VehicleVerdict

2016 Nissan Rogue problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 750 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 1.7 times the median Rogue year — the 2016 model ranks #5 of 21 Rogue years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Reports tied to this model year include 5 deaths and 49 injuries, per the complaint records themselves.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across transmission (175), electrical system (127), and other (85), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect. In government crash testing it earned 4 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

750

NHTSA complaints

7

Recalls

0

Investigations

48

Crash-involved

7

Fires reported

49

Injuries

5

Deaths

4

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2016 compare to other Rogue years?

See all Rogue years to avoid →

What are the most common 2016 Nissan Rogue problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Transmission17523%
Electrical System12717%
Other8511%
Engine669%
Airbags618%
Body & Structure304%
Visibility & Wipers294%
Speed Control243%
Steering233%
Suspension223%
Seats182%
Seat Belts172%
Fuel System162%
Driver Assistance152%
Brakes152%
Lighting91%
Latches & Locks71%
Tires & Wheels61%
Child Seat30%
Climate Control (A/C & Heat)20%

Does the 2016 Nissan Rogue have recalls?

7 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

23V093000Electrical SystemFebruary 16, 2023 · 712,458 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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.

22V024000Electrical SystemJanuary 21, 2022 · 664,779 units

Defect

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Rogue vehicles. The electrical connector for the under dash harness may corrode due to water and salt intrusion from the driver's side foot well.

Consequence

Corrosion in the electrical connector can result in power window/seat failure, all-wheel-drive warning light illumination, battery drainage, and electrical connector damage that increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Dealers will remove the harness tape and harness covering and replace both connectors and apply white lithium grease to the connectors as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 23, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R21B9.

17V716000SeatsNovember 14, 2017 · 210 units

Defect

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2016 Nissan Rogue vehicles. The vehicles have front passenger seat frames that may be improperly welded. As such, these vehicles fail to meet performance requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 202a, "Head Restraints" and FMVSS 207, "Seating Systems."

Consequence

In the event of a crash, the improperly welded seat back frames may increase the risk of injury.

Remedy

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger seat back assembly, free of charge. The recall began January 08, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

17V663000SeatsOctober 18, 2017 · 4,883 units

Defect

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Nissan Rogue vehicles. The recliner joints on the lower seat frame for the rear seats may have improper welds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems," and 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."

Consequence

The insufficient welds can increase the risk of injury to the occupants in the event of a crash.

Remedy

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat frames and replace any defective lower seat frames, free of charge. The recall began December 6, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

16V911000AirbagsDecember 19, 2016 · 757 units

Defect

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima vehicles manufactured January 3, 2013, to July 29, 2013, 2015-2016 Rogue vehicles manufactured October 14, 2014, to August 12, 2016, and 2016 Maxima vehicles manufactured June 4, 2015, to August 19, 2015. An incorrect Occupant Classification System (OCS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may have been installed in the front passenger seat. The incorrect ECU and seat combination may misclassify the front passenger seat occupant.

Consequence

If the front passenger seat occupant is misclassified, the air bag may deploy incorrectly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ECU and update the OCS software free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

16V244000AirbagsApril 26, 2016 · 3,296,947 units

Defect

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.

Consequence

If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.

Remedy

Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.

16V219000Body & StructureApril 15, 2016 · 108,503 units

Defect

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Nissan Rogue vehicles manufactured July 31, 2013, to January 16, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the rear lift gate support stays may corrode due to insufficient anti-corrosion treatment.

Consequence

Corrosion of one or both of the rear lift gate support stays could cause a sudden release of pressure. If this occurs, the support stays may break off, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear tailgate stays, free of charge. The recall began on November 18, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would stall upon the depression of the accelerator pedal without warning. The contact had taken the vehicle to an unknown dealer where they found no defect with the vehicle. The contact then…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · July 19, 2022 · crash

Saturday 08/06/2022 my 2016 Nissan Rogue caught fire as I was driving down a side street in Adrian, MI. 49221. Lights came on on my dash, it appeared to be every warning light, the car jerked me over as if I lost power steering and the car took over, my son and I could smell something hot. I put…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · August 6, 2022 · fire

WE HAVE HAD 2 PARKING LOT FENDER BENDERS WITHIN 3 MONTHS DUE TO THE FACT THAT NISSAN'S REAR VIEW MONITORING SYSTEM'S USE OF A BACKUP CAMERA IS SO COMPLICATED TO USE AND ITS BLIND SPOT MONITORING DOES NOT FUNCTION UNDER 20 MILES PER HOUR SPEED THAT I DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN APPROVED AS A…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · March 21, 2017 · crash

Auto was parked in driveway, facing garage (door opened). When I turned on ignition to place car in garage it accelerated without warning. My hard braking had no effect and car went through garage knocking out the back wall and a large portion of cement block foundation.

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · January 30, 2025 · crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN ROGUE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED AND THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRES HIT THE CURB. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,400.

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · December 26, 2016 · crash

2016 Nissan Rogue — common questions

Is the 2016 Nissan Rogue reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 750 complaints put the 2016 model at #5 of 21 Rogue years. It is one of the Rogue years to avoid.

What are the most common 2016 Rogue problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are transmission (175 complaints), electrical system (127 complaints), other (85 complaints).

Does the 2016 Nissan Rogue have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns affecting the 2016 Nissan Rogue. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Which Nissan Rogue years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Rogue years to avoid are 2018, 2023, 2017, 2013, 2016, 2015, 2019, 2021. The cleanest record among Rogue years belongs to 1999.

How safe is the 2016 Nissan Rogue?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2016 Nissan Rogue earned an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.