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2020 Nissan Rogue Sport Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport carries 1 open NHTSA recall — most recently covering key/sender. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “CVT transmission failure 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.

1 Open Recall

Source: NHTSA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:IMMOBILIZER/PROXIMITY:KEY/SENDER

Campaign #23V093000 · Feb 16, 2023

Issue: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2014-2020 Rogue and 2017-2022 Rogue Sport vehicles equipped with a jackknife style ignition key. The jackknife key may collapse into a folded position while driving.

Risk: Driver contact with a key in the collapsed position could inadvertently shut off the vehicle while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, if the vehicle shuts off while driving, the air bags may not deploy in a crash as intended, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will insert a spacer into the key slot of the jackknife key, free of charge. Interim notification letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed March 29, 2023. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 30, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R22C5.

Recall data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport.

Reported to NHTSA

CVT transmission failure and loss of acceleration

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE

5 NHTSA complaints · 2023-04 → 2026-08

“ABOUT 50 MILES IN DURING A ROAD TRIP, CVT TRANSMISSION FAILED. SLUGGISH WHEN ACCELERATING, WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 40 MPH. GEAR WOULD NOT RELEASE TO REVERSE OR PUT INTO PARK TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. HAD TO FIND AN OPEN FIELD IN ORDER TO TURN AROUND AND DRIVE BACK HOME DUE TO”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11547740
“Bought new in 2020, then after 24k miles, had rough idle, uneven acceleration, occasional lurching while decelerating. Check engine indicator, code p0301. Dealership diagnosed faulty transmission, said needed replacement, then took about 90 days to finish repairing the vehicle”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11515886
“The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport. The contact stated that while driving 30–40 MPH uphill, the vehicle decelerated unexpectedly, and failed to accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle rolled backwards. The contact activated the hazard lights”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11755061

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Electrical system recall parts unavailable

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2 NHTSA complaints · 2023-03 → 2023-03

“The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V093000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11513476
“The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V093000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11510375

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Radiator cooling fan failure and engine overheating

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

21 NHTSA complaints · 2021-08 → 2026-08

“The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport. The contact stated that while his wife was leaving a parking lot, the vehicle stalled with steam coming from the engine. The contact was unaware if there were any warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was initially towed to an”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11539292
“The electric fan motor on the radiator failed. This caused the vehicle to overheat. The cap on the coolant reservoir did not actuate and the coolant reservoir exploded. The mechanical failure of the fan lead to a catastrophic failure of the coolant reservoir. If someone, a”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11672029
“Cooling fan stopped working. I was told by the Nissan dealership this is a big issue with this specific vehicle and that it’s hard to get the part because this is always an issue. No messages appeared. My AC stopped working and I took it to the dealership were they said if I”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11530759

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Automatic emergency braking false activation

SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

12 NHTSA complaints · 2020-11 → 2026-07

“Heading home while raining the Automatic Emergency Break engaged while driving and nothing was present to make it engage. This time my husband was driving and it made us run off the road. This also engaged while backing out of my garage and nothing was present to make it engage”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11476783
“The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the Forward Collision-Avoidance Emergency Automatic braking system activated inadvertently and the vehicle stopped without another vehicle nearby. There was no warning light”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11418511
“MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER NEW 2020 NISSAN ROGUE SPORT DURING THE DAY. HER BRAKES ENGAGED AT FULL STRENGTH AND THE CAR CAME TO A JOLTING STOP. THERE WAS NOTHING IN FRONT OF HER AND LUCKILY NOTHING BEHIND HER. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE THAT DESERVES A RECALL! I HAVE READ”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11378573

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Ignition key recall related engine shutdown

POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE

4 NHTSA complaints · 2023-11 → 2025-05

“2020 Nissan Rogue Sport S AWD - The entire car unexpectedly shut down (I.E.: Exactly as if the car was completely off) while driving on two separate occasions, almost causing massive accidents and potential severe injury and/or death for everyone affected. Fortunately, I”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11557784
“On Saturday [XXX] while driving on [XXX] while in cruise control mode and set approx. 71 mph I know that my right knee made minimal contact with keyfob and the engine seemed to shut down and the vehicle decelerated immediately, I had no desire to brake due to my seeing my speed”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11608101

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag non-deployment in crash

AIR BAGS

3 NHTSA complaints · 2021-03 → 2024-01

“The contact's mother owns a 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport. The contact stated that while her mother was driving at approximately 35-40 MPH, the vehicle crossed an intersection at a green light when another vehicle crashed in between her mother's front and rear passenger's side doors,”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11564828
“TL* THE CONTACTS DAUGHTER OWNED A 2020 NISSAN ROUGE SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MERGING TO THE RIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY AT 10 MPH, A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HER DRIVER SIDE OF HER VEHICLE CAUSING A SPIN OUT. THE CONTACT STATED HER DAUGHTER SUSTAINED A 2 INCH”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11398699

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 13, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

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

Rogue AWD, Murano AWD, Pathfinder 4WD: 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)

No occupant deaths in FARS 2010–2024 crashes are on record for this year and model. That is the census answer for the window, and it says nothing more than that.

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

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.

6

complaints mentioning a crash

0

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 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport 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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