Lemon Law Alert: 2022–2026 Nissan Rogue Reliability Issues

Is Your New Nissan Rogue a Lemon?

The Nissan Rogue has long been one of the best-selling compact SUVs, marketed as a reliable vehicle with great fuel efficiency. For tens of thousands of buyers who purchased a 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, or 2026 model year Rogue, however, the experience behind the wheel has been more challenging than expected. A mounting wave of complaints, federal investigations, and massive recalls has exposed serious, recurring defects in these vehicles. Defects that have left owners stranded, endangered their safety, and potentially cost them thousands in repairs once the warranty has expired.

If you own a 2022–2026 Nissan Rogue and have experienced any of the following repeated mechanical problems, you may have more than just a frustrating car on your hands; you may have a lemon. Recent Rogue models have faced documented reliability problems, triggering federal recalls and potentially giving owners important rights under California’s Lemon Law.

Nissan Rogue Engine Issues

Current Nissan Rogues are equipped with a 1.5L VC-Turbo 3-cylinder engine for all trim levels. This engine produces 201 horsepower and 225 lb/ft of torque. Unfortunately, for many Rogue owners, this engine is experiencing engine failure and reliability issues covered below.

Some of these defects are covered under one of the following National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall numbers R25E2 and E25E3:

Engine Bearing Failure

RECALL #R25E2: According to official National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall documentation, under high engine temperatures, a potential manufacturing defect in specific engine bearings—or supporting engine components can cause engine damage and, in some cases, complete engine failure. The consequences of a bearing failure in the Rogue’s VC-Turbo engine can be severe, including sudden engine failure and vehicle stalling. In this situation, the car would stall, and be unable to restart.

This is a situation that could increase likelihood of a crash, or engine fire. As a result of this investigation, in June 2025, Nissan recalled nearly 444,000 vehicles equipped with the VC-Turbo engine. 348,554 2021–2024 Nissan Rogues. Then, in February 2026, Nissan expanded this recall further, adding another 323,917 Rogue SUVs built between October 2022 and November 2024 were included.

Electronic Throttle Body Failure

RECALL #E25E3: The engine bearing problem is not the only major mechanical recall plaguing the recent Rogue lineup. A second recall issued simultaneously in February 2026 covers 318,781 Rogue models built between November 2023 and April 2025. This recall is concerning a defect in the electronic throttle body housing. Nissan estimates that a large percentage of the vehicles covered by the recall have this defect. The issue involves a flawed engine control module (ECM) software routine that runs each time the vehicle is started. During this startup diagnostic, the throttle body’s internal gears rotate to the fully closed position and make contact with a fixed mechanical stopper.

Due to the defective software, this contact is prolonged, causing the gear teeth to weaken and eventually fracture entirely. When the internal gear breaks, the throttle plate can become stuck in the closed position — meaning the engine cannot respond to accelerator input. The result is a sudden loss of forward or reverse drive capability, which NHTSA identifies as a clear crash risk. Owners have reported their vehicles unexpectedly losing power or becoming inoperable, when their throttle body failed under acceleration.

As a result of these serious engine defects, Nissan has extended the warranty for many 2021-2025 Nissan Rogue engines to 10 years / 120,000 miles. This is not a full warranty, but the warranty does cover specific engine and throttle body recalls, potentially covering the entire long block engine assembly.

CVT Transmission Problems: A Longstanding Complaint

The issues with 2022-2026 Nissan Rogue extend beyond the engine issues described above. The issues extend to the continuously variable transmission (CVT) transmission, as well. A CVT transmission is an automatic transmission design that uses a belt and pulley system instead of a fixed number of gears, effectively providing an infinite range of ratios. This transmission should both increase acceleration, decrease jerking from shifting of gears, and improve fuel efficiency when operating properly. Owner reports submitted to NHTSA and consumer advocacy organizations describe jerking, shuddering, hesitation when accelerating from a stop, and occasional stalling. These issues are both frightening, and dangerous, particularly during highway merging or when navigating busy intersections.

CVT problems in Nissan vehicles are not new. The transmission technology has been a persistent source of consumer complaints in the 2008-2017 model years. In the context of the recent Rogue, the CVT complaints add to a troubling pattern that suggests a systemic quality control issue rather than isolated incidents. Owners who have brought their vehicles to dealerships for CVT-related concerns often report being told that software updates were applied, yet the symptoms continue to recur.

If you take your Nissan Rogue to the dealership, and the software update does not fix your CVT Transmission issues, please bring the car back to the dealership, and insist on driving with the shop foreman to demonstrate the issue.

The Gasoline Smell Problem: A Health and Safety Hazard

Among NHTSA complaints filed for the 2023 Nissan Rogue, one issue stands out for both its frequency and severity: a persistent gasoline smell emanating from the engine compartment. Consumer complaint data indicates that more than 80% of the complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Rogue reference this issue. Owners describe the smell as a health hazard due to long-term exposure to fuel vapors, and many have also raised the obvious concern of fire risk.

What makes this problem particularly troubling is the response from Nissan dealerships. According to owner reports, dealers commonly acknowledge that the smell exists but tell customers that no fix is currently available. Being told that your new vehicle has a known fuel vapor issue and that the manufacturer has no remedy is not only unacceptable from a consumer standpoint it may form a strong basis for a lemon
law claim.

If you bring your Nissan Rogue to the dealership complaining of a raw fuel smell, and the dealership acknowledges the smell, and tells you there is no fix, please have them document this in your repair invoice and call us.

Steps to Protect Your Lemon Law Rights

If you own a 2022–2026 Nissan Rogue and have experienced recurring mechanical problems, taking the right steps now can make a critical difference in the outcome of any legal claim.

The documented history of the 2022–2026 Nissan Rogue is a cautionary tale about a manufacturer that introduced ambitious new engine technology which perhaps was not ready for the road yet. From engine bearing failures that can result in catastrophic engine loss and fire, to throttle body defects affecting virtually all vehicles in a given production window, to transmission problems, safety system failures, and unresolved fuel vapor odors, the pattern of defects in recent Rogue models is both broad and serious. More than 640,000 Rogue SUVs have been recalled under active campaigns as of early 2026.

If your 2022–2026 Nissan Rogue has been in the shop multiple times for the same problem, if you have been told a defect cannot be fixed, or if your vehicle has been out of service for an extended period, do not accept the situation as a cost of ownership. Contact our office today for a free, comprehensive case evaluation.

California Residents ONLY.
Year restrictions apply: Model years 2022 – 2026 Only!