Nissan Rogue 2014-2018: problems, fuel economy, driving experience, interior photos

The second-generation 2014-plus Nissan Rogue is a tall, roomy compact SUV with optional third-row seating. It is powered by a 4-cylinder engine and comes with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The Rogue is one of the most fuel efficient non-hybrid SUVs.

2016 Nissan Rogue (T32).

One of the most interesting available features is the Around View Monitor. It shows a simulated view from above which is a great help when parking or navigating through tight corners. The rare Rogue Hybrid was offered from 2017. The 2017 also saw the addition of the Nissan Rogue Sport. It's a different vehicle and is not covered in this review. Nissan also sold the previous generation Rogue as Nissan Rogue Select through 2014 and 2015. We covered it in a separate review.

Nissan Rogue problems: According to the bulletin NTB15-062, to repair a popping noise from the front coil springs when turning, both front coil springs and strut bearings need to be replaced. If out of warranty, the repair could cost from $570 to $750.

We have found several complaints about navigation, Bluetooth and audio system issues. There are a few reports that some of the problems are fixed after a firmware update.

2016 Nissan Rogue interior.

Many Nissan buyers are concerned with CVT transmission longevity. As of February 2020, the number of CVT-related complaints was small. The Nissan Service Bulletin NTB15-084b for the 2014-2016 Rogue (T32) advises replacing the valve body (part of the CVT transmission) or the CVT unit if the vehicle exhibits a transmission judder or vibration and the trouble code P17F0 or P17F1 is stored in the transmission control module (TCM). Read more: Pros and cons of buying a car with a CVT transmission.
A number of owners mentioned various issues with the air conditioner not working properly. For example, read this discussion. Some owners say the A/C stops working after driving for some time, but starts working again after the car is parked for a while. One of the possible causes is icing up of the A/C evaporator. That part is located inside the dash. Once the A/C is turned off and the ice melts, the A/C starts working again. In other cars, the icing of the A/C evaporator is often caused by issues with the evaporator temperature sensor or its placement. Some owners said changing the evaporator temperature sensor fixed the problem in their Rogue.
There have been complaints about sunvisors that won't stay in place and need to be replaced. The repair is not expensive.
Nissan issued the recall for the fuel pump (NHTSA# 15V-197) and several other recalls for the Rogue, check at the NHTSA website

Fuel Economy: Nissan Rogue is one of the most fuel-efficient SUVs. The 2015-2016 front-wheel drive Rogue is rated at 26/32 mpg. The all-wheel drive model is not far behind at 25/31 mpg; see fuel consumption data in the table. The 2016 AWD Rogue can travel up to 435 miles (700 km) on one tank of gas on a long highway trip.

Engine: The Rogue is powered by a 170-horsepower 2.5-liter DOHC 24-valve 4-cylnder QR25DE motor. It has been used in many Nissan vehicles for more than a decade. It's a simple and reliable engine with a conventional multi-port electronic fuel injection. With regular maintenance, this engine can last for over 200K.

Timing belt or chain: The 2.5L QR25DE engine comes with a timing chain. The timing chain only needs to be replaced if it's stretched or if there are some other issues with it. There is no timing belt.

Mechanical: The Rogue has MacPherson struts in the front suspension. The rear suspension uses an independent multi-link layout. All four wheels have vented disc brakes. Anti-lock Brake System and Stability control are standard.

The steering is electrically-assisted. The only transmission choice is a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

AWD System: The Rogue offers a simple optional all-wheel drive system. The front wheels are powered at all times and the rear axle engages when needed. How it works: a small transfer assembly is attached to the transmission and sends the torque to the rear axle via a propeller shaft. The amount of torque sent to rear wheels is controlled by an electrical coupling installed in the rear differential. This system is similar to what many modern SUVs have and is tuned for better fuel economy rather than off-road performance.

Driving Experience: The Rogue is one of the few SUVs that offer good handling and a comfortable, quiet ride. The 2.5L engine offers reasonable power around town and on the highway.

Pros: Fuel economy, exterior style, roomy interior, second-row space, good visibility, cargo space, available third-row seating, solid engine, comfortable ride, available Around View Monitor.

Cons: Models with third-row seating don't have a spare tire and come with more expensive run-flat tires, small towing capacity, depreciates faster than other top-selling SUVs

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Overall: The Rogue is a comfortable spacious SUV with some good features. With the seats folded, it offers 70 cu. ft. of cargo space. The CVT reliability is still not perfect, but as of February 2020, there are less complaints than in the previous model.

2016 Nissan Rogue 2.5L QR25DE engine.

2016 Nissan Rogue cargo area.

2016 Nissan Rogue rear seat.

As of February 2020, Consumer Reports rates the 2017 and 2018 Rogue 'above average' while the 2014-2016 model years are rated 'average' for reliability. If you are buying a used Nissan Rogue, we would recommend getting an extended warranty for the powertrain (engine and transmission) unless Nissan extends the warranty for the CVT. The CVT is also less suitable for towing. That said, we test-drove the 2014 and 2016 Rogue and neither had any problems. There are also plenty of positive owner reviews on sites like Cars.com or Edmunds.com. Many Rogue owners praise the style, interior space, easy driving experience, fuel economy and cargo space.
Among competitors, Mazda CX-5 is also good on gas, reliable and has a conventional automatic transmission. Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 have a good reputation and are rated well overall.

Nissan Rogue NHTSA crash tests

	Overall rating	Frontal crash	Side crash	Rollover
2014 Rogue
2015 Rogue
2016 Rogue
2017 Rogue non-hybrid
2018 Rogue non-hybrid

Crash test scores: The NHTSA rates the 2014-2018 Nissan Rogue with 4 stars overall. See details in the table.

Lineup: The US lineup includes the base S, mid-level SV and top SL trim levels. The more common Rogue S and SV come with 17" wheels. The SL comes with leather seats, a premium Bose audio system and 18" rims. Third-row seating is only available in S and SV trims. The Around View Monitor is standard in SL and is available in SV as a part of Premium Package.

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Resources:
Recalls: Safety Recalls - NHTSA or Transport Canada - Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls.
US Nissan Owners website - Check maintenance schedule and download an electronic owner's manual.
Nissan Assist - read about CVT warranty and other issues.

By Samarins.com Staff