Nissan Rogue Years To Avoid: Best & Worst Model Years To Buy

Are you planning to purchase a second-hand Nissan Rogue and you want to find out the Nissan Rogue years to avoid? Well, if that is the case, then you are at the right place because there will be a lot to cover on this topic and we are going to learn all you need to know when it comes to this vehicle.

What Is The Nissan Rogue?

Nissan Rogue Generations

First Generation
Second Generation

Third Generation
Final Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Doing your own research is probably something that you definitely want to do since if you don’t do research on the possible candidates for your future daily driver, you risk getting a ton of potential problems. And trust me, many problematic vehicles are sold out there, which will bring you more headaches than anything else. And you will even regret buying them in the first place.

This is why you need to learn each model and the generation of the model that you plan to purchase. Then study the production years and look for the years that have the least problems reported by previous owners. But you shouldn’t worry because we are going to help you learn precisely that with the Nissan Rogue.

First, we are going to learn what is the Nissan Rogue and understand more about this model. Then we will cover all three generations of the Rogue. We will cover briefly their specs, common problems, reliability, best years, and also the Nissan Rogue years to avoid. So, if you want to learn about this model, follow along.

Nissan Rogue

Before we start discussing each generation of the Rogue separately and learn about the Nissan Rogue years to avoid. Let’s take a look at what is the Nissan Rogue in general and understand more about this model and its core concepts.

The Nissan Rogue is Nissan’s take on the compact crossover SUV segment. If you didn’t know, a compact crossover is basically a lifted compact car that resembles an SUV. Even though when it comes to actual off-road performance, these vehicles’ performance on rough terrain is highly doubtful.

Still, people buy them and enjoy them because they don’t need a proper off-roader but a vehicle that will take them from point A to point B and that’s it. And frankly, this market is getting bigger and bigger each day and in the upcoming years, it is expected that these vehicles will replace the standard compact sedans altogether.

Nevertheless, the Rogue was introduced by Nissan in 2007 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. And is produced as of today. During this 15-year production stint, there were three generations of the Rogue introduced in total.

Three generations mean that there are a lot of cars that could have possible problems. Especially the first two to three years can be really problematic. This is why we will share a pro tip. And that is to take every first or second production year with a reserve and watch out for these cars the most.

They are often the cheapest but this doesn’t mean that they are a good buy. They are cheap for a reason. But what are the Nissan Rogue years to avoid? More on that we will cover in a bit.

Nissan Rogue Years To Avoid

When it comes to purchasing a used vehicle, knowledge is power. For those considering a Nissan Rogue, it’s important to know which years had the most problems to make an informed decision. In this guide, we will delve into the most problematic model years for the Nissan Rogue, highlighting key issues and concerns raised by users.

2008 Nissan Rogue

The 2008 Nissan Rogue was the inaugural year for this model. Like many first-year models, it had some teething problems. Mainly, users reported minor electrical issues and HVAC concerns. Although these problems weren’t as severe as in subsequent years, potential buyers should be aware.

2011 Nissan Rogue

Jumping to 2011, the Nissan Rogue was found to have not just transmission troubles, but also engine problems. Reports emerged about a sensitive sunroof, which, in some cases, shattered unexpectedly. This year’s model proved that while the exterior might look robust, some internal components were not as resilient.

2013 Nissan Rogue

The 2013 model saw a spike in complaints, primarily focused on the transmission. Owners described instances of sudden power loss and acceleration difficulties, making it a potential hazard on highways. The consistency of these reports places this model year in the “caution” category for potential buyers.

2014 Nissan Rogue

2014 didn’t fare much better. The Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) was the main culprit again. The transmission’s inability to adjust to sudden temperature fluctuations resulted in failures, especially when under significant load. For those living in areas with rapid temperature changes or frequently carrying heavy loads, this year might be one to sidestep.

2018 Nissan Rogue

Moving forward to 2018, the Nissan Rogue faced a unique and concerning issue. Multiple drivers reported unexpected braking events, even under typical driving conditions. Investigations pointed to a malfunctioning sensor. Tragically, despite the multitude of complaints, no official recall was announced. Given the potential safety implications, caution is advised for this model year.

The Nissan Rogue remains a popular choice among SUV enthusiasts for its style, fuel efficiency, and overall drive quality. However, as with all vehicles, certain model years have proven to be more reliable than others. By being informed and cautious, buyers can find a Nissan Rogue that serves them well for years to come.

Nissan Rogue Generations

Now let’s take a look at the different Nissan Rogue generations. In the following chapters, we are going to cover all three generations of the Nissan Rogue.

First, we will learn a little bit about the specs, then we will cover the common problems of each generation. Once we clear the common problems, we will discuss the reliability aspect, the best years, and also the Nissan Rogue years to avoid. So, if you want to learn more, follow along.

First Generation Nissan Rogue (2008 – 2015)

As we mentioned previously the Nissan Rogue debuted in 2007 and the first model year was 2008. This model was in production till 2015 when it was replaced by the new generation of the Rogue.

This model was based on the Renault-Nissan C platform that was shared with the Nissan Qashqai, Nissan X-Trail, and Renault Koleos. Even though none of these vehicles were imported here in the US.

What is interesting about this first model is that it was assembled in Japan. Unlike the following generations that were produced in the Smyrna factory in Tennessee.

As we mentioned previously, this model falls in the compact crossover SUV class. It has a wheelbase of 105.9 inches and an overall length of 182.9 inches.

There were three trim levels. The S was the base, and then there were the SV and SL trim levels. But what about the Nissan Rogue years to avoid and the worst year for Nissan Rogue? More on that in a bit.

Engines & Transmissions

In terms of engines, there was only one engine included in the Nissan Rogue. This engine was the 2.5L inline-4 engine that produced 170hp and approximately 180lb-ft of torque.

In terms of transmissions, there was also one transmission available. And that was the Nissan CVT transmission. If you don’t know, a CVT transmission is rather different in comparison to the standard automatic. But it still works as an automatic transmission. Unfortunately, this transmission is rather problematic. Later on, when we are going to discuss the Nissan Rogue years to avoid, we will cover more on this topic.

Fuel Economy

The fuel economy of the Rogue is decent. This model gets 21 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 23 mpg combined. Overall, this model is not a bad performer in this category and delivers decent numbers.

Safety

The safety rating of the first generation of the Rogue was quite good. On the NHTSA crash tests, this model received good ratings and scored 5 stars on most of their tests. On the IIHS tests, this model also performed well and got good scores on most of the tests. But what about the Nissan Rogue years to avoid? More on that after we learn about the common problems with this model.

Nissan Rogue Problems

The biggest problem of this generation of the Rogue is the CVT transmission failure. And since this vehicle has only one transmission which is the CVT, buying this model is a true gamble because the repairs are crazy expensive. The typical cost of replacing this transmission is about $3,200.

And what is interesting to add is that these failures of the CVT are dragging since the introduction of the model, up until it was replaced by the second generation. So, each model of this generation has a problem with the CVT, unfortunately.

Other problems include issues with the clear coat. The paint of the car starts to chip away because of the low-quality painting process probably.

2014 (as part of the 2014 Nissan Rogue problems) and 2015 models have problems with the AC system. It simply stopped working or started leaking inside the cabin. This was mostly due to a bad heater core. Overall, there are no other major problems with this car. But what are the Nissan Rogue years to avoid? More on that in a bit.

Nissan Rogue Reliability

When it comes to the reliability of this model we can say that it is fairly reliable. The weakest aspect of the car in general is the transmission.

So, you need to be prepared to deal with this issue if you are interested in this model. This is why we would not recommend the model to most people who are not prepared for what they are getting themselves into.

Best Year For Nissan Rogue

When it comes to the best year for the Nissan Rogue it is difficult to find a good production year. Namely, all of them have problems with the transmission.

So, finding a good year out of the bunch can be a difficult task. But we will give you three good years. 2009, 2010, and 2012 were particularly good years with a low amount of problems reported. But what about the Nissan Rogue years to avoid? More on that in a bit.

Nissan Rogue Years To Avoid

When it comes to the years to avoid, it is really difficult because all production years have struggled with transmission failures. So, it would be best to avoid them all.

But if you still want this model. Then avoiding the 2008 model would be the best because this is the first production year and is carrying a lot more problems than other production years that came after. Also, 2013 and 2014 have a ton of defects reported. Especially with the A/C that can be a problem to solve since there is a lot of work involved.

Second Generation Nissan Rogue (2014 – 2020)

The second generation of the Nissan Rogue was released in 2014 and this model was in production till 2020. So, we can say that this is a really recent model that implements a lot of new tech.

Nevertheless, this model was basically borrowed from the international Nissan model that is known as the Nissan X-Trail. This model is assembled in Smyrna, Tennessee and it is a genuinely American-built product, unlike the previous generation that was imported from Japan.

Nevertheless, this new model has a longer wheelbase, one inch bigger than its predecessor, 106.5 inches in total, while the overall length stayed the same at 182.7 inches. What is good about this is that in this new model, you have plenty more leg room.

There were also three trim levels. The S was the basic level and with this trim, you only get the most basic features. The SV and SL are the more upscale models and these are probably the ones that you really want.

Nevertheless, this model sold really well. In the first production year, it sold almost 200,000 units in the US alone. And sales increased to 412,000 units in 2018. But what are the Nissan Rogue years to avoid? More on that we are going to cover in the following chapters.