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2018 Nissan Rogue Sport engine problems

moderate 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →

Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100

When does it fail?

Of the 11 engine complaints filed for the 2018 Nissan Rogue Sport, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.

0-25k
0 (0%)
25-50k
1 (100%)
50-75k
0 (0%)
75-100k
0 (0%)
100-125k
0 (0%)
125-150k
0 (0%)
150k+
0 (0%)

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

Among the 5 model years of Nissan Rogue Sport in our records for engine problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.

No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 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 engine 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.

Service Bulletin NTB23-083 Nov 2023

DTC P2B95 STORED IN THE ECM IF YOU CONFIRM DTC P2B95 “COLD START CONTROL” is stored in the ECM. ACTION Refer to the SERVICE PROCEDURE in this bulletin to reprogram the ECM.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗
Service Bulletin NTB22-049 Jun 2022

AIR DUCT SERVICE INFORMATION SERVICE INFORMATION Damage to the attachment clips, that retain "air duct 2" and the "air filter housing", may occur if incorrectly and/or forcefully removed or installed. Possible damage may occur during the following two (2) procedures:  Access to the battery terminals/battery replacement  Access to the air filter element Follow the SERVICE PROCEDURE starting on page 2 when accessing the battery terminals, battery, and air filter element, or when disassembling the air duct for any reason.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗
Service Bulletin NTB22-026 Apr 2022

SERVICE INFORMATION FOR FUEL GAUGE INACCURATE WITH DTCS STORED IN ECM SERVICE INFORMATION If a fuel level sensor has been diagnosed as sending an incorrect level signal, and one or more of the following DTCs are stored in the ECM, do not replace the entire “Fuel Level Sensor Unit, Fuel Filter and Fuel Pump Assembly” (fuel pump assembly). The fuel level sensor can be replaced separately.  P0460 (FUEL LEV SEN SLOSH)  P0461 (FUEL LEVEL SENSOR)  P0462 (FUEL LEVL SEN/CIRC)  P0463 (FUEL LEVL SEN/CIRC) NOTE: Warranty claims referring to fuel level issues that result in the replacement of the entire fuel pump assembly will be charged back.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗
Service Bulletin NTB15-049X Mar 2022

TELEMATICS SERVICE INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗
Service Bulletin NTB13-027C Feb 2022

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 ↗

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.

The failure pattern owners describe

The dominant issue across these 11 narratives is cooling fan failure—the electric radiator fan stops working suddenly without warning, causing rapid engine overheating. Owners report the fan simply quits turning on, triggering check engine lights, smoke from the engine bay, and temperatures climbing into the hot zone within minutes. Several cite internal engine damage (head gasket failure, full engine replacement) as a result. One owner's mechanic measured internal temps at 268 degrees and warned it could have caused a fire.

Owners universally note severe parts shortages. One shop had 26 customers waiting for replacement fan assemblies; repairs routinely take weeks. Replacement cost exceeds $1,000. A Nissan dealership replaced this owner's AC compressor for $2,000 a year before the cooling fan failed.

The critical frustration: Nissan recalled this exact defect in 2019+ Rogue models, but excluded 2017–2018 vehicles despite identical failure reports. Dealers acknowledge the problem but blame parts availability.

Secondary issues include AC blower motor/resistor failure early in ownership, one CVT transmission loss-of-power incident at 69,507 miles, one rough-idle/no-acceleration condition at 26,000 miles, and one unintended automatic emergency braking activation. Only the cooling fan failure appears systemic and widespread.

Same Nissan Rogue Sport engine reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2019 · 2020

Failure modes owners describe

Cooling Fan Failure

Electric radiator cooling fan stops working without warning, causing immediate engine overheating. Owners report the fan stops turning on entirely or fails suddenly during normal driving. Several narratives note this is a widespread issue affecting 2018–2020 model years, with 2019 and up having been recalled but 2017–2018 models excluded. The failure appears to involve bearing issues or a complete loss of function.

When: 70,000 miles (one owner); 85,000 miles (one owner); random/undisclosed mileage in most reports

Symptoms owners cite: Cooling fan stops running or fails to turn on; Engine temperature gauge spikes rapidly into hot zone; Engine overheating while idling or in traffic; Smoke or steam coming from engine bay; AC system stops working or becomes ineffective; Burning rubber smell from engine; Check engine light illumination; Potential fire hazard from excessive heat

Repairs/costs cited: Cooling fan replacement cost cited as 'over $1,000' by one owner. Multiple owners report severe parts shortages and long wait times for replacement fan assemblies—one shop had 26 customers ahead waiting for the part. Some owners report head gasket and full engine replacement required due to overheating damage.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan recalled 2019 and newer Rogue models for this issue; 2017–2018 models not included despite identical failures reported. Dealers acknowledge the problem but cite parts unavailability and backorders. One dealer was unresponsive to manufacturer contact.

AC Blower Motor and Resistor Failure

Air conditioning system fails intermittently or completely, initially attributed to blower motor and blower motor resistor defects. One owner had both components replaced at a separate shop, then experienced subsequent cooling fan failure shortly after. Another owner replaced the AC compressor at a Nissan dealership for nearly $2,000 before later discovering a cooling fan bearing issue.

When: Early in vehicle ownership; one owner had AC issues in year one and cooling fan issues in year two

Symptoms owners cite: AC stops cooling intermittently; No air flow from vents; AC system fails completely

Repairs/costs cited: One owner paid $1,900–$2,000 for AC compressor replacement at Nissan dealership. Blower motor and blower motor resistor replacement performed at a tire shop.

CVT Transmission Failure

Transmission loses motive power suddenly during low-speed driving. Check engine light illuminates. Dealer diagnosis confirmed CVT transmission failure requiring full replacement.

When: 69,507 miles

Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of motive power while driving slowly (5 mph in parking lot); Check engine warning light

Repairs/costs cited: CVT transmission replaced by dealer.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified of the failure.

Rough Idle and No-Acceleration Condition

Vehicle idles roughly and refuses to accelerate when pedal is depressed. Dealer was unable to duplicate the condition and no repair was performed.

When: 26,000 miles

Symptoms owners cite: Rough idling; Vehicle will not accelerate when gas pedal pressed

Repairs/costs cited: No repair performed; dealer could not replicate the issue.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer advised the contact to cooperate with the dealer.

Automatic Emergency Braking Activation (Unintended)

Vehicle suddenly activates emergency braking mode during normal highway driving without any obstruction ahead. Accompanied by warning lights and loss of brake and accelerator control.

When: Undisclosed mileage

Symptoms owners cite: Unintended automatic emergency braking activation; Vehicle comes to complete abrupt stop in intersection; Yellow warning light flashing with no obstruction detected; Loss of brake and accelerator pedal control; Near-collision hazard (owner almost rear-ended)

Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.

What owners are reporting 2 most recent

engine · filed 12/06/2022

I almost got rear ended because my 2018nissan rogue sport s, randomly went into emergencybraking mode as i was driving through an intersection. I was going the speed limit, and my brakes and inspection are all new. The car started flashing a warning yellow light even thoufh there was no obstruction in front of me and then it came to a complete stop abruptly. I was unable to press the gas or brake.

engine · 26,000 mi · filed 10/06/2023

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was idling roughly. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal and the vehicle would not accelerate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The failure was not duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to…

Had engine trouble with your 2018 Nissan Rogue Sport? 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 engine problem on the 2018 Nissan Rogue Sport?

It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 11 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.

At what mileage does the engine typically fail?

Based on the 11 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 62,627 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.

What does it cost to fix?

Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine 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 engine?

No active recalls currently cover engine 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/2018/Nissan/Rogue Sport. 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.
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