All About The Nissan Rogue Air Conditioner Problems

Mark R
Jan 26, 2021

Starting with the 2008 model year, the Nissan Rogue quickly became a popular choice for SUV buyers in search of a roomy, comfortable and efficient vehicle. While Nissan strives to make each vehicle with the utmost quality, unforeseen problems can pop up long after the vehicle has left the factory.

Are there any Nissan Rogue AC problems? 

So far, no recalls were issued as of September 2020. Nevertheless, plenty of owner reviews and customer complaints have documented various issues. 

Some of these include: 

  • Sudden and intermittent loss of cool air 
  • Climate control settings that change on their own 
  • Frozen evaporator during long drives 

Gray 2021 Nissan Rogue From Front-Driver Side

Luckily, you’ll find plenty of information about the Nissan Rogue air conditioner problems, along with any possible solutions made available. You’ll also learn how to find and respond to open recalls for your vehicle.

How Vehicle Air Conditioners Work

Air conditioning in a vehicle is actually no different than air conditioning in the average home. The main difference involves packaging, since the average vehicle air conditioner has to share space under the hood with the engine and transmission.

In addition to sharing space with the engine, the A/C compressor also gets its power from the engine’s crankshaft via a drive belt. The condenser sits in front of the vehicle’s radiator, allowing the incoming air to transfer heat away from the high-pressure refrigerant within.

The evaporator is the only A/C component that’s actually inside the vehicle. As you’d expect, air from outside or recirculated from the cabin blows through the evaporator, carrying what eventually becomes cold, dry air into the cabin.

The vast majority of modern vehicle A/C systems use R134a refrigerant. Many older vehicles still use the older R12 refrigerant, but the latter no longer sees widespread use.

Common Nissan Rogue Air Conditioner Problems

Car Air Conditioning Button

Numerous first- and second-generation Nissan Rogue owners have reported air conditioner problems at one point or another. In most cases, the air conditioner simply stops working at random moments or won’t function at all after operating for a certain period of time.

Other Nissan Rogue owners have experienced climate control settings that change on their own. Often, service advisors are unable to duplicate the air conditioner issues, which constantly proves frustrating to vehicle owners.

After reading about similar issues and repairs, a commenter on CarGurus.com offered a helpful and somewhat overlooked solution.

In this instance, a Nissan Rogue owner was dealing with an evaporator that constantly froze on long drives. The fix involved replacing the evaporator with one from a newer model year Rogue.

How to Find and Handle Nissan Rogue Open Recalls

Concerned about your Nissan Rogue? Visit the NHTSA website and search for the latest open recalls using your VIN or vehicle make, model and year. If you do find one, you can search for the nearest authorized dealership for service simply by using your ZIP Code.

Owner Reviews

accountCircle Sandy on September 26, 2022
NISSAN ROGUE SPORT 2020 NO WORTH IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is the WORSE EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER HAD WITH A CAR!!!!!!, I always decided to get use cars because of the price, unfortunately I decided to get brand new car DIRECTLY FROM NISSAN DEALER thinking that it was better and safe for my kids and trying to save money on cars issues and because of my poor experience in cars I just got in to a Rogue Sport 2020, NOT KNOWING IN THE SITUATION THAT I WAS GETTING IN TO, I REGRETED SO BAD!!! First month of having this car was ok, but after the second month one issue after another were coming starting with the gas gauge keep giving inaccurate levels because of problems with resistors in a circuit in the sender unit, the engine seems to be a little noisy and lacks sufficient power, I took this car numerous times for this issue and the problem always coming back, EVAP System Problems, Suspension Problems, after that you will find a lots of issues with "low mileage" A/C issues which it is ridiculous for a brand new car and on top of that is some of the parts depending on the problem are difficult to get it right away, I have to park my car for 5 month waiting to be able to get the part that needed to be fix and at the moment that Nissan contacted me to let me know that they finally got the part that need to be replace it, the problem for the A/C still not fixed, they need to charge me a lot of more extra to end up saying that probably it is an electric issue, when I already spend a lots of money trying to fix the car, 5 MONTHS paying a car that does not have use and is just taking space, and spending money, and dealer no offer no discounts or a positive solution and they are just watching how you spend unnecessary money in a car that is not worth it, the dealers know about this car issues, of course they wont tell you because they wont lose money, THE BUSINESS NEED TO GROW NOT MATTER HOW UNFAIR THE SITUATION FOR A CUSTOMMER CAN BE, but just so you know DO NOT GET ANY KIND OF EXTRA INSURANCE FOR GUARANTEE THAT they will offer it, you will end up paying a lots of money anyway at the time of services or replacing any part the only thing you will see you will get for free, it is the first oil change, being said all of this there are a lots of issue with this cars, be prepare to spend a lots of money and disappointments not even I did not even realize that it is uncomfortable, I will not recommend it not even for a single person, I was looking for something that I can save gas more than a Van that I use to have before and I end up spending the same amount of gas plus the thousands of issues that comes with this PIECE OF JUNK THAT IT IS BEING SELL AS A BRAND NEW CAR.
accountCircle SANDY on September 26, 2022
NISSAN ROGUE SPORT 2020
This is the WORSE EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER HAD WITH A CAR!!!!!!, I always decided to get use cars because of the price, unfortunately I decided to get brand new car DIRECTLY FROM NISSAN DEALER thinking that it was better and safe for my kids and trying to save money on cars issues and because of my poor experience in cars I just got in to a Rogue Sport 2020, NOT KNOWING IN THE SITUATION THAT I WAS GETTING IN TO, I REGRETED SO BAD!!! First month of having this car was ok, but after the second month one issue after another were coming starting with the gas gauge keep giving inaccurate levels because of problems with resistors in a circuit in the sender unit, the engine seems to be a little noisy and lacks sufficient power, I took this car numerous times for this issue and the problem always coming back, EVAP System Problems, Suspension Problems, after that you will find a lots of issues with "low mileage" A/C issues which it is ridiculous for a brand new car and on top of that is some of the parts depending on the problem are difficult to get it right away, I have to park my car for 5 month waiting to be able to get the part that needed to be fix and at the moment that Nissan contacted me to let me know that they finally got the part that need to be replace it, the problem for the A/C still not fixed, they need to charge me a lot of more extra to end up saying that probably it is an electric issue, when I already spend a lots of money trying to fix the car, 5 MONTHS paying a car that does not have use and is just taking space, and spending money, and dealer no offer no discounts or a positive solution and they are just watching how you spend unnecessary money in a car that is not worth it, the dealers know about this car issues, of course they wont tell you because they wont lose money, THE BUSINESS NEED TO GROW NOT MATTER HOW UNFAIR THE SITUATION FOR A CUSTOMMER CAN BE, but just so you know DO NOT GET ANY KIND OF EXTRA INSURANCE FOR GUARANTEE THAT they will offer it, you will end up paying a lots of money anyway at the time of services or replacing any part the only thing you will see you will get for free, it is the first oil change, being said all of this there are a lots of issue with this cars, be prepare to spend a lots of money and disappointments not even I did not even realize that it is uncomfortable, I will not recommend it not even for a single person, I was looking for something that I can save gas more than a Van that I use to have before and I end up spending the same amount of gas plus the thousands of issues that comes with this PIECE OF JUNK THAT IT IS BEING SELL AS A BRAND NEW CAR.
accountCircle Kc on June 27, 2022
2016 Nissan Rogue low miles AC/Heat issues
I live in Hot Raleigh, NC and getting into this piece of 💩I never know, will the AC work and if it works for how long! Switches on its own. Even the heat in the winter doesn’t blow warm unless you turn it all the way to 90 degrees. Took it to the Nissan dealer, and of course it works for that one moment. They hand me papers on how to use my AC unit and tell me to video tape it happening. Sure let me go ahead and do this while driving. These mechanics are incapable of working on a vehicle if it doesn’t show a code. First chance I get and hopefully car prices and rates go down because this piece of 💩 is going before I take a sledge hammer to it! Nissan, buck ip and admit your AC/heat units are faulty!
accountCircle Gail on July 14, 2023
2023 Rogue
Just got a 2023 Nissan Rogue. A few times I have been driving the car with the auto climate control temp set to 62 which had the car blowing cold air perfectly fine. Then all of a sudden out of the blue, the temp will change on its own to 75 and the fan speed and direction of the air flow would also change. Reading about others having the same problem and more, it looks like the Rougues have had this going on since at least 2016!!! What the?!?!?! Why can’t they seem to get it figured out? Its not the kind of problem you want to have when you have summers of temperatures in the 90’s and 100’s! Ready to look for a different dealership and leave Nissan behind.
accountCircle Bill Cohen on March 5, 2022
2016 Nissan Rogue Owner
Can you clarify if the solution offered in the article about replacing the evaporator in a 2016 Rogue with one from a later model worked? And if this was to solve the issue where the air works fine at the beginning of a long trip, but after about 100 milestone cold air flow gets weaker and weaker and then stops. You can still hear the fan/blower working, but no air comes out of the vents. If you turn the air off, keep driving for about 30minutes, then turn the air back on, it starts working again. Are these the symptoms of an evaporator that is freezing? Also, what late model year evaporator should I get installed? 2020? 2021?
accountCircle Ellen Abbott on May 19, 2023
2019 Rogue Sport 56k miles A/C issues
I bought this car new from the dealer in 2019. I just hit 56k miles and the airflow from the vents is a very soft wind at full fan power power and max A/C. This is unchanged when heat is turned on. Ive been noticing an intermittent squealing from the passenger side wheel well since about a year prior or 16k miles ago. It comes and goes but never stays long. Ive finally connected that its linked to the blower and will try replacing the A/C / heat blower. Wish me luck. No other issues with the car it has been good to me.
accountCircle Phil O on November 16, 2023
2019 Nissan Rogue heat and AC issues
We just purchased a used 2019 Nissan Rogue with 108k km's. With the car in ECO drive mode the AC would stop working after about 90min of driving. This has happened twice now. We switched it to normal mode and had another issue with no heat after about 90min of driving. Next day all is good. I read in the manual the driving in the ECO mode can affect the AC. So obviously it is a know issue but no one seems to know how to fix the problem. Has anyone out there had this issue and did they get it resolved?
accountCircle Karla G on July 22, 2023
2016 Nissan Rogue AC problems
Overall the vehicle is great BUT the AC is c**p. We have had the vehicle in to the dealer probably 20 times over the ac. It randomly starts blowing warm air. We have had new parts put into ac twice and now it is doing it again. It’s a shame that a nice vehicle has a problem they can’t fix!! Probably won’t buy Nissan again because of this issue (that the dealer can’t figure out 1/2 of the time). FRUSTRATING
accountCircle Lisa Williams on September 25, 2022
Nissan Rogue 2018 AC not blowing
I bought this Nissan Rogue in December 2021 and up until two months ago (July 2022) everything was working great. I was in the middle of DoorDashing when my AC stop blowing. There was (is) cool air and heat but the blower is only pushing out air on the lowest level. I've tried changing the fuses and I really don't want to pay to fix something outside of normal maintenance on a car I bought less than a year ago.
accountCircle Christina A on October 10, 2022
2018 Nissan Rogue Sport
POS to say the least...bought brand new, at 33 K miles, cooling fan failed and loss of A/C while idling was the symptom. The fan was replaced and AC works fine **Hack** They are climate controlled so you have to set it 5 degrees lower than the tempature read by your car for it to blow cooler than it is outside. It won't blow even Steven's with the outside tempature...dumb!
accountCircle wes jennings on July 10, 2021
A/c stops cooling at times
A/c stops cooling after about a 20 minute ride. Dealer has had vehicle 2 separate times. Now, dealer personnel told me Nissan told him not to work on my a/c any more as it is under "REVIEW". Whatever that means. I have a new 2021 Nissan Rogue purchased march 2021 with approximately 2600 miles on it .It's hot in south Texas and my new car's a/c doesn't work properly.
accountCircle Rayanne on May 20, 2022
AC works on occasion
2016 Nissan Rogue with low miles AC switches on its own. Never knowhow long it will blow cold before it switches on its own. Brought it multiple times to the dealer and of course it worked each time. Was told to take video. ???! Should I drive, hold phone for video, bring a temp gauge?!? How about admit that there should be a recall on these AC units on these cars!
accountCircle JS on May 4, 2022
AC PROBLEMS 2020 nissan rogue sport
I have a 2020 rogue sport. I. Noticed the air always seemed loud when on.. The 2nd oil change , mist coming from one of the vents. Today may 3rd the air stopped working completely would not come back on while driving. .No cold air at all.Then after restarted car,, it came back on and worked fine. I Noticed alot leaking under the car,MORE THAN NORMAL CONDENSATION.
accountCircle Terry Bowers on August 1, 2022
2017 Nissan Rogue A/C
Similar to others, the A/C works fine at the beginning of a long trip, but after an hour or two of driving the cold air flow gets weaker and weaker and then stops. You can still hear the fan/blower working, but no air comes out of the vents. If you turn the car off, get something to eat, then resume driving, magically the A/C starts working again. Very annoying
accountCircle Jnet on October 24, 2021
Ya it doesn’t work right…
The AC on my 2017 rogue quit working about a year ago and then again this year. Last year I had it checked and there were no leaks found, but they filled it back up with Freon (or whatever) and this year, my hub bought something at Home Depot to do it himself. Apparently we should have done it again before this road trip through the desert…
accountCircle Chris Joseph on June 23, 2023
Blows ice cold when A/C turned off
It seems I have the opposite problem. On a hot day I have to put the heater on over 70 otherwise my hands freeze. The trouble is the A/C is turned off. Other than that I've had zero problems with my 2015 Rouge SV. It's been fault free from day one. During the next service, I'll ask for it to be looked at. Not too bothered by it.
accountCircle PH on October 4, 2022
Worst car I’ve ever owned
My Nissan roque is 2 years old with 16000 miles. My air conditioner stopped blowing cold air. The dealership said nothing was wrong with it. I took it back finally they fixed the AC. A few weeks later I turn on the heater the heater doesn’t get hot. I will never buy another Nissan. Poor customer service and poor vehicles
accountCircle Carolyn on August 17, 2021
Angry
I have 2017 Nissan Rogue Sport and when I car is stopped at a red light or my parked my AC stops working . I have less than 25,000 miles on my car. I called the dealership if I wanted to have it looked at , I would have to pay for it . There should be recall on it . This is ridiculous. I am so mad.
accountCircle Ken on August 30, 2022
Air conditioning stops after 20 minutes
2017 Rogue same problem every oneelseis having air stops after a few minutes if you stop or turn it off for a while it will start working for a little while. Replaced the evaporator same problem Rest the door motor position. Same thing.Will never purchase another Nissan. Just want rid of this one
accountCircle Jose on November 11, 2021
Maint.tech.
Ac was working rigth till 2 weeks ago,suddenly ac just blows cold air to passenger vents only, driver gets hot air,and with heater on ,passenger gets hot air and driver only cold ,sometimes works normal.but must of the times don't.
accountCircle M on February 16, 2022
2021 Rogue
Bad smell produced when AC. Smells like moisture is trapped somewhere but NOT in the vents. Possibly the evaporator? The smell goes away if AC is turned off but air flow is still going, either with cycled or outside air.
accountCircle Sara F on July 24, 2023
2015 Rogue AC not cooling
Repair shop says it’s a very slow leak that he can’t identify. Keep filling up with Freon but leaks out and dye test doesn’t help identify.Reading reviews here seems to be a consistent concern among Rogue owners
accountCircle Ed Hughes on October 11, 2021
Dissatisfied rogue leaser
AC stops blowing out cool air at 45 minutes drive. No help from Bob Johnson/Dorschel, Rochester, they had it two and a half hours told me it was okay, drove home on way same problem. Rogue is lemon.
accountCircle Mario on July 16, 2021
Mr
2020 rogue has a bad smell coming from the air conditioner vent take it to the dealers they said can't duplicate the problem but it bothers me if anyone has the same problem please let me know
accountCircle Tidus Roberts on September 16, 2022
AC Doesn't blow cold on Driver Side
I have a 2018 Nissan Rogue my A/C problem is that the tempature changes on its on it on I switched it back to AC now it only blows cool on the passenger side and warm on the driver side
accountCircle Melinda M on March 18, 2022
2019 Rogue air and heat problems
I seldom drive so extremely low miles. Yet the air and heat weaken. Just took it in and dealer says nay not be covered. Why? Anybody else had success. It is not even 3 yes old
accountCircle r hill on September 2, 2021
Mr
2017 Nissan Rogue sport AC quit ,before it quit, when you first turned AC on a white vapor came out of the vent. This happened several times over several days before it quit.
accountCircle Jeff on June 24, 2022
Strange blower fan issue
A/C blows ice cold, fan works fine but at very right and left turn the fan speed increases and then goes back to normal. What gives?
accountCircle Victor on September 20, 2023
Nissan Rogue SV AWD 2020
I love the car. The defroster just started to malfunction. It stays on all the time. The fan speed for it fluctuates on its own.
accountCircle blondie3 on July 26, 2022
Air condition
2021 Rogue SV . Air conditner stoped working on pasinger door side . It's like the shut won't open at all >>>>>>>>
accountCircle Mary Ann Ann Willis on June 23, 2021
Maryawillis1960@gmail.com
Nissan Rogue's (2017) air conditioner just stops getting cold all at once. Anyone else experiences this problem.
accountCircle Rogue went rogue on September 9, 2021
2016
AC never cooled properly. Now 2 of 4 front vents have stopped working.
avatar Mark R
When it comes to cars, Mark’s been around the block in a wide variety of them, from vintage muscle cars to the latest sedans. In addition to writing about cars, he loves to sketch and photograph them as hobbies.
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