Nissan Is Being Accused Of Selling Defective Engines

Filed in Delaware, the lawsuit claims the automaker's VC-Turbo engines suffer from rough idling, hesitation, stalling, and even complete shutdowns while driving. Owners allege the problem stems from main bearing malfunctions and other internal flaws. The suit also accuses Nissan of concealing the defect, forcing customers to pay for costly repairs out of pocket even when their vehicles should be covered by warranty.

Nissan recalled nearly 500,000 vehicles equipped with VC-Turbo engines earlier this summer, citing catastrophic engine failure due to potentially defective engine bearings.

One of the plaintiffs, Dennis Becker, purchased a new 2023 Nissan Rogue in Florida only to encounter serious engine issues at 157 miles. Despite repeated visits to the dealership—where technicians replaced the battery, updated the engine control module, and swapped the exhaust gas recirculation valve—he claims the vehicle remains defective to this day.

The case presents frustrations from multiple owners who claim Nissan either downplayed the engine problem or offered insufficient fixes. Plaintiffs claim recent recall efforts amount to little more than oil changes, failing to address what they see as a deeply flawed design.

The June recall prescribes a targeted inspection process where dealership mechanics will remove the engine oil pan to check for metal shavings or debris. If fragments are found, the engine will be repaired or replaced entirely. If no contaminants are discovered, the engine will be reassembled, and the vehicle returned to the owner with fresh oil. For cars equipped with 1.5-liter variants, the recall includes a new sump gasket and a reflash of the engine control module (ECM).

The suit covers several high-volume models, including the 2021–2023 Nissan Rogue, 2019–2023 Nissan Altima, and 2019–2023 Infiniti QX50.

The suit alleges Nissan denied the defect’s existence until warranties expired and forced owners to pay for diagnostic and repair costs out of pocket. If the allegations are true, thousands of owners could be on the hook for major repair bills or premature engine replacements.

“The Engine Defect has been documented to occur without warning, with [drivers] taken by surprise when the engines in the Class Vehicles suddenly lose power or stop completely,” the lawsuit describes. “Even if no collision results, Plaintiffs and [consumers] incur thousands in out-of-pocket costs to repair or replace the damaged engine and/or engine components.” 

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