Nissan VC-Turbo Engine Warranty Extension – What California Drivers Need to Know
Nissan has extended the warranty on certain vehicles equipped with its innovative VC-Turbo engine, a variable compression turbocharged design once touted as a breakthrough in efficiency. Unfortunately, reports of serious engine failures—including bearing damage, loss of power, and even potential fire risks—have forced Nissan to issue a recall and add warranty protection for hundreds of thousands of cars and SUVs. For California consumers, this raises an important question: does a warranty extension actually fix the problem, or do these engines still fall under California’s Lemon Law protections?
The Problem with Nissan’s VC-Turbo Engines
The VC-Turbo engine was engineered to seamlessly change its compression ratio for improved performance and fuel economy. However, many owners of affected Nissan and Infiniti models experienced defects involving the engine’s main bearings and link bearings. When these components begin to fail, they can create debris inside the engine, leading to catastrophic damage. Symptoms reported include knocking noises, rough running, loss of motive power, and in some cases complete engine failure.
The affected vehicles include 2021–2024 Nissan Rogue, 2019–2020 Nissan Altima, 2019–2022 Infiniti QX50, and 2022 Infiniti QX55 models. In total, more than 400,000 vehicles are impacted.
Nissan’s Response: Recall and Extended Warranty
To address these issues, Nissan launched a recall that requires dealers to inspect affected engines. If no debris is found, minor repairs such as oil changes, ECU reprogramming, or gasket replacements may be performed. If debris is detected, the engine is replaced at no cost to the owner. In addition, Nissan is now offering an extended warranty on the engine’s long block assembly—10 years or 120,000 miles from the vehicle’s original in-service date. This coverage transfers to new owners and includes an additional 12-month/12,000-mile warranty for parts replaced during service. Owners who already paid for related repairs may also qualify for reimbursement.
While this seems like a generous offer, California drivers should understand that a warranty extension does not erase past issues. If your Nissan or Infiniti experienced repeated breakdowns or engine failures before the extension was announced—or continues to have problems despite repairs—you may still be entitled to protection under California’s Lemon Law.
California Lemon Law and Nissan’s Warranty Extension
California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act provides some of the strongest consumer protections in the country. If a vehicle has a substantial defect that impairs its use, value, or safety, and the manufacturer cannot repair it within a reasonable number of attempts, the owner may be entitled to a refund, replacement, or cash compensation.
Nissan’s warranty extension is designed to reduce future liability, but it does not prevent consumers from pursuing lemon law claims. In fact, many California owners whose engines failed multiple times, or who were without their vehicles for extended repair periods, may already meet the threshold for a claim. Additionally, because these defects can create serious safety risks by causing sudden loss of power, they fit squarely within the type of problems that California’s Lemon Law was created to address.
How to Proceed
Document Issues: Keep detailed records of all repairs and communications with the manufacturer. While at the dealership, ensure that all of your complaints are noted in the work order that you receive when you first drop off your vehicle.
Reasonable Number of Repair Attempts: While the law doesn't specify an exact number, generally, if the same problem persists after four or more repair attempts, or if the vehicle is out of service for more than 30 days cumulatively, it may qualify as a "lemon."
Monitor Symptoms: Any new engine noises, warning lights, or loss of power? Stop driving immediately and seek inspection and let the dealership know.
Talk to a Lemon Law Attorney, like Valero Law: If repairs fail, or if you experience repeated issues, you may be entitled to relief under California law. Remedies can include a repurchase of the vehicle or a cash settlement.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
At Valero Law, APC, we help California drivers stand up to automakers when defects threaten safety, reliability, and value. If you own a Nissan Rogue, Altima, Infiniti QX50, or QX55 equipped with the VC-Turbo engine and are dealing with repeated repairs, warranty claims, or ongoing breakdowns, you may be entitled to relief under the California Lemon Law.
We take cases on a contingency basis—there is no cost to you. Call Valero Law, APC at (424) 299-4447 or complete our free Lemon Law case evaluation form today.