Nissan's Revolutionary Engine Is Failing — 443,899 Recalled Over Bearings | VC-Turbo Autopsy

Nissan spent more than 20 years inventing an engine that changes its own compression ratio — the world's first production variable-compression turbo engine. Now tiny bearings inside its revolutionary multi-link system are failing, filling oil pans with metal shavings and killing engines. NHTSA recall 25V437 covers 443,899 vehicles (2021–2024 Rogue, 2019–2020 Altima, 2019–2022 Infiniti QX50, 2022 QX55). Then came a second recall, 26V080, for 323,917 more Rogues — and a third, 26V081, for a fracturing plastic throttle gear. Plus a federal class action alleging Nissan knew and concealed the defect. This is the VC-Turbo autopsy: the breakthrough, the promise, the multi-link machine, the defect, the failure, the investigation, the two follow-up recalls, the lawsuit, and the verdict. CHAPTERS: 0:00 — The Hook: 20 Years, One Tiny Bearing 0:44 — The Breakthrough: An Engine That Changes Itself 1:40 — The Promise: Rogue, Altima, Infiniti 2:35 — The Multi-Link Machine: More Bearings Than Any Engine 3:30 — The Defect: A Manufacturing Flaw in the Bearings 4:28 — The Failure: Metal Shavings in the Oil Pan 5:17 — The Investigation: From PE23023 to 443,899 Recalled 6:16 — The Second Failure: Hot Oil, Seized Bearings (26V080) 7:05 — The Third: The Plastic Throttle Gear (26V081) 7:57 — The Lawsuit: "A Few Oil Changes" 8:51 — Verdict: Complexity Has a Price SOURCES: Nissan Newsroom: https://usa.nissannews.com/en-US/rele... NHTSA campaign data via Squeezed: https://squeezed.app/blog/engine-reca... NHTSA campaign data via The Weekly Driver: https://theweeklydriver.com/2026/07/n... Lemon Law Help: https://lemonlawhelp.com/blog/nissan-... ClassAction.org: https://www.classaction.org/news/niss... Teardown footage: I Do Cars and others on YouTube, used under fair use for commentary/criticism (muted, transformed, credited on screen). If you drive a 2021–2024 Rogue, 2019–2020 Altima, 2019–2022 QX50 or 2022 QX55: check your VIN at nhtsa.gov. Subscribe to Gears & Wings for a new mechanical autopsy every day.