Nissan VC-Turbo Engine Recall: Checking a Used Rogue or Altima

If you are looking at a used 2021 to 2024 Nissan Rogue with the 1.5-liter three-cylinder, a 2019 or 2020 Altima with the 2.0-liter VC-Turbo, or a 2019 to 2022 Infiniti QX50 or 2022 QX55, run the VIN for NHTSA recall 25V-437 before anything else. Nissan says engine bearings in these variable-compression turbo engines can fail and leave you without power, and in rare cases damage the block badly enough to leak hot oil and start a fire. The fix is an inspection, and if debris shows up, a new engine. An open recall is not a dealbreaker by itself. An open recall on a car that already knocks is.

We went back through the filings on November 8, 2026, and honestly, this is one of the more annoying recalls to shop around, because the population is huge (443,899 vehicles in the U.S., per Nissan's amended filing from February 2026) but Nissan estimates only about 1.2 percent actually have the defect. Most of these cars are fine. The trick is figuring out whether the one in front of you is one of the unlucky ones, and whether the work has been done.

What exactly is covered

Nissan's Part 573 report splits the population this way:

• 2021 to 2024 Nissan Rogue with the 1.5-liter KR15DDT three-cylinder: 348,554 vehicles, built roughly March 2021 to August 2024.
• 2019 to 2022 Infiniti QX50: 84,536 vehicles.
• 2019 and 2020 Nissan Altima with the 2.0-liter KR20DDET: 5,685 vehicles, built May 2018 to December 2019.
• 2022 Infiniti QX55: 5,124 vehicles.

NBC News reported another 37,837 vehicles in Canada, for roughly 480,000 total. If you are cross-shopping a Rogue with the older 2.5-liter, that engine is not part of this one. Check what is under the hood before you panic. One more wrinkle: Nissan's filing notes the 2024 Rogue is also covered by a separate recall, 26V-081, so on that year look for both numbers in the lookup, not just one. NHTSA's summary lists 800-647-7261 for Nissan customer service and 1-800-662-6200 for Infiniti.

Why it happens

The filing blames manufacturing defects in the engine's main bearings and the A-link, C-link and L-link bearings, which are part of the multi-link setup that lets the engine change compression. The February 2026 amendment added high oil temperature as a contributing factor on the Rogue. NHTSA opened a preliminary evaluation, PE23-023, in December 2023. Nissan's chronology says it saw 1,830 warranty claims on the 1.5-liter and 524 on the 2.0-liter between December 2018 and April 2025, and four thermal events, with no accidents or injuries as of May 2025.

The warning signs Nissan lists are engine noise, rough running, a check engine light and warning messages on the cluster. A knock that gets louder with load is the one that should end a test drive.

What the dealer does

The repair depends on the model. On the Altima, QX50 and QX55, the dealer inspects the oil pan for metal debris. Clean means an oil change and you are done in under an hour. Debris means an engine replacement, which Nissan pegs at up to 15 hours of labor. On the Rogue, the dealer reprograms the engine control module, checks for stored trouble codes and does a test drive, about an hour, and some cars go on to the oil pan inspection or a new engine.

Per NHTSA's recall summary, owner letters for the final remedy went out April 8, 2026, after interim letters in August 2025. Nissan's recall codes are R25A8, R25A9, R25B1 and R25B2, depending on model. Nissan's chronology also says it planned to stretch the engine warranty on the recall population to 120 months or 120,000 miles, and Car and Driver reported the same 10-year, 120,000-mile extension, tied to the inspection being done. Read your actual warranty paperwork before you count on it, because terms like that tend to come with conditions.

How to check a used one

Start with the VIN. Nissan's site and NHTSA's lookup will show whether 25V-437 is open. Our Nissan recall check and Infiniti recall check walk through it, and if a seller says it was done, our guide to confirming a recall was completed covers how to verify that without taking their word.

Then a few things the VIN check will not tell you:

• Ask for oil change records. Bearing problems and long oil intervals are not friends, and a car with no records is a bigger gamble.
• Listen to a cold start and a hard pull. Any knock, rattle or flashing light, walk.
• If the engine was already replaced under the recall, get the repair order. A new engine is arguably a plus.
• If the previous owner paid for an engine repair out of pocket, Nissan's filing describes reimbursement. That is their claim, not yours, but it explains why some sellers have big repair bills in the folder.

Model-specific advice is in our used Rogue buying guide, used Altima buying guide and used QX50 buying guide. And yes, these cars also have CVTs, so read our note on Nissan CVT warranty coverage too.

The history report piece

A vehicle history report will not show bearing wear. It can show service visits, title brands and whether the car bounced between owners fast, which is worth knowing on an engine with a known issue. CARFAX direct usually charges $39.99 to $44.99 per report. CarVins sells CARFAX and AutoCheck reports as a licensed reseller with no affiliation to CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian, and lately guests pay about $5.50, members about $4.50, and around $6.75 gets both. Prices move around, so confirm at checkout.

Sources

• Nissan Part 573 safety recall report 25V-437, amended February 2026 (NHTSA)
• Infiniti QX50 owner letter for 25V-437 (NHTSA)
• NHTSA recall data for the 2019 Nissan Altima, including 25V-437
• Car and Driver: Nissan recalls Rogue, Altima, Infiniti QX50 and QX55 for engine failure
• NBC News: Nissan recalls 480,000 vehicles in the U.S. and Canada