Is the 2021 Nissan Rogue a bad year?
296 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Rogue years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2021 Nissan Rogue are in line with other Rogue years.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2021 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 60,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 65 (22%) | 34k–84k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Collision avoidance | 29 (10%) | 5k–32k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 18 (6%) | 4k–26k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Electrical system | 62 (21%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 36 (12%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 28 (9%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 19 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 18 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 15 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 14 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Backup camera | 11 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 11 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Lane assist | 5 (2%) | 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 60,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 296 complaints: 22 mention a crash · 3 mention a fire · 8 report an injury · 26 say the car was towed.
78 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2021 Nissan Rogue: 10
The engine bearings may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine failure. Engine failure increases the risk of a crash. A bearing failure may cause a breach in the engine block, allowing hot oil to be discharged, increasing the risk of an engine fire.
The left and/or right rear brake caliper assemblies may be missing an internal bushing, allowing the O-ring seal to move and brake fluid to leak. A loss of brake fluid may reduce braking performance, increasing the risk of crash.
The in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system may continuously reboot when the vehicle is restarted, which can result in an inoperative rearview display. An inoperative rearview camera display reduces the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The rear seat belts for the left-hand and right-hand rear seats may not retract properly. Seat belts that do not retract properly may be difficult to operate, preventing their usage, which can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
When the Sirius XM subscription is set to "Not Subscribed," it may cause the infotainment head unit to reboot, resulting in an inoperative rearview camera. An inoperative rearview camera display reduces the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Abnormal wear inside the fuel pump may cause it to overheat and fail. Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The second-row upper tether wires may have been improperly welded to the seatback frame, preventing a child seat from being securely anchored. An insecurely anchored child seat can move during a sudden stop or crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The rear left and/or right brake caliper assemblies may be missing an internal bushing, allowing the O-ring seal to move and brake fluid to leak. A loss of brake fluid may reduce braking performance, increasing the risk of crash.
The incorrect wheel nuts may have been installed, and may loosen causing wheel vibration. The wheel vibration may break the wheel studs and cause the wheel assembly to separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fuel hose may not be secured in the proper position and the fuel tank lock ring may not be fully seated. An improperly secured fuel hose may leak, increasing the risk of a fire. The fuel hose may also disconnect completely, causing the engine to stall and increasing 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: 125
Repair instructions Nissan sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2021 Nissan Rogue. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Knocking or pinging noise from the engine
Engine malfunction power reduced service now" Displayed in combination meter
MIL on with DTC P0196 stored in the ECM
Fluid leak caused by transfer assembly right side drive shaft oil seal
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
2021 Nissan Rogue Inner Tie Rod Failures
Complete loss of motive power due to engine failure
Neighbouring years
2020 Rogue: 154 complaints, keep it · 2022 Rogue: 270 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
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 2021 Nissan Rogue a bad year?
296 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Rogue years. At 60,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Nissan Rogue?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (65), collision avoidance (29), brakes (18), electrical system (62), fuel system (36).
How many recalls does the 2021 Nissan Rogue have?
10 recall campaigns list this model year: Engine (NHTSA 25V-437), Brakes (NHTSA 23V-791), Backup camera (NHTSA 22V-772), Seat belts (NHTSA 22V-666) 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.