Nissan Rogue 2021–presentCommon problems, reliability & repair costs

Symptoms: Engine knock or metallic rattle, sudden loss of motive power, stalling at speed, check-engine light, metal chunks or shavings found in the oil pan. NHTSA logged 1,878 incidents including 12 crashes/fires before the first recall. On 2025 cars, owners report 'Engine Malfunction Power Reduced Service Now' warnings at low mileage. A bearing failure can breach the block and discharge hot oil, creating a fire risk.

Fix: NHTSA opened investigation PE23-018 in December 2023; Nissan recalled 443,899 VC-Turbo vehicles (348,554 of them Rogues) in June 2025 under 25V437 — dealers inspect the oil pan for metal debris, replace the engine if debris traces to the bearings, and otherwise change the oil and reprogram the ECM. Seizures continued after the first countermeasure, so Nissan recalled 323,917 more Rogues — model years 2023–2025 — in February 2026 under 26V080, citing overheated, degraded oil as a contributing factor; owner letters mailed April 8, 2026. The 26V080 remedy is an ECM reprogram, a trouble-code inspection, and a test drive, escalating to an oil-pan inspection and free engine replacement if codes point to the bearings. Out of warranty and outside the recall path, a replacement KR15DDT is a five-figure job. Get the recall work and inspection results documented before buying.

Sources: NHTSA Part 573 recall report 25V437 (engine bearing defect), NHTSA Part 573 recall report 26V080 (bearing seizure, oil degradation), WardsAuto — Nissan recalls 642k Rogues over engine damage, throttle body, ProblemsByVin — 2025 Nissan Rogue: 169 NHTSA complaints, 3 recalls, Nissan Forums — NHTSA investigation: loss of motive power / engine failure

Symptoms: Sudden loss of drive power while driving, check-engine light, reduced-power limp mode. The gears inside the electronic throttle-body assembly can fracture and break, cutting throttle response without warning.

Fix: Recall 26V081, announced the same day as the second bearing recall in February 2026, covers 318,781 2024–2025 Rogues with the VC-Turbo (Nissan campaigns R25E2/R25E3). Dealers reprogram the ECM and replace the electronic throttle body if needed, free. This is a separate defect from the bearing issue — a 2024 or 2025 needs BOTH February 2026 campaigns closed. Verify by VIN before purchase.

Sources: NHTSA recall acknowledgement 26V081 (throttle-body gears), WardsAuto — Nissan recalls 642k Rogues over engine damage, throttle body, The Weekly Driver — used Rogue: 3 VC-Turbo recalls buyers must check

Symptoms: Shudder or vibration under light acceleration, rubber-band hesitation pulling away from a stop or merging, lag on cold starts. 'Acceleration issue' is the top-reported 2023 engine complaint on CarComplaints (average ~13,000 miles), drivetrain complaints run through all four launch-era years, and owners of 2025 cars report the same low-speed hesitation pattern.

Fix: Start cheap: a CVT fluid service and any applicable Nissan software reflash resolve many judder complaints. Persistent judder with stored judder codes can mean belt/pulley wear, and the fix escalates to valve body or full CVT replacement — $4,000–$5,500 at an independent shop. This Xtronic is better than the failure-prone unit in the prior generation, but it is not vindicated yet; buy with a long test drive.

Sources: Nissan Forums — 2023 Rogue transmission hesitation at start-up, CarComplaints — 2023 Nissan Rogue, Lemberg Law — 2025 Nissan Rogue reported problems (hesitation, power loss)

Symptoms: Engine stall while driving, sometimes with no restart. Caused by abnormal wear between the pump brush and commutator that overheats and melts pump components.

Fix: Recall 21V957 (Nissan campaign R21B8) covered roughly 27,000 2021 Rogues — dealers replace the fuel pump assembly free. Verify by VIN that it was done; a failed pump outside recall coverage runs $500–$1,100 at an independent shop. The 2021 also logged 24 NHTSA fuel-system complaints beyond the recall population.

Sources: CarComplaints — Rogue fuel pump recall after stalled engines, NHTSA — 2021 Nissan Rogue recalls & complaints

Symptoms: Fuel odor inside or around the vehicle, visible leak in a worst case. 'Gas smell inside car' is a top-reported 2022 complaint (average ~21,000 miles), and 2022 logged 42 NHTSA fuel-system complaints.

Fix: Two 2022-only recalls: 22V259 for a fuel tank with a too-thin bottom wall (dealers replace the tank, lock ring, gasket, and o-ring) and 22V660 for tanks punctured during vehicle modifications. Both fixes are free by VIN. A tank replacement out-of-pocket is $1,200–$2,200. Any persistent fuel smell on a 2022 is a walk-away or fix-before-purchase item.

Sources: NHTSA — 2022 Nissan Rogue recalls & complaints, CarComplaints — 2022 Nissan Rogue

Symptoms: Center screen continuously reboots on restart, rearview camera shows a blank screen in reverse, intermittent electrical gremlins. The 2021 alone logged 47 NHTSA electrical complaints.

Fix: Three software recalls: 22V527 (SiriusXM 'Not Subscribed' state reboots the head unit and kills the camera), 22V772 (infotainment reboot loop on 2021–2022), and 24V748 (blank reverse camera on 2024–2025 Rogues; owner letters mailed December 2024). All are fixed free via dealer or over-the-air update. Confirm software is current at purchase; a genuinely failed head unit outside these campaigns is an $800+ part, but that's the exception.

Sources: NHTSA — 2021 Nissan Rogue recalls (22V527, 22V772), NHTSA — 2024 Nissan Rogue recalls (24V748), Cars.com — 2025 Nissan Rogue recalls (24V748 scope includes 2025)

Symptoms: Rear hatch glass shatters with no impact — while parked, after closing a door, or during normal driving. Owners describe a pop or bang, then the glass collapsing into the cargo area. NHTSA has logged over 100 complaints of shattered rear windshields on 2023–2025 Rogues, and 'visibility' is the top 2025 complaint category (68 of 169 total complaints, average ~13,400 miles).

Fix: No recall exists. A class-action lawsuit filed in January 2026 in the Middle District of Tennessee alleges 2021–2025 Rogues use thin soda-lime rear glass prone to spontaneous failure; Nissan has declined warranty coverage in documented cases, leaving owners to claim it on comprehensive insurance. Reported out-of-pocket costs run roughly $260–$350 for glass and trim (more if the wiper or defroster grid is damaged). On a used car, check for replacement rear glass and ask about shattering history — a prior comprehensive claim should show on the vehicle history report.

Sources: Carscoops — Nissan Rogue rear-window class action (Jan 2026), Lemberg Law — Nissan Rogue rear window shattering investigation, ProblemsByVin — 2025 Nissan Rogue complaint breakdown (visibility: 68)

Symptoms: False forward-collision warnings, phantom braking with nothing ahead, or AEB/warning lights with the system disabled. 'AEB malfunction' is a top-ranked 2021 brake complaint on CarComplaints (average 31,000 miles), continuing a complaint pattern from the prior generation.

Fix: Diagnosis first: many cases are a blocked or misaligned front radar or a software calibration issue. Fixes range from sensor cleaning/recalibration (~$250) to radar unit replacement ($700–$1,200). No recall covers this on the T33 — document any warning lights on the test drive and negotiate accordingly.

Sources: CarComplaints — 2021 Nissan Rogue (AEB malfunction), NHTSA — 2021 Nissan Rogue complaints

Tools: Floor jack + jack stands or ramps, Oil filter wrench, Drain pan, 14mm socket for drain plug

1. Warm the engine briefly, raise the front of the vehicle, and remove the splash-shield access panel.
2. Drain the oil, inspect what comes out — on the 1.5L, any glitter or metallic flecks means stop and get the recall oil-pan inspection done before driving further.
3. Replace the filter, refit the drain plug with a new crush washer, and refill with the specified 0W-20.
4. Run the engine, check for leaks, verify level on the dipstick, and reset the maintenance reminder.

Tools: None (screwdriver optional for airbox clips)

1. Open the glovebox, release the side stops, and drop it down to expose the cabin filter cover.
2. Slide out the old cabin filter and insert the new one with the airflow arrow pointing the correct direction.
3. Unclip the engine airbox lid, swap in the new panel filter, and re-seat the lid clips.
4. Confirm the glovebox stops re-engage and the airbox lid sits flush.

Tools: 10mm socket or wrench, Battery terminal brush, Memory saver (optional but recommended)

1. With the ignition off, connect a memory saver if you have one to preserve radio and window settings.
2. Disconnect the negative terminal first, then positive, then remove the battery hold-down bracket.
3. Swap in the correct group-size AGM/flooded replacement, clean the terminals, and refit the hold-down.
4. Reconnect positive first, then negative, and cycle each window fully up to re-learn auto-up if needed.