2021 Nissan Rogue Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
40/100
#10 most-complained of 16 Rogue years
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
The 2021 Nissan Rogue has a complaint index of 40 and ranks 10th worst out of 16 model years, earning a "Good" verdict relative to other Rogue years. NHTSA lists 288 complaints, 10 recalls, and 21 crashes tied to this model year, with Engine issues the top problem area.
- Complaints
- 288
- Recalls
- 10
- Crashes / fires
- 21 / 3
- Injuries / deaths
- 11 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 31
- 28 city / 34.5 hwy
Top 2021 Nissan Rogue problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Other81 (28%)
- Engine67 (23%)
- Electrical System61 (21%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras37 (13%)
- Fuel System36 (13%)
- Transmission & Powertrain27 (9%)
- Structure & Body24 (8%)
- Brakes18 (6%)
- Steering18 (6%)
- Airbags14 (5%)
What owners report
- Owners report the front lower control arm and wheel breaking during normal turns, causing loss of steering control.
- Some drivers say the Automatic Emergency Braking and Forward Collision Warning failed to activate before a crash.
- Airbags reportedly did not deploy in multiple collisions, including T-bone and rear-end impacts.
- Owners describe the engine suddenly accelerating while parking despite the brake pedal being depressed, with smoke coming from the engine.
- One owner reported the vehicle shutting off unexpectedly while in reverse, losing steering and brake control.
- A driver's seat heating element reportedly failed and ignited the seat material while the vehicle was in use.
2021 Nissan Rogue recalls
10 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 25V437000Jun 27, 2025Engine443,899 vehicles
Engine and engine cooling:engine:hard parts internal/mechanical
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.
Remedy: 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 1-800-662-6200. Nissan's numbers for this recall are R25A8/A9 and R25B1/B2.
- NHTSA 23V791000Nov 22, 2023Brakes2 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Rogue vehicles. 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.
Risk: A loss of brake fluid may reduce braking performance, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and right rear brake calipers, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 12, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC933. The two vehicles that were previously inspected under recall 21V-286 and did not receive a brake caliper replacement will need to have the new remedy completed.
- NHTSA 22V772000Oct 13, 2022Collision Avoidance & Cameras27,388 vehiclesOver-the-air fix
Back over prevention:display function
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2022 Titan, Titan XD, Frontier, and 2021-2022 Rogue vehicles. The in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system may continuously reboot when the vehicle is restarted, which can result in an inoperative rearview display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: An inoperative rearview camera display reduces the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: The IVI software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 18, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are R22B8, R22C1, and PC923/25.
2021 Nissan Rogue fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 28 MPG
- Highway
- 34.5 MPG
- Combined
- 31 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,100
- 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.
2021 compared with other Rogue years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2021 Nissan Rogue reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2021 Rogue a complaint index of 40, ranking 10th worst among 16 model years, which earns a "Good" verdict compared to other Rogue years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2021 Nissan Rogue?
- Engine complaints make up 23% of reports, followed by Electrical System at 21%, Collision Avoidance & Cameras at 13%, and Fuel System at 13%, based on NHTSA complaint data.
- Does the 2021 Nissan Rogue have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 10 recalls for the 2021 Rogue, covering the engine, brake calipers, infotainment reboots, seat belts, fuel pump, and structural issues, with none classified as do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2021 Rogue compare to other model years?
- The 2021 Rogue's complaint index of 40 is lower than the 2017, 2018, and 2023 model years, all rated "Avoid" with indexes of 80, 87, and 100 respectively.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Nissan Rogue?
- The EPA rates the 2021 Rogue at 31 mpg combined (28 city / 34.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,100.