Most common 2012 Nissan Rogue problems
Share of the 318 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Nissan Rogue complaints by model year
Best Rogue years: 2020, 2012, 2011. Years to avoid: 2023, 2025, 2024, 2018, 2017. Compare all years →
2012 Nissan Rogue recalls (2)
Electrical system
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.
Remedy: 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.
Tires › Pressure monitoring and regulating systems
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.
Remedy: All of the affected vehicles are still in dealer inventory. Dealers have been instructed to activate all of the tire pressure monitoring systems.
What 2012 Nissan Rogue owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 136 →
The contact owned a 2012 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while driving at 35-75 MPH, the transmission failed to shift gear as needed. In addition, the RPMs decreased. The contact also stated that the vehicle accelerated independently. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. A local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the vehicle was sold to a junk yard. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure however, no assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000. The VIN was not available. The contact would like Nissan to get him another car.
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated while driving at approximately 75 MPH, the transmission failed to operate as designed and the vehicle lost motive power. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and was able to drive the vehicle again after the vehicle had cooled down. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer or mechanic. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.
Engine & cooling all 45 →
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 illuminated. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road. The contact noticed black smoke coming from under the hood. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, no cause for the failure was found. The contact had the spark plugs and boots replaced. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact stated that an abnormal sound was coming from the engine when the vehicle was restarted. The check engine warning light and the TPMS warning lights were illuminated. The failure had progressively worsened, and the vehicle was no longer driven. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of gasoline. …
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.
Electrical system all 42 →
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that 6 hours after their vehicle was parked around sometime after midnight the vehicle suddenly caught fire. The key fob began to sound off an alarm where the contact had pressed a button to deactivate about 2 times before going to check the vehicle. Before being able to reach the vehicle the contact was stopped by a family member as well as verbally warned by a neighbor that the vehicle had caught on fire. The fire department arrived then broke into the vehicle and put out the fire. A fire report and police report was filed. The fire department had stated that they believed it was a mechanical issue that caused the failure however it had not been confirmed. The vehicle was not towed but had not been inspected to determine if the condition results in totaling the vehicle or not as of yet. …
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. …
2012 Nissan Rogue engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | 23 / 28 / 25 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | CVT | AWD | 22 / 26 / 23 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Nissan Rogue a good car?
Based on 318 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Rogue rates average: 36% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Rogue at the same age. It is one of the best Rogue years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Nissan Rogue?
The transmission & drivetrain — 136 complaints, 43% of all complaints for this model year, most often about clutch assembly. Next are the engine & cooling (45) and electrical system (42).
How many recalls does the 2012 Nissan Rogue have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2012 Nissan Rogue, the most recent from January 26, 2015 (electrical system). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Nissan Rogue?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2020, 2012 and 2011. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2023, 2025, 2024, 2018 and 2017. See the full Nissan Rogue years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 Nissan Rogue problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 71,000 miles; 28% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.