The year 2021 saw the introduction of the third generation of Nissan’s highly popular midsize SUV, the Rogue. Even though this SUV has been updated with all the gadgets and gizmos this segment has to offer, it brought along a slew of problems and complaints as seen with any new launch. Nissan's infamous CVT issue makes its way to this model year as well. As of now, the 2021 Nissan Rogue has almost 5 recalls and 44 officially recognized complaints against its name by the NHTSA and that’s excluding all that has piled up in the forums. This article discusses all the downsides of the 2021 model year and helps you decide if this SUV is worth the asking base price of over $26,050. The Nissan Rogue will be sharing market space with popular midsize SUVs like the Honda CR-V, the Mazda CX-5, and the Toyota RAV4.
2021 Nissan Rogue User Complaints and Problems
Mechanical Complaints
- Engine: Engine malfunction has been one of the primary and most recorded complaints against the 2021 Rogue as per the NHTSA. Multiple owners have complained about the SUV flashing a “Malfunction Power reduced Service now” warning that occasionally pops up on their dash accompanied by engine sputters and hesitation to throttle input. The issues were left undiagnosed initially by the dealers but we reckon it must have been due to some faults that relate to recalls (NHTSA IDs- 21V957000 and 21V068000) initiated by the automaker later in the year.
- Transmission/CVT: Not as common as the engine fault mentioned here, but a handful of owners have been complaining about faulty CVT setup on the 2021 Nissan Rogue. The unit is said to slip occasionally and is complained to have whining noises at high RPMs. The unit is also said to remain stuck in a single ratio and remain unresponsive to the paddle shifters. Some owners found difficulty in moving the shifter to a specific drive mode which requires the operator to restart the vehicle to make it function properly again.
Electric System complaints
- Climate control: Even though there is only 1 officially recognized complaint by the NHTSA, multiple owners have been complaining about the faculty climate control system on the 2021 Nissan Rogue. The blower is said to blow hot air despite the controls being set to a nominal temperature. The same issue is also said to happen when the system is set in auto mode. The issue is said to be with the climate control firmware but additional information on the fix is unavailable.
Structural Complaints
- Rear hatch window: the rear window on the 2021 Nissan Rogue is said to crack or explode unexpectedly on the 2021 Nissan Rogue with no instance of physical damage. Owners are forced to replace them at their own cost as the dealers suspect the issue occurring due to physical damage even though it is a pretty widespread issue.
- Overall Built- The2021 Nissan Rogue has been going rounds around forums for its compromised built quality. Multiple owners have complained about their Rogues having door rattles, weird powertrain noises, cracked windows, loose roof rails, drooping headliners, and faulty electronics like mirror controls and power liftgate controls at mileages as low as 2,000-miles.
Safety Complaints
- Forward collision avoidance system: The automated emergency braking system on the 2021 Nissan Rogue is said to malfunction. Even though the owners suspect faulty sensors to be the cause, the dealer dismissed that reason as they were unable to replicate or find error codes on it. At least one low-speed crash and 1 injury have been officially reposted by the NHTSA on this issue.
2021 Nissan Rogue Recalls
|
S. No |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
9th December 2021 |
21V957000 |
The fuel pump may overheat |
Abnormal wear inside the fuel pump may cause it to overheat and fail, causing an engine stall and increasing the risk of a crash |
The dealers will replace the fuel pump free of charge. Notification letters were mailed on January 27, 2022. |
|
2 |
24th June 2021 |
21V474000 |
Second-row seat back improperly welded |
Improperly welded setback tether wires can cause the child seat to be anchored insecurely, causing it to move forward in the event of a crash and increasing the risk of injury. |
The dealers will inspect and replace the seatbacks, if necessary, free of charge. The notification letters were sent on July 30, 2021. |
|
3 |
22nd April 2021 |
21V286000 |
Missing internal bushing in brake caliper |
Rear brake calipers may be missing internal bushing allowing the O-ring to move and brake fluid to leak, reducing braking power and increasing the risk of a crash |
Dealers will inspect the rear caliper and replace them if necessary. Owners were notified on June 10, 2021. |
|
4 |
17th March 2021 |
21V186000 |
Incorrect wheel nuts may cause wheel separation |
Incorrect wheel nuts cause vibrations which may break the wheel studs, causing the wheels to separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. |
Dealers will inspect the wheel nuts and replace the incorrect ones. The recall began on May 4, 2021. |
|
5 |
11th February 2021 |
21V068000 |
The fuel hose may disconnect from the fuel tank |
Improperly secured fuel hose may leak fuel and increase the risk of a fire. In addition, a disconnected fuel hose causes an engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash. |
The dealer will inspect and as necessary, reposition and secure the fuel hose and lock ring, free of charge. The recall began on March 16, 2021. |
Should you buy a used Nissan Rogue?
Clocking in an average yearly sales of around 300,000 units, the Nissan Rogue has been one of the most favored choices in the segment. Though the number has seen a considerable drop in recent years, the Rogue is still a top seller for Nissan. With that kind of number backing up this midsize SUV, recommending one shouldn’t be a hard choice for us. But (there is a but), when going for a used one, we suggest that you approach the 2021 model year with caution. Given the number of recalls and complaints it has gathered in a short period, a clean service record is an absolute must-have when getting one of these.
