Nissan has been forced to announce the recall of more than 480,000 vehicles in the United States and Canada due to a fault in the engine bearings that, if not detected in time, can result in a seized engine. The Japanese brand acted quickly and published the recall data on June 27.
What is happening with Nissan?
It seems that something went wrong during the manufacturing process of the bearings, and this can lead to strange noises, warning lights on the dashboard, or even a complete engine shutdown while driving. No joke.
Which models are affected?
The affected models are the Nissan Rogue from 2021 to 2024, the Altima from 2019 and 2020, and the Infiniti QX50 (from 2019 to 2022) and QX55 (2022). All of them are equipped with 1.5 or 2.0-liter VC-Turbo engines, the ones Nissan marketed as the best of both worlds: power and efficiency.
So if you own one of these vehicles, the first thing is to stay calm. Nissan is already working on it.
What is Nissan offering to owners?
The brand has said that its workshops will inspect the oil pan for metallic debris, which is a clear sign that something is wrong. If they find damage, they will repair or replace the engine without charging a single dollar, so yes, it will (as expected) be free for all affected users.
How can you know if your car is at risk?
According to Nissan, this is not an issue that happens suddenly. Normally, the engine will start warning with strange noises or a warning light on your car’s dashboard. If you notice anything like that, it’s best not to ignore it. The sooner you go to the dealership to have it checked, the better.
For now, the NHTSA estimates that only 1.2% of the recalled cars have the problem, but that doesn’t mean you should let your guard down.
When will the notices arrive?
Letters will be sending at the beginning of August, probably around the day 25. They will explain how to schedule an appointment to have your car checked, don’t worry, it’s very easy. You’ll just need to make the appointment, go to the repair shop and let the experts check if your vehicle has the defect or not. Understood?!
Nissan insists that this campaign is part of their commitment to safety, although it’s not the first time the brand has been involved in something like this.
How do I know if my car is affected?
As always, you can check it on the NHTSA website or on Nissan’s page using your VIN number. You can also call 800-647-7261 (Nissan) or 1-800-662-6200 (Infiniti) if you need help.
Is this the only issue?
No. Not long ago, Nissan had to face a class-action lawsuit over CVT transmission failures in some Murano and Maxima models. In that case, the company was accused of knowing there was a problem and doing nothing… So now they’ve learned the lesson and have taken action to make sure this recall affects as few people as possible and, of course, to prevent more serious damage from being reported.
Safety, first?
With this kind of recall, we always have the same question: is the automotive market ready for the tech leap? Many seem to forget the main thing: road safety. And it’s not just Nissan, every month there are dozens of recalls from several (and different) brands due to some type of fault… If we really want to reduce road accidents, we must demand more safety inspections for our vehicles before they’re delivered to drivers, don’t you think so?
Recall description:
Who: Nissan is recalling 443,899 vehicles.
Reason: Manufacturing defect in engine bearings that may cause engine failure.
Where: United States and Canada.