UsedScore

2013 Nissan Rogue: Use caution

Owners filed 164 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Nissan Rogue in its first five years on the road, about 104 for every 100,000 sold: 1.3× the rate of a typical Rogue year. That's above average, so use caution.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (45% of complaints, median 66,000 miles).

Complaint index
1.3×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Rogue year
Rank
12th of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
164
first five years; 104 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
1
campaign
1st generation, 2008–2013 · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2008 Nissan Rogue

Photo: 2008 Nissan Rogue · IFCAR, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Powertrain45% · 73 complaints · median 66,000 miles
  2. Air bags12% · 20 complaints · median 11,000 miles
  3. Engine21% · 34 complaints · median 47,000 miles
  4. Speed control16% · 26 complaints · median 58,000 miles
  5. Electrical10% · 16 complaints · median 32,000 miles
  6. Body and structure7% · 11 complaints · median 36,000 miles
  7. Brakes2% · 3 complaints
  8. Steering4% · 7 complaints · median 28,000 miles
  9. Fuel and propulsion5% · 8 complaints · median 37,000 miles
  10. Seats and belts2% · 4 complaints

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Air bags

Owners describe recurring air bag warning lights, especially for the passenger seat sensor, that flicker on and off even with someone seated, and some report air bags failing to deploy or deploying unexpectedly. Repairs at dealers often involve costly parts like sensors, seats, or clock springs, and many say the problem returns afterward.

Warning signs:
Many describe the passenger or driver air bag indicator light flickering, blinking, or staying illuminated, sometimes for minutes at startup or during driving.
What shops did:
Dealers often replaced or reset sensors, seats, clock springs, or wiring, but several owners report the light or problem returned; some say dealers could not diagnose or fix it.
Mileage:
most between 25,000 and 95,000 miles, among 48 complaints that give it

“The passenger side airbag light will illuminate for approximately 10-15 minutes indicating that the passenger side airbag is "off”

“They diagnosed the problem as an airbag spring malfunction which will not allow the airbag to properly deploy”

Engine

Many owners describe their 2013 Rogue losing power or stalling on highways, especially after sustained high speeds or hot weather, often tied to the CVT transmission overheating. Repairs are inconsistent, with some dealers unable to find a cause and others replacing costly transmission parts.

Warning signs:
Owners report rising RPMs without corresponding acceleration, whining or rattling noises, dashboard warning lights, burning smells, and occasional overheating before the loss of power.
What shops did:
Dealers often could not duplicate or diagnose the problem; some replaced transmission fluid, installed a transmission cooler, or replaced the transmission, sometimes at owner expense.
Mileage:
most between 45,000 and 100,000 miles, among 74 complaints that give it

“When traveling 70 MPH on the highway the rpms will go up to 4000 pr higher and lose acceleration”

“Car was not overheated, no unusual noises, smoke, or warning lights”

Powertrain

Owners describe the CVT losing power or failing to accelerate, especially during long highway drives or on inclines, sometimes dropping suddenly from highway speed to a crawl. Many say dealers pointed to transmission overheating and recommended costly repairs like a new transmission or oil cooler, often after the warranty had lapsed.

Warning signs:
Many report the RPMs surging while speed drops, a whining or grinding noise, a burning smell, warning lights, or a jerking/shuddering sensation before the loss of power.
What shops did:
Dealers often diagnosed transmission overheating or failure and recommended replacing the CVT or adding a transmission oil cooler, frequently at owner expense once the warranty had expired; some dealers could not duplicate or diagnose the problem.
Mileage:
most between 60,000 and 100,000 miles, among 242 complaints that give it

“The car smelled of burning transmission fluid. After the car sat for 30 minutes, we were able to make a speed of no more than 25 MPH”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (1)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 15V032000January 2015468,815 vehicles

    Electrical system

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Nissan Rogue vehicles manufactured March 7, 2007, to November 26, 2013, and 2014 Nissan Rogue Select vehicles manufactured September 23, 2013, to July 2, 2014. The affected vehicles may experience an electrical short in the harness connector due to a mixture of snow/water and salt seeping through the carpet on the driver side floor near the harness connector.

    Risk: An electrical short can cause a vehicle fire.

    Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the kick panel wiring harness connector and will if necessary install a new harness connector and waterproof seal, free of charge.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Nissan sent NHTSA 127 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2013 Rogue. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • NTB12-055J · March 2023CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been amended.
  • NTB10-029I · November 2022ABNORMAL NOISE, VIBRATION AND/OR BINDING FEELING FROM REAR DIFFERENTIAL This bulletin has been amended.
  • NTB12-055I · September 2022CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been amended.
  • NTB10-029H · May 2022NISSAN AWD MODELS; ABNORMAL NOISE, VIBRATION AND/OR JUDDER FROM REAR DIFFERENTIAL This bulletin has been amended.
  • NTB10-029G · March 2022NISSAN AWD MODELS; ABNORMAL NOISE, VIBRATION AND/OR JUDDER FROM REAR DIFFERENTIAL This bulletin has been amended.
  • NTB13-027C · February 2022CAN COMMUNICATION – NETWORK DIAGNOSTIC FLOW CHART This bulletin has been amended.
  • NTB13-097J · February 2022EVAP LEAK DTC P0442, P0455, P0456 INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended.
  • NTB17-082E · February 2022DTC P0456 CAUSED BY EVAP LEAK AT VENT CONTROL VALVE O-RING This bulletin has been amended.

All 2013 Rogue bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2013 Nissan Rogue reliable?
Owners filed 164 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Nissan Rogue in its first five years on the road, about 104 for every 100,000 sold: 1.3× the rate of a typical Rogue year. That's above average, so use caution. Ratings compare Rogue years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2013 Rogue problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (45%), the air bags (12%) and the engine (21%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2013 Nissan Rogue been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2013 Nissan Rogue, the most recent in January 2015 (electrical system). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Nissan. The 2013 Nissan Rogue on NHTSA.gov · How we rate