Two automakers filed engine-related recalls with NHTSA this year, and the technical detail behind them is worth more than the headline. One is a slow-motion bearing failure investigation that's now on its third recall. The other is a straightforward manufacturing defect that, in the worst case, ends with a new engine.
Toyota's V35A: a bearing problem that keeps evolving
The V35A twin-turbo V6, used across several Toyota and Lexus models, is now the subject of a recall that traces back through two earlier campaigns, 24V-381 and 25V-767. This isn't a new defect. It's an extension of the same investigation, into engines built after the changes that were supposed to fix the earlier problem.
What makes this filing interesting is how specific Toyota got about the mechanism. Investigating a cam housing clearance change made after the prior recalls, engineers found a stack up of bearing pressure based on variables that included timing chain tension and engine loading scenarios. Crucially, that pressure stack-up couldn't reliably separate the newer engines from the ones already recalled, which is why the campaign was extended rather than closed out.
Toyota's own filing is unusually candid about the limits of their data. They collected both failed and non-failed engines from the field, tore them down, and sent bearings to their supplier for analysis, but they still can't estimate what percentage of the recalled population actually has the defect. NHTSA's own reporting portal forces manufacturers to enter an integer for that estimate, so Toyota entered "1", not because that's a real number, but because the form requires one.
Owner notifications go out by July 20, 2026.
Nissan: metal in the oil, sometimes a new engine
The Nissan filing is more direct. Dealers are required to inspect the engine oil pan for the presence of specific metal debris. If that inspection finds it, the remedy isn't a part replacement or a software update, it's a full engine swap, at no charge for parts or labor. Nissan has also committed to reimbursing owners who already paid out of pocket for a related repair before the recall was announced.
Dealer notifications started February 19, 2026, with owner notifications following from March 27.
Why this matters if you're buying used
Two very different stories, same underlying lesson: a "recall completed" stamp on a service history doesn't always mean what people assume it means.
The Toyota case shows that a completed earlier recall, 24V-381 or 25V-767, doesn't guarantee an engine is now clean. This third recall exists specifically because engines built after the fix still show the same risk factors. If you're looking at a V35A-equipped Toyota or Lexus, ask for the recall history in full, not just the most recent line item.
The Nissan case is a reminder that metal debris in the oil pan is not something a casual inspection catches. It requires dealers to actually check, not just glance at oil color or level. If you're buying a car in the affected range, a confirmed dealer inspection under this specific campaign is worth more than a general pre-purchase inspection that wasn't looking for this.
Sources
- Toyota V35A recall filing (NHTSA Part 573 Safety Recall Report 26V320): static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V320-0076.pdf
- Nissan engine recall filing (NHTSA Part 573 Safety Recall Report 26V080): static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V080-7320.pdf