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2009 Nissan Rogue Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2009 Nissan Rogue has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 5 recurring issue clusters, led by “CVT loss of acceleration on extended highway driving.” Nissan owner's manuals split service into Schedule 1 (severe) and Schedule 2 (normal). Most US drivers fall under Schedule 1. The biggest preventable failure on Nissan vehicles is CVT transmission damage from extended fluid intervals — owners of Altima, Rogue, Sentra, Pathfinder, and Murano with CVT should not skip it.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2009 Nissan Rogue.

Reported to NHTSA

CVT loss of acceleration on extended highway driving

POWER TRAIN

67 NHTSA complaints · 2015-07 → 2023-05

“VEHICLE GOING UP HILL WILL LOOSE POWER, CVT TRANSMISSION DOES THIS RANDOMLY WHEN GOING UP ANY HILL. I AM GOING TO DIE TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF ONCOMING CARS BEHIND ME. I AM AFRAID TO GO ANYWHERE THAT HAS AN UPHILL GRADE ON ANY ROAD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11002531
“THE CVT TRANSMISSION OIL OVERHEATS AT LONG DRIVING PERIODS AND THE TRANSMISSION / CAR GOES INTO LIMP MODE AND THE SPEED DROPS IMMEDIATELY AND SIGNIFICANTLY AND WILL NOT BE DRIVEABLE UNTIL THE OIL COOLS DOWN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10877119
“TRANSMISSION OVERHEATS AND FAILS. WAS REPLACED AT 90K MILES AND HAPPEND AGAIN AT 130K MILES. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. IT GOES INTO "SAFE MODE" AND THEN QUITS WHILE DRIVING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11000417

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Door handle cable failure in freezing temperatures

STRUCTURE

10 NHTSA complaints · 2015-12 → 2021-01

“WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW 32 DEGREES WHEN TRYING TO OPEN THE DRIVER DOOR HANDLE THE CABLE HAS CAME OUT OF THE HOUSING. WHICH NOW THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11386230
“THE DOOR HANDLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE FROZE AND WON'T OPEN THIS IS A SAFETY RECALL BUT IS ONLY COVERED ONCE AND IS A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR THE 2009 CARS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10821616
“BOTH FRONT DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE AFTER BEING EXPOSED TO FREEZING TEMPERATURES IN OUR DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10837033

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Front subframe and CV axle noise

SUSPENSION

5 NHTSA complaints · 2016-03 → 2018-09

“VERY LOUD KNOCKING NOISE FROM FRONT END WHEN GOING OVER ANY BUMPS OTHER THAN A SMOOTH ROAD. COMING FROM FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE STEERING IS STILL OK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11089797
“WE HAVE STOPPED DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT & UNTIL WE GET A SOLUTION, IN THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS MY NISSAN ROGUE STARTED MAKING TERRIBLE NOISES UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE AREA, LIKE METAL ON METAL SOUNDS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10906238
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ROGUE. THE CONTACT PERFORMED REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVE SIDE AXLE LEAKED GREASE AND THE CB BOOT WAS CRACKED ON BOTH SIDES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10839617

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Passenger airbag sensor fault outside 2008/2010 recall

AIR BAGS

78 NHTSA complaints · 2015-05 → 2026-02

“I have a 2009 Nissan Rogue and a couple years ago the passenger airbag sensor indication on the dash continually flashes and the airbag light shows it is turned off. After a lot of research it looks like this has been a problem in 2008 and 2010 Nissan Rogues and a recall was”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11720615
“MY AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT BLINKING ALL THE TIME, WHEN I TOOK TO THE DEALER THEY ADVICE ME TO REPLACE AIR BAG AND SENSORS IT COST MORE THAN $2000.00”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11150724
“THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT IS FLASHING. THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE AIRBAG SENSOR IS NOT WORKING AND WOULD REQUIRE A NEW SENSOR WHICH COST $2500 TO REPLACE. I WAS TOLD THAT IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT THE AIRBAG MAY OR MAY NOT DEPLOY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10807806

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine compartment fire and burning odor

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

6 NHTSA complaints · 2017-07 → 2026-06

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ROGUE. APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES AFTER THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER CAME BACK WITH THE VEHICLE, THE ALARM SOUNDED AND THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10853609
“I WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT PATH ON A CITY ROAD ABOUT 35-40 MPH HOUR AROUND 7:30 EST ON A CLEAR DAY. I HAD STOPPED AT THE RED LIGHT AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD SO I PULLED OVER AND LIFTED THE HOOD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11002705
“MY NISSAN ROGUE 2009 BEGINS TO BURN WHEN IT WAS RUNNING,THE MOTOR AND ALL OF ITS COMPONENTS BURN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11076241

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 5,000 mi

Replace synthetic-blend or full-synthetic oil every 5,000 miles under Schedule 1. Schedule 2: 7,500 miles. VR30DDTT (3.0L twin-turbo): full synthetic only.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 5,000 mi

Rotate tires every 5,000 miles. Front-wheel-drive Nissans (Altima, Sentra, Versa) wear front tires fast — don't skip rotations.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

CVT Fluid (NS-3)

Every 60,000 mi

Nissan officially calls CVT fluid 'lifetime,' but independent technicians and Nissan TSBs recommend replacement every 60,000 miles to prevent CVT failure. Use Nissan NS-3 fluid only — substitutes destroy the belt-and-pulley system.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$360–$500

Shop

~$255–$355

DIY

~$80–$180

CVT fluid is manufacturer-specific and pricey — do NOT substitute conventional ATF.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake every 7,500 miles. Rogue and Pathfinder front pads typically last 35,000-50,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 2 years. Dark or amber fluid indicates moisture contamination.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles, sooner if driving on dusty unpaved roads.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Spark Plugs

Every 105,000 mi

Iridium-tipped spark plugs are rated 105,000 miles on QR25, MR20, and VQ35 engines. VR30DDTT: 60,000 miles due to higher cylinder pressures.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Long-Life Coolant

Every 75,000 mi

Nissan Long-Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue/green): first change at 105,000 miles, then every 75,000. Do not mix with other coolant chemistries.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Transfer Case / Rear Diff (AWD models)

Every 60,000 mi

On AWD and 4WD models, replace transfer case fluid and rear differential fluid every 60,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. Located behind the glove box on Altima, Rogue, and Sentra.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

53 crashes 1990–2024

How the 53 occupant deaths break down

39

driver deaths

14

passenger deaths

53

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2009 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

5

complaints mentioning a crash

5

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2009 Nissan Rogue reflects Nissan's published service intervals and the Maintenance Reminder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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