Nissan will recall around 47,000 Leaf electric cars to address an issue with braking performance in cold weather.

In very cold temperatures, the relay inside the cars' electronic brake booster may freeze, requiring the driver to exert more pressure on the brake pedal.

This could affect braking performance, requiring longer stopping distances and consequently increasing the risk of a crash if the driver is caught unaware.

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If the relay does malfunction, a brake warning light will illuminate on startup.

The braking system will continue to function in an "assist mode," Nissan says, but with impeded performance.

The recall affects 46,859 Leaf electric cars in the U.S. from model years 2013 through 2015, as well as 679 vehicles in Canada.

2013 Nissan Leaf

2013 Nissan Leaf

The affected U.S. cars were built between November 19, 2012, and July 31, 2015.

Nissan will notify owners when dealers are ready to schedule appointments to address the braking issue.

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Dealers will reprogram the Intelligent Brake Control Unit software free of charge.

Nissan says it is not aware of any injuries or crashes related to this issue.

2015 Nissan Leaf

2015 Nissan Leaf

This recall is the culmination of a year of investigations into the Leaf cold-weather braking issue, going back to when Canadian regulators first began looking into the matter last February.

Nissan announced a service campaign for the problem four months ago, and is now upgrading it to a full recall.

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Leaf owners seeking more information can contact Nissan customer service at 1-(800)-647-7261.

Recall information can also be found at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Safercar.gov website, under ID number 16V119000.

[hat tip: Tricia Barr]

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