NHTSA Recalls 440,000+ Nissans with Variable Compression Engines

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has issued a recall on 443,899 Nissan engines built between 2019 and 2024 due to a run of defective bearings that can cause engine damage or engine failure. The affected vehicles are:

This Nissan engine recall applies to some, but not all, of the Variable Compression Turbo (VC-T) engines that Nissan built between 2019 and 2024. Available in 1.5-liter three-cylinder and 2.0-liter four-cylinder variants, these VC-T engines use a link system to change the deck height by raising and lowering the crankshaft in relation to the cylinder head. The goal was to allow the engine to operate at a compression and boost level that was most efficient. The NHTSA called out several defective bearings on the engine’s bottom end, namely the “main, A-, C-, and L-link” bearings that cause engine failure. The agency noted that damage of this nature is typically gradual, with warning signs including noises, vibrations, and check engine lights warning of an impending failure.

Nissan successfully traced the problematic bearings, so as big as this recall is, it affects less than half of the Rogues built in that timeframe. Owners of these vehicles will receive notices starting at the end of August. Each owner will need to visit a dealership to determine if engine damage has occurred through a visual inspection of the oil pan. The HNTSA expects 1.5% of the recalled vehicles will have damage, which will require an engine replacement.