What does the Nissan VC-Turbo lawsuit allege?

The complaint alleges Nissan's VC-Turbo variable-compression engines (the KR15DDT 1.5-liter and KR20DDET 2.0-liter) have a defect in the variable-compression system that can cause bearing failure, rough idling, hesitation, abnormal noise, loss of power, and sudden engine failure or stalling while driving. The plaintiffs allege Nissan knew about the problem and that its recall remedy does not fix it. These are unproven allegations.

Which Nissan and Infiniti models are covered?

The litigation focuses on Nissan and Infiniti vehicles equipped with the VC-Turbo engine, including the 2019–2023 Nissan Altima, 2021–2023 Nissan Rogue, and 2019–2023 Infiniti QX50 (and related QX55). No class has been certified, so the covered model years could change as the case proceeds.

How does the lawsuit relate to Nissan's engine recall?

In 2025 Nissan recalled roughly 443,000 vehicles with the VC-Turbo engine over engine-bearing problems that can lead to engine damage or failure. The plaintiffs allege the recall remedy — which for many owners amounts to inspections, oil changes, or parts they say remain defective — does not adequately fix the alleged defect. The recall remedy is free at a Nissan dealer regardless of the lawsuit.

Do I need to file a claim in the Nissan engine class action?

No. Because this is a lawsuit and not a settlement, there is nothing to claim and no deadline. If your vehicle has engine symptoms, document them and any repair costs and check with a Nissan dealer about recall coverage and your warranty. If a class is later certified or a settlement is reached, a separate claims process with its own deadlines would be announced.

Nissan VC-Turbo Engine Defect Class Action Lawsuit

Q: Is there a Nissan VC-Turbo engine settlement yet?

No. The VC-Turbo engine case is a proposed class action lawsuit, not a settlement. There is no settlement fund, no claim form, and no deadline. Nissan has not been found liable. If your vehicle is covered by Nissan's engine recall, that free recall remedy is separate from the lawsuit.

Published July 6, 2026

If your Altima, Rogue or QX50 has shuddered, lost power or left you with a big engine repair — and you feel the recall did not fix it — this is the case that puts that complaint in front of a judge. There is nothing to claim yet.

A proposed class action alleges Nissan's VC-Turbo variable-compression engines can fail suddenly and that the recall remedy is inadequate.

By Steve Levine

Editor-in-Chief

▼ Allegations Only · No Settlement Yet

This article describes a class action complaint. The statements below are unproven allegations. Nissan has not been found liable, there is no certified class, and nothing to claim at this time. This page is informational and is not legal advice.

What Is This About?

Nissan is facing a proposed class action over its VC-Turbo variable-compression engine, an award-winning but complex design that the lawsuit alleges is prone to sudden failure. The suit targets the KR15DDT (1.5-liter) and KR20DDET (2.0-liter) engines and names Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and Nissan North America, Inc.

The complaint was filed in July 2025 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, with related VC-Turbo litigation proceeding in the Central District of California; as of 2026 the cases are in the pretrial and class-certification stage. Nissan has not been found liable, and the claims remain unproven.

Status Complaint Filed Proposed class action · M.D. Tenn. (with related C.D. Cal. litigation) · Filed July 2025 · discovery/class-cert stage

Allegation VC-Turbo variable-compression engines can fail suddenly Suit alleges bearing failure, metal debris in the oil, stalling and total engine failure — and that the recall remedy is inadequate

Can I Claim? No — nothing to claim yet No settlement, no fund, no claim form · Recalled vehicles get the free recall remedy at Nissan dealers

What the Lawsuit Alleges

Nissan's VC-Turbo is a variable-compression engine: a system of links and an electric actuator continuously changes the pistons' reach so the engine can shift between higher compression for efficiency and lower compression for power. The lawsuit alleges that this added complexity is also the source of a defect.

According to the complaint, the variable-compression mechanism relies on bearings and a lower-link assembly that the plaintiffs allege cannot reliably withstand the heat and pressure of normal driving. The suit alleges the resulting wear can send metal shavings into the oil and lead to symptoms such as rough idling, hesitation, a high-pitched whirring noise, loss of power, and — in the worst cases — stalling or complete engine failure while the vehicle is being driven. The plaintiffs allege Nissan knew about the failures through warranty data and owner complaints, continued selling the vehicles without adequately disclosing the risk, and left many owners paying out of pocket for major repairs. As with any complaint, these are allegations only; no court has found that the engine is defective or that Nissan concealed anything.

The Recall at the Center of the Dispute

In 2025 Nissan recalled roughly 443,000 vehicles equipped with the VC-Turbo engine, citing engine-bearing problems that can cause engine damage or failure. The plaintiffs allege that the recall remedy does not go far enough: they claim that for many owners the fix amounts to inspections, oil changes, or replacement parts that they say share the same alleged defect, leaving the underlying problem unresolved.

The recall and the lawsuit are separate. The recall remedy is free at a Nissan dealer whether or not the lawsuit succeeds, and getting the recall work done does not give up any rights a class member might have if a class is later certified. Owners can check whether their VIN has an open recall on NHTSA's recall lookup.

Which Vehicles Are Named?

The litigation focuses on Nissan and Infiniti vehicles equipped with the VC-Turbo engine, including:

• 2019–2023 Nissan Altima (2.0L VC-Turbo)
• 2021–2023 Nissan Rogue (1.5L VC-Turbo)
• 2019–2023 Infiniti QX50 (and related QX55)

No class has been certified, so the exact list of covered vehicles and model years is not final and could change as the case proceeds. A model appearing here does not mean a specific car has a problem — it means the vehicle is within the group the plaintiffs seek to represent.

Is There a Nissan Engine Settlement Yet?

No. This is a lawsuit, not a settlement.

That means:

• There is no settlement fund.
• There is no claim form.
• There is no payout, and no deadline to act.
• Owners do not need to do anything in the lawsuit at this stage.

Nissan has not been found liable simply because the lawsuit was filed. If the case is ever resolved through a settlement, or a class is certified, a formal claims process with its own eligibility rules and deadlines would be announced separately. This VC-Turbo engine case is also separate from the earlier Nissan CVT transmission settlement, which involved a different component and is its own matter.

Who Could Be Affected?

The proposed class covers current and former owners and lessees of the Nissan and Infiniti vehicles built with the VC-Turbo engine. Because the case is at the complaint stage, the class definition is not final and could change.

If you own one of these vehicles and have experienced engine symptoms, it may be worth keeping records: repair orders, diagnostic codes, dealer visits, recall work, and any out-of-pocket costs. That is the kind of documentation a claims process typically asks about if a class is later certified or a case settles. There is nothing to file right now.

What Happens Next?

From here, the cases move through discovery and toward class certification. Nissan may answer the complaint or move to dismiss, the parties exchange information, and the plaintiffs would ask the court to certify the proposed class. Related suits can be coordinated or consolidated. Any of these steps can take months to years, and the cases could be amended, narrowed, or resolved along the way.

OpenClassActions.com will continue watching the dockets for major updates, including motions to dismiss, class certification activity, developments in the recall, and any future settlement or claim form.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a Nissan VC-Turbo engine settlement yet?

No. This is a proposed class action lawsuit, not a settlement. There is no fund, no claim form, and no deadline. Nissan has not been found liable. Any recall remedy is separate from the lawsuit.

What does the lawsuit allege?

The complaint alleges the VC-Turbo variable-compression engines (KR15DDT and KR20DDET) have a defect that can cause bearing failure, metal debris in the oil, rough running, stalling, and sudden engine failure, and that Nissan's recall remedy does not fix it. The allegations are unproven.

Which models are covered?

The suit names Nissan and Infiniti vehicles with the VC-Turbo engine, including the 2019–2023 Altima, 2021–2023 Rogue, and 2019–2023 Infiniti QX50 (and related QX55). No class has been certified, so this could change.

Do I need to file a claim?

No. Because this is a lawsuit and not a settlement, there is nothing to claim and no deadline. Keep records of any engine symptoms and repair costs, and get any open recall done at a Nissan dealer. If a class is later certified or a settlement is reached, a claims process and deadlines would be announced separately.

Sources

• U.S. District Court, Middle District of Tennessee — Nissan VC-Turbo engine class action docket, via CourtListener: CourtListener Docket Search
• Motor1 — "Nissan's Ongoing Engine Problems Have Forced Owners to Sue": Motor1
• Autoblog — "Nissan faces lawsuit for alleged VC-Turbo engine issues": Autoblog
• NHTSA — recall lookup and safety-issue reporting: NHTSA Recalls

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Status Complaint Filed — Proposed Class Action

Defendants Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. · Nissan North America, Inc.

Engines VC-Turbo — KR15DDT (1.5L) · KR20DDET (2.0L)

Court U.S. District Court, M.D. Tenn. (with related C.D. Cal. litigation)

Date Filed July 2025

Related Recall ~443,000 VC-Turbo vehicles recalled (2025) for engine-bearing failure

Official Court Page CourtListener Docket