(December 31, 2012) Nissan said last week it will replace some poorly performing batteries in its electric Leaf and will offer expanded warranty coverage to address battery issues for 18,000 U.S. owners.

Some Leaf owners in hot-weather climates have complained of poor performance and battery capacity loss in the Leaf's lithium-ion battery, the Detroit News reported.

Andy Palmer, Nissan's executive vice president, in an email to owners offering enhanced warranty coverage, said, "With this action, Nissan becomes the first and only manufacturer in the automotive industry to provide limited warranty coverage for battery capacity loss for electric vehicles."

The new coverage will apply to all 2011-2012 Leafs, effective likely this spring. Nissan said dealers need to prepare for the new coverage.

Nissan will offer coverage to protect against capacity loss in Leaf batteries that fall below nine bars of the maximum 12 bars displayed on the vehicle's battery capacity gauge.

The coverage will be good for five years or 60,000 miles.

For owners with batteries that have fallen below nine bars before 60,000 miles, Nissan will repair or replace the battery under warranty with a new or remanufactured battery to restore capacity to a minimum of nine bars.

A vehicle whose battery has nine remaining bars indicated on the gauge is retaining approximately 70 percent of its original battery capacity.

Palmer said Nissan is working "to improve the precision of the battery capacity gauge that displays remaining capacity in the Leaf's electric vehicle battery."

Source: The Detroit News