2018 Nissan Rogue Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2018 Nissan Rogue, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes26732.4%
- Driver assistance23128.1%
- Electrical9411.4%
- Engine587.0%
- Powertrain (other)455.5%
- Airbags313.8%
- Steering192.3%
- Interior & seats172.1%
- Body & structure141.7%
- Visibility101.2%
- Other / unspecified101.2%
- Fuel system81.0%
- Seat belts70.9%
- Exterior lighting70.9%
- Suspension40.5%
- Tires & wheels10.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
While driving nothing in front of me, the car breaks. It happen a few times while doing 70 mph. The car breaks and slows down. It's done it while going 30 mph as well.
The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to exceed 20 MPH. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving. The brake pedal was depressed, but the engine revved, and the vehicle failed to immediately stop. No warning light was illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the continuously variable transmission (CVT) needed to be replaced; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 38,590.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
My 2018 Nissan Rogue CVT transmission has failed to accelerate on two separate occasions while driving. The vehicle would not respond when I pressed the gas pedal. The car was still running but would not accelerate. The issue resolved on its own both times. I currently have approximately 69,000 miles on the vehicle. I am concerned the transmission will fail completely.
Car drives sluggish then takes off rides fine for awhile then problem repeats
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that there was water in the rear hatch which caused several electrical failures. The dealer informed the contact that the electrical components needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the VIN was not associated with a related recall. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
Component/System: The fire department determined the cause of the fire to be accidental due to an electrical malfunction within the vehicle. The most extensive damage was located in the engine compartment, though damage spread to the passenger compartment as well. The vehicle is available on request. The vehicle caught fire while parked on a street. No injuries or displacements occured. However, the vehicle became "well involved" with fire, creating an active emergency that required emergent fire department response and suppression. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Since the vehicle receive so much damage, it would only be the emergency response and origin determination by Lubbock Fire Rescue. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The vehicle was inspected on-scene by Lubbock Fire Rescue (Unit E7). The fire department noted no signs of vandalism or tampering, concluding the cause was accidental. The police was also on the scene as well. Were there any warning messages? The owner stated they had driven the vehicle around 20:30 (8:30 PM) the previous evening and it had been parked since. The fire did not break out until approximately 05:13 AM the following morning. There wasn’t any warning lamps or unusual symptoms l present during or prior to that final drive. Summary: On May 28, 2026 the 2018 Nissan Rogue internally combusted. Subsequent inspection of the vehicle revealed fire damage in both the passenger compartment and the engine compartment, with the most severe and extensive damage concentrated in the engine bay. Fire officials found no evidence of tampering or vandalism. Based on the burn patterns and origin point, Lubbock Fire Rescue determined the cause of the fire to be accident al, resulting from an internal electrical malfunction within the vehicle.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
Component/System: The fire department determined the cause of the fire to be accidental due to an electrical malfunction within the vehicle. The most extensive damage was located in the engine compartment, though damage spread to the passenger compartment as well. The vehicle is available on request. The vehicle caught fire while parked on a street. No injuries or displacements occured. However, the vehicle became "well involved" with fire, creating an active emergency that required emergent fire department response and suppression. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Since the vehicle receive so much damage, it would only be the emergency response and origin determination by Lubbock Fire Rescue. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The vehicle was inspected on-scene by Lubbock Fire Rescue (Unit E7). The fire department noted no signs of vandalism or tampering, concluding the cause was accidental. The police was also on the scene as well. Were there any warning messages? The owner stated they had driven the vehicle around 20:30 (8:30 PM) the previous evening and it had been parked since. The fire did not break out until approximately 05:13 AM the following morning. There wasn’t any warning lamps or unusual symptoms l present during or prior to that final drive. Summary: On May 28, 2026 the 2018 Nissan Rogue internally combusted. Subsequent inspection of the vehicle revealed fire damage in both the passenger compartment and the engine compartment, with the most severe and extensive damage concentrated in the engine bay. Fire officials found no evidence of tampering or vandalism. Based on the burn patterns and origin point, Lubbock Fire Rescue determined the cause of the fire to be accident al, resulting from an internal electrical malfunction within the vehicle.
Around 100,000 miles, my vehicle began experiencing intermittent hesitation, sudden loss of power, and frequent stalling. Prior to the complete failure, the vehicle would occasionally hesitate during acceleration and feel like it was losing engine power while driving. Over time, the problem became more frequent. One day, while driving approximately 50 mph on a side road, the vehicle suddenly stalled without warning and completely lost power. I was luckily able to avoid an accident, and no one was injured, but the sudden shutdown created a serious safety hazard and significantly increased the risk of being rear-ended by other vehicles. The vehicle continues to stall frequently and hesitate during operation, making it unsafe to drive. The failed component was confirmed by Nissan. The dealership diagnosed the issue and recommended replacement of the defective part for over $900. However, a Nissan mechanic explained that the repair only involved removing and replacing the common problem, which is the Mass air flow sensor, secured by two screws. I replaced the component myself for approximately $90, and the vehicle temporarily improved. Unfortunately, the stalling, hesitation, and loss of power have returned and now occur constantly. The failed component should still be available for inspection upon request. The issue was confirmed by Nissan personnel, although I completed the repair independently rather than paying the dealership repair cost. Prior to the failure, the vehicle showed symptoms including hesitation, intermittent power loss, and stalling beginning around 100,000 miles. These symptoms worsened over time until the vehicle completely shut down while driving. This appears to be a common issue affecting Nissan vehicles and creates a serious safety concern due to the risk of sudden engine shutdown while driving.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
My 2018 Nissan Rogue CVT transmission has failed to accelerate on two separate occasions while driving. The vehicle would not respond when I pressed the gas pedal. The car was still running but would not accelerate. The issue resolved on its own both times. I currently have approximately 69,000 miles on the vehicle. I am concerned the transmission will fail completely.
The differential failed and wouldn't drive. My mechanic replaced it Now there is a loud banging noise in the steering and it lurches.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that there was a possible computer component failure and that the OCS sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The contact stated that an unknown sensor in the seat needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 129,000.
My side airbags deployed unexpectedly and without impact while riving down the street. I was in my neighborhood, close to my home, and suddenly the passenger side airbags deployed. The car shut down immediately. There is no impact to the side of the car and no dents (pics attached) I have a "malfunction" error on my screen. I don't know why this happened. My safety was at risk because if I was on the highway and this happened, it would've caused an accident. Also, I have just dropped off my child. If this happened 15mins sooner she would've been injured.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
2018 Nissan Rogue AWD: CVT Transmission problem. Grinding at high RPM and Transmission fluid leaks.
At March 23rd, 2024, we have oil change on the car. The service sales came back to tell us that the front lower control arms' bushing is torn and needed repair immediately. Without repairing them, the wheels may disengage from the car. So we have them replaced, since losing the wheels during driving will cost our lives. This is for our safety. What can we do???!!! On conversation with the sales, he said this is a common phenomenon. Our problem on this is that, all the cars that we have owned, we never had the issue. This is the first time. Is this a common occurrence? We are not sure. And we simply can not understand why eight months ago during another oil change, this issue was not detected?! Could this be a faulty component installed on the car, we questioned? We also contacted Nissan consumer affairs. Their specialist insisted our car is out of warranty. There is nothing they can do. Is this a responsible car manufacturer's response? At least, they should look in the issue and gave us a satisfying answer, we believed. Anyway, please look into this. On the parts that were replaced, dealership has them. We don't have them in our hand.Sorry about this. All and all, please look into the issue. We just want other Rogue owners spared of the issue! Thank you for reading this and have a great day!
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
Driver seat moves back and forth while driving, speed control goes wild while driving, transmission does keep gear nor speed level .. leaking out of motor while the car is turned off after driving for a couple of minutes.. key jackknife is very week.. the safety issues of this vehicle is very scary wrote a letter to Nissan never hear back to to dealship and they were unable to help me.. car still under extended warranty but no one wants to honor it.. very sad.. please help I can’t afford another car, can barely afford this one..
My drivers seat moves, the back is breaking off of the bottom, as I drive the seat moves and is breaking. This is a big safety issue. I took it to Nissan and they want to charge me over $5000.00 for parts to replace the finisher, the track/ frame and the seat back. This is a 2018 vehicle, driven by a small female, with 68,000 miles. This did not break, it is a defect, and Nissan should have to look at it and repair it. 2023 Rogues have a recall for exactify what is happening to my seat, I saw a recall for 2016 and 2014 Rogues for a seat issue as well. I believe my car has a safety defect and Nissan is not willing to help me.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that there was water in the rear hatch which caused several electrical failures. The dealer informed the contact that the electrical components needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the VIN was not associated with a related recall. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that after loading groceries into the trunk, she reached into a hidden compartment in the trunk when the rear liftgate unexpectedly closed. The contact tripped and fell on the pavement, injuring her cheekbone, wrist, and knee, and sustained a black eye. The contact received medical treatment. The contact stated that the failure had occurred twice previously, but she had been able to push the rear liftgate door up before the most recent failure. Additionally, the rear liftgate inadvertently opened while the vehicle was parked and turned off. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 43,000.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
The heat and cold setting is stuck on the a/c cold setting. Unable to defrost or use heat to defrost windows. The gear to switch the settings is worn out and stripped.
I have not had a wreck because of this, but it does affect the ability to drive this car at times. The HVAC blend door on this car will strip out and in the winter you cannot switch it from cold air to hot air. So you have to freeze while driving and if it starts sleeting or your front window starts icing up or fogging up you cannot defrost it because there is not hot air. This seems to be a common issue for Nissan Rogues as you can find many forums with people discussing this issue on different year models. I've tried using JB Weld plastic epoxy as some have mentioned to hold the motor from slipping in the hole but over time it breaks down and strips out again. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
This seat is part of Recall Campaign 24C-002 (Unintended Harness Release). I performed the manufacturer's approved remedy (installation of the fabric debris shield/cover) a few months ago. THE REMEDY HAS FAILED. despite the installation of the shield and ensuring the mechanism is clean, the harness retractor still slips without the button being pressed. The manufacturer's mitigation kit does not resolve the safety defect. The seat remains unsafe for use.
At March 23rd, 2024, we have oil change on the car. The service sales came back to tell us that the front lower control arms' bushing is torn and needed repair immediately. Without repairing them, the wheels may disengage from the car. So we have them replaced, since losing the wheels during driving will cost our lives. This is for our safety. What can we do???!!! On conversation with the sales, he said this is a common phenomenon. Our problem on this is that, all the cars that we have owned, we never had the issue. This is the first time. Is this a common occurrence? We are not sure. And we simply can not understand why eight months ago during another oil change, this issue was not detected?! Could this be a faulty component installed on the car, we questioned? We also contacted Nissan consumer affairs. Their specialist insisted our car is out of warranty. There is nothing they can do. Is this a responsible car manufacturer's response? At least, they should look in the issue and gave us a satisfying answer, we believed. Anyway, please look into this. On the parts that were replaced, dealership has them. We don't have them in our hand.Sorry about this. All and all, please look into the issue. We just want other Rogue owners spared of the issue! Thank you for reading this and have a great day!
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
Nissian refused to fix this problem, even though it occurs on hundreds of cars made in Korea I believe it is a safety problem and indicates a false temperature reading but am not sure. please read letter i sent them Case #[XXX] Note only cars beginning vin with KN are affected INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
We have had a gas smell in our garage, outside the car and inside the cabin and inside our house since 2022 and the service technician confirmed it but said I'd have to pay $160 for them to diagnose it plus parts and labor to fix it. There are lots of "Nissan Rogue gas smell in cabin" complaints AND there is a class action lawsuit filed on the 2020-2023 models. I've seen the same complaints as far back as 2009 so they have been alerted and know about this faulty assembly problem for years and have not taken responsibility for fixing it. We've gotten used to it and a neighbor came over yesterday and said he was getting nauseated from the smell in our living area so I put it out in driveway and this a.m. it wasn't as bad. It's a health and fire hazard and we have gas stove. I'm not sure if local TV Action Reporter could get anything done or if we should hire a lawyer. People walking up to my car exclaim "I smell gas!" No warnings on dash. It seems to be faulty assembly of fuel line to tank or in that area as it's strongest in back seat. My wife has MGUS, arthritis and other medical problems and this is causing a lot of mental stress worrying that the car will catch on fire while we're in it! I will Never buy another Nissan now that I see that they don't care what happens once you buy it! Please answer asap as we use it everyday and don't want cancer, etc. from inhaling gas fumes. Purely breathing the fumes (gasoline inhalation) can result in the following symptoms: coughing and other breathing difficulties, headaches/dizziness, heart failure, and more. Because of how the hydrocarbons attack the nervous system, a wide range of symptoms is possible, but they can all eventually be deadly.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
On 03/06/2025 my car got into an accident with another vehicle the whole pumper was damaged yet the air bags didn’t go off, and my child in the back seat with his booster, that the seat belt was supposed to hold the seat, the whole booster seat came off
When driving the seatbelt light indicator comes on, has been doing this for sometime and usually only happens when there is no passenger. When the passenger seatbelt is clicked the light (seatbelt indicator) goes off.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
The light component above the dash completely just fell out while i was on the highway, hanging by wires and obscuring my vision. Also there is a Bluetooth audio issue where no one can hear me when my phone is connected via Bluetooth or wired.
Head lamp on Driver side collect moisture (condensation) for no apparent reason. This vehicle was inspected at a local Nissan Dealership on 4/13/26. No exterior or interior damage noted. The moisture in the lamp causes the light from the lamp to be dim. Notice that the passenger head lamp is much brighter. I don't drive at night ....not sure if the on coming traffic can tell that I am driving a SUV.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
At March 23rd, 2024, we have oil change on the car. The service sales came back to tell us that the front lower control arms' bushing is torn and needed repair immediately. Without repairing them, the wheels may disengage from the car. So we have them replaced, since losing the wheels during driving will cost our lives. This is for our safety. What can we do???!!! On conversation with the sales, he said this is a common phenomenon. Our problem on this is that, all the cars that we have owned, we never had the issue. This is the first time. Is this a common occurrence? We are not sure. And we simply can not understand why eight months ago during another oil change, this issue was not detected?! Could this be a faulty component installed on the car, we questioned? We also contacted Nissan consumer affairs. Their specialist insisted our car is out of warranty. There is nothing they can do. Is this a responsible car manufacturer's response? At least, they should look in the issue and gave us a satisfying answer, we believed. Anyway, please look into this. On the parts that were replaced, dealership has them. We don't have them in our hand.Sorry about this. All and all, please look into the issue. We just want other Rogue owners spared of the issue! Thank you for reading this and have a great day!
The shoulder strap cuts across my neck. While I'm driving I have to take one hand off the steering wheel to push it down, only to have it slide right back up across my neck. Every time I hit a bump or pot hole, the strap cuts into my neck. There will be a serious injury if I'm in an accident. Also, the suspension is so bad on this car that I feel every bump, and pot hole, and my head keeps hitting the headset. I was told the headset cannot be adjusted. My passenger has long legs. The passenger seat will not go back any further so he sits with legs bent in cramped position. The visor when pulled down is right in my eyes. If I brake suddenly and my head goes forward, it hits my eyes. I will be seriously injured if in a car accident. On turns, especially if there's even a little water, the back wheels of this car skid.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
Putting air in my tires I noticed cracking on all tires on the outside of the sidewall area and not just in one location. It appears all around in a line on each tire.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .