In one of the most significant recent recalls, Nissan is pulling back over 480,000 vehicles across North America, including the United States and Canada. The issue? A potentially dangerous engine defect that could result in severe engine damage or complete failure, increasing the risk of a crash.
What’s Going On With Nissan?
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has confirmed that 443,899 Nissan vehicles in the United States are being recalled. Meanwhile, Nissan has also confirmed that 37,837 vehicles are affected in Canada, bringing the total number to over 480,000.
At the heart of this recall is a flaw in certain VC-Turbo engines — specifically the 1.5-litre 3-cylinder and 2-litre 4-cylinder engines. These engines may have defective engine bearings, which could cause the engine to wear out prematurely, run poorly, or in the worst cases, fail entirely while the vehicle is being driven.
What Are the Risks?
Engine bearing failure may sound technical, but the risks are quite real. If the bearings fail, drivers may suddenly lose power or find the engine stalling mid-drive — a situation that can be dangerous, especially on highways or in heavy traffic.
Thankfully, Nissan says these failures usually don’t happen suddenly. Instead, the engine tends to show early warning signs, such as:
- Unusual knocking or rattling sounds
- Rough engine performance
- Illuminated warning lights or dashboard messages
Nissan encourages owners to pay attention to these signals. If they notice anything out of the ordinary, they should schedule an inspection at their nearest Nissan or Infiniti dealership.
Which Vehicles Are Affected?
The models included in the recall are:
| Model | Years Affected | Units (U.S.) | Units (Canada) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Rogue | 2021–2024 | 348,554 | 26,592 |
| Nissan Altima | 2019–2020 | 5,685 | – |
| Infiniti QX50 | 2019–2022 | 84,536 | – |
| Infiniti QX55 | 2022 | 5,124 | – |
These models use either the 1.5L or 2.0L VC-Turbo engine platforms.
What Happens Next?
According to Nissan, notification letters will begin reaching owners by late August 2025. These letters will contain details on how to book an inspection and, if necessary, a repair — all at no cost to the customer.
Depending on the engine type and inspection results:
- Vehicles with the 1.5L engine will get a new oil pan gasket, engine oil change, and an engine control module software update.
- Vehicles with the 2.0L engine will receive an engine oil replacement only — provided no debris is found.
Until then, if you own one of these models and hear strange noises or see any dashboard alerts, it’s best to get it checked sooner rather than later.
