Last year saw some pretty significant engine recalls from many of the nation’s top automakers. All in all, the numbers reach millions. And whether the cause of the recall is a full-fledged federal investigation or an alarming number of consumer complaints, it may feel like no car engine is truly safe… Regardless of manufacturer, brand name, or price.
As these pullbacks continue to unfold (and undoubtedly will), owners may be wondering what the big picture looks like for the past year as a whole. That’s why we’ve made a clear look at the most significant 2025 engine-related retirements. From General Motors to Nissan to Ford and others in between, let’s take a look at all the automakers involved, the total number of cars affected, and what vehicle owners can expect next as manufacturers work to fix these major engine issues.
Read more: 5 things you must stop doing if you drive an automatic car
General Motors hit more than 700,000 recalled vehicles in April
GMC Sierra 1500 6.2-liter V8 recalled – Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock
First up was General Motors’ major recall of 721,000 vehicles in April. The affected trucks and SUVs were suspected of having a connecting rod and crankshaft problem that could lead to a dangerous loss of engine power while driving. The recall covered the 2021 to 2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburbans and Tahoes, as well as the GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon and Yukon XL. Essentially, many of the brand’s trucks and SUVs with 6.2-liter V8 gasoline engines.
GM asked drivers to bring their vehicles to the dealership, where cars that pass inspection will be serviced with higher viscosity oil (including a new filler cap and replacement filter). The company linked 12 accidents and 12 injuries in the United States to the defect, so if your car is involved, it’s definitely something to take seriously if you haven’t already.
Nissan recalled 480,000 vehicles in August
Infiniti QX50s on display at the dealership – Jetcityimage/Getty Images
Over the summer, Nissan recalled more than 480,000 vehicles in the United States and Canada for engine bearing failures. The recall included several models with 1.5-liter or 2.0-liter variable compression turbo engines: 2019-2020 Altimas, 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50s, 2021-2024 Rogues and 2022 Infiniti QX55. (This was followed by an additional recall in October of 170,000 Nissan vehicles for a safety issue fuel pump.)
Specifically, the engine bearings in these vehicles were suspected of containing manufacturing defects that caused them to wear prematurely and potentially lead to engine failure. This type of failure usually develops gradually, so drivers should have plenty of early warning signs, such as abnormal engine noise or rough driving, in addition to the standard check engine light.
Once you’ve brought the vehicle in, dealers will take a look at the engine oil pan for any metal debris and repair or replace the engine if necessary. If no debris is found, technicians will simply perform some model-specific service (such as replacing the sump gasket and engine oil or reprogramming the engine control module).
Ford has had several major engine recalls this year
Bronco Sport photographed from the front – Just dance/Shutterstock
Ford experienced one of the toughest recall years of any automaker in recent history. In October, the company announced a recall of 59,006 U.S. vehicles that had faulty engine block heaters with the potential to crack, leak coolant and short circuits. (This is a major fire hazard.) Affected vehicles included certain Lincoln MKC models, Explorers, Fusions, Bronco Sports and Mavericks. Fortunately, Ford said it was not aware of any accidents or injuries related to this defect.
But earlier this year, in mid-July, Ford already went ahead and recalled 694,271 Bronco Sport and Escape SUVs for a cracked fuel injector that could leak and increase the risk of an engine fire. This recall applies to 2021-2024 Bronco Sport and 2020-2022 Escapes equipped with 1.5L EcoBoost “Dragon” engines. Ford said it has yet to come up with a permanent fix, but dealers have been told to install updated engine control software to better detect cracked injectors, disable the high-pressure fuel pump and reduce engine temperature if a leak is detected.
Honda recalled more than 294,000 vehicles in January
Acura TLX Type S at auto show with engine on display – quiggyt4/Shutterstock
Through its Acura brand, Honda had to recall 294,612 vehicles in January because of a software bug that caused engines to stall. The recall covered 2022-2025 Acura MDX Type S models, 2023-2025 Honda Pilots and 2021-2025 Acura TLX Type S models. Fortunately, all drivers had to do was come to the dealership and get a software update to take care of the problem.
The recall came after a major federal investigation into possible rod bearing failures in more than 1.4 million Hondas built between 2016 and 2020. However, Honda has clarified (for the sake of their reputation) that the January recall is unrelated to the investigation and stems strictly from a software issue, not a hardware failure. Still, the fact remains: At the time of the recall, Honda was also actively involved in two other recalls: 1.7 million vehicles had potential steering problems and another 700,000 had potential fuel pump problems.
Jeep just recalled 113,000 vehicles to close out the year
Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe at dealership – Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock
Jeep is ending 2025 with a recall affecting nearly 113,000 vehicles in the United States. This comes after reports that some Jeep engines may have been contaminated with sand during production. The recall covers 112,859 Wrangler 4xes (model years 2024 and 2025) and Grand Cherokee 4xes (model years 2023-2025). Essentially Jeep plug-in hybrid 4xe models with 2.0 liter engines produced in Mexico between June 7, 2023 and March 4, 2025.
The contamination likely came from the engine casting process and could cause internal wear, knocking noises, or trigger a check engine light (if not total engine failure). In the worst cases, it could even lead to loss of propulsion or vehicle fires. A fix is still being worked on, but Jeep plans to notify all affected owners by the end of December.
As we head into 2026, federal investigators will undoubtedly continue to monitor some of these engine defects. Automakers will also continue to work on repair backlogs as replacement parts and software updates become available. For drivers, it’s important to continue to check for recall notices and schedule any necessary dealer appointments immediately if you notice any warning signs.
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Read the original article on SlashGear.