2017 Nissan Rogue Safety Report

The 2017 Nissan Rogue presents a mixed safety profile, with a solid crash test performance but a notable number of consumer complaints, particularly concerning the powertrain and electrical systems. NHTSA awarded the vehicle an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars, with a 4-star rating for frontal crash, a 5-star rating for side crash, and a 4-star rating for rollover. This indicates good structural integrity in most common collision scenarios. However, the vehicle has accumulated 576 total complaints, including 57 crashes and 60 injuries, suggesting potential issues that may not be fully captured by crash tests alone. Common complaint patterns reveal significant concerns with the POWER TRAIN (74 complaints), often related to the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) experiencing hesitation, stalling, and complete failure, sometimes at mileages as low as 30,000-60,000 miles. The 'UNKNOWN OR OTHER' category leads with 77 complaints, indicating a broad range of unresolved or unclassified issues. AIR BAGS (46 complaints) and SERVICE BRAKES (44 complaints) are also frequently cited, with some reports of airbags failing to deploy in crashes and issues with automatic emergency braking systems engaging unexpectedly. The FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE system also has 27 complaints, with reports of unintended braking. The recall history for the 2017 Nissan Rogue is substantial, with 5 recalls addressing critical safety defects. These include recalls for the ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (wiring corrosion leading to fire risk, and ignition key potentially shutting off the vehicle), ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (engine stall risk in hybrid models), SEATS (improper welds increasing injury risk), and AIR BAGS (occupant classification sensor issues affecting deployment). These recalls directly address some of the top complaint categories, such as electrical issues and airbag malfunctions, but the high number of ongoing complaints suggests that not all issues are fully resolved or that new problems are emerging. The 6 reported fires and 57 crashes underscore the real-world impact of these defects.

Our recommendation: Given the significant number of powertrain and electrical complaints, coupled with 5 safety recalls, prospective buyers should proceed with caution and prioritize a thorough pre-purchase inspection, especially of the CVT transmission and electrical system, and ensure all recalls have been addressed.