Nissan recalls over 480,000 vehicles in the US and Canada due to engine failure risk

Key Points

• Nissan is recalling over 480,000 vehicles in the US and Canada due to a potential bearing defect in VC-Turbo engines that could lead to engine failure.
• Affected models include 2021–24 Nissan Rogues, 2019–20 Altimas, 2019–22 Infiniti QX50s and 2022 Infiniti QX55s equipped with 1.5L or 2.0L VC-Turbo engines.
• The recall covers 443,899 vehicles in the US and 37,837 in Canada; dealers will inspect engine pans and perform necessary repairs or engine replacements free of charge.
• Notification letters will be mailed in late August, and owners can verify recall status via the NHTSA website or Nissan’s recall lookup tool.

NEW YORK (AP) — Nissan is recalling more than 480,000 of its vehicles across the U.S. and Canada due to potential manufacturing defects that could cause engine failure.

The recall covers certain Nissan Rogues between 2021-2024 model years and 2019-2020 Altimas — as well as a number of 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50s and 2022 Infiniti QX55s sold under the automaker's luxury brand, according to Nissan and documents published by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this week.

The vehicles impacted carry specific “VC-Turbo” engines that may have manufacturing defects in their bearings, the NHTSA's recall report notes. This may cause engine damage and possibly lead to engine failure while driving, the regulator warns — increasing crash risks.

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 or not 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.