2013 Nissan Rogue Problems

What owners reported to NHTSA about the 2013 Nissan Rogue, its recalls, and what to check before you buy one.

Nissan Rogue, 2012 to 2013 model years
Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0
How the 2013 compares

About average for the Rogue

Owners filed about as many complaints as a typical Rogue year. The main thing to watch is the transmission and drivetrain, which half of owners reported by about 79,000 miles.

Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Rogue years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.

Owners have filed 610 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Nissan Rogue. The most reported problem area is the transmission and drivetrain (314, 51% of complaints), followed by the engine and cooling and the cruise control and acceleration. That ranks 3rd of 13 Rogue years from 2012 to 2024 for complaints. It has 1 recall.

Complaints610filed with NHTSA
Recalls1for this model year
Crashes149 injuries reported
Fires16reported in complaints

4 of these complaints came from Utah owners.

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Most reported problems

Problem areas ranked by how many complaints mention them. One complaint can name more than one area. Open an area to see what to check on a 2013 Nissan Rogue before you buy.

Transmission and drivetrain

314 complaintsHarsh or delayed shifts, slipping, shuddering, CVT whine, and drivetrain clunks.What to check before you buy

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 79,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

  • Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
  • Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
  • Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
  • If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

The transmission failed while I was driving on the freeway and I couldn’t go more than 30 mph while traffic was going 75-80 mph. Just to reach a spot to safely stop myself and my passenger were fearing for our lives of getting struck by another vehicle. Upon researching it we found that this is typical of this make, model and year…Owner complaint, filed 2026
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated. No warning light was illuminated. An independent mechanic and dealer were contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced after…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 104,000 miles

Engine and cooling

108 complaintsStalling, misfires, oil consumption, leaks, overheating and engine failure.What to check before you buy

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 72,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

  • Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
  • Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
  • Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
  • Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

Since about 100,000 miles the engine valve cover/gasket is leaking engine oil which has leaked below and caused deterioration on other parts below like the tie rod boots etc. Vehicle is currently in the shop and I can send any documentation once I get it back.Owner complaint, filed 2024
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH on the highway, other vehicles were honking attempting to get her attention. Then a strong abnormal odor was coming the vehicle and it was discovered that there was a fire coming from the driver’s side footwell. The contact merged to the shoulder of the…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 260,000 miles

Cruise control and acceleration

90 complaintsHesitation, loss of power, sudden acceleration and cruise control problems.What to check before you buy

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 81,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

  • On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
  • Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle failed to accelerate above 70 MPH. The contact stated that the vehicle decelerated and stalled with a whistling sound coming from underneath the hood. The contact coasted to the side of the road to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 104,490 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 mph, the vehicle failed to accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. Additionally, while driving the vehicle inadvertently decelerated without warning. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 185,000 miles

Air bags

90 complaintsAir bag warning lights, air bags that did not deploy, and inflator recalls.What to check before you buy

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 68,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

  • The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
  • Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

Air Bag warning light blinks 1 long and 5 short blinks. Scan shows code of B1018-00 which is passenger seat occupation seat sensor failure meaning even if seat is occupied, air bag will not deploy. Nissan has no coverage for this but earlier and later models did have recall coverage with only the 2013 year not recalled or just ignored.…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Airbag light continuously blinks on dashboard, I took it into my local dealer and they said it is due to the passenger seat airbag sensor failure. This was not caused by user error, but I feel is a defect in the vehicle itself.Owner complaint, filed 2024

Electrical system

66 complaintsDead batteries, warning lights, failed screens and cameras, and electrical shorts.What to check before you buy

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 68,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

  • Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
  • Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
  • Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

I am writing to formally notify NHTSA of a serious safety incident involving my 2013 Nissan Rogue. My vehicle experienced an electrical fire while parked in my driveway following heavy snowstorms and road salt exposure. The vehicle was stationary at the time of the incident. My insurance company declared the vehicle a total loss. There…Owner complaint, filed 2026
My car was parked in my driveway without being used for almost a day and caught on fire. The fire started in the driver side where the harness supposedly got changed and went up. Thank God the fire department got there when they did my car would have exploded into my house and neighbors house. When calling nissan to aware of problem they…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Fuel system

35 complaintsHesitation, stalling, fuel smell, fuel pump and injector failures.What to check before you buy

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 80,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

  • Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
  • On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
  • Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

The Nissan rogue when warm weather hits the CVT transmission seems to get hot and then you lose propulsion. You can’t even put it in reverse and you cannot accelerate at all. You have to get out. Push the car wait 10 minutes and then hope to try it again. What works as we have to do a reset on a CVT system? Turn the ignition on by not…Owner complaint, filed 2025
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode and the vehicle decelerated independently. During the failure, the check engine and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the throttle body…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 89,000 miles

Body, doors and structure

31 complaintsRust, doors and liftgates that will not latch, leaks, and frame or structure concerns.What to check before you buy

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 45,000 miles. Parts named most: Body (27).

What to check before you buy

  • Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
  • Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
  • Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that the front driver’s and passenger’s side doors intermittently failed to open, causing the driver to climb over the rear seats to exit or enter the vehicle through the rear doors. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 136,116 miles
BOTH front door actuators have failed. Can NOT open the front passenger side door at ALL and the front driver side door will ONLY OPEN from the INSIDE. My passenger had to exit the vehicle through the front passenger side window when the door malfunctioned in January. Then about 2 weeks later we could no longer open the front driver's…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Seats and seat belts

17 complaintsBelts that will not latch or retract, seat adjusters and passenger occupancy sensors.What to check before you buy

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 74,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

  • Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
  • Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that the seat belt warning light was blinking. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 142,000.Owner complaint, filed 2022, at 142,000 miles
2013 nissan rogue trouble light comes on with a code b1018 & b1022 witch is passenger seat sensor. Other models of the same year are being recalled for the same problem. The car only has 18,795 miles, we haved found out this is not a isolated incident, is there any way to put this model on the list for safety reasons.Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 18,795 miles

Steering

12 complaintsLoss of power steering assist, wandering, play in the wheel and noises when turning.What to check before you buy

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 30,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

  • Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
  • On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
  • A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

Car seem fine at first, but while driving on the highway it began to make strange noises. It hasted a little at the red light. Once I reached home and pulled into the driveway, car cut off, I restarted the car it did move when in drive or in reversed.Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 178,000 miles
I have a 2013 nissan rogue and I started have a noise when I turn my steering well. My technician said that there had been problems with electrical and steering issues. When I back up or turn this noise is happening.Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 96,000 miles

Lights, wipers and visibility

10 complaintsHeadlights that dim or fail, wiper and washer failures, and windshield cracks.What to check before you buy

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 28,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

  • Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
  • Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

Left tail light/running light is out, replaced bulbs and fuses but still not working, could be wiring harness uncertain at this pointOwner complaint, filed 2020
Shortly after pulling onto a city street all lights, headlights, brake, signal, park, went out during driving. The indicator that the lights were on was still light though there were no lights. Switching to high beam did not result in lights coming on and blue high beam indicator light did not come on. Continually holding the light…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 61,000 miles

Brakes and stability control

9 complaintsBrakes that feel soft or grab, grinding, ABS and stability control faults.What to check before you buy

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 60,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

  • The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
  • The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
  • Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

My vehicle had an electrical shortage and caught on fire. My car was parked in a driveway not started and the fire started right near the driver side in the dashOwner complaint, filed 2020
My brakes are not working properly. I first noticed my brake not responding correctly to the normal amount of pressure on 1/15/19. I would apply normal pressure and have no response, and have to press harder to get any kind of decline in speed. I took it to a local shop and they put on brakes, rotors, and flushed the brake system. A few…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 69,944 miles

Suspension

6 complaintsClunks over bumps, broken springs, worn struts and uneven tire wear.What to check before you buy

What to check before you buy

  • Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
  • Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
  • Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

Nissan subframe design is very unsafe. They have [VIN] a common problem in añmost alll nissan ., the front subfrane washers are hold in the subframe under pressure., bad bad idea thats not safe .tires and suspensin are subject to maximun vibration and hits by the road and those washers can not hold those impacts. .time make look them…Owner complaint, filed 2022
The car driver side window door leaks water into the driver side floor near where the legs go. The floor is always wet has Mold on it. Mirror above driver side has mold on it. Seatbelts throughout the car have accumulated mold on them. Behind the driver side that rug is wet soaked as well. The water has traveled to the left side of the…Owner complaint, filed 2022

Wheels and tires

6 complaintsTire failures, wheels and lug nuts, and tire pressure sensor faults.What to check before you buy

What to check before you buy

  • Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
  • Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
  • The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

I was driving on the interstate at right around 50-60mph, the day was sunny. I was in the middle lane on I275 and there was normal flow of traffic. I saw no debris. Then all of the sudden it sounded like an explosion and my car jolted. I knew something was very wrong and kept control of car. When the tire service man came he noted it the…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Hi, I have a 2013 nissan rogue. The tpms light came on while on the freeway. Its not going off even after adjusting the tire pressure to the correct value many times. I had the same issue when I purchased the vehicle, that time dealer adjusted it. Now the dealership is asking for $150 to rectify thatOwner complaint, filed 2019, at 60,000 miles

Driver assist systems

2 complaintsPhantom braking, false collision warnings, and lane keeping or backup sensors that act up.What to check before you buy

What to check before you buy

  • Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
  • Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
  • Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

1) Air bag light on indicating it doesnt work 2) horn sounding continusly, activate on a left wheel turn 3) cruise control doesnt work but is active in the screen panel 4) radio start automatocally increasing volume continiously driving me crazy.Owner complaint, filed 2023
When driving home from Demark S.C to Milledgeville, Ga. last Sunday when around the car stop accelerating and was making a whining noise.. The R.P. M. meter was over 8 and the speedometer was stuck on 60 m.p.h. This went on for around ten minuets, Then started back to normal. This is the second time happened when taking a similar.Owner complaint, filed 2021

Nissan Rogue complaints by year

Compare the 2013 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.

Compare with similar 2013 compact SUVs

Each car is rated against its own other years, since popular models always get more complaints than rare ones.

CarVs. its other yearsRecallsMost reported
2013 Nissan RogueAbout average1Transmission and drivetrain
2013 Toyota RAV4About average2Electrical system
2013 Honda CR-VAbout average2Engine and cooling
2013 Mazda CX-5About average1Electrical system
Compare side by side

2013 Nissan Rogue recalls

This is every recall issued for the 2013 Nissan Rogue, not what is still open on one car. A recall that was fixed does not show up any differently here. Check a VIN at NHTSA to see what is still open on the car you are looking at, and ask the seller for proof any recall work was done.

Electrical system

Jan 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V032000
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.
Full recall summary

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.

2013 Nissan Rogue questions

What are the most common problems with the 2013 Nissan Rogue?

The most reported problem areas on the 2013 Nissan Rogue are the transmission and drivetrain (314 complaints), the engine and cooling (108 complaints) and the cruise control and acceleration (90 complaints).

Is the 2013 Nissan Rogue a good year to buy?

About average for the Rogue. Owners filed about as many complaints as a typical Rogue year. The main thing to watch is the transmission and drivetrain, which half of owners reported by about 79,000 miles. Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Rogue years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.

How many recalls does the 2013 Nissan Rogue have?

NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2013 Nissan Rogue. The most recent, from Jan 2015, covers the electrical system. Recalls cover the whole model year, so check the VIN of the car you are looking at to see which are still open.

At what mileage do 2013 Nissan Rogue problems start?

Half of the owners who reported a problem with the transmission and drivetrain gave a mileage of about 79,000 miles or less. Half of the owners who reported a problem with the engine and cooling gave a mileage of about 72,000 miles or less. Plenty of cars have these problems later or never, so ask for service records.

Which Nissan Rogue years should I avoid?

The Rogue years with the most complaints compared with the rest are 2023. Years with clearly fewer complaints are 2012, 2020 and 2021. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate fairly yet.

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Where these numbers come from. Complaints are reports that owners filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), counted from NHTSA’s complaint database as of November 5, 2026. Owners do not have to prove a problem to file one, so a complaint is a report, not a confirmed defect. Models that sell in big numbers get more complaints, and newer model years have had less time on the road, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Recalls come from NHTSA’s recall database and cover every vehicle of that model year, not one particular car. Quotes are trimmed, and anything that looks like a VIN is hidden.