2018 Nissan Rogue cruise control problems
severe 25 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Owners have filed 25 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.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2018 Rogue's adaptive braking and cruise control systems have widespread reliability issues: the automatic emergency brake triggers false stops without cause, the brake pedal sometimes accelerates the car instead of stopping it, and stalling or power loss can occur at highway speeds. Multiple owners report injuries from crashes and dealers admit they see these problems repeatedly but Nissan has not issued recalls.
The 2018 Rogue's automatic emergency braking system is the core problem. Owners report 5 to 10-plus false activations within the first year, where the car stops hard on empty roads, in clear intersections, or under highway overpasses with nothing in front of them. The forward collision radar triggers grinding noises, seatbelt lock-up, and full stops at speeds ranging 15 to 50 mph. One owner sustained back and neck injuries; another hit the steering wheel. Dealerships confirm they see this repeatedly but say Nissan won't respond.
Equally serious: brake pedal failure. Multiple owners report depressing the brake and the car accelerating instead, resulting in crashes into other vehicles, parked cars, and a garage with airbag deployment and hospital transport.
Less common but reported: the vehicle stalls at 70 mph or loses power climbing bridges with erratic RPM readings that mechanics can't diagnose. The radar system also disables cruise control and braking entirely on some drives. One owner's vehicle caps speed at 40 mph as if cruise control is stuck on, fixable only by restarting.
A dealership told one owner that these issues cascade—fixing one creates damage that triggers the next problem. The backup camera fails right after warranty expires, suggesting a design timing issue. Nissan has not issued a recall despite complaints dating back to 2014.
Same Nissan Rogue cruise control reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) activates without cause
Front radar or collision warning system triggers full or partial emergency braking when no vehicle or obstacle is present in the travel path. Owners report repeated false activations across clear roads, intersections, city streets, parking situations, and various speeds.
When: 3,000–68,560 miles; multiple owners report 5–10+ incidents within first year of ownership (2018 model year); some within months of purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stops suddenly or decelerates hard with no object ahead; Forward collision warning light illuminates or flashes orange/red; Grinding or squealing noise during braking event; Seatbelt locks or tightens during abrupt stop; AEB disengages itself on its own after stop, vehicle resumes normal operation; Brake pedal already depressed to floor when driver attempts manual braking
Repairs/costs cited: One dealership quoted $150 for software update; another dealership calibrated the emergency braking system but malfunction recurred; most dealers unable to duplicate or diagnose; no repairs confirmed in narratives
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls in place as of complaint filing; Nissan case number 36645582 assigned to one owner; dealership stated issue known since 2014 with no Nissan safety recall issued; manufacturer email contact mentioned but no response reported
Vehicle accelerates when brake pedal is depressed
Brake input fails to decelerate; vehicle instead increases speed independently. Occurs in low-speed parking and turning situations as well as normal driving. Owners apply brake pedal but car accelerates, sometimes violently.
When: 1,600–68,560 miles; includes early ownership period
Symptoms owners cite: Depressing brake pedal causes vehicle to accelerate instead of stop; Vehicle accelerates on its own while slowing or applying brakes; No response from brake pedal in at least one incident; driver could not stop; Airbags deployed in high-speed collision during brake failure
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented in narratives; one vehicle involved in crash into parked vehicle; another crashed into garage/house with airbag deployment and hospitalization
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer contacted by email in one case; no response documented; no recalls mentioned
Front radar obstruction warning malfunction disables cruise control and AEB
Radar sensor for intelligent forward warning system triggers obstruction alert, which then disables both cruise control and emergency braking features. Separate from false AEB activation—this is a functional disable of safety systems.
When: Early ownership; owner reports 5 instances within 7 months of August 2020 purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Front radar obstruction warning light illuminates; Cruise control disengages if active; Emergency braking system becomes disabled; Brakes abruptly applied then released in sequence
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership recommended $150 software update; owner states it should be covered due to safety issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No current recalls; dealership mentioned issue known since 2014 with no safety recall from Nissan
Cruise control fails to engage or maintains artificial speed ceiling
Vehicle behaves as if cruise control is engaged when it is not, limiting acceleration to 25–40 mph regardless of pedal input. Vehicle cannot exceed set threshold until power cycled off and restarted.
When: Not specified in narrative
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle speed capped at 25–40 mph despite accelerator input; Feels like cruise control is active when driver did not engage it; Power-cycling (turning vehicle off and restarting) resolves issue temporarily; Hesitation during acceleration from stops; responds several seconds later
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented; owner states turning vehicle off and on resolves issue temporarily but reports at least 10 occurrences
AEB system malfunctions during adverse conditions (rain, sunlight, rough road)
Automatic emergency braking turns itself off or engages inappropriately while operating at freeway speeds on cruise control during rain, bright sunlight, or bumpy road conditions. Creates risk of unannounced deceleration or loss of safety system.
When: Within first year of ownership (2018–2019)
Symptoms owners cite: AEB disables itself while cruise control is active at highway speeds; False braking occurs in rain or bright sunlight; Vehicle slows abruptly in adverse conditions; System does not re-engage when conditions clear
Repairs/costs cited: Owner reports ability to manually override or turn system off quickly; no repairs sought or documented
Vehicle stalls, loses power, or experiences erratic RPM behavior
Engine stalls without warning at various speeds including highway (70 mph), with erratic RPM readings and loss of power on inclines. Check engine light illuminates. Mechanics cannot diagnose via computer; dealership aware but unresponsive.
When: Timing varies; incline-related stalls occur on bridges; highway stalls occur without predictability
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls without warning at 70 mph and other speeds; RPM gauge erratic, bouncing between high and low values; Engine revs up then slows down uncontrollably; Loss of power climbing inclines or on bridges; Vehicle cannot exceed 20–40 mph despite RPM at 3–4K; Check engine light illuminates; Intermittent violent shaking; Vehicle stutters on inclines
Codes mentioned: Check engine light (code not specified in narrative)
Repairs/costs cited: Mechanics unable to diagnose via computer scan; dealership aware but non-responsive per owner; one dealership stated issue will stress engine and transmission, causing cascading damage
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan stated to be non-responsive to volume of complaints per dealership feedback
Push-to-start (keyless ignition) failure
Push-to-start button fails to respond, leaving vehicle unable to start. Owner stranded for hours before system resumed function.
When: Not specified; one occurrence reported
Symptoms owners cite: Push-to-start button does not engage ignition; Vehicle cannot start for extended period (hours)
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented; issue resolved on its own
Rear backup camera and light malfunction
Rear backup camera feature ceases to function within days of warranty expiration. Indicator light remains illuminated. Dealership reports seeing this issue repeatedly but states Nissan is non-responsive.
When: Within days of warranty expiration
Symptoms owners cite: Backup camera feature stops working; Camera indicator light remains on; Malfunction occurs immediately after warranty expires
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented; dealership aware of pattern but Nissan non-responsive per owner report
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan non-responsive to dealership complaints about this issue
Unexpected vehicle deceleration during normal driving
Vehicle decelerates or stops suddenly at various speeds (20–60 mph) with no forward obstacle or vehicle present. Different from AEB false activation—occurs independently or in response to shadows, weather, or road conditions.
When: Various; includes shadows under highway overpasses and clear weather conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle decelerates or stops suddenly while driving straight; Occurs under highway overpasses (shadow-triggered); Occurs in clear weather with no vehicles ahead; Brake pedal already fully depressed when driver reacts; Vehicle resumes normal operation seconds after stopping
Cruise control accelerates when vehicle enters adjacent lane
Dynamic radar cruise control increases speed when another vehicle begins to merge into the same lane, rather than maintaining safe distance. System eventually detects intruding vehicle and decelerates, but gap closes dangerously first.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control accelerates during lane change by adjacent vehicle; Safe following distance closes before system corrects; Driver must slam on brakes to prevent collision
Synthesized from 25 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2018 Nissan Rogue?
It's a meaningful issue. 25 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 21 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 7,000 and 32,000 miles, with the median around 16,700. A quarter of owners report trouble before 7,000; a quarter make it past 32,000. 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.