Nissan, the leading Japanese brand in China, Russia, and Mexico, known for its commitment to quality, innovation, and reliability, debuted Rogue in October 2007 for the 2008 model year. The Nissan Rogue is unquestionably a reliable compact SUV, but the early models had several bad reviews.
You will enjoy your ride if you avoid the bad model years. I’ll help you do that by highlighting the Nissan Rogue years to avoid and the best Nissan Rogue years to buy instead. You will also learn the common problems with this car based on Forum discussions, first-hand owner experience, and driver complaints reported to the NHTSA website.
Nissan Rogue Years To Avoid
Unfortunately, you can make a case to avoid every Nissan Rogue year model across the three generations because all come with the same problematic CVT transmission. However, some years are more problematic than others.
According to Nissan Rogue years to avoid Reddit and other forum discussions, NHTSA and CarComplaints reports, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2018 are the worst Rogue year models you should avoid like a plague. These models are notorious for having the most transmission, engine, and other system problems.
I’ll explain the issues and complaints on these year models based on their generations, so you will see why you should avoid them like a plague.
First Gen 2008 to 2012 year models
Transmission failure is the most common issue with the first-generation Nissan Rogue (2008-2012 year) models. The transmission allows you to steer and shift gears as you please. With this in mind, a sudden transmission failure means you could lose control, and the vehicle unable to take your inputs.
The tranny issues are a massive problem with all the Nissan Rogue year models, as it could lead to a collision on the road. Transmission failures occur due to a faulty CVT cooling system, which invariably overheats the system.
Aside from the transmission messing things up, the first-generation models were afflicted with other issues like crash sensors and faulty airbags. Many users also complained of issues with ventilation, heating, and the air conditioning (HVAC) system. Though these are not severe problems, they make loud noises across several Nissan Rogue complaints.
According to user complaints in several forums, the first-generation year models were also plagued with defective interior accessories and paint peeling off.
Second-generation 2013-2016 and 2018
Surprisingly, everyone expects to see a better result in the 2013 year model since it is the last year the first generation was on sale. But unfortunately, Nissan didn’t iron out the kinks in the previous model years.
Both NHTSA and CarComplaints labeled 2013 as the model year with the most user complaints. Most of the complaints from the users are transmission-related issues.
These user disappointments continued until 2016. With the 2017 release of the Rogue, Nissan successfully addressed many issues that plagued earlier models.
However, the 2018 Nissan Rogue was a total disappointment to the users. Drivers complained of several issues with the brakes. The brakes vibrate seriously, sometimes making the seat shake noisily or swinging as you drive. In mild cases, you only experience irregular pulses on your hands while holding the steering wheel and braking.
Others reported that their Nissan Rogue would slow down while driving and continue normally as if nothing happened. This is not an occasional event. It happens repeatedly. Could this be caused by the automatic braking system?
It is due to a faulty valve body in the CVT transmission. But in some X-Trail and lots of other Rogue models, a faulty automatic braking system is the reason for the sudden slow down.Thankfully, Nissan fixed these issues through a few recalls.
Additionally, there were reports of electrical system components giving out and suspension components going bad.
Common Nissan Rogue Problems
Overall, the Nissan Rogue is a reliable crossover, but some year models were afflicted with glamoring problems you should be aware of.
Inaccurate fuel readings, defective brakes, faulty air conditioner, CVT transmission issues, sudden loss of acceleration, exploding sunroofs, and clogged EVAP systems are the common problems associated with the Nissan Rogue.
Defective brakes
If you are planning to get a used 2018 Nissan Rogue, you should inspect the brakes thoroughly. The brake issues appear on some other models, but it is more on the 2018 model year.
Users complained that the automatic braking system would suddenly engage itself without the drivers’ input. This happens both when driving on the highway or parking your car. This can, however, pose a dangerous life threat if it occurs when overtaking a vehicle on the highway or when moving at traffic light.
Loss of acceleration
Most Nissan Rogue year models were afflicted with transmission issues, which led to a class-action lawsuit against Nissan. The primary reason most Nissan Rogue users faced the loss of acceleration is due to the problematic CVT transmission that comes with the Rogue. According to users’ reports, the Nissan Rogues experiences jerking, shaking, and stalling before it accelerates smoothly.
Faulty air conditioner
Another problem that bedeviled the Nissan Rogue is air conditioning system issues. This compact SUV comes with faulty A/C that makes it difficult to properly cool or heat the system.
If you live in a region with normal temperature, you may not notice the problem. But it’s a major issue for those living in areas with extreme weather conditions. This heating/cooling issue is caused by a defective evaporative emission control system (EVAP) sensor. Fortunately, you can address the issue by replacing the defective sensor.
Inaccurate fuel reading
While not a severe issue, most users across the 2008-2018 Nissan Rogue year models complain of inaccurate fuel gauge readings. This common issue is typically caused by a defective fuel level sender, and thankfully, you can solve the problem by replacing the faulty fuel level sender.
CVT transmission issues
Nissan introduced the continuous variable transmission (CVT) for a better and smooth ride across the Rogue model. The CVT delivered its promise, but it also comes with an ugly side. According to several drivers, the common Nissan Rogue transmission problems are slow response time, sluggishness, transmission slipping, and overheating. The slow response time happens both on highway and when merging onto a highway or a busy freeway.
Clogged EVAP system
First and second Nissan Rogue generations were prone to evaporation emission control system clogs, which could cause fuel splashing back during refilling. As a result, this will hinder you from passing your next emission test. And it will trigger the check engine light on the dashboard.
One annoying thing about having the check engine light on the dash is that you won’t know when else the car computer detects a severe issue and projects the engine warning light to warn you to try and address it. Nobody likes seeing that little panic-inducing monster light on their dashboard.
Drivers clamored about this EVAP clogging issue, which caused Nissan to address it in March 2017.
Exploding sunroofs
2012 to 2013 Nissan Rogue year models were prone to the sunroof rattling or exploding. The panoramic sunroof on these models, which was an upgrade feature was a total disaster. This led to a class-action lawsuit. One of the users during the lawsuit reported that the glass would explode once the compressed layer is compromised.
Best Nissan Rogue Years To Buy
Best Nissan Rogue Years To Buy
Now that we have discussed the common problems and the model years to avoid, I know you will be wondering what are the best Nissan Rogue years to avoid?
Generally, the Nissan Rogue is an exciting and fun drive, no matter the year model you bought. However, much like other car models, some year models stand out more than the rest, boasting fewer complaints while offering great value for the money.
2017, 2019, 2020, and 2021 are the most reliable options for the Nissan Rogue. These models have fewer complaints and headaches compared to the rest of the other models.
Though there are other older models worth giving a try, if you are in for reliability, these are the models for you. It doesn’t make any sense to buy anything other than reliable ones.
Final words
Overall, the Nissan Rogue is a reliable SUV. According to Repairpal, the Nissan Rogue reliability rating is 4 out of 5, which is above average.
Although there are some poor Nissan Rogue model years, there are reliable ones too. Most of the bad model years—2008, 2009, 2010, 2011,2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2018 are the first and second-generation years. If you are looking for a great value for the investment, always go for the newer year models.
The 2017, 2019, 2020, and 2021 are the best Nissan Rogue model years that meet the strides to cover the deficiencies of the older models. Plus, they feature cutting-edge technologies to give you peace of mind and on-road comfort.
