, will see Nissan repair or replace batteries that drop below nine bars out of twelve on the car’s dashboard capacity gauge within 60,000 miles.
The move affects nearly 18,000 US Leaf owners, many of whom had reported that their cars’ lithium-ion batteries were losing usable range faster than expected. The updated warranty is intended to address these concerns and reassure both current and prospective Leaf buyers about the long-term reliability of Nissan’s electric vehicle technology.
What the new warranty covers
Under the revised terms, Nissan will repair or replace any battery in a 2011 or 2012 Leaf that falls below nine bars on the capacity gauge before reaching 60,000 miles. The gauge, located on the dashboard, displays 12 bars when the battery is new. Each bar lost represents a reduction in the battery’s ability to hold charge, and dropping below nine bars is seen as a substantial loss of range for owners relying on the car for daily use.
The coverage applies to vehicles sold in the US from the 2011 and 2012 model years. Nissan has said it is also working to improve the accuracy of the battery capacity gauge itself, after some owners questioned whether it was correctly reflecting the battery’s true state of health.
Owner response and context
Complaints about battery degradation had become a growing issue for Nissan, particularly among owners in hotter climates, where elevated temperatures can accelerate the loss of battery capacity. The company’s decision to expand warranty coverage comes at a time when electric vehicle buyers are paying close attention to total cost of ownership and long-term reliability, both of which are heavily influenced by battery performance.
Nissan sold 8,330 Leafs in the US in 2012, a decline of 4.5% from the previous year. The company’s move to extend the warranty may help restore confidence in the model as it competes with rivals such as the Chevrolet Volt, which saw its sales double in the same period (see Chevrolet Volt Sales Double in June as GM Outpaces Nissan Leaf).
What it means for buyers and the industry
By offering warranty coverage for capacity loss, Nissan aims to reassure existing owners and attract new customers wary of battery replacement costs. The company’s willingness to address the problem directly could influence how other manufacturers approach battery warranties as electric vehicles become more common. For now, Nissan’s move sets a precedent in the sector and puts pressure on rivals to match or exceed its level of support for early EV adopters.
