Is the 2018 Nissan Rogue a bad year?
672 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Rogue years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2018 Nissan Rogue are in line with other Rogue years. Brakes and collision avoidance stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2018 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 13,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 264 (39%) | 4k–27k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Collision avoidanceSTANDS OUT | 174 (26%) | 2k–31k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 96 (14%) | 5k–30k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 58 (9%) | 6k–44k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Speed control | 36 (5%) | 7k–30k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability control | 22 (3%) | 8k–37k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 19 (3%) | 7k–47k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 49 (7%) | 21k–72k miles · ahead | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Air bags | 32 (5%) | 14k–56k miles · ahead | — |
| Body structure | 15 (2%) | 17k–49k miles · ahead | — |
| Seats | 15 (2%) | 17k–43k miles · ahead | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 10 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Backup camera | 9 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 9 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
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 13,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 672 complaints: 35 mention a crash · 2 mention a fire · 37 report an injury · 28 say the car was towed.
45 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
I was travelling in my vehicle when I came to a red traffic light and stopped. Once the light turned green, I proceeded to go forward when my vehicle seemed to slowed down on its own.
My Nissan rogue has experienced the same issue 3 times in a 2 month period. 1st time - driving, crossing a busy intersection front end shuddered, shook heavily, check engine light came on.
On march 31, 2020, while slowing for a traffic light, my vehicle began to shake violently and as I came to a complete stop, the engine shut off.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 13,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2018 Nissan Rogue: 3
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.
Contact with the Electronic Control Module (ECM) bracket may damage the engine harness, causing a blown fuse. A blown fuse may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
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: 107
Repair instructions Nissan sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2018 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
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
False Automatic Emergency Braking
False Automatic Emergency Braking
Neighbouring years
2017 Rogue: 602 complaints, consider selling · 2019 Rogue: 341 complaints, keep it.
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 2018 Nissan Rogue a bad year?
672 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Rogue years. At 13,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Nissan Rogue?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: brakes (264), collision avoidance (174), electrical system (96), engine (58), speed control (36).
How many recalls does the 2018 Nissan Rogue have?
3 recall campaigns list this model year: Electrical system (NHTSA 23V-093), Hybrid system (NHTSA 21V-839), Backup camera (NHTSA 19V-654). 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.