YearToAvoid

2020 Nissan Rogue Sport Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

40/100

#4 most-complained of 6 Rogue Sport years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport ranks 4th out of 6 model years with a Complaint Index of 40 and a "Good" verdict. NHTSA logs 40 complaints, 1 recall, and 2 crashes, with Engine issues making up 63% of complaints.

Complaints
40
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
2 / 0
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
27.5
26 city / 30 hwy

Top 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine25 (63%)
  2. Electrical System9 (23%)
  3. Other8 (20%)
  4. Collision Avoidance & Cameras5 (13%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain5 (13%)
  6. Airbags2 (5%)
  7. Structure & Body2 (5%)
  8. Brakes1 (3%)
  9. Fuel System1 (3%)
  10. Steering1 (3%)

What owners report

  • Engine loses power and fails to accelerate while driving uphill at 30-40 MPH, sometimes rolling backward and causing a crash.
  • Cooling fan assembly fails around 66,000 to 68,000 miles, leading to overheating and AC/radiator problems.
  • Vehicle suddenly stops accelerating with RPM spiking while speed stays around 20 mph, with dealers finding no fault code.
  • Engine shuts off unexpectedly at stoplights or drive-throughs while pressing the gas or brake pedal.
  • Transmission slips and acceleration becomes inconsistent, though no warning light triggers to prompt dealer repair.
  • Automatic emergency braking activates unnecessarily in clear traffic, applying the brakes with no obstacle present.
2020 Nissan Rogue Sport complaints: complaints filed per month5Nov 2022May 2023Oct 2023Jul 2024May 2025Oct 2025Jul 2026
60 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2022 to Aug 2026; peak Jul 2025 (5).

2020 Nissan Rogue Sport recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V093000Feb 16, 2023Electrical System712,458 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.

    Remedy: Dealers will insert a spacer into the key slot of the jackknife key, free of charge. Interim notification letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed March 29, 2023. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 30, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R22C5.

2020 Nissan Rogue Sport fuel economy and fuel cost

City
26 MPG
Highway
30 MPG
Combined
27.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,350
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2020 compared with other Rogue Sport years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201720182019202020212022
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2018Avoid10094227.5
2019Avoid80100227.5
2020Good4040127.5
2021Best2023127.5
2022Best011127.5

All Nissan Rogue Sport years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2020 model has a Complaint Index of 40, ranking 4th of 6 years, and carries a "Good" verdict relative to other Rogue Sport model years.
What is the most common problem with the 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport?
Engine problems dominate, accounting for 25 of 40 complaints (63%), with a median mileage at failure of 43,000 miles, followed by electrical system issues at 23%.
Does the 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2020 Rogue Sport, covering a jackknife-style ignition key that can collapse into a folded position while driving; the fix involves a spacer inserted into the key slot.
How does the 2020 Rogue Sport compare to other years?
With a Complaint Index of 40, the 2020 model is better than the 2018 (100, Avoid) and 2019 (80, Avoid) model years but worse than the 2021 (20, Best) and 2022 (0, Best) model years.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.