QR25DE Engine in Phoenix, Arizona
A high-volume four in a great many Valley cars, and one where the engine is often not the component that has actually failed.
- Family
- QR25DE (QR-series)
- Displacement
- 2.5 L
- Configuration
- Inline-four
- Valvetrain
- DOHC, 16 valves, CVTC
- Produced
- 2001 onward
Bore and stroke are omitted for this family: the code covers variants with different figures, and a single pair of numbers would be wrong for some of them.
The QR25DE is a 2,488 cc inline-four with continuously variable valve timing on the intake camshaft, in production since 2001. It is the four-cylinder engine in the Altima, the Sentra SE-R, the Rogue and the X-Trail, and by volume it is one of the most common engines on Valley roads.
For replacement buyers this is generally a practical, unglamorous purchase. The cars are numerous and inexpensive, the used engine supply is deep, and the decision usually comes down to whether the rest of the vehicle, particularly the transmission, justifies the work.
That transmission caveat is not incidental. A large share of QR25DE-equipped vehicles use Nissan’s continuously variable transmission, and CVT failure is common enough that it should be ruled out before an engine is ordered.
Earlier QR25DE units had a reputation for oil consumption and for precatalyst material problems that could damage the engine. Later revisions addressed a number of these, so model year matters.
Rule out the transmission first
A large share of QR25DE-equipped vehicles use Nissan’s continuously variable transmission, and CVT failure on these cars is common enough that it should be positively excluded before an engine is ordered.
The symptoms overlap. Loss of power, hesitation and slipping all read as engine trouble to an owner, and all of them are things a failing CVT does. The cost of getting this wrong is the entire price of an engine plus its installation, which makes a proper diagnosis the cheapest part of the job.
If catalyst material got into the engine
Earlier QR25DE units had a known problem where precatalyst material could find its way back into the engine and damage it. If that is what happened to yours, replacing the engine alone leaves the cause in place.
The exhaust and catalyst need addressing as part of the same job, or the replacement is exposed to exactly the failure that killed the original. Worth establishing with your installer what actually failed and why, before ordering parts for one half of it.
Vehicles built with a QR25DE
Three US models plus the Japanese-market X-Trail, spanning nearly two decades.
| Vehicle | Years | Trim / body | Engine code | Market |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Altima | 2002–2018 | 2.5 | QR25DE | USDM |
| Nissan Sentra | 2002–2006 | SE-R | QR25DE | USDM |
| Nissan Rogue | 2008–2020 | : | QR25DE | USDM |
| Nissan X-Trail | 2001–2013 | : | QR25DE | JDM |
QR25DE variants
One code across the whole run, revised repeatedly without renaming. Model year carries information the code does not.
- QR25DEBoth
- The standard 2.5-litre specification. Revised repeatedly across the production run without a code change.
Identifying a QR25DE
- Stamped on the block. The QR family also includes the 2.0-litre QR20DE, which is a different displacement.
- Model year matters more than variant code on this family. Revisions were made without a change of designation.
- Altima, Sentra and Rogue applications differ in accessory layout and mounting.
A seller describing an engine as a particular variant is making a checkable claim. Asking for a photograph of the stamp on the actual unit is not a sign of distrust; it is the normal way this gets confirmed. The engine code guide shows where each family is stamped if you want to read the one in your own car first.
What varies between QR25DE units
These are the differences that decide whether two engines with the same family code are substitutes in a particular car.
- Confirm the transmission type. Behind a CVT, verify the CVT is healthy before committing to an engine.
- Earlier and later units differ despite sharing the QR25DE code; supply the year and VIN.
- Altima, Sentra and Rogue are not interchangeable applications even where the engine code matches.
- If the original failure involved catalyst material entering the engine, the exhaust and catalyst need addressing too or the replacement is exposed to the same failure.
Nothing on this page confirms that a specific QR25DE will work in your vehicle. That takes the year, model and trim at one end and a specific unit at the other, and it happens before a price is given rather than after. What goes into that check is set out here.
Ask about a QR25DE for your vehicle
The code is pre-filled. Add the year, model and trim, and the variant question gets settled on our side before anything is confirmed.
Common questions
Should I replace the engine in an Altima with a CVT?
Only after the transmission has been checked. CVT failure is common on these cars and is sometimes mistaken for engine trouble; fitting a good engine behind a failing CVT means paying twice. Ask your installer to confirm which component has actually failed before you order anything.
Related pages
- VQ35DE EngineNissan’s 3.5 V6 from the Altima, Murano, Maxima and 350Z.
- 2AZ-FE EngineThe 2.4 four from the Camry, RAV4 and Highlander.
- Nissan AltimaQR25DE or VQ35DE, and check the transmission first.
- Nissan EnginesNissan engine families, and why the transmission is checked first.
- What Comes With a JDM EngineWhat is usually attached, what almost never is, and what to confirm in writing.
Find the right engine for your vehicle
Tell us the year, model and trim. We identify the engine your vehicle takes and come back with current availability and pricing.