NHTSA Complaint #11705183 — 2022 NISSAN ROGUE

The vehicle, a 2022 Nissan Rogue with the 1.5L VC-Turbo engine, suddenly entered severe limp mode: unable to exceed 35-40 mph on flat roads, barely 10 mph on hills, with high RPM and noise. The malfunction indicator light illuminated along with "engine malfunction service now" message and triangle warning light. These symptoms exactly match the early warning signs in safety recall 25V-437 for defective engine bearings that can cause progressive degradation, engine damage, or failure.The vehicle was towed to an authorized Nissan dealer, who performed the recall inspection (oil pan drop) but reportedly found no metal debris. The dealer then diagnosed separate issues—oil temperature sensor, coolant temperature sensor replacement, full oil pan replacement for minor seepage, and other warning lights—and quoted approximately $1,900 in customer-paid repairs, claiming they are unrelated to the recall or warranty despite the symptoms aligning precisely with the recall's description of bearing-related limp mode.This created a safety risk due to sudden loss of motive power while driving, increasing the potential for a crash. As a full-time cancer researcher and PhD student who depends on this vehicle for daily lab commuting and time-sensitive experiments, the breakdown and repair dispute have caused major hardship: over a week without transportation, extensive time coordinating tows, appointments, and escalations with Nissan Consumer Affairs, and disruption to critical research.The dealer confirmed the limp mode and warnings, and inspected the vehicle under the recall procedure. Warning lamps/messages appeared suddenly prior to towing; no unusual noises noted earlier. The affected components (engine controls/sensors potentially stressed by the bearing defect) remain at the dealer for inspection.The recall should provide free ECM reprogramming, oil change, and gasket replacement even without debris, yet the dealer is charging for diagnostics and repairs from the same defect.