Saying that things are going less than optimally at Nissan would be an understatement. Renault is about to attribute an $11 billion loss on the Japanese brand while Nissan itself looks like it’ll be recalling nearly 500,000 vehicles over presumed defects on the 1.5 and 2.0-liter variable compression turbo engines.
The VC turbo engines are found in the 2019-2020 Nissan Altima, 2021-2024 Nissan Rogue, 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50 and 2022 Infiniti QX55. Based on documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), concerns stem from a manufacturing defect that may affect the engine bearings.
The saddest part about the recall is the fact that the V6 motors some of these units were designed to replace were known for being fairly robust. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for their successors. The 2.0-liter KR20DDET in particular has developed a reputation among Nissan fans for showing signs of power loss and engine knocking, with owners sometimes finding a surplus of debris in the oil pan. Despite offering excellent power, tuners and mechanics have also criticized the unit for being too complex and difficult to work with.
Meanwhile, the 1.5-liter KR15DDT likewise managed to garner loads of praise initially — and more than a couple of industry awards — for being a shockingly smooth motor (with just 3 cylinders in this case) offering above-average output and efficiency. Thanks to it boasting variable compression, the unit could offer good power for its small size or the kind of fuel efficiency regulations demanded. However, it looks to be suffering from the same issues as the KR20DDET.
With the above in mind, the motors had been on everyone’s radar for a while and the NHTSA launched a formal investigation in 2023.
Now, Nissan is conducting a recall. But vehicles will need to show some clear signs of the defect in order for the manufacturer to take any meaningful action. In all cases, the company will have dealers check engine oil pan for the presence of “specific metal debris.”
For customers with the 3-cylinder, 1.5-liter VC-Turbo engine, dealers will simply replace the oil pan gasket, engine oil, and reprogram the vehicle’s Engine Control Module (ECM), if no debris is detected during the inspection. The process will be the same for the 2.0-liter VC — minus the ECM reflash.
However, in instances where the “specific debris is detected and confirmed by Nissan Powertrain Call Center,” dealers will be instructed to replace the entire engine.
In all cases, parts and any labor done by the service center will be free of charge. Dealers will be notified on July 15th and customers should begin receiving notifications on August 25th. Those wanting to keep tabs on the recall can use NHTSA recall ID 25V437 or contact Nissan/Infiniti and provide their VIN. Just be aware that it may be a couple of weeks before the company has all its information in order.
The silver lining to this is that Nissan only expects 1.2 percent of the vehicles included in the recall to have the problem. But that may also be wishful thinking on the part of the manufacturer. Engine recalls are basically the worst-case scenario for an automaker and they’ll always fight their absolute hardest to keep them as limited as possible. If you’re thinking your vehicle might be included in this recall, you may want to consider having your oil professionally analyzed before taking it into the dealership. That way, you have something to point to if it’s given the all clear by technicians only to experience problems later on.
[Images: Nissan]
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