All about Nissan Rogue transmission problems
There’s a lot to love about the Nissan Rogue. An efficient and fast small SUV that’s fun to drive with high safety ratings And… a transmission that may seem more complicated than it’s worth.
What exactly is wrong with the Nissan Rogue transmission?
Well, these are some of the common problems:
- The vehicle cannot remain in the park.
- Transmission shakes while driving
- The vehicle cannot accelerate
- The vehicle may accelerate suddenly
Nissan has used the continuously variable transmission, or CVT, as its primary transmission design for the past two decades. Here’s what you need to know about it:
A look at the Nissan Rogue transmission
A conventional transmission switches between different-sized gears as needed. It basically works like a fancier version of a six-speed bike. A CVT achieves a seamless transition by adjusting the belt diameter with a single set of moving cones.
That’s why Nissans are so fun to drive. There are no jumps from speed to speed, it’s just a smooth ride. This is also why Nissans have so many transmission problems. These systems can be complicated and take a little longer than a conventional transmission.
4 Common Nissan Rogue Transmission Problems
Vehicle may not remain in the park
In several complaints, owners say they put their Rogue in Park on a slope, and immediately after getting out of the car or shortly afterward, they would hear a clicking sound and see their vehicle rolling down the hill.
When the transmission goes out, all you can really do is replace the transmission. You can check to see if your Rogue has been recalled at NHTSA. Research the VIN and you may be able to avoid some problems by changing the transmission fluid every 50,000 miles. But there is no easy fix for a broken CVT.
Choppy transmission while driving
Almost every problem you may have with your Nissan CVT starts with the transmission jerking on the highway. You can start with a few small jumps here and there, and before long you will be shaking violently.
Again: the solution is to replace the transmission. You can look for a recall, and you can try to avoid it with frequent transmission fluid changes, but there is no easy DIY solution for this one. Nissan offered extended warranties due to its CVT issues, but was slow to issue recalls.
The vehicle cannot accelerate
Several drivers reported that their vehicle stopped accelerating in traffic. It may go into neutral or may appear to be in gear as the RPM increases, but there is no forward movement.
If you have this problem and there is no recall for your Nissan, check your warranty and then file a complaint with the NHTSA. You can do it all online, and if a recall is issued after enough complaints, you can even receive a refund for repair costs.
The vehicle may accelerate suddenly
In some cases, the Rogue may suddenly accelerate even when your foot is not on the pedal. You may notice a pattern here: almost anything that can go wrong with a transmission can go wrong with a Nissan Rogue.
Same story: keep your transmission fluid fresh, look for recalls, and read your warranty.
Should you buy a Nissan with a CVT?
The problems listed above paint a dire picture of the Nissan Rogue’s CVT, but transmission problems aren’t exactly limited to the CVT, and replacing a conventional transmission isn’t cheap either.
The real concern with the Rogue is not whether CVTs are more likely to fail, but that Nissan often seems slow to make necessary recalls. This can be a deciding factor when buying a car.
