Nissan, Stellantis Recall Millions of Cars Over Engine and Airbag Risks

Nissan is recalling about 481,000 vehicles in North America after regulators warned that manufacturing defects in the bearings of its variable-compression “VC-Turbo” engines could lead to engine failure while driving. The action covers 443,899 cars in the United States and 37,837 in Canada, including 2021-24 Nissan Rogue SUVs, 2019-20 Altima sedans, 2019-22 Infiniti QX50 crossovers and the 2022 Infiniti QX55. Dealers will inspect the oil pan for debris and repair or replace engines at no cost; owner notification letters are expected in late August.

In a separate move, Stellantis ordered the recall of roughly 636,000 Peugeot, Citroën, Fiat, Opel and DS vehicles sold in France that use the 1.5-liter BlueHDi diesel engine. Excessive wear on the cam-chain can trigger valve damage or total engine failure. Stellantis said it will contact owners, extend the power-train warranty to 10 years or 240,000 kilometres and reimburse prior repair bills that meet maintenance guidelines.

Stellantis is also grappling with an expanded stop-drive directive linked to faulty Takata airbags. Following the death of a motorist in Reims last month, the company told owners of Citroën C3 and DS3 models built between 2009 and 2019 not to use their cars until the airbags are replaced. The order affects about 120,000 drivers in the UK and forms part of a wider French government action that now immobilises 1.7 million of the 2.5 million vehicles equipped with the inflators.

The simultaneous safety campaigns underscore mounting quality pressures on global automakers and regulators, who are urging motorists to use online VIN-lookup tools and schedule repairs promptly to mitigate engine and air-bag risks.