Nissan Rogue Years to Avoid: CVT Failures and the VC-Turbo Recall
Nissan · Rogue · 2008–now
The Rogue has had three generations and three different main problems: CVT failures on 2008-2016 models, phantom automatic braking on 2017-2019, and bearing recalls on the 1.5L VC-Turbo engine in 2022 and later. Here's every model year, what goes wrong with it, and which ones are the safer buys.
Mirko9 min read
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The Nissan Rogue is one of the best-selling SUVs in America, so there are a lot of them on used lots, and most of the bad ones fail in a predictable way for their year. 2008-2016 Rogues draw the most complaints about the CVT, the belt-type automatic transmission Nissan uses in all of them. 2017-2019 Rogues are known for braking hard on their own. And 2022 and later Rogues have the 1.5-liter VC-Turbo three-cylinder, which has two engine recalls for bearing failures.
If you only want the short answer, the years with the cleanest records are 2020 and 2021. The 2013 and 2023 have the most complaints of any Rogues. Everything else depends on the paperwork that comes with the car.
Every Rogue model year at a glance
| Years | Generation | Engine | Main risk | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-2012 | 1st (S35) | 2.5L four | CVT failure, aging | Check carefully, buy cheap |
| 2013 | 1st (S35) | 2.5L four | CVT failure | Avoid |
| 2014-2016 | 2nd (T32) | 2.5L four | CVT failure, under-dash wiring recall | Check carefully |
| 2017-2019 | 2nd (T32) | 2.5L four | Phantom emergency braking | Check carefully |
| 2020 | 2nd (T32) | 2.5L four | Few known | Better bet |
| 2021 | 3rd (T33) | 2.5L four | First-year recalls | Better bet if recalls are done |
| 2022 | 3rd (T33) | 1.5L VC-Turbo | Engine bearing recall | Check carefully |
| 2023 | 3rd (T33) | 1.5L VC-Turbo | Two engine recalls | Avoid unless documented |
| 2024-2025 | 3rd (T33) | 1.5L VC-Turbo | Engine and throttle recalls | Check carefully |
Based on NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, retrieved October 20, 2026. Recall repairs are free at any Nissan dealer, whoever owns the car.
2008-2013: the first-generation CVT
The first Rogue used a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and a CVT on every model. The CVT is the issue. Owners describe whining, shuddering, slipping and sudden loss of power, often with the transmission going into a low-power limp mode, usually after 80,000 miles. The 2013 stands out: 276 of its 610 NHTSA complaints mention the transmission, the most of any Rogue model year. The 2011 is close behind as a share, with 172 of its 362.
These cars are now 13 to 18 years old, so most of them are well past any warranty, and a replacement CVT can cost more than the car is worth. Our CVT guide covers what a failing one feels like and what replacement costs.
One recall matters on these too. 15V-032 covers 468,815 2008-2013 Rogues and 2014 Rogue Selects because snow, water and road salt can seep through the driver's footwell carpet into a wiring connector and cause a short, which can start a fire. The 2014-2015 Rogue Select is the first-generation Rogue sold alongside the new one under a different name.
2014-2020: the second generation
The second-generation Rogue kept the 2.5-liter four and a CVT, with a new body and an optional third row on early models. Its problems changed partway through.
2014-2016: more CVT trouble and a class action
CVT complaints continued, with the 2016 drawing 150 that mention the transmission. A class action, Stringer v. Nissan, settled with Nissan extending the CVT warranty on 2014-2018 Rogues from 5 years or 60,000 miles to 7 years or 84,000 miles. That extension has now run out on almost every car it covered, since even a 2018 is more than 7 years old, so a buyer today gets the history of that CVT without the coverage.
These years also have two corrosion recalls worth checking. 22V-024 covers 664,779 2014-2016 Rogues because water and salt can corrode an under-dash wiring connector, causing power window and seat failures, battery drain and a fire risk. A separate 2017 recall, 22V-875, covers a similar connector problem. 16V-219 covers liftgate support struts on 2014-2016 cars that can corrode and break off.
2017-2019: phantom emergency braking
For these years, the transmission complaints drop and a different one takes over: the automatic emergency braking system slamming on the brakes with nothing in front of the car. NHTSA opened an investigation in 2019 into roughly 554,000 2017-2018 Rogues after a petition from the Center for Auto Safety, TT News reported. Nissan released a software update and said the system can be triggered by things like railroad crossings, bridges and low traffic lights. Complaints about it peak with the 2018 model: 191 of its 609 NHTSA complaints describe the car braking on its own or the collision warning system misfiring.
If you're looking at a 2017-2019, ask a Nissan dealer whether the radar and braking software updates are done, and drive it on a highway with overpasses before you buy.
2014-2020: the folding key recall
23V-093 covers 712,458 2014-2020 Rogues and 2017-2022 Rogue Sports with a folding "jackknife" key, which can collapse while driving and switch the car off if your knee hits it. Nissan's fix replaces the key. Make sure the car you buy comes with the replacement keys, not the old folding ones.
The 2020 is the cleanest year of this generation, with 152 NHTSA complaints against 609 for the 2018 and 337 for the 2019.
2021 and later: the third generation
The current Rogue launched for 2021 with a new design, the same 2.5-liter four-cylinder and a CVT.
2021 (2.5L): The first year has ten recalls, most of them small assembly problems: rear brake calipers missing an internal bushing, incorrect wheel nuts, a second-row child seat tether, and a fuel pump that can overheat and stall the engine (21V-957). Once those are done, the 2021 is the only third-generation Rogue without the VC-Turbo engine, which makes it a better bet than the years after it.
2022-2025 (1.5L VC-Turbo): For 2022, Nissan replaced the 2.5L with a 1.5-liter turbo three-cylinder that can change its compression ratio while it runs, rated at 201 hp and up to 33 mpg combined, TFLcar reported. It has three recalls:
- 25V-437 covers 348,554 Rogues with this engine built from March 2021 to August 2024, for a manufacturing defect in several engine bearings that Nissan estimated affects 1.2% of engines. Dealers check the oil pan for metal debris and replace the engine if they find it.
- 26V-080 covers 323,917 2023-2025 Rogues because oil can run hot enough to break down and starve the bearings. The fix is a software update.
- 26V-081 covers 318,782 2024-2025 Rogues because gears inside the electronic throttle body can break, causing a loss of drive power.
The 2023 has 740 NHTSA complaints, the most of any Rogue, and engine complaints lead them. A 2023 can fall under both engine recalls. Nissan says these bearing failures usually give warning first: noise from the engine, rough running, a check engine light or a warning message. Our 2026 engine recall roundup covers what a buyer should ask about a car that already had the recall work done.
Rogue Sport (2017-2022)
The Rogue Sport is a smaller, different car, sold elsewhere as the Nissan Qashqai, with a 2.0-liter four and a CVT. It shares the folding key recall (23V-093) and Nissan's CVT reputation, but none of the VC-Turbo recalls. Check it the same way you'd check a 2017-2020 Rogue.
How to check a used Rogue
- Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup, and our free VIN decoder to confirm which engine it has. On a 2022 or later, every engine recall should be closed.
- Ask for CVT service records. Nissan's CVTs are sensitive to fluid condition, and a car with documented fluid changes is a better bet than one with none.
- On the test drive, accelerate gently from a stop and again on the highway. A whine, shudder, flare in revs, or sudden power cut means the CVT needs a diagnosis before you make an offer.
- On a 2017-2019, drive under overpasses and over railroad crossings. On a 2022 or later, listen for knocking or rattling from the engine, especially on a cold start.
- Get under the dash on 2008-2017 cars from snowy states. Damp carpet in the driver's footwell is a warning sign for the wiring recalls.
What NHTSA complaints show
As of October 2026, NHTSA had 429 complaints for the 2008 Rogue, 320 for the 2009, 282 for the 2010, 362 for the 2011, 318 for the 2012, 610 for the 2013, 440 for the 2014, 553 for the 2015, 541 for the 2016, 600 for the 2017, 609 for the 2018, 337 for the 2019, 152 for the 2020, 291 for the 2021, 267 for the 2022, 740 for the 2023, 216 for the 2024 and 194 for the 2025. The Rogue sells in large numbers, so its raw counts run higher than lower-volume models. Complaint counts aren't verified and aren't adjusted for sales.
Your Car Is Not This Article
This page covers what's documented about the Rogue by model year. The one you're looking at has its own history: how its CVT was maintained, which recalls were done, and whether its engine was inspected or replaced. A Squeezed report pulls the exact risk profile for your specific year and trim, including open recalls. Run a report before you make an offer.
Sources
- NHTSA, Recalls database and complaints data for the 2008-2025 Nissan Rogue (retrieved October 20, 2026): 15V-032, 16V-219, 21V-957, 22V-024, 22V-875, 23V-093, 26V-080, 26V-081
- NHTSA, Part 573 Safety Recall Report 25V437 (July 11, 2025)
- Stringer v. Nissan North America settlement site (2014-2018 Rogue CVT warranty extension)
- TT News, NHTSA Opens Probe Into Nissan Rogue Automatic Emergency Braking (2019)
- TFLcar, The 2022 Nissan Rogue Brings In New 1.5-Liter VC-Turbo (November 2021)
FAQ
What are the worst Nissan Rogue years?
The 2013 and 2023 have the most NHTSA complaints of any Rogue model year. The 2013's complaints are mostly about the CVT, and the 2023 is covered by two recalls for bearing failures in its 1.5L VC-Turbo engine. 2014-2016 Rogues also draw many CVT complaints, and 2017-2019 Rogues are known for phantom automatic emergency braking.
What is the most reliable Nissan Rogue year?
On NHTSA complaints and recalls, 2020 and 2021 have the cleanest records. The 2020 has the fewest complaints of the second generation, and the 2021 is the only third-generation Rogue with the 2.5L four-cylinder instead of the recalled 1.5L VC-Turbo, though its first-year recalls should be confirmed complete.
Is the Nissan Rogue CVT warranty still active?
Almost certainly not. A class action settlement extended CVT coverage on 2014-2018 Rogues to 7 years or 84,000 miles, which has now expired on nearly every car it covered. A used Rogue's CVT history matters more than any remaining warranty.
Which Nissan Rogue years have the VC-Turbo engine recall?
The 1.5L VC-Turbo arrived for 2022. Recall 25V-437 covers Rogues with it built from March 2021 to August 2024 for bearing defects, 26V-080 covers 2023-2025 Rogues for high oil temperatures, and 26V-081 covers 2024-2025 Rogues for throttle body gears that can break.
