'takata recall' an intermittent problem of a run away when engaging the cruise control around 70mph on highway
2008 Nissan Rogue cruise control problems
moderate 27 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
27
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 27 cruise control complaints filed for the 2008 Nissan Rogue, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 27 cruise control complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 17 model years of Nissan Rogue in our records for cruise control problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: 2008 Nissan Rogues have serious CVT transmission problems causing intermittent loss of acceleration during highway driving, sometimes without warning lights or diagnostic codes—a safety hazard in traffic. Nissan offered extended warranty coverage up to 120,000 miles for transmission cooler replacement, but many owners face costly repairs after warranty expiration.
Owners of 2008 Nissan Rogues describe a pattern of intermittent acceleration loss that appears after 30 minutes to 2.5 hours of sustained highway driving, typically at speeds of 65–75 MPH. Engine RPM rises sharply—sometimes to 4000 RPM or higher—but the vehicle decelerates or caps at 30–50 MPH regardless of how far the accelerator is pressed. No check-engine lights illuminate, and mechanics cannot pull diagnostic codes. The problem often disappears temporarily after shutting the engine off for several minutes to hours.
Owners also report poor acceleration from complete stops after highway driving, with 10–15 second delays before the car responds to throttle input. Some describe struggling on uphill grades or being unable to accelerate past 45 MPH in 65 MPH zones. A few report sudden unintended acceleration when reversing or engaging cruise control, and cruise control light blinking issues.
These incidents occur unpredictably—some owners avoid long trips entirely. Multiple dealers have told owners they cannot replicate the issue, making diagnosis and repair difficult. Nissan extended the warranty on 2008–2010 Rogues to 120,000 miles to cover transmission cooler assembly replacement, suggesting the manufacturer is aware of the problem. Owners past the warranty window face substantial out-of-pocket repair costs.
Same Nissan Rogue cruise control reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Loss of acceleration during extended highway driving
Vehicle loses ability to accelerate after 30 minutes to 2.5 hours of highway driving, typically at speeds of 65-75 MPH. Engine RPMs rise but vehicle speed drops to 30-50 MPH or below, regardless of how far the accelerator is pressed. Problem resolves temporarily after turning engine off for several minutes to a few hours.
When: After 30 minutes to 2.5 hours of sustained highway driving, typically on long trips
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of acceleration with engine RPM rising but no corresponding speed increase; Vehicle decelerates without warning during highway driving; Engine revs to 4000 RPM or higher but speed caps at 30-50 MPH; No warning lights or diagnostic codes present; Problem temporarily resolved by shutting engine off
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers report inability to duplicate problem during inspections. Some owners cite transmission cooler assembly replacement covered under extended warranty; others mention transmission valve body replacement after warranty expiration.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Extended warranty offered for 2008-2010 Rogues covering transmission cooler assembly replacement up to 120,000 miles. Nissan indicated restricted parts availability for cooler kit. No official recall issued despite widespread complaints.
Poor acceleration from complete stop
Vehicle fails to accelerate properly or at all when starting from a complete stop at traffic lights or after exiting highways. Pedal must be pressed to floor or car barely inches forward. Delay of 10-15 seconds before vehicle responds.
When: Occurs after highway driving; intermittent, unpredictable
Symptoms owners cite: Pedal pressed to floor produces minimal or no acceleration; 10-15 second delay before vehicle begins moving from complete stop; Car barely inches forward despite full throttle input; No warning lights during incident; Occurs especially after exiting highway or following extended highway driving
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to diagnose; no codes generated. Some owners report fuel sender issues may be related.
RPM surge without corresponding acceleration
Engine RPMs rise sharply (up to 4000 RPM) but vehicle does not accelerate proportionally. Engine makes unusual sounds described as aircraft-like or strained. Vehicle may feel stuck at a particular speed.
When: During extended driving periods, highway use
Symptoms owners cite: RPM gauge rises significantly but speed does not increase; Engine makes unusual noises resembling aircraft taking off or straining; Vehicle becomes stuck at a specific speed; Whirring or strange noise audible during event
Intermittent acceleration failure on grades
Vehicle loses power or struggles to accelerate when driving uphill or on slight inclines. Vehicle may decelerate or cap at low speeds (45 MPH in 65 MPH zone) until reaching top of incline, then resume normal acceleration.
When: When encountering uphill grades during highway or city driving
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not accelerate on inclines; Speed caps at 45 MPH in 65 MPH zones when going uphill; Vehicle struggles to maintain speed on slight grades; Problem resolves once incline is cleared
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission cooler assembly replacement noted as fix in at least one case
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Extended warranty covers this repair up to 120,000 miles on 2008-2010 models
Sudden unintended acceleration
Vehicle accelerates on its own while reversing from garage or when cruise control engaged near 70 MPH. Vehicle did not stop until crashing into objects or stalling.
When: While reversing from residential garage; when engaging cruise control at highway speed
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates independently without driver input; Occurs during reverse gear operation; Occurs when engaging cruise control at 70 MPH; Vehicle continues accelerating until impact or stall
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer inspection found no evidence of failure during diagnostic testing
Cruise control malfunction and light issues
Cruise control light blinks continuously or vehicle exhibits runaway acceleration when cruise control is engaged at highway speeds around 70 MPH.
When: When cruise control is engaged or during cruise control operation
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control light blinks intermittently without clear cause; Vehicle experiences runaway acceleration when cruise control engaged at 70 MPH; Sudden loss of speed while cruise control is set
Synthesized from 27 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2008 Nissan Rogue?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2008 Nissan Rogue?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 27 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $600 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 22 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 55,000 and 115,000 miles, with the median around 75,584. A quarter of owners report trouble before 55,000; a quarter make it past 115,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2008/Nissan/Rogue.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.