2018 Nissan Rogue Transmission Problems

Which parts fail

• Driveline › Differential unit
  2

Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  424%
• 25k–50k
  953%
• 50k–75k
  212%
• 75k–100k
  16%
• 100k–150k
  16%
• 150k+
  00%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2018 Nissan Rogue owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

Vehicle is three years old. Never used the spare previously. Had a nail in the tire, so called Nissan Care to come and change it. Nissan Care arrived, used the spare that came with the vehicle and changed the tire. Immediately upon driving it, my wife heard weird noises, including grinding under her feet and grinding near the front right of the vehicle. Some knowledgeable car experts at her work told her she needs to get it checked out. She drove on it for less than 15 minutes before hearing a loud pop from the back, at which point the vehicle started smoking. She drove it to a nearby dealer. The dealer indicated the spare tire was not the same size as the others and because the vehicle has an intelligent all wheel drive system, this caused the rear differential to explode. Nissan RO # 6112906 is the reference number at Martin Nissan in Skokie, IL.

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the radiator needed to be flushed and an oil change needed to be performed. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic, where the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The vehicle had not been taken to another independent mechanic or a local dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to exceed 20 MPH. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving. The brake pedal was depressed, but the engine revved, and the vehicle failed to immediately stop. No warning light was illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the continuously variable transmission (CVT) needed to be replaced; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 38,590.

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was slightly uncontrollable while turning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with rear differential failure. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where the same assessment was made. The dealer provided an estimate for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin Number: NTB10-029I. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger's side rear tire deflated. The contact replaced the tire with the spare tire. The contact stated after driving three miles, the contact noticed that the vehicle was driving abnormally. The contact parked the vehicle and had the vehicle towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a fractured rear differential. The contact was informed that the rear differential needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 83,600.

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH on the highway, the vehicle suddenly decelerated to 40 MPH. The contact stated that the vehicle was jumping while accelerating. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over safely and restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to three independent mechanics who determined that there was a malfunction error and CVT judder. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 141,832.

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Rogue. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic for an oil change; several hours after the service, the vehicle stalled while driving 35 MPH without warning. The contact stated that the failure recurred soon after restarting the vehicle. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to a dealer and was diagnosed with transmission failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.

The vehicle was sold to me 3 months outside of the extended manufacturer's warranty in December of 2025 with known issues with the CVT transmission. Since owning the vehicle for less than one year, the transmission has begun to fail. The vehicle was taken to a different Nissan dealership (Poughkeepsie Nissan in Wappingers Falls, NY) where it has been confirmed that the transmission is failing and will not go into gear correctly. Service records for the vehicle were pulled from the dealership that sold it to me (Romeo Nissan in Kingston, NY) and the transmission had never been serviced or repaired. If the vehicle slips out of gear or will not go into gear correctly, this could cause a major accident including life threatening injuries and potentially death to myself or others in vehicles around me. …

So the CVT transmission on my 2018 Nissan Rouge has begun to fail. I ask my personal mechanic and took it to Star Nissan in Illinois and both said that the transmission is wearing out quicker than normal, they suggested I see if it had been recalled, and to my surprise, it hasn't and they are guessing that the transmission was worn out before I bought it. They were recalled for the same problem but were never taken. The bad thing is that there is no error or light that says the transmission is failing. I drive with the car on a daily and risk my life and others just cause the car doesn't move and I need to turn it off and turn it back on so it resets. The car smells like burning metal from the transmission. When I go 20 the rpms hit 5000 which should be normal.

After driving home from an appointment tonight 9/14/2024, my Nissan Rogue 2018 began shuttering, stalling and jerking. I was only 3 miles from home, and it happened all the way home, with times I didn't think the vehicle was going to restart. I was in saturday afternoon traffic and cars where swerving around me avoiding my car, and trying to not hit me. Vehile mileage is 71,256 miles and only myself as owner in it's entire history. I've had allthe oil and fluid changes necessary for it to operate. I have left a message by contacting Nissan USA, and will be contacting attorney because I am almost certain it's my CVT transmission failing.

Transmission complaints in other Rogue years