Nissan Leaf hit with urgent recall notice

A giant Japanese car maker has asked owners to bring their cars back to dealerships to fix a vital safety issue that could have serious consequences.

Nissan has issued an urgent recall for its Leaf electric hatchback due to a software issue that could result in the car accelerating once the cruise control is switch off.

More than 1700 of the electric cars built between 2018 and 2023 are affected, according to the recall notice posted by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and Arts.

Nissan has issued a recall for its Leaf EV. Photo by Thomas Wielecki

A software issue in the Nissan Leafs could result in a malfunction of the cruise control that could cause the car to unintentionally accelerate when the cruise control is disengaged.

If this occurs it can increase the risk of a serious accident or death to passengers and other road users, according to the recall notice.

Nissan has asked owners to contact their local dealership to organise a free software update.

More modern rivals from brands such as Tesla can update vehicle software over-the-air. This works in the same way your smartphone updates its software and can be done anytime and anywhere.

The cruise control may malfunction due to a software error. Photo by Thomas Wielecki

The Nissan Leaf was one of the first electric cars to go on sale in Australia. It is available in two specifications: stand Leaf and Leaf e+.

Standard Leafs only have a short driving range of up to 270km and the e+ boosts this to 385km.

The Leaf was cutting edge when it first launched and brought in tech such as one-pedal driving that allows drivers to use the accelerator pedal to go and stop. You push down to accelerate and when you pull your foot back it automatically brakes.

The Leaf was one of the first EVs sold in Australia.

It is also one of the only vehicles on the market with in-built bi-directional charging. This allows owners to power their house or other buildings with the energy stored in the battery, depending on local regulations.

The Leaf is quickly being superseded by cheaper Chinese rivals that offer more performance, longer driving range and longer standard equipment lists for less than $40,000.

Nissan is preparing to launch the Ariya, the first of its new generation of electric cars, next year.

It will have a hi-tech interior, dual motor performance and a driving range of more than 500km.