Transport CanadaCritical
At a glance
What can fail
A software problem may cause the vehicle to unexpectedly enter fail-safe mode, cutting power to the wheels.
This page covers 8 recalls, 38 owner complaints and NHTSA crash-test ratings for the 2023 Nissan Ariya.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The 2023 Nissan Ariya draws the most complaints around its electrical system and drivetrain behavior. Electrical issues are the top reported category, with owners describing the vehicle displaying "Service EV system" warnings and becoming completely unable to move, sometimes requiring a restart sequence to regain drive functionality. A recurring drivetrain complaint involves the car unexpectedly dropping into neutral at low speeds and locking there, with owners reporting they have to shut the vehicle off, restart it, and floor the accelerator to restore normal gear selection. The powertrain complaints overlap with this pattern in some cases. A smaller cluster of engine-related reports includes oil leaks and at least one account of a complete engine failure accompanied by smoke from the engine compartment. A handful of brake-related reports describe reduced braking performance and a clicking noise at low speeds accompanied by a brief wheel-spin sensation before coming to a full stop.
38
Total Complaints
2
Crash-Related
1
With Injuries
By System
The 2023 Nissan Ariya has 8 recalls, covering two serious issues: the steering wheel bolt may be loose or missing entirely, which can cause the wheel to detach from the column and leave the driver with no steering control.
The remaining recalls all center on unexpected loss of drive power, which can catch a driver off guard in traffic or at highway speeds. Several are rooted in inverter software problems: the inverter can misread electrical conditions, falsely detect a fault, and shut the drive system down without warning. A related issue involves the drive motor itself, where a momentary surge of electrical current can trigger the vehicle's fail-safe mode and cut power to the wheels. There is also a hardware concern in the same area: O-rings inside the front electric motor may have been damaged during assembly, allowing oil to leak internally. That internal oil leak can push the vehicle into fail-safe mode and produce the same sudden power loss. Prior repair attempts for the software-related shutdowns did not fully resolve the issue, which is why multiple rounds of fixes address overlapping versions of this problem. Across all of these drivetrain and software recalls, the consequence is the same: the car can abruptly stop accelerating in a situation where the driver expects full power.
At a glance
What can fail
A software problem may cause the vehicle to unexpectedly enter fail-safe mode, cutting power to the wheels.
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Nissan will mail you instructions to visit a dealership, where technicians will reprogram the inverter.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The inverter software may incorrectly identify an error and shut down the electric drive system, causing loss of driving power.
What the fix does
Dealers will check your inverter software version and update it if needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
O-rings in the electric front traction motor may have been damaged during assembly, causing internal oil leaks that can lead to unexpected loss of driving power.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front traction motor assembly at no cost to the owner.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The seals in the electric motor may have been damaged during production, allowing oil to leak inside. This could cause the motor to fail and result in loss of power to the wheels.
What the fix does
Nissan will mail you a notice. Take your vehicle to a Nissan dealership to have the front motor assembly replaced.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A brief power surge in the drive motor can trigger the fail-safe system, cutting power to the wheels.
What the fix does
Nissan will mail you instructions to visit a dealership, where technicians will reprogram the inverter.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The inverter software may incorrectly detect a short circuit and shut down the electric drivetrain system, causing loss of drive power.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the inverter software at no cost to restore normal operation.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The bolt securing the steering wheel may not be properly tightened or installed, allowing the steering wheel to loosen or detach and causing loss of steering control.
What the fix does
Nissan will mail instructions to take your vehicle to a dealership where technicians will replace the steering wheel bolt.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The steering wheel bolt may not have been properly tightened during manufacturing or may be missing entirely.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the steering wheel bolt at no cost. Contact your dealer if the wheel feels loose when rocked by hand.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
