Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 317 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Nissan Rogue, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 103 | 32% |
| Air bags | 29 | 9% |
| Unknown or other | 27 | 9% |
| Engine | 16 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 14 | 4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 11 | 3% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 9 | 3% |
| Power train | 7 | 2% |
| Power train | 7 | 2% |
| Power train | 4 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The doors unlock or lock on their own. Some locks then don’t lock or unlock. Sometimes they have to be unlocked manually. The trunk does not unlock at all. I can’t open the trunk.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
August 1, 2025 I was trying to get to [XXX] from [XXX] to see my mother, before Kansas City, Mo. Before getting to KC while cruise was engaged car RPM’s began amping but car did not speed up. I put it park and turned
NHTSA complaint: Power train
2008-13 Nissan Rogue/2014 Rogue Select (S35) Driver’s Kick Panel Harness Connector Inspection Voluntary Safety Recall Campaign Reference: R1421 I spoke with Nissan and the recall does not cover my VIN number however I h
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I was looking at the fact that this car has 2 recalls for problems that I never bothered to check, but it's better to have everything in order. everything is in order.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
That my engine stalled while I’m driving. And I almost crashed another car.
NHTSA complaint: Engine
I have a Nissan Rogue 2012...I get a P0101 error code a lot...doing a quick search on the internet, seems like I'm not the only one.
NHTSA complaint: Engine
My vehicle is making this rattling noise so I took it to the dealership and they said I need a subframe. Be advised this vehicle has never been in a accident so why is the subframe needed and I only have 81,000 miles on
NHTSA complaint: Power train
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal, before the engine seized. No warning lights were illumin
NHTSA complaint: Engine
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2012 Nissan Rogue. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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 t
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. The recall began
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 SAFE
Risk: 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.
Fix: ALL OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ARE STILL IN DEALER INVENTORY. DEALERS HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO ACTIVATE ALL OF THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS.
| Reliability | 78 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 76 | good |
| Maintenance | 83 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 76 | good |
| Performance | 60 | average |
| Efficiency | 43 | below average |
| Safety | 80 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 317 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 103 of them (32%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 78/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density, adjusted for how many were sold so a popular model is not penalised for having more owners.
AVOIR scores its longevity 76/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2012 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 74/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.