2012 Nissan Rogue
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 318 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 12th highest complaint count among 19 Rogue model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 8 involved a crash and 11 involved a fire. 7 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Electrical systemJan 26, 2015
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.
An electrical short can cause a vehicle fire.
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. The recall began on February 26, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Campaign 15V032000 on NHTSA.gov
Tires, pressure monitoring and regulating systemsFeb 22, 2012
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 MURANO AND ROGUE VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 23, 2011 THROUGH JANUARY 11, 2012. DURING ASSEMBLY, THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) WAS NOT ACTIVATED. THUS, THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 138,TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM.
A NON-ACTIVE TPMS CANNOT WARN A DRIVER THAT A TIRE IS UNDERINFLATED. UNDERINFLATED TIRES CAN RESULT IN TIRE OVERLOADING AND OVERHEATING, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A BLOWOUT AND POSSIBLE CRASH.
ALL OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ARE STILL IN DEALER INVENTORY. DEALERS HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO ACTIVATE ALL OF THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS.
Campaign 12V068000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
318 reports, newest first.
Vehicle speed control, Nov 17, 2023
The vehicle will not accelerate, seems to be a problem with the transmission
Electrical system, Engine, Nov 14, 2023
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the battery, brake, and oil warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that he pulled over and needed several attempts to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was shifted into drive(D) however, the vehicle failed to exceed 15 MPH. The contact had driven the vehicle to an auto parts store where a handheld scanner was used, and it was determined that the starter coil needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 174,785.
Engine, Oct 18, 2023
The CVT transmission is believed to be the issue, and it is available to be inspected upon request. While driving at highway speeds or up even a small hill the car suddenly and without warning loose power and acceleration, not accelerating past 3,000 RPM. There are times when I’m either stoped at a stop sign or merging lanes and power ceases causing other vehicles to preform an emergency stop to avoid from hitting me or causing me to swerve to avoid a collision. The problem has happened multiple times. It has not been inspected by the dealership or any police or insurance agents. There are no warnings lights that appear associated to the problem. When an OBD scanner is plugged in no codes or anything alarming is shown.
Suspension, Power train, Vehicle speed control, Oct 5, 2023
The CVT component on these cars causes it to lose power and acceleration which can cause an bad accident..one morning while going to work i got onto the expressway and car did not want to acceleration and almost caused me to get into a collision with an 18 wheeler.. The next day i took it to an mechanic shop whereas they told me nothing was wrong with my car and i should contact nissan and complain because the only problem they can guess is its my CVT and nissan made the car to do that so it last longer.. Then 2 days later I was driving on a commercial road with lots of traffic when all of a sudden my car would not acceleration even when I pushed the pedal to the floor.. I pulled over and turned the car off for awhile and then Crunk it back up and it was accelerating better.. so over the course of 5 months I have been having this problem with my car when I come to a stop or when I decelerate and then accelerate.. I did some research to find out what could be the problem and I came across a thread of other consumers that were having the same exact problem with the nissan brand of cars and suv's.. even though they know this problem exists with their make and models they provide no solution other than spend more money on a car they designed with a defective transmission and/or other components.. this is a serious safety concern for anyone driving these cars or suvs from nissan..
Power train, Jun 25, 2023
Vehicle was driven for 1 hour and 6 minutes for 73 miles. The max speed reached for 65 of the miles was 75 mph and the CVT FLUID TEMPERATURE PROTECTION LOGIC caused the vehicle to decelerate and the driver was barely able to pull off the interstate to a safe location. There should be a recall, owners of this vehicle should not be responsible to pay for a design flaw of this vehicle. This is the 3rd incident that this happened the last 6 months.
Electrical system, Apr 22, 2023
One year ago I had the transmission and computer replaced on my 2012 Nissan Rogue SL, after losing driving power SEVERAL times WHILE DRIVING. To both my and my mechanics amazement, this did not solve the issue! My mechanic traced it back to the engine wiring harness. Nissan claimed to not have any of the required wiring harnesses in stock, and for the life of us we could not find a replacement online. After some research, we came across NHTSA Recall Number15V-032. We were again amazed to learn that my car was not included in the recall, but other 2012 Rogues were. My mechanic went wire through wire, and after 6 months of issues and over $6,000 in parts and labor, I was back on the road. Fast forward to today, I am now dealing with the same issue AGAIN, except this time I was traveling on the PA Turnpike with 3 other passengers when my check engine light turned on and the car lost all power. This car is not only a money pit but a MASSIVE safety issue. I wish I had done more research into the disaster that is Nissan & their early model CVT Transmissions. The NHTSA needs to step in and expand these recalls and class action lawsuits to ALL year models, not just a few.
Air bags, Mar 21, 2023
Front passenger occupancy sensor failed. Other years have a recall on this sensor, why not 2012.
Power train, Mar 14, 2023
My 17yr old son and 20 yr old daughter were traveling to visit grandparents. They were driving normal highway speed and the transmission just cut out and the RPMs reved up to the red line and they barely made it off the road before a collision. This vehicle only has 70k miles and contains one of the faulty transmissions that they are aware of. This model was not included in their recall and is dangerous. This should be considered deception of the consumer, since they knew they built a faulty product and all of these vehicles should be recalled. Nissan should reimburse all consumers for such a poor/faulty/dangerous product.
Service brakes, Air, Engine, Mar 10, 2023
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. The check engine warning light and the ABS warning light illuminated immediately. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Air bags, Mar 3, 2023, crash
Nissan driver side air bag, the air bag deployed, could have been deadly.
Electrical system, Air bags, Seat belts, Mar 2, 2023, crash
SRS air bag light was on, called dealer, light stayed on, CVT transmission has issues, electrical problems while driving, car will decelerate and stop without warning. My safety is at risk everyday, the car can stop at anytime without warning, airbag deployed. The dealership has not found any problems that they are willing to be accountable for. The vehicle has not been inspected before or after accident. Check engine light was on, transmission was replaced twice at my own expense. SRS light was on before accident.
Engine, Jan 9, 2023
The transmission on my 2012 Nissan Rogue failed without any warning. While driving the car suddenly stopped accelerating, RPMs increased, when breaking the car would shake as well as the break pedal and there was a loud shaking noise coming from the engine. My car did not have any warning signs or prior issues, one morning while taking my child to school and going to work, my car began to have issues. At first it would not accelerate as fast as it normally does and the RPMS would go high. At this time it also started to run very loud and there was a shaking coming from the engine. When I tried to brake, the brake pedal began to shake and almost felt as though the breaks were slipping and not catching properly. Eventually I was able to pull off of the main road into a parking lot. By the time a tow truck came, the driver was not even able to get enough power to drive the car up the flatbed.
Power train, Dec 21, 2022
November 21,2022 while driving my husband to the hospital for major surgery the transmission malfunctioned in our car (it was 16 degrees outside). We had to very slowly drive it back home and take our other car to the hospital. Some days after this we got it to our mechanic where he confirmed it was the transmission that needed to be replaced. It has not yet been inspected by anyone either than our mechanic. It is inoperable at this time. There were no warning lamps or messages that appeared prior to the failure.
Electrical system, Seats, Nov 29, 2022
The driver seat would not come back up after I used the recline button. There is no sound when I push the button to raise seat back up from the reclined position. The side airbags on driver seat back are not able to protect me if there is an accident. I do not use the recline function often so I don't have a history if when it stopped functioning.
Power train, Nov 25, 2022
Going up hill at 130,000 it doesn't want to pull, you have to put hazards on pray your not hit in the ass end because it happens at random. It then acts fine after a few minutes
Service brakes, Nov 14, 2022
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while in reverse(R) an abnormal dragging sound was coming from the vehicle while depressing the brake pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer on three separate occasions however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. On the fourth occasion, the contact was advised by her husband to have the dealer check the brake rotors and calipers. The dealer then discovered that the parts were defective, and the parts were replaced; however, after the repair was performed the failure persisted. The manufacturer had been notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 6, 2022
Reported this issue to NHTSA 12/2018. Around 8/2022 incident started - full tank of gas, range 280 miles (typically 320 miles). Following daily drive/use the fuel gauge and electronic display not in sync with distance/miles remaining. I re-fueled a full tank end of August + early September (engine light pops on display) and the range as of today states 26 miles remaining (gauge should be in red area) however the gauge is at 1/4 tank. The fuel gauge and electronic display are inaccurate and erratic leaving me unsure how much fuel I actually have remaining.
Power train, Aug 29, 2022
I spoke with Nissan telling her my 2012 Nissan Rogue which I bought new, is currently having CVT transmission issues at 115000 miles. She told me, there was nothing Nissan is willing to do for me after 60000 miles. I am highly concerned as not only is Nissan unwilling to stand behind their product but also unwilling to do the right thing. I have followed their service book and completed all scheduled maintenance as directed. I stated I would be submitting a complaint in writing. Given I have twin 5 year old’s and if we were to be in accident then my husband has documentation to submit I had previously informed Nissan of the existing issue which is also well known and documented. Also, that shall Nissan choose not to honor my request by replacing my transmission I shall have no choice but to contact the BBB and A. G. as I do not want any other family to be injured or killed as result of Nissan choosing not to do the right thing. The issue is, while driving on the freeway, the engine will not go into second gear and will not go faster than 10mph after stopping. This is a safety issue which Nissan is aware of. The way to correct the issue is to stop the engine and let it cool for approx 1 hour then you can drive again. As stated on Google, “Transmission Problems are Common With the 2012 Rogue and Can Make for Expensive Repairs. Nissan's continuously variable transmission is known to be problematic, especially around the 100,000-mile mark. Most NHTSA complaints relate to problems with the CVT.Mar 30, 2022” The 2012 Nissan Rogue is reported to still have issues with its transmission and engines. The problems are largely similar, with acceleration problems being the most common. The problems can occur as early as 60,000 miles, and sometimes the vehicle will stall while driving.Jun 22, 2022 If Nissan is aware of the issue with the CVT transmission, why are they not doing something about it? Are they waiting for a lawsuit or a death before they do anything? Help
Electrical system, Aug 11, 2022
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated while driving 30 mph, she saw smoke exiting from under the hood, and then the vehicle seized. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to park on the side of the road to jump the battery and continue driving to her destination. The contact stated she was unable to use any electronic features inside the vehicle, such as locking the door, opening/closing windows, moving the driver's side seat, or use the smart key fob. The contact experience the same failure the following day. The contact drove to AutoZone and purchased a new battery, but continued to experience the failure. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer who associated the failure with rodents consuming wires but did not inspect the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The contact stated she replaced the battery for the third. The contact called another local dealer: Teddy Nissan (3660 Boston Rd, The Bronx, NY 10469:(888) 462-4710), made them aware of the failure, and set up an appointment to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V032000 (Electrical System), however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.
Other or unspecified, Aug 1, 2022
The transmission went out which is, evidently, common in the rogue
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Forward collision avoidance, Jul 27, 2022
When driving on the highway the vehicle will desegregate. Check engine light goes on and off and received 5 different codes for the transmission. Tire ?? system comes on and off. The engine overheats a lot especially on hot climates. I drove from New York to North Carolina and had to stop 5 times on the side of the road so the car could cool down.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Jul 24, 2022
CVT transmission. Car seems to lose power when accelerating from a stop or entering traffic. Shudders, shakes seems to go to limp mode. I read up on Nissan CVT issues. Warranty's have been extended on year before mine (2012) and those years after me. Called Nissan Corporate. They said they had few complaints on Rogues. I said are you serious? I've read about plenty of complaints. So why have you extended warrantys? Advised they couldn't help me. First Nissan for me and last. Have never had any transmission issues with my vehicles over the years and I'm 74. Other cars NOTHING major just regular maintenance. Disappointed with Nissan they know they have a major issue with CVT transmissions and don't stand behind their product. My car is sitting in the garage. I'm afraid to drive it and around $5000 to replace transmission. It's a 2012 Nissan Rogue SL. Please look into this issue.
Power train, Jun 28, 2022
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power, and failed to accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure however, no assistance was offered. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 154,000.
Power train, Jun 17, 2022
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while attempting to drive, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to move. The contact had the vehicle towed to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 101,000.
Engine, May 9, 2022
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the contact saw smoke coming from the front driver’s side hood. The contact pulled over in a neighborhood and turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that the smoke dissipated independently with the Service Engine Soon warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven home however, the following day the windows and key fob malfunctioned. The contact stated that the dealer and an independent mechanic were notified of the failure however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.