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2011 Nissan Rogue Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2011 Nissan Rogue carries 2 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering electrical system and electric power assist system. Owners report 4 recurring issue clusters, led by “CVT transmission overheating and loss of acceleration.” 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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2 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Campaign #15V032000 · Jan 26, 2015

Issue: 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. The affected vehicles may experience an electrical short in the harness connector due to a mixture of snow/water and salt seeping through the carpet on the driver side floor near the harness connector.

Risk: An electrical short can cause a vehicle fire.

Fix: 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. The recall began on February 26, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

Campaign #11V565000 · Nov 23, 2011

Issue: NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 ROGUE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 17, 2010, THROUGH OCTOBER 30, 2010. THE CIRCUIT BOARD MAY NOT HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN THE CORRECT POSITION ON CERTAIN ELECTRIC POWER STEERING (EPS) ASSIST CONTROL UNITS. THIS MAY CAUSE ADDITIONAL STRESS ON THE SOLDER OF THE TERMINAL TO THE CIRCUIT BOARD RESULTING IN THE SOLDER CRACKING AND SEPARATING COMPLETELY FROM THE CIRCUIT BOARD.

Risk: AS THE CIRCUIT BOARD FAILS, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FEATURE WILL STOP FUNCTIONING, INCREASING THE FORCE NEEDED TO STEER THE VEHICLE AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Fix: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EPS CONTROL UNIT IF NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Recall data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2011 Nissan Rogue.

Reported to NHTSA

CVT transmission overheating and loss of acceleration

POWER TRAIN

100 NHTSA complaints · 2017-07 → 2025-12

“The CVT transmission would over heat numerous times in uphill drive after 30 miles driving. The overheating would result in sudden slowing of vehicle and loss of acceleration even when acceleration pedal is fully pressed”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11476029
“THE VEHICLE CANT HANDLE HILLS NOR WARMER DAYS. ANY AMBIENT TEMPERATURE PUSHING OVER 80 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND IT'S ALMOST A GIVEN THAT THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER AND GO INTO A LIMP MODE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11097539
“The CVT transmission shuts off unexpectedly and for no reason. I was driving downhill, at 65 mph, in an empty car, with no load and the transmission just went into shutdown”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11423485

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Passenger seat occupant classification sensor failure

AIR BAGS

35 NHTSA complaints · 2017-08 → 2025-07

“Passenger seat Occupant sensor has failed. Yes, available for inspection. This sensor communicates with the Airbag system. The front passenger airbag is disabled due to the fault”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11438608
“1 OWNER CAR. MILEAGE 80,000. AIR BAG LIGHTS CAME ON BY SEAT AND ON DASH EVEN WHEN AN ADULT IS SITTING IN PASSENGER SEAT WHEN IGNITION IS ON. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD ENTIRE SEAT MUST BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE SENSOR AT A COST OF $3000”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11350076
“The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the contact noticed that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed with the passenger’s side seat needing to be replaced”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11418029

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Under-hood electrical fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

7 NHTSA complaints · 2017-12 → 2025-08

“The contact owned a 2011 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked outside, unoccupied on the driveway, the front hood caught on fire. No warning lights were illuminated”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11680104
“The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, she smelled a burning odor. The contact stated that at that time she did not see any smoke in or around her vehicle, so she assumed that it may have been an outside vehicle”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11450999
“ON SUNDAY(12/3/17), I DROVE HOME FROM CHURCH, PARKED MY CAR IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE AND ENTERED MY HOUSE FOR LESS THAN TEN MINUTES PRIOR TO MY NEIGHBOR KNOCKING ON MY DOOR TO NOTIFY ME THAT MY NISSAN ROGUE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11053331

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Power steering assist loss or lockup

STEERING

12 NHTSA complaints · 2017-08 → 2025-03

“The power steering failed while driving”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11650091
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ROGUE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE MORE STRENGTH THAN USUAL TO MAKE TURNS. THE CONTACT HAD TO IMPROVISE TO AVOID A CRASH”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11244023
“EVERY TIME I'M MAKING A TURN OR PARALLEL PARK MY STEERING WHEEL PULLS BACK WITH FORCE AND LOCKS MAKING IT HARD TO STEER. THIS PROBLEM BEGAN A MONTH AGO”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11144270

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)

105 crashes 1990–2024

How the 105 occupant deaths break down

83

driver deaths

22

passenger deaths

105

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2011 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.

10

complaints mentioning a crash

13

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls 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 2011 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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