CAN COMMUNICATION CODES – DIAGNOSTIC TIPS AND GUIDELINES This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Nissan Rogue electrical problems
severe 42 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
42
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
8fires
What stands out
Owners have filed 42 electrical 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.
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
CAN COMMUNICATION – NETWORK DIAGNOSTIC FLOW CHART This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗VEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗12 VOLT BATTERY TESTING FOR IN-SERVICE VEHICLES SERVICE INFORMATION The following Service Information lists NNA procedural recommendations for establishing good connections while performing 12V battery testing. These recommendations are expected to promote uniformity during the connection process, therefore reducing the number of incorrect âTest with DCAâ and âReplaceâ results. HINT: If 12 volt batteries are allowed to discharge for a prolonged period of time, battery life may be drastically reduced. This condition may lead to premature battery replacement and customer dissatisfaction. IMPORTANT: ï· CPX-900 is now an accepted testing tool to use along with or in place of the DSS-500
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SILICONE-BASED LUBRICANT OR GREASE CAN DAMAGE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SERVICE INFORMATION Do not apply Silicone-based lubricants or grease to, or around, any interior electrical components. To avoid the risk of death or severe personal injury, do not directly spray Silicone-based lubricant or grease, or inadvertently overspray Silicone-based lubricant or grease onto any interior electrical components. These types of lubricants can be detrimental to the proper operation of electrical components.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2013 Nissan Rogue report escalating electrical and system failures tied largely to moisture intrusion into the driver-side floor and wiring harness. The most severe complaints involve vehicle fires—multiple owners parked their cars only to have them ignite with heavy flames and black smoke, prompting fire department response and total-loss declarations by insurers. The fires originated in the driver-side floor area near the wiring harness connector, especially after snow or rain exposure.
Power loss during driving is another critical pattern. Owners report sudden, complete loss of acceleration while merging onto highways or driving at normal speeds, with the vehicle coasting to idle despite foot pressure on the gas. Some cars require 5–11 starts to turn over, and battery replacements (in one case, five times) don't resolve the issue.
Door locks malfunction—unlocking and locking without warning, or becoming completely stuck. Airbag systems fail to deploy or deploy empty, and warning lights for airbags, seatbelts, and check engine illuminate frequently. Owners note that similar defects were recalled for 2014–2016 models and other Nissan vehicles but the 2013 Rogue was excluded despite identical symptoms. Dealers quote over $1,000 to fix known defects rather than honor recalls.
Other reported failures include liftgates that won't open, AC systems that blow only hot air, horn and hazard lights activating spontaneously, and burning smells from the engine bay. Most owners state Nissan has refused to address these issues under warranty or recall programs.
Same Nissan Rogue electrical reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Electrical fire - wiring harness corrosion
Vehicle caught fire while parked or shortly after parking, with no warning signs. Fire originated in driver-side floor area or under hood, consistent with moisture and road salt causing corrosion in the kick panel wiring harness connector. Multiple owners reported total loss.
When: While parked or within minutes of engine shutdown; often following snow/rain exposure
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle fire with flames and heavy smoke; Horn blaring prior to fire; No warning lights before fire event
Repairs/costs cited: NHTSA Recall 15V032000 calls for waterproof seal or harness replacement; some dealers reported parts shortages and delays exceeding four weeks
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 15V032000 (wiring harness corrosion/electrical short); TSB referenced; recall notices issued but many owners claim they were not notified; some vehicles excluded from recall despite matching symptoms
Loss of acceleration - sudden power cutout
Vehicle loses all or nearly all acceleration without warning while driving, forcing driver to coast to idle speed. Occurs during highway merging, intersection crossing, and normal acceleration. Issue persists even after diagnostics and resets.
When: Intermittently during acceleration; some cases starting as early as 2017
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of acceleration response; Engine revving without power delivery; Vehicle coasts to idle speed; Check engine light illuminates; Brake lights may stay on when pedal not pressed
Codes mentioned: P0744 (Torque converter clutch circuit), ECU/MAF sensor faults
Repairs/costs cited: Mechanics and dealers unable to pinpoint cause; software resets performed without resolving issue; one owner referenced TSB NTB15-113 describing 'low power' when actual failure is complete loss of power
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB NTB15-113 issued but reportedly inaccurate; owner complaint that this should be classified as recall rather than TSB; no formal recall issued for this failure mode
Passenger airbag sensor malfunction
Passenger-side airbag system falsely indicates no occupant present or remains disabled even when passenger is seated. Multiple complaints note that similar defect was recalled for 2014-2016 models and other Nissan vehicles, but 2013 Rogue excluded from recall despite identical symptoms.
When: Ongoing; issue persistent across multiple model years
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminates; Airbag system shows 'off' when passenger present; Flickering airbag warning light (related to water intrusion)
Repairs/costs cited: Nissan dealership quoted over $1,000 to replace seat to address sensor defect; owner alleges this is known defect being charged to customer rather than recalled
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall issued for 2014-2016 models and other makes due to same sensor issue; 2013 Rogue excluded despite identical defect; Nissan refused to cover under warranty or recall
Driver-side floor water intrusion and door lock failures
Moisture and water seep into vehicle driver-side floor, especially during rain or snow exposure. Water intrusion leads to corrosion of wiring harness connector and causes door locks to malfunction—doors lock/unlock without warning, or fail to unlock entirely.
When: Progressive with wet weather; failures occur 30,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Moisture visible on floorboards; Driver and passenger doors unlock/lock without input; Rear hatch fails to unlock; Door lock makes grinding or loud locking sounds; Door handle comes off in hand
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer repairs of door lock actuators and handles; failures reoccur after repair; recall mentions waterproof seal or new harness connector required
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 15V032000 (electrical system); some owners not notified of recall; dealer repair attempts unsuccessful on reoccurrence
Unexpected horn and hazard light activation
Horn blares and all hazard lights flash simultaneously without driver input, either while driving or while vehicle is parked. Events are sudden, startling, and can last 15+ minutes. No buttons or keys touched during episodes.
When: Intermittent; can occur while parked or during operation
Symptoms owners cite: Horn sounds continuously; All hazard lights flash; Events triggered spontaneously without user input; Stops after prolonged period
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs noted in narratives; vehicles taken to shop for diagnosis
Check engine light with transmission or sensor codes
Check engine light illuminates with various fault codes related to transmission, mass air flow sensor, oxygen sensor, or ECU. Codes may not correlate with actual failures; diagnostics inconclusive or contradictory.
When: Various mileages; 87k-115k miles noted
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminated; Transmission failure codes detected; MAF sensor warnings; Vehicle may lose acceleration or fail inspection
Codes mentioned: MAF sensor codes, Transmission failure codes, ECU faults, Oxygen sensor faults
Repairs/costs cited: Sensor replacement (oxygen sensor) did not resolve inspection failure; transmission diagnostics inconclusive; software resets performed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB referenced; some diagnostics performed by independent mechanics and dealers
AC system malfunction
Air conditioning system stops working or blows only hot air regardless of settings. One owner reported AC died completely in April 2018 after earlier acceleration and electrical warning light issues.
When: 2018, after other electrical symptoms present
Symptoms owners cite: AC stops working entirely; Blows only hot air even on cooling setting; Hotter than heat on full blast
Repairs/costs cited: Temporary fix: turning car off and restarting; no permanent repair noted
Starting issues and battery drain
Vehicle fails to start or requires multiple attempts (5-11 tries) to start. Battery replaced five times without resolving the problem. Issue is random and intermittent, making diagnosis difficult.
When: Random; can occur every few thousand miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not turn on; Requires 5-11 attempts to start; Takes 5-10 minutes to finally start; Battery drain evident
Repairs/costs cited: Battery replaced five times; no root cause identified by any mechanic
Liftgate/trunk lock failure
Liftgate/rear hatch fails to open or unlock, progressing from intermittent failure to complete non-function. Owner unable to access trunk for years despite multiple dealer and independent mechanic visits.
When: At least 2 years of recurring issues; 38,900 miles noted in one case
Symptoms owners cite: Liftgate will not open; Trunk inoperable; Intermittent opening before complete failure
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple dealer and independent mechanic visits; no successful repair
Seatbelt warning light flashing
Seatbelt warning light flashes continuously without apparent reason. Owner notes this is well-documented issue never properly resolved by manufacturer.
When: Ongoing issue
Symptoms owners cite: Seatbelt warning light flashes spontaneously
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs completed; customer expects trial-and-error approach
Engine overheating and shutdown
Vehicle overheats and shuts down when driven at speed limit or during normal operation. Requires 30 minutes to one hour cooldown before restart. Occurs on both street and highway.
When: Unknown specific mileage; described as ongoing issue
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle overheats while driving; Engine shuts down on street or highway; Requires long cooldown period; Occurs at speed limit or variable speeds
Burning smell from engine/electrical
Owner smells burning fluid or burning rubber/plastic from engine area or vents. No visible smoke or damage initially; event occurred after abrupt slowdown in one case.
When: Intermittent; one case in March 2018 after slowdown incident
Symptoms owners cite: Burning smell from vents or engine area; Burning rubber or plastic odor; Smell intensifies with heat on; No visible damage or leaks
Airbag deployment failure and warning light malfunction
Airbag did not deploy during collision, or deployed only after vehicle stopped. Side airbags deployed but contained no air. Airbag warning lights flicker intermittently due to water intrusion in wiring harness.
When: During collision; warning lights intermittent with wet weather
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag failed to deploy on impact; Side airbags deployed empty; Brake lights and turn signals did not function; Airbag warning light flickers
Repairs/costs cited: Water intrusion into harness connector caused by snow/salt exposure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 15V032000 addresses water intrusion corrosion; passenger airbag sensor malfunction similar to recalls for 2014-2016 and other makes but 2013 Rogue excluded
Synthesized from 42 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
At approximately 6:30am, I woke up to my vehicle alarm sounding. The vehicle did not respond to the remote when I attempted to shut it off. I went to check what was the problem as the vehicle was parked in the driveway. The vehicle was on fire. Fdny was called to put out the fire.
Had electrical trouble with your 2013 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 electrical problem on the 2013 Nissan Rogue?
It's a meaningful issue. 42 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 24 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 38,000 and 87,761 miles, with the median around 70,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 38,000; a quarter make it past 87,761. 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 $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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/2013/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.