Nissan Accused of Selling Electric Cars With Fire Risk From Defective Batteries

Case Overview: A class action lawsuit claims Nissan sold 2019–2022 Leaf electric vehicles with defective batteries that can overheat and catch fire when using Level 3 fast chargers.

Consumers Affected: California and Oregon owners or lessees of 2019–2022 Nissan Leaf vehicles equipped with the alleged defective high-voltage batteries.

Court: U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Nissan sells thousands of electric vehicles with a dangerous defect that can cause battery fires and it fails to warn customers of the risk, a new lawsuit claims. The complaint says 2019 through 2022 Nissan Leaf models contain a flaw in their high-voltage batteries that makes them overheat during “Level 3” fast charging, potentially leading to combustion.

According to the lawsuit, the problem stems from lithium buildup inside the batteries and the lack of a proper thermal management system to regulate temperature. Nissan, the lawsuit states, knew about the issue long before marketing the cars as quick-charging, affordable electric vehicles, yet continued to promote them as safe and reliable.

Letters Warned of Fire Risk But Promised Fix Never Came

The lawsuit was filed by several Leaf owners and lessees from California and Oregon who say they were misled into buying cars they believed could safely charge at any station. 

Among them are a California resident who purchased a 2019 Leaf Plus and two Oregon residents who bought or leased 2020 Leaf models. Each plaintiff says they relied on Nissan’s marketing promises about fast-charging capability, only to later receive notices advising them not to use Level 3 chargers at all.

Those letters, sent in October 2024, warned drivers of the fire risk and said a “software fix” would be released soon. Nearly a year later, no fix has arrived. Without the ability to fast charge, the owners argue their vehicles’ range, value, and convenience have been significantly reduced.

Lack of Cooling System Allegedly at the Core of the Problem

The Nissan Leaf was once a pioneer in the EV market and remains one of its most affordable options, the lawsuit explains. But plaintiffs say its design flaw, an absence of a cooling system for the lithium-ion battery, has caused persistent overheating and performance problems, especially in extreme temperatures. 

Some owners reportedly experienced fires or reduced charging speeds as the system throttled power to prevent overheating.

Despite earlier litigation over similar battery issues in older Leaf models, Nissan continued to sell the affected cars, the complaint says. The company later admitted that future Leaf generations will include a liquid cooling pack, an acknowledgment, the lawsuit claims, that the current design is unsafe.

EV Manufacturers Face Surge of Lawsuits Over Battery Defects

Nissan joins a growing list of automakers battling lawsuits over defective or misleading electric-vehicle technology. 

California drivers have sued VinFast, claiming its 2024 VF 8 model takes nearly a day to charge despite promises of fast performance. Ford faces a class action lawsuit over Bronco Sport and Maverick batteries that can suddenly die, while Audi, Volkswagen, and Porsche are all under scrutiny for high-voltage battery defects. 

Even toolmaker Chervon is accused of selling lithium-ion batteries prone to overheating and fire.

In this case, the plaintiffs want to represent all California and Oregon owners or lessees of 2019–2022 Nissan Leafs. They are seeking damages, restitution, and a court order requiring Nissan to replace the defective charging systems or extend warranties to cover related issues. 

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Proudfoot, et al. v. Nissan North America, Inc.
• Case Number: 2:25-cv-09115 
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Plaintiffs' Attorney:

• Christopher R. Rodriguez, Andrew D. Bluth, and John R. Ternieden (Singleton Schreiber, LLP)
• David Greifinger (Law Offices of David R. Greifinger)
• Howard A. Goldstein (Law Offices of Howard A. Goldstein)

If you own a Nissan Leaf, have you experienced charging or overheating issues? Tell us what happened in the comments below.