Free engine replacements are among the most generous remedies a car owner can hope for in the world of automotive recalls—second only to getting a completely new vehicle. Fortunately for some Nissan and Infiniti drivers in the United States, that scenario is becoming a reality. The two automakers have announced that nearly 500,000 vehicles may be at risk of engine failure due to potentially faulty components. As a result, they are offering new engines to customers whose vehicles are found to be severely affected.
The issue centers around Nissan’s 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter Variable Compression Turbo (VC-Turbo) engines, which were installed in several models over the last few years. The affected vehicles include the 2021–2024 Nissan Rogue, 2019–2020 Nissan Altima, 2019–2022 Infiniti QX50, and 2022 Infiniti QX55. The problem seems to stem from poorly manufactured engine bearings that could lead to catastrophic engine failure. However, instead of immediately replacing all engines in the 443,899 potentially affected vehicles, Nissan plans to inspect each engine first to determine whether replacement is necessary.
To assess the damage, owners will be asked to bring their cars to Nissan or Infiniti dealerships. There, technicians will remove the oil pans from the engines to check for signs of metal debris. If metal particles are present, it indicates bearing failure, and the engine will likely be replaced. If no debris is found, the engine will be reassembled and the vehicle returned to the owner with clean oil and no further action needed. The procedure differs slightly between the two engines: vehicles with the 2.0-liter engine only get fresh oil after inspection, while those with the 1.5-liter engine also receive a new sump gasket and an updated engine control module.
Although launching a recall campaign involving over 440,000 vehicles is a massive logistical and financial challenge, Nissan seems prepared to handle it responsibly. This situation follows a recent success for the automaker: earlier in the month, it avoided a much larger recall that could have affected two million vehicles. That case involved an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) into suspension issues on the 2013–2018 Altima and 2016–2018 Maxima. The NHTSA found a risk of corrosion and cracking in the steel lower control arms—particularly in areas with heavy road salt use—but closed the case due to Nissan’s proactive response and the clear warning signs owners would notice, such as strange noises or vibrations.
While the latest engine recall poses serious concerns, Nissan’s approach emphasizes careful inspection, customer safety, and targeted action to resolve the issue without unnecessary disruption.