Nissan is recalling over 480,000 vehicles in the U.S. and Canada because of potential manufacturing flaws that could result in engine failure.
The recall impacts certain models of the Nissan Rogue from the 2021 to 2024 model years and 2019-2020 Altimas. It also includes some 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50s and 2022 Infiniti QX55s under the company’s luxury line, as per Nissan and documents released by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this week.
The affected vehicles are equipped with specific “VC-Turbo” engines that might have defects in their bearings, according to the NHTSA recall report. This defect could lead to engine damage and potential engine failure during operation, which heightens the likelihood of crashes.
Engine bearing failures “are not typically instantaneous and tend to progress over time,” the NHTSA’s recall report notes. That means effected drivers may see multiple warning signs to look out for — including abnormal noises or malfunction indicator lights.
In the U.S., 443,899 vehicles are covered in this recall, per NHTSA documents. And in Canada, 37,837 are affected, a Nissan spokesperson confirmed to The Associated Press on Thursday.
As a remedy, the NHSTA’s recall report notes, Nissan and Infiniti dealers will inspect the engine pan of these-now recalled cars — and repair or replace the engine if necessary. The recall covers vehicles with either 3-cylinder 1.5L or 4-cylinder 2.0L VC-Turbo engines. Potential repairs — which will be performed free of charge — will depend on the engine and whether debris is detected during the inspection.
In an emailed statement, Nissan said it initiated this recall as part of its “ongoing commitment to customer safety.” And in late August, the company added, notification letters will be mailed out to affected owners “with instructions to bring their vehicle to a Nissan dealer or INFINITI retailer for inspection and repair if necessary.”
In the meantime, drivers can also confirm if their specific vehicle is included in this recall and find more information using the NHTSA site or Nissan’s recall lookup.
