Vehicle transmission stutters and struggles to shift in higher gears. Occasionally knocks. The transfer case was faulty 3 months ago and broke/fell apart while I was driving down the highway. The vehicle almost lost control and the dealership said the transfer arm had snapped. The transmission still makes the same heavy knocking and occasionally 'slips' as the CVT transmission hesitates to…
2018 Nissan Rogue powertrain problems
severe 31 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
31
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 31 powertrain complaints filed for the 2018 Nissan Rogue, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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 31 powertrain 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 powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2018 Nissan Rogue has a well-documented pattern of CVT transmission failures and malfunctions, often without warning, occurring between 40,000 and 100,000 miles. Buyers should know that Nissan denies warranty coverage for most repairs citing out-of-warranty status, leaving owners responsible for $4,600–$10,000 replacement costs despite known defects and prior litigation.
Owners report a pattern of CVT transmission failures and malfunctions across low to moderate mileage (1,945 to 170,000 miles), with the most critical cases occurring between 40,000 and 100,000 miles. Catastrophic failures involve sudden loss of power on highways at speed, uncontrolled deceleration from 65 mph to 40 mph, and complete transmission disengagement without warning lights. Owners have experienced jerking, shuddering, and grinding noises from the transmission; abnormal vibration throughout the vehicle at idle and 30–35 mph; and hesitation or failure to accelerate when merging or entering traffic. Several report the transmission stalling or struggling to shift gears, sometimes requiring a vehicle restart to restore function. One owner describes a piston rod failure that punctured the oil pan, causing the engine to shut down on the freeway. Owners note that symptoms often appear without warning—no check engine lights, no diagnostic codes, and no dash alerts until catastrophic failure occurs. Independent mechanics and Nissan dealers have diagnosed transmission failure, CVT judder, and metal-on-metal grinding, though some dealers initially claim normal operation. Repair estimates range from $4,600 to $10,000 for transmission replacement. Nissan has refused warranty coverage citing out-of-warranty status and use of independent service facilities, despite owners having maintained regular service intervals.
Same Nissan Rogue powertrain reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2019 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
CVT Transmission Catastrophic Failure / Power Loss
Complete transmission failure resulting in sudden loss of power, uncontrolled deceleration, or transmission disengagement while driving, often at highway speeds. No warning lights or codes present before failure.
When: 1,945 to 93,000 miles; most common 40,000–100,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of power / vehicle speed drops from 65 mph to 40 mph without driver input; Transmission disengages without warning; Engine revs to 5,000 RPM with no forward motion; Vehicle stalls or jerks violently; Difficulty accelerating or failure to accelerate; No warning lights or dashboard alerts before failure
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement; estimated cost $4,600–$10,000 at dealership
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan refused warranty coverage citing out-of-warranty status and use of independent service. Owner cites known class-action litigation and past defects.
CVT Judder / Jerking and Shuddering
Transmission jerks, shudders, or stutters during acceleration, deceleration, or at idle. Vehicle feels like it is fighting itself or bucking.
When: 42 miles to 141,832 miles; symptoms can appear from purchase or develop over time
Symptoms owners cite: Jerking or shuddering when accelerating from a stop; Stuttering or hesitation when shifting gears; Vehicle bucks or shimmies during acceleration; Grinding or metal-on-metal noise from transmission; Vehicle feels like it is fighting itself; Popping sounds from transmission; Continuous jerking on roadway
Codes mentioned: CVT judder (diagnosed by independent mechanics)
Repairs/costs cited: Some owners report mechanics unable to diagnose or replicate issue. No repairs documented in narratives.
Transmission Vibration and Harshness
Excessive vibration throughout vehicle body, steering wheel, seats, and mirrors. Vibration occurs at idle, at low speeds (30–35 mph), and during braking. Accompanied by transmission hum and clicking sounds.
When: Not specified in narratives; impacts daily driving comfort and safety
Symptoms owners cite: Vibration felt in steering wheel, seats, headrest, and body; Passenger seat swinging from vibration; Rear-view mirror oscillating; Rear seat shaking when wheels cross bumps; Pulse beating on steering wheel and body when braking; Transmission hum or whining noise; Clicking sound when releasing brake pedal at stop
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced brake booster vacuum tube in one case; issue persisted. No successful repairs documented.
Inability to Accelerate / Loss of Response to Throttle
Vehicle fails to accelerate when driver presses gas pedal. Engine revs high but vehicle does not move forward, or acceleration is delayed and sluggish.
When: Varying mileages; reported from early ownership to high mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Gas pedal does not work or is unresponsive; RPMs climb without forward motion; Very slow or delayed acceleration from stops; Vehicle may shift into neutral unexpectedly; Sluggish acceleration on highways and roads
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports transmission worn out quicker than normal per mechanic assessment. Requires vehicle restart to restore function in some cases.
Transmission Stalling
Vehicle stalls unexpectedly while driving without warning. Stalls may occur at low speeds or during gear shifts, sometimes causing vehicle to roll backward.
When: 25,000 to 71,256 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls without warning while driving; Stalls while attempting to shift gears; Vehicle stalls between gears at 35 mph; Check engine light may be illuminated on some occasions; Vehicle may be difficult to restart; Stalling is intermittent and hard to reproduce
Codes mentioned: Check engine warning light (intermittent)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports towed to dealer; mechanic unable to determine cause. Vehicle not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer provided case number; no resolution documented.
Shift-into-Park Failure / Unintended Gear Shifts
Transmission shifts from Park into other gears independently without driver input. Vehicle rolls backward when not in gear or when key is in ignition.
When: Under 2,000 miles (early in vehicle ownership)
Symptoms owners cite: Gear shifts from Park to other gears without warning; Vehicle rolls backward on its own; Maintenance and forward collision warning lights illuminate; Vehicle stalls during this event
Codes mentioned: Maintenance indicator, Forward collision warning indicator
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle was with dealer for over two days with no response from service manager at time of report.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified; awaiting response for permanent remedy.
Transmission Wear / Premature Failure
Transmission wears out faster than normal expected service life. Burning metal smell indicates overheating or friction. RPMs spike abnormally at low speeds.
When: Less than normal mileage for transmission lifespan; reports mention no recall taken and suspected pre-purchase wear
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission wearing out quicker than normal; Burning metal smell from transmission; RPMs hit 5,000 at low speeds (20 mph); Vehicle does not move and requires restart to reset
Repairs/costs cited: One owner notes car was previously recalled for same problem but recalls were not performed before purchase.
Engine or Powertrain Mechanical Failure
Catastrophic internal engine damage including piston rod fracture that breaks through oil pan. Loss of motive power with potential for collision hazard.
When: Mileage not specified; occurred while driving on freeway
Symptoms owners cite: Piston rod broke and fell through oil pan; No warning messages or symptoms prior to failure; Vehicle shut down on freeway; Severe danger to driver and other motorists
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle required tow service; damage severe enough to shut down engine.
Synthesized from 31 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Car tends to shut off. This is the 3rd time with no resolution other than, 'perform another diagnostic and get a rental.' I was parked. Was ready to leave at/or about an hour later; wouldn't start. It does not recognize the key.
Had powertrain trouble with your 2018 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 powertrain problem on the 2018 Nissan Rogue?
It's a meaningful issue. 31 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 15 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 14,288 and 55,000 miles, with the median around 40,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 14,288; a quarter make it past 55,000. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.
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.