2021 Nissan Rogue problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
34% of relevant owner complaints on the 2021 Nissan Rogue are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.
Better than 63% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 20 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 32%).
Does the 2021 Nissan Rogue have engine problems?
More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 104 of 304 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Nissan Rogue concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (34%), and the largest group is filed under engine (58). For comparison, the 2020 scores 20% and the 2022 scores 79%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
The rest of the picture on the 2021 Nissan Rogue
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2021 Nissan Rogue said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Every owner quote, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 104 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2021 Nissan Rogue?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2021 Nissan Rogue involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 13 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Rogue, 2019-2020 Altima, 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50, and 2022 Infiniti QX55 vehicles equipped with 3-cylinder 1.5L or 4-cylinder 2.0L variable compression turbo (VC-Turbo) engines. The engine bearings may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine failure.
Risk: 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.
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the engine control module (ECM) software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed April 8, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261 or Infiniti's customer service at…
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Rogue vehicles. Abnormal wear inside the fuel pump may cause it to overheat and fail.
Risk: Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 27, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is…
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Nissan Rogue vehicles. The fuel hose may not be secured in the proper position and the fuel tank lock ring may not be fully seated.
Risk: 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.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, reposition and secure the fuel hose and lock ring, free of charge. The recall began March 16, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at…
10 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 17, 2026.
Checking one particular 2021 Nissan Rogue? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2021 Nissan Rogue have engine problems?
More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 104 of 304 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Nissan Rogue concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (34%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2021 Nissan Rogue?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2021 Nissan Rogue involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 13 in total: 25V437000 (engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical), 21V957000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump), 21V068000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Nissan Rogue years are better?
Among the Nissan Rogue years we track, the 2018 (17%), the 2019 (19%) and the 2020 (20%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2021 (34%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.
Should I buy a 2021 Nissan Rogue?
That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2021 Nissan Rogue has an elevated engine complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing engine work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.