Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 35 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Nissan Rogue Sport, and it carries 3 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Forward collision avoidance | 5 | 14% |
| Engine | 4 | 11% |
| Service brakes | 4 | 11% |
| Unknown or other | 4 | 11% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 9% |
| Service brakes | 1 | 3% |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 3% |
| Steering | 1 | 3% |
| Structure | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
When driving home on the evening of 3/24, I was on the interstate (70mph) when my 2021 Nissan Rogue started to decelerate and would not gain speed. I got off at the next frontage road exit and when at the stop sign my ch
NHTSA complaint: Engine
I am reporting a serious safety incident involving my 2021 Nissan Rogue, which caught on fire unexpectedly on Feb. 6, 2026 approximately 4:30 am. The fire originated from the vehicle without warning and posed an immediat
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
Door lock actuators on driver side doors failed after less than 4 years. Both were “burnt” out according to Nissan tech. Unable to lock, unlock doors. Safety concerns.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I purchased my vehicle in October 2025 for over $20,000, and It just started having issues on December 8, 2025. I have taken it to the dealership and made the head office aware of the issue I am having. The vehicle ex
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
I was on the freeway, going 65mph. Suddenly, i felt my car partially brake. Thank God I was close to an exit and got off safely. My car partially braked again while i was going 35mph down the street. As i cautiously drov
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
I was driving on a four lane road, no car in front in my lane, only a car in the lane to the left and a car behind, when the forward collision warning came up and immediately activated the automatic emergency braking. T
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while the driver’s side low beam light was no longer illuminated due to its expected life span. The vehicle was taken for the bulb replacement, and the contac
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
The radiator fan has failed, causing the air conditioning to not work unless the car is at high speeds, and at low speeds, the engine is at risk of overheating. The issue seems to be a bad bearing in the fan.
NHTSA complaint: Engine
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2021 Nissan Rogue Sport. 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 2021 Rogue Sport vehicles. The seat belt automatic locking retractor (ALR) may deactivate early, reducing the protection offered to an installed child seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehic
Risk: A seat belt retractor that does not function as intended can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the front passenger seat belt and as necessary both outer rear seat belts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 14, 2021. Owners may contact Nissa
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Rogue Sport vehicles. The liftgate hinges can separate from the vehicle during a rear end crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 206, "Door Locks and Door Rete
Risk: Separated hinges compromise the protection offered by the liftgate, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the left and right liftgate hinges, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 7, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Niss
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 a
Fix: 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 l
| Reliability | 59 | average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 68 | good |
| Maintenance | 83 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 70 | good |
| Performance | 55 | average |
| Efficiency | 48 | below average |
| Safety | 93 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other wagons in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 35 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and forward collision avoidance is the most reported area with 5 of them (14%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 59/100 (average) 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 68/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2021 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 68/100. 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.