Nissan expands battery warranty coverage for Leaf EVs

Nissan hasn't been having the best of luck with its all-electric Leaf. The vehicle hasn't sold in numbers like the automaker had hoped. Out of the consumers who purchased the Leaf, nearly 18,000 complained of battery capacity loss and poor performance of the vehicle battery packs.

To address the complaints of Leaf owners Nissan has decided to expand warranty coverage for the vehicle battery packs. Nissan has announced that it will be replacing batteries that have lost capacity for Leaf owners. Nissan says that it is the first and only auto manufacturer to provide limited warranty coverage for battery capacity loss on the EVs it produces.

The extended warranty coverage will go into effect this spring and apply to all 2011 and 2012 Leaf vehicles. The coverage will protect against capacity loss and batteries that fall under nine bars of the maximum 12 bars displayed on the Leaf's battery capacity gauge. The extended warranty covers the batteries if they fall under nine bars before 60,000 miles.

If the capacity loss occurs before the 60,000-mile mark, Nissan will replace or repair the batteries free of cost. Nissan is also said that it is working to improve the accuracy of the battery capacity gauge in the vehicle. Some Leaf owners have found themselves stranded on the side of the road when that gauge showed that the batteries had enough capacity to make a trip.

[via Inautonews]