The 2019 GT-R's VR38DETT is a highly-strung twin-turbo motor that thrives on obsessive maintenance but punishes abuse or neglect—transmission and engine internals are the Achilles heel, especially on launch-control-happy cars or those tracked without proper cooling upgrades.
Transmission Failure (GR6 Dual-Clutch)
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Harsh shifting or banging into gear, especially 2-3 or 4-5, Clutch slippage under hard acceleration, Transmission overheating warnings on track or spirited driving, Metal shavings in transmission oil during service
Fix: GR6 dual-clutch packs wear from repeated launch control use or inadequate cooling. Requires transmission removal, clutch pack replacement, and often valve body servicing. 18-24 hours labor. Many owners upgrade cooler and fluid at same time.
Estimated cost: $8,000-15,000
Engine Bearing Failure (Mains and Rod Bearings)
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Knocking or ticking noise on cold start that worsens with RPM, Metallic debris in oil filter during changes, Low oil pressure warnings at idle, Catastrophic failure with metal chunks in pan
Fix: VR38 bearing clearances are tight; oil starvation from hard cornering or extended high-RPM use causes wear. Requires engine-out, full disassembly, bearings, and often crank polishing. 40-60 hours labor. Many do full short-block refresh at this point.
Estimated cost: $12,000-25,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Leaks
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid pooling under car, front-center, Burnt transmission fluid smell, Transmission temp climbing faster than normal, Low fluid level on dipstick check
Fix: Factory transmission cooler lines and fittings corrode or crack, especially in salt states. Cooler itself can develop pinhole leaks. Requires front undertray removal, cooler and line replacement. 4-6 hours labor. Smart shops replace all lines proactively.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,500
Fuel System Carbon Buildup (Direct Injection)
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Rough idle or misfires at cold start, Reduced power or hesitation under load, Check engine light for misfire codes (P0300-P0306), Failed emissions testing
Fix: Direct injection causes intake valve carbon buildup with no fuel wash. Requires walnut-blasting or chemical cleaning of intake valves, plus fuel filter and injector service. 6-8 hours labor. Preventive catch-can install recommended.
Estimated cost: $1,500-2,800
Turbocharger Wastegate Rattle
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Rattling noise from engine bay at idle or light throttle, Boost control issues or overboost codes, Audible chattering that disappears under load, Uneven spool between left and right turbos
Fix: IHI turbos develop wastegate actuator rod play or flapper wear. Often requires turbo removal, actuator rebuild or replacement. 12-16 hours labor for both sides. Some owners upgrade to aftermarket units if one fails.
Estimated cost: $3,500-6,500
Transmission Mount Failure
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 40,000-70,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking when shifting under power, Excessive drivetrain movement visible from engine bay, Vibration through cabin at certain RPMs, Difficulty engaging gears smoothly
Fix: Rubber transmission mounts deteriorate from heat and torque cycling. Requires lift access, support of transmission, mount replacement. 3-4 hours labor. Aftermarket polyurethane mounts last longer but add NVH.
Estimated cost: $800-1,500
Owner tips
Change transmission fluid every 15,000 miles with Nissan GT-R-spec fluid (not generic DCT fluid)—this transmission runs hot and degrades fluid quickly
Use Nissan-approved 0W-40 synthetic oil and change every 3,750 miles; VR38 is intolerant of extended intervals
Install an aftermarket transmission cooler if you track the car or use launch control regularly—factory cooler is marginal
Avoid repeated launch control on street tires or cold transmission—this kills clutch packs faster than anything
Budget $3,000-5,000/year in preventive maintenance if you drive it hard; these are not low-maintenance supercars
Buy a 2019 GT-R only if you have a dedicated performance-car maintenance budget and full service records—meticulously maintained examples are bulletproof, but abused or neglected ones become six-figure money pits fast.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
Fitment notes: AGM battery required; located in trunk; high-performance application
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Every control module on the 2018-2020 Nissan GT-R — where it lives, replacement time, and what it takes to program a replacement. Modules marked dealer / factory tool won't work after a part swap alone — budget for programming.
📍 Integrated within IPDM-E/R, engine bay passenger side near battery
🔧 CONSULT-III Plus with NTIS subscription
⚠️ Key registration requires all keys present; immobilizer paired with ECM and BCM; aftermarket tools (Autel, Launch) can program keys with proper security access
Sonar Control Module (SONAR)0.8 hr R&Rrelearn only +0.2 hr▸ programming details
📍 Trunk area, passenger side behind trim panel
🔧 CONSULT-III Plus or compatible aftermarket
⚠️ Front and rear parking sensors; self-calibration on drive cycle; generally plug-and-play
Tire Pressure Monitoring System Receiver (TPMS)0.6 hr R&Rrelearn only +0.3 hr▸ programming details
📍 Behind center console, near BCM
🔧 CONSULT-III Plus or TPMS relearn tool
⚠️ Sensor ID registration required after tire rotation or replacement; most aftermarket TPMS tools can perform relearn
Aftermarket tool coverage varies by software version and vehicle build — treat "aftermarket tool" rows as "usually possible" and verify against your tool maker's coverage list before promising a customer. Spot a wrong location or hour? Tell us — corrections ship fast here.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA · 19V654000
2019-09-12
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additionally included are 2019 Nissan GT-R and Taxi and Infiniti QX50, QX60, Q70, Q70L vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200.
Size-standard part numbers — verify your connector type before buying. Rear blades are model-specific; check the package's vehicle list.
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2019 Nissan GT-R 3.8L Twin-Turbo V6 VR38DETT and can vary by trim.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.