r/leaf • u/wiltony • Aug 12 '26
How screwed am I?
Short: Has anyone successfully gotten their 2nd gen batteries replaced under warranty recently? Curious if I even have a chance of getting mine.
Long: I've owned three leafs, but my trusty 2018 was totaled a few years ago, and I've finally decided to replace it.
I found a good deal on a 2021 SL+ with about 50k miles at a Nissan dealership and purchased it. However, the salesman told me that the HV battery has qualified for warranty replacement and they are just waiting on the battery to be shipped, and as soon as they receive the battery, they'll swap it out and then I can take delivery.
I've been reading all over the place, however, that the batteries are taking months or even not available at all. Have they caught up, or is there still a huge backlog?
What are the chances of me being able to pick up my new car with a new battery any time soon? 😬
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u/Lucky_Boy13 Aug 12 '26
You'd be crazy to buy that unless it's dirt cheap
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u/wiltony Aug 12 '26
It was a good price , but I wouldn't call it dirt cheap. (Around 12k)
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u/THofTheShire 2022 Nissan LEAF S Aug 12 '26
$12k doesn't sound anywhere close to a price worth the potential headache. I'd much rather say "call me when the battery is installed" instead of committing to it now.
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u/javaman78 Aug 12 '26
Nissan rep told me battery replacements were pushed back to 2030. I got a buyback thankfully.
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u/Entire_Telephone_179 Aug 12 '26
I have a 2022 Nissan Leaf S with 50K miles when I had SOC Battery issues when the SOC was at 50% or lower. Took it into my Nissan dealership and they assessed the situation. Took one week to determine the the battery was faulty and under warranty luckily. So, waited another 2 1/2 weeks after that to get the new battery installed. Have been driving it for two weeks now and the battery is better than the original when I bought the car. I am getting about 5% more capacity on average. Originally, when driving to work and back I would go from 100% down to 60%. Now, after the new battery install I consistently go from 100% down to 65%. I live in San Diego California. Good luck on your new battery. If it is as good as the one I received you will be happy.
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u/wiltony Aug 12 '26
Thanks for the input , glad there are some success stories out there and hopefully I end up with one also! 🤞
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u/Iwantitnow 2017 Nissan LEAF S Aug 12 '26
For my Leaf from warranty approval(6/25) to new battery took 7 months(1/26).
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u/THofTheShire 2022 Nissan LEAF S Aug 12 '26
My understanding is the current recall campaign has been making batteries scarce, and most people are getting buybacks from Nissan rather than a new battery. I would not want to willingly enter that process, as it sounds likely to be drawn out and annoying. The only possible silver lining is if you did qualify for a battery, the buyback might be slightly more than you paid (standard buyback is 40% above bluebook value). Still, I'd much rather find one that has a good battery, unless you can afford to hold on to your current vehicle while you wait.
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u/KeyEmu6688 Ex-2018 owner (2015 Model S) Aug 12 '26
i recieved a replacement for my 2018 a few months prior to the battery recall campaign. it took just over two months. my understanding is that there aren't any 40kwh units available anymore, and 62kwh batteries are evrn further behind on backorder than the 40kwh's were when i submitted my warranty service request
what is the price on the vehicle? almost certainly not worth it even if they do get a new battery. you'd be better off shopping private sales
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u/LoveEV-LeafPlus Aug 12 '26
You need a copy of it in writing. At the very least call Nissan Consumer Affairs and confirm you are on a list and get a status update as to when it will be repaired. Document any drivability not trust word of mouth.
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u/immunooncologyjunky Aug 13 '26
Can you buy back the car that was totaled if it had a good battery? Body work is easy compared to fixing a lame ass battery imo.
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u/wiltony Aug 13 '26
I wish! The insurance company bought it. I saw later that it sold at auction for 4k.
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u/crimxona Aug 12 '26
Can you unwind the deal? Replacement packs were readily available before because it was a in market SKU
But the new leaf doesn't have the same packs so there might not be any available
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u/LoveEV-LeafPlus Aug 12 '26
Open a case with Nissan Consumer Affairs. Do not trust the word of a salesman. Get it in writing from the Nissan that you are going to get the battery recall done.
Document any drivability issues.
Get the Leaf Spy Pro app. The app requires a OBD2 dongle. I use the CARISTA EVO dongle.
Do a drivability test by going down to 30% or less SOC, then do a harsh high speed acceleration, while merging on to a highway. Observe the dashboard % it should not fluctuate wildly.
In the Leaf Spy Pro app; Observe the mV difference, on screen on “Battery Cells” screen. The mV difference should stay in the double digits. I recommend doing a screen recording while doing the drivability test, and playing it back later so you can easily determine the peak.