by Brad Anderson
- Nissan’s VC-Turbo engine reportedly suffers from rough idles, stalling, and failures.
- One owner reported major engine problems beginning at just 157 miles on his Rogue.
- The automaker allegedly refused to cover diagnostics and repairs under warranty.
A decade ago, engineers introduced a clever twist on engine design: a variable compression system that promised better efficiency and performance. Nissan and Infiniti were early adopters of this technology, and today several of their models still feature it.
Yet what was once marketed as an innovation has now become the focus of a new class action lawsuit, which claims the engines can fail dramatically and leave drivers stranded.
Read: Tiny Defect May Land Half A Million Nissan And Infiniti Owners A Brand New Engine
The case, filed in Delaware, centers on Nissan’s VC-Turbo engines. In theory, the setup adjusts compression on the fly, balancing fuel economy with power. In practice, the lawsuit alleges, owners are experiencing engines that hesitate, make high-pitched whirring noises, idle roughly, stall, lose power, or even shut down completely while the car is in motion.
According to the class action, the engine suffers from main bearing malfunctions and other issues. It is also alleged that Nissan knew, or should have known, about the fault but has hidden it from consumers.
Owners Caught Off Guard
Four plaintiffs are named in the suit. One of them is Dennis Becker. On March 30, 2024, he purchased a new 2023 Rogue from Habor Nissan in Charlotte, Florida, but after driving it just 157 miles, an ‘Engine Malfunction Power Reduced Service Now’ warning light came on. He says the vehicle stopped and couldn’t be restarted.
According to Becker, the dealer replaced the Rogue’s battery, but that didn’t fix the issue. The engine control module then received a software update, but it also failed to rectify the fault. A month later, the same warning message was displayed on the cluster, and the dealer subsequently replaced the exhaust gas recirculation valve. It didn’t fix the problem, and according to Becker, his Rogue remains defective.
Allegations of Concealment
The class action argues that Nissan has routinely denied the defect’s existence until warranties expire, or forced customers to cover diagnostic and repair costs themselves. This, plaintiffs claim, leaves many owners footing large bills even when their cars should still qualify for coverage.
“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.”
Models Affected
The lawsuit covers the 2021-2023 Nissan Rogue, 2019-2023 Nissan Altima, and 2019-2023 Infiniti QX50. It also claims that a recent recall issued by the carmaker for its variable compression turbo engines has inadequate repairs that “amount to simply a few oil changes” for most owners.