UsedScore

2016 Nissan Rogue: Solid

Owners filed 194 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Nissan Rogue in its first five years on the road, about 61 for every 100,000 sold: 0.9× the rate of a typical Rogue year. That's close to a typical year.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the air bags (19% of complaints, median 25,000 miles).

Complaint index
0.9×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Rogue year
Rank
5th of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
194
first five years; 61 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
7
campaigns
2nd generation, 2014–2020 · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2014 Nissan Rogue S AWD

Photo: 2014 Nissan Rogue S AWD · Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Air bags19% · 36 complaints · median 25,000 miles
  2. Powertrain25% · 48 complaints · median 67,000 miles
  3. Seats and belts8% · 15 complaints · median 15,000 miles
  4. Engine10% · 20 complaints · median 40,000 miles
  5. Electrical12% · 24 complaints · median 45,000 miles
  6. Body and structure8% · 15 complaints · median 18,000 miles
  7. Brakes5% · 9 complaints · median 18,000 miles
  8. Fuel and propulsion5% · 10 complaints · median 48,000 miles
  9. Steering5% · 10 complaints · median 1,000 miles
  10. Suspension6% · 11 complaints · median 23,000 miles

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 commonly report a passenger air bag warning light that turns on or off unpredictably whether or not someone is sitting in the seat, and some describe air bags failing to deploy in real crashes. Dealers frequently attempt sensor or module repairs, but many owners say the light returns or their VIN isn't covered by related recalls.

Warning signs:
Many report the passenger air bag "off" indicator turning on with an adult seated, sometimes clearing after restarting the car or shifting position in the seat.
What shops did:
Dealers often replaced or diagnosed seat sensors, occupant classification modules, or air bag control units, but several owners say the problem returned, could not be duplicated, or was not covered by warranty or an applicable recall.
Mileage:
most between 15,000 and 55,000 miles, among 36 complaints that give it

“My passenger side air bag light turns on even though there is a passenger or not in the passenger seat.”

“My entire front end is destroyed and the airbags never deployed.”

Powertrain

Owners describe CVT transmission trouble in the 2016 Rogue, including hesitation, shuddering, stalling, and loss of power at various speeds. Repairs often meant transmission replacement, sometimes more than once, and some owners say dealers couldn't find a problem or wouldn't cover the repair once out of warranty.

Warning signs:
Many report shuddering, jerking, or lurching on acceleration, high RPMs without corresponding speed, grinding or whining noises, and stalling without warning.
What shops did:
Dealers frequently replaced or rebuilt the CVT transmission or transfer case, though some owners report dealers could not duplicate the issue, found no fault, or offered no coverage once out of warranty.
Mileage:
most between 55,000 and 100,000 miles, among 86 complaints that give it

“I was not able to accelerate and the vehicle would lurch and lose power.”

“My car started to jump, shudder/shake, stall, and vibrate, which had never happened before.”

Seats and belts

Owners of this Rogue describe driver seats that shift, rock, or creak while driving, along with seat belts that jam or won't buckle and airbag warning lights that turn on unexpectedly. Some had seat frames re-welded or belts replaced, but several say the problem recurred or dealers wouldn't cover the repair.

Warning signs:
Owners report a rocking, jolting, or clicking feeling in the driver's seat during braking or acceleration, creaking sounds when turning, and warning lights for seat belts or airbags cycling on and off.
What shops did:
Dealers have re-welded or replaced cracked seat frames, tightened seat rails, replaced seat belt buckles or sensors, though some parts were on backorder or repairs were denied under warranty.
Mileage:
most between 10,000 and 70,000 miles, among 21 complaints that give it

“the front driver seat will jolt slightly forward upon braking, and jolt/click back upon accelerating”

“the front driver's side seat frame was fractured and needed to be replaced for the second time”

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

Recalls (7)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 23V093000February 2023712,458 vehicles

    Electrical system: ignition: anti-theft: immobilizer/proximity: key/sender

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2014-2020 Rogue and 2017-2022 Rogue Sport vehicles equipped with a jackknife style ignition key. The jackknife key may collapse into a folded position while driving.

    Risk: Driver contact with a key in the collapsed position could inadvertently shut off the vehicle while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, if the vehicle shuts off while driving, the air bags may not deploy in a crash as intended, increasing the risk of injury.

    Fix: Dealers will insert a spacer into the key slot of the jackknife key, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 22V024000January 2022664,779 vehicles

    Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Rogue vehicles. The electrical connector for the under dash harness may corrode due to water and salt intrusion from the driver's side foot well.

    Risk: 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.

    Fix: Dealers will remove the harness tape and harness covering and replace both connectors and apply white lithium grease to the connectors as necessary, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 17V716000November 2017210 vehicles

    Seats

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2016 Nissan Rogue vehicles. The vehicles have front passenger seat frames that may be improperly welded. As such, these vehicles fail to meet performance requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 202a, "Head Restraints" and FMVSS 207, "Seating Systems."

    Risk: In the event of a crash, the improperly welded seat back frames may increase the risk of injury.

    Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger seat back assembly, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 17V663000October 20174,883 vehicles

    Seats · Seat belts

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Nissan Rogue vehicles. The recliner joints on the lower seat frame for the rear seats may have improper welds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems," and 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."

    Risk: The insufficient welds can increase the risk of injury to the occupants in the event of a crash.

    Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat frames and replace any defective lower seat frames, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 16V911000December 2016757 vehicles

    Air bags: sensor: occupant classification

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima vehicles manufactured January 3, 2013, to July 29, 2013, 2015-2016 Rogue vehicles manufactured October 14, 2014, to August 12, 2016, and 2016 Maxima vehicles manufactured June 4, 2015, to August 19, 2015. 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.

    Risk: 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.

    Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ECU and update the OCS software free of charge.

  • NHTSA 16V244000April 20163,296,947 vehicles

    Air bags: sensor: occupant classification

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. 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.

    Risk: 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.

    Fix: Nissan will notify their owners.

  • NHTSA 16V219000April 2016108,503 vehicles

    Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: support device/strut

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Nissan Rogue vehicles manufactured July 31, 2013, to January 16, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the rear lift gate support stays may corrode due to insufficient anti-corrosion treatment.

    Risk: 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.

    Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear tailgate stays, 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 323 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2016 Rogue. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • NTB19-071D · September 2024DTC B00A0-00 STORED This bulletin has been amended.
  • NTB12-103I · June 2024CVT/TCM CALIBRATION DATA “WRITE” PROCEDURE This bulletin has been amended.
  • NTB17-003F · December 2023FLUID LEAK CAUSED BY TRANSFER ASSEMBLY RIGHT SIDE DRIVE SHAFT OIL SEAL This bulletin has been amended.
  • NTB21-094B · December 2023TRANSFER ASSEMBLY SEAL REPLACEMENT FOR AWD FRONT DRIVE SHAFT REMOVAL This bulletin has been amended.
  • NTB12-103H · May 2023CVT/TCM CALIBRATION DATA “WRITE” PROCEDURE This bulletin has been amended.
  • NTB12-055J · March 2023CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been amended.
  • NTB19-071C · March 2023DTC B00A0-00 STORED This bulletin has been amended.
  • NTB22-101 · November 2022DRIVE SHAFT BOOT SERVICE INFORMATION SERVICE INFORMATION If a Drive Shaft (Axle Shaft) Boot on an APPLIED VEHICLE is found to be leaking grease, AND There is no abnormal noise or obvious CV Joint…

All 2016 Rogue bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2016 Nissan Rogue reliable?
Owners filed 194 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Nissan Rogue in its first five years on the road, about 61 for every 100,000 sold: 0.9× the rate of a typical Rogue year. That's close to a typical year. 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 2016 Rogue problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the air bags (19%), the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (25%) and the seats and seat belts (8%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2016 Nissan Rogue been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2016 Nissan Rogue, the most recent in February 2023 (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 2016 Nissan Rogue on NHTSA.gov · How we rate