The Lemon Index2021 Nissan Rogue.
The 2021 Nissan Rogue is better than average by owner complaints: 151 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 55, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 10 recalls, and it gets 27 to 33 mpg combined. The best Nissan Rogue year is 2012.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 291 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Nissan Rogue year. 2021 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 2K to 67K miles on the car (58 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 10
- engine 2025
The engine bearings may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine failure.
- brakes 2023
The left and/or right rear brake caliper assemblies may be missing an internal bushing, allowing the O-ring seal to move and brake fluid to leak.
- back over prevention 2022
The in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system may continuously reboot when the vehicle is restarted, which can result in an inoperative rearview display.
Show all 10 recalls
- seat belts 2022
The rear seat belts for the left-hand and right-hand rear seats may not retract properly.
- back over prevention 2022
When the Sirius XM subscription is set to "Not Subscribed," it may cause the infotainment head unit to reboot, resulting in an inoperative rearview camera.
- fuel system, gasoline 2021
Abnormal wear inside the fuel pump may cause it to overheat and fail.
- seats 2021
The second-row upper tether wires may have been improperly welded to the seatback frame, preventing a child seat from being securely anchored.
- brakes 2021
The rear left and/or right brake caliper assemblies may be missing an internal bushing, allowing the O-ring seal to move and brake fluid to leak.
- wheels 2021
The incorrect wheel nuts may have been installed, and may loosen causing wheel vibration.
- fuel system, gasoline 2021
The fuel hose may not be secured in the proper position and the fuel tank lock ring may not be fully seated.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Nissan told dealers about
Nissan sent dealers 234 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Intelligent key unit dtc p161d stored in the ecm service information dtc p161d (immobilizer)…
- 2021 ROGUE; REMOTE ENGINE START SERVICE INFORMATION To use the Remote Engine Start (RES) feature
- 2019-2021 ALTIMA AND 2021 ROGUE; AC INOPERATIVE WITH DTC B20C8-14 STORED IF YOU CONFIRM The AC…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- Closed2021 nissan rogue inner tie rod failures2024–2026
- ClosedComplete loss of motive power due to engine failure2023–2025
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Rogue SUV FWD Later Release | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Nissan Rogue SUV AWD Later Release | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Nissan Rogue SUV AWD Earlier Release | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Nissan Rogue SUV FWD Earlier Release | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Nissan Rogue Sport SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Nissan Rogue Sport SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $1950–2400 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.5L 3-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
Unable to put car into park. Need to stop/start engine with foot on break in order to be able to put car into park. Resistance to speed while driving. Need to pull over vehicle and stop/start engine to then proceed driving.
2021 Nissan Rogue owner · NHTSA complaint 11415532
More owner reports
The keys locked in the car, the car should not lock if the keys are inside
NHTSA complaint 11453761
I was driving on I-5 (nighttime) when the engine suddenly lost all power. I was able to pull over to the shoulder, but it was dangerous. The dash displayed something along the lines of: Engine malfunction power decrease
NHTSA complaint 11510712
Quick answers
Is the 2021 Nissan Rogue reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.8× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 55; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Nissan Rogue year by this measure is 2012.
What are the most common 2021 Nissan Rogue problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (21%), engine (17%) and automatic emergency braking (15%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2021 Nissan Rogue have?
10 safety recalls (latest: engine). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2021 Nissan Rogue get?
27 to 33 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2021 Nissan Rogue safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2021 Nissan Rogue problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 2,800 and 67,500 miles. The middle report was at 29,800 miles, from 58 complaints.
Does the 2021 Nissan Rogue have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 10% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2021 Nissan Rogue cost in fuel a year?
About $1950 to $2400 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2021 Nissan Rogue have?
1.5L 3-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl.
What Nissan Rogue year is better than the 2021?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2012, 2020 and 2011.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works