Is the 2016 Nissan Rogue a bad year?
544 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 176, 4.3× a quiet Rogue year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 55k–98k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 8 of 176 filed since 2016.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2016 Rogue owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 75,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 176 (32%) | 55k–98k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 125 (23%) | 42k–87k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 66 (12%) | 36k–96k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Speed control | 25 (5%) | 19k–80k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 17 (3%) | 23k–91k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 62 (11%) | 13k–56k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Body structure | 32 (6%) | 18k–62k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 26 (5%) | 23k–68k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Steering | 23 (4%) | 1k–52k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Suspension | 22 (4%) | 14k–70k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Seats | 18 (3%) | 17k–65k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Fuel system | 17 (3%) | 28k–70k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 15 (3%) | 11k–45k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Collision avoidance | 9 (2%) | 4k–45k miles · mostly behind | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 75,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 544 complaints: 35 mention a crash · 3 mention a fire · 25 report an injury · 34 say the car was towed.
25 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Noticed vehicle was having trouble when intermittent pauses occured while driving on the highway.
In october of 2018 I took my SUV with pictures to let them know that I tachometer was going up to high I was putting on the gas but my vehicle wasn't moving.
First the check engine light and the slip indicator (Or traction control) light for the vehicle dynamic control would come on and off while driving both on the highway and other roads.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 75,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2016 Nissan Rogue: 7
The jackknife key may collapse into a folded position while driving. Driver contact with a key in the collapsed position could inadvertently shut off the vehicle while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The electrical connector for the under dash harness may corrode due to water and salt intrusion from the driver's side foot well. Corrosion in the electrical connector can result in power window/seat failure, all-wheel-drive warning light illumination, battery drainage, and electrical connector damage that increases the risk of a fire.
The vehicles have front passenger seat frames that may be improperly welded. In the event of a crash, the improperly welded seat back frames may increase the risk of injury.
The recliner joints on the lower seat frame for the rear seats may have improper welds. The insufficient welds can increase the risk of injury to the occupants in the event of a crash.
An incorrect Occupant Classification System (OCS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may have been installed in the front passenger seat. The incorrect ECU and seat combination may misclassify the front passenger seat occupant. If the front passenger seat occupant is misclassified, the air bag may deploy incorrectly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash. If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
In the affected vehicles, the rear lift gate support stays may corrode due to insufficient anti-corrosion treatment. Corrosion of one or both of the rear lift gate support stays could cause a sudden release of pressure. If this occurs, the support stays may break off, increasing the risk of injury.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Nissan: 127
Repair instructions Nissan sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2016 Nissan Rogue. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Vehicle key not detected / authenticated, engine will not start
Fluid leak caused by transfer assembly right side drive shaft oil seal
Clicking noise from front or rear axle during take-off/acceleration
Abnormal noise, vibration and/or binding feeling from rear differential
Neighbouring years
2015 Rogue: 554 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission · 2017 Rogue: 602 complaints, consider selling.
Every Nissan Rogue year
2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Rogue years side by side
Other Nissan models: Nissan 350Z · Nissan 370Z · Nissan Altima · Nissan Armada · Nissan Cube · Nissan Frontier · Nissan Juke · Nissan Kicks · Nissan Leaf · Nissan Maxima · Nissan Murano · Nissan Pathfinder · Nissan Quest · Nissan Rogue Sport · Nissan Sentra · Nissan Titan · Nissan Titan XD · Nissan Versa · Nissan Versa Note · Nissan Xterra. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2016 Nissan Rogue a bad year?
544 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 176, 4.3× a quiet Rogue year. At 75,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 55k–98k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 8 of 176 filed since 2016.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Nissan Rogue?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (176), electrical system (125), engine (66), speed control (25), seat belts (17). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 55k–98k miles.
How many recalls does the 2016 Nissan Rogue have?
7 recall campaigns list this model year: Electrical system (NHTSA 23V-093), Electrical system (NHTSA 22V-024), Seats (NHTSA 17V-716), Seats (NHTSA 17V-663) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.