The Nissan Rogue’s repeating airbag and engine problems define worst years for the 2014 to 2016 models. But things took a turn in 2017, which was one of its best years, when the SUV was named a Top Safety Pick Plus winner by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Key Points
- If you’re in the market for a used Nissan Rogue, the 2013, 2015, and 2017 model years are your best bet due to their fewer recalls, and reliability awards.
- The 2010 to 2016 Rogue models are subject to reported transmission and acceleration problems.
- The 2017 Rogue stands out as one of the best model years due to its superior reliability. It was also awarded Top Safety Pick Plus by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
- The 2018 Nissan Rogue is easily a winner, but numerous complaints point to the base Rogue SUV’s problematic forward collision avoidance system that activates without real impact threat.
Worst Years for the Nissan Rogue Include 2014’s Nine and 2015’s Eight Recalls Over Serious Vehicle Control Problems and Stalling Engines
The 2014 to 2016 Rogues stand out for many reasons. Nissan seemed to have figured out a way to minimize the transmission failure reports seen in previous years.
However, NHTSA reports of malfunctioning SRS lights and undeployed airbags persist, in addition to other problems. For starters, air conditioning/heater unit complaints are rife for 2014, coupled with body/paint chipping.
According to many reports, 2015 models are not spared from the A/C issues either. And they also suffer broken interior accessories, such as the seat belts developing issues after some time.
The A/C complaints continued into 2016, in addition to a suspension defect that caused noises while turning or pulling into tight spaces.
Perhaps, the most stand-out aspect of the 2014 to 2016 years is the drastic increase in recalls. Aside from the newer models, 2013 has had only one recall — so, it’s a bit surprising that the following year (2014) sets a record high nine recalls, of which some were due to stalling engines from fuel pump failure.
The 2015 and 2016 Rogue model years had lesser recalls, with eight and six, respectively — software issues resulting in airbags not deploying were implicated in both years.
Despite the many reports and exceptionally high complaints, there are no recorded investigations for any of the three years, proving that even the worst Nissan Rogue years are not in any way unredeemable.
Most Complained-about Nissan Rogue Models Add More Worst-year Contenders with Multiple Reports of Transmission Issues
The 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 Nissan Rogues have over 1300 complaints between them. Over half are due to powertrain problems like loss of acceleration and transmission failure — similar issues plagued older Rogues and did not subside until 2017.
Several users reported replacing their CVTs to solve the problem, costing them between $1900 to $3500 in the process, depending on the model.
Despite the numerous transmission problem reports, Nissan only made an average of two recalls, excluding 2013, which had just one. The NHTSA recalls covered relatively minor issues like electrical short from water seepage and overheating batteries in 2010.
Investigations have also been very few for that period, with only 2013 recording a single inspection by the Office of Defects Investigation — and it yielded no negative results. According to the report, the ODI identified no safety-related defect trend and closed the investigation as a result.
The 2018 year model is a bit of a mixed bag. It remains one of the best Nissan Rogues to date, but only if you pick the right one. For instance, the 2018 Rogue Sport and Hybrid barely have any NHTSA complaints or recalls.
However, the Rogue SUV has a whopping 437 complaints. More than two-thirds are about a hyperactive forward collision-avoidance system and the service brakes. Many drivers report that their vehicles stopped abruptly with no apparent signs of a potential forward impact.
Best Nissan Rogue Model Years Include 2013’s Least Amount of Recalls and 2017’s IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus Award
Nissan managed to end the Rogue’s transmission woes in 2017, and this fix would carry on to later years. However, 2017 stands out as one of the best Nissan Rogues due to its superior reliability. It was awarded Top Safety Pick Plus (TSP+) by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
This vehicle safety rating is the organization’s highest designation, given only to cars equipped with optional Forward Emergency Braking that earn “Advanced” or “Superior” ratings for front crash prevention, amongst other tests.
The 2013 Rogue may not have won any dependability awards, but its single recall since launch tells you all you need to know.
According to the NHTSA, the recall was due to a water seepage problem that caused an electrical short in the harness connector. But it is a relatively less serious issue compared to 2014’s stalling engines.
The 2015 model gets an honorable mention, despite recording the second-highest recalls of the decade. Despite this, Kelley Blue Book named the 2015 Nissan Rogue one of 10 best AWD vehicles under $25k. KBB praised the Rogue’s Around View Monitor and optional heated seats before highlighting the cozy interior and optional fold-flat third-row seating.
The Nissan Rogue has Suffered a Few Setbacks Over the Years, but it’s Still a Reliability Champ
Despite several dependability concerns, the Rogue shows that it’s still a highly decorated model in Nissan’s lineup.
If you’re buying a used Rogue from 2010 to 2013, you should look out for transmission issues and see if replacements have already been made.
For 2014 to 2016, check it’s been part of a recall, especially for a stalling engine or undeployed airbags.
The 2019 to 2022 Nissan Rogue models are still pretty new and have few complaints. But 2013, 2015, and 2017 remain excellent picks due to few recalls and dependability awards.
Photos: Nissan