Nissan had improperly installed the roof rail mounts on the 2021 Nissan Rogue causing leaks to occur into the vehicle. These leaks lead to mold accumulation on the interior and quickly becomes a health hazard. Nissan had released a Technical Services Bulletin for this issue; however, they have not yet issued a recall for this. We took our vehicle in for a mold issue and provided the TSB details…
2021 Nissan Rogue body problems
moderate 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,500 · see body across all vehicles →
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2021 Rogue has documented water leak issues at the roof rail and A pillar that can cause interior mold and electrical damage, plus door lock actuators that fail spontaneously—both concerns even outside warranty. Additional quality problems reported include detaching trim pieces, mirror vibration, and rear bumper gaps.
The most common complaint across these narratives is a roof rail water leak at the attachment point where the rail clips to the body. Water penetrates during rain or car washing, accumulating in the headliner, A pillar, and around side airbags and speaker electronics. Owners describe wet interior panels, mold and mildew growth, and potential structural rust. Nissan issued a Technical Services Bulletin for this defect but has not recalled it. One owner's repair was denied after leaving the 3-year warranty window; another spent 13 weeks at the dealership with trial-and-error troubleshooting and reported repair costs exceeding $3,000.
Rear door lock actuators fail, causing doors to unlock spontaneously or refuse to lock. Owner research found a pending class action lawsuit for this issue.
Additional body defects reported include a fuel door cover that detached at 75 mph on the highway; rear wheel well weatherstrip moldings that come loose at highway speeds (owner saw this on multiple Rogues); side view mirrors that vibrate to the point of distortion; and a sunroof that exploded during highway driving. One owner also reported gaps and misalignment in the two-part rear bumper assembly causing vibration and knocking sounds.
Failure modes owners describe
Roof rail water leak
Water penetrates at the roof rail attachment point and clips, allowing moisture to enter the headliner, A pillar area, and interior. Owners report leaks occurring with rain and car washing, leading to wet interior trim, electrical exposure, and mold/mildew growth.
When: Within first month of ownership to later in vehicle life; some failures detected after 3-year warranty expiration
Symptoms owners cite: Water dripping into interior at roof line; Wet headliner and side panel lining; Visible coloring bleeding through from carwash indicating hidden moisture; Mold and mildew odor/growth in roof and A pillar areas; Moisture near side airbag and speaker electronics
Repairs/costs cited: Nissan Technical Services Bulletin issued; dealership repairs involve silicone sealant application at roof rail attachment. One owner reported repair cost estimate over $3,000 and 13 weeks of dealership work including trial-and-error troubleshooting.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan released Technical Services Bulletin for this issue but has not issued a recall. Owners report dealership initially missed the defect on service reports and later denied warranty coverage for vehicles outside 3-year period.
Door lock actuator failure (rear doors)
Rear door lock actuators malfunction, causing doors to unlock spontaneously and fail to lock properly. Doors open even when locked, some triggering alarm.
When: Unknown mileage; failure duration approximately one month before complete failure
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle unlocks spontaneously after manual locking; Right passenger door does not unlock when button pressed; Door requires manual physical unlock; Doors open even when vehicle is locked; Alarm sounds when doors open unexpectedly
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosis: rear door lock actuators are defective and require replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan has not issued recall; however, owner research indicates a class action lawsuit is pending for this defect.
Fuel door cover detachment
Fuel door cover skin becomes loose and detaches from vehicle during highway driving, creating roadway hazard.
When: Occurred during highway travel at 75 mph after owner verified all doors and covers were secure before departure
Symptoms owners cite: Fuel door cover flies off vehicle; All safety warning lights and alarms activate; Cruise control disengages; Detached cover lands on roadway and is destroyed by trailing vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Unknown; owner did not report repair action taken.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan USA stated they have not heard of this issue; dealership downplayed the complaint.
Rear wheel well weatherstrip molding detachment
Left and right rear wheel well rubber weatherstrip moldings detach and fall off, exposing mounting screws and creating road hazard.
When: Occurs at highway speeds; owner reports two separate detachments
Symptoms owners cite: Weatherstrip molding separates from body; Mounting screw becomes exposed and loose; Piece falls off vehicle during highway driving; Vehicle becomes momentarily unstable when molding detaches; Owner observed same missing moldings on multiple other 2021 Rogue vehicles
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer repaired both instances under warranty by reattaching molding.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued. Owner reported complaint to manufacturer.
Side view mirror vibration
Door-mounted side view mirrors vibrate excessively during driving, causing image distortion and impairing visibility.
When: Unknown mileage or specific timing
Symptoms owners cite: Mirror vibrates to point of distortion; Reduced ability to see vehicles in mirrors; Vibration described as 'tuning fork' effect at pedestal mount
Repairs/costs cited: Owner suggests wider base pedestals needed to mitigate vibration, noting other vehicles employ this design.
Rear bumper gaps and misalignment
Gap exists between two-part rear bumper assembly (sensor part and reflective part), creating noise and vibration.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Visible gaps between bumper sections; Vibrating noise from rear bumper area; Knocking sound from steering when shifting from park to drive or reverse
Repairs/costs cited: Unknown
Sunroof spontaneous failure/explosion
Sunroof panel shatters or ruptures suddenly during normal highway driving, producing loud explosive sound.
When: During highway driving at unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Loud bang or explosion sound from sunroof area; Sunroof shatters or explodes; Sound compared to gunshot
Repairs/costs cited: Unknown
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had body trouble with your 2021 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 body problem on the 2021 Nissan Rogue?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 13 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body 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 body?
No active recalls currently cover body 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/2021/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.