Head-to-head reliability
Honda CR V vs Nissan Rogue
How the Honda CR V and Nissan Rogue compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Honda CR V vs Nissan Rogue: The CR-V has 717 complaints per year, with sticky steering and engine issues, while the Rogue has 334 per year, including sudden acceleration and brake problems. The CR-V has 40 recalls, the Rogue 43. Choose based on which failure mode you find more acceptable. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda CR V or Nissan Rogue more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Honda CR V
The Honda CR-V, a compact SUV, shows a high complaint volume over the past decade, averaging over 700 per year. The most frequent issues involve steering, engine, and forward collision avoidance systems, with owners reporting specific failures like sticky steering at highway speeds and unexpected power loss. These patterns suggest that while the CR-V is generally reliable, certain model years, particularly 2022, may have notable defects that could affect safety and drivability.
Nissan Rogue
The Nissan Rogue, also a compact SUV, has fewer complaints per year (about 334) but still shows significant issues, particularly in unknown/other, engine, and service brakes. Owners report sudden unintended acceleration, ineffective brakes, and problems with door locks and adaptive cruise control. These reports indicate that the Rogue may have intermittent but serious safety-related failures, though the overall complaint rate is lower than the CR-V.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda CR V | Nissan Rogue |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 7,174 | 3,336 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 40 Better | 43 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 244 | 188 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 717.4 | 333.6 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 214 | 181 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 0 Better |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Honda CR V
- 01STEERING1,356
- 02ENGINE1,328
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE1,315
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,025
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM989
Owners report a 'sticky steering' defect where the wheel intermittently locks or pauses at highway speeds, requiring extra effort to turn and then jerking back. This can cause sudden lane deviations and is under investigation.
Some owners experience the check engine light flashing, loss of power, and the vehicle entering 'limp mode' while driving at speed, which can be dangerous if it occurs in traffic.
Phantom braking is reported, where the system suddenly applies brakes at slow speeds without an obstacle, potentially causing rear-end collisions.
There are reports of smoke from under the hood and stalling after hard braking, as well as repeated loss of power on hills, indicating potential electrical or fuel system issues.
“While driving my 2022 Honda CRV at highway speeds and at operating temperature, the steering sticks and/or pauses then releases causing the steering to jerk back in the opposite direction. This creates a major safety issue while driving on the highway and can…”
“My 2022 Honda CR-V experiences the "sticky steering" defect that has been widely reported and is currently under NHTSA investigation (EA23003). While driving at highway speeds, the steering wheel intermittently locks, requiring increased effort to move the wh…”
Nissan Rogue
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER758
- 02ENGINE678
- 03SERVICE BRAKES569
- 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE503
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM410
Owners report door lock actuators failing, causing doors to lock or unlock unexpectedly, which could be a security or safety concern. Also, there are reports of interior overheating in hot weather.
Sudden unintended acceleration is reported, where the vehicle accelerates without driver input and brakes are ineffective, leading to crashes. This is a critical safety issue.
Brake pedal application is reported as ineffective during unintended acceleration events, and there are other brake-related complaints, suggesting potential brake system failures.
The ProPilot assist system has flaws: it may not brake for stopped vehicles at speed, and lane keeping can cross lane lines and sharply correct, causing erratic behavior.
“My car was sitting in a parking lot facing the south. It was over 100 degrees that day. I had a front window shade in the front window, and both front windows were down about 2 inches. I went to my car to grab something around 1:30pm and all was fine. When I…”
“Vehicle Information: 2020 Nissan Rogue Component: Structure/Doors Latch/Lock/Linkage Description of Incident: I am writing to report a serious safety defect regarding the front door lock actuators on my 2020 Nissan Rogue. Without warning, the front door lock…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Honda CR V — 40 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017, 2020, and 2022 CR-V vehicles. The certification label on the driver's side door states incorrect Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR), and tire size information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with th…
The risk: An incorrectly sized tire may cause premature tread wear, or a tire blow out, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will install a new corrected label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 18, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is CF7.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV,…
The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansi…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022…
The risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH,…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Acura Integra, Civic Type R, CR-V Hybrid, CR-V, HR-V, 2022-2025 Civic, Civic Hatchback, 2024-2025 Acura Integra Type S, 2025 CR-V Fuel Cell EV, Civic Hybrid, and Civic Hatchback Hybrid vehicles. The steering gearbox assembly may have b…
The risk: Difficulty steering can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the worm gear spring and redistribute or add grease as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2024. Owners may contact Honda Customer Service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers f…
Nissan Rogue — 43 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2026 Rogue vehicles. The incorrect-size spare tire may have been installed, which does not match the tire size and inflation pressure information on the tire placard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Mot…
The risk: Incorrect spare tire pressure information on the placard may lead to incorrect inflation of the spare tire, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the spare tire assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 25, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan's number for this recall…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2026 Rogue vehicles. The instrument panel may not display the transmission gear selection indicator. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 102, "Transmission Shift Lever S…
The risk: A missing gear selection indicator may lead to unintended vehicle movement or a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission control valve assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 31, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan's number fo…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2014-2020 Rogue and 2017-2022 Rogue Sport vehicles equipped with a jackknife style ignition key. The jackknife key may collapse into a folded position while driving.
The risk: Driver contact with a key in the collapsed position could inadvertently shut off the vehicle while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, if the vehicle shuts off while driving, the air bags may not deploy in a crash as int…
The fix: Dealers will insert a spacer into the key slot of the jackknife key, free of charge. Interim notification letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed March 29, 2023. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 3…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Rogue vehicles equipped with 3-cylinder 1.5L variable compression turbo (VC-Turbo) engines. Increased temperatures can break down the engine oil, which may cause the engine bearings to seize and become damaged, leading to engine fai…
The risk: Engine failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. A bearing failure may cause a breach in the engine block, allowing hot oil to be discharged, increasing the risk of an engine fire.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the engine control module (ECM) software, inspect for diagnostic trouble codes, and test drive the vehicle, free of charge. The dealer may also inspect the oil pan for metal debris, and replace the engine if necessar…
Buyer analysis
Honda CR V or Nissan Rogue: which should you buy?
The Honda CR-V has more than double the complaints per year (717 vs 334) compared to the Nissan Rogue, indicating a higher frequency of reported issues. However, the CR-V's problems are more concentrated in specific areas like steering and engine, while the Rogue's include potentially more dangerous unintended acceleration. In practice, the CR-V may require more frequent repairs, but the Rogue's issues could be more severe when they occur.
Key differences
- The CR-V has a known 'sticky steering' defect that can cause jerking at highway speeds, while the Rogue has reports of sudden unintended acceleration with brake failure.
- The CR-V's forward collision avoidance system causes phantom braking, whereas the Rogue's system may fail to brake for stopped vehicles and has lane-keeping issues.
- The CR-V has more electrical system complaints, including smoke and stalling, while the Rogue has door lock actuator failures.
- The Rogue has fewer overall complaints but a higher proportion of crash-related incidents (188 vs 244) relative to its complaint count, suggesting more severe outcomes.
- Test drive at highway speeds and check for any steering stickiness or jerking, especially after the vehicle warms up.
- Check for any open recalls related to steering, fuel pump, or air bag sensors, and ensure they have been addressed.
- During a test drive, try sudden braking from low speed to see if the brakes respond properly and if the vehicle accelerates unexpectedly.
- Inspect the door locks for proper operation and check for any open recalls on the transmission gear indicator or engine components.
Before you buy
- Obtain the vehicle's VIN and check NHTSA's recall database for any open recalls on the specific model year.
- Ask for service records to see if any of the common issues (steering, engine, brakes) have been previously repaired.
- Perform a thorough test drive that includes highway speeds, stop-and-go traffic, and emergency braking to assess steering, acceleration, and braking behavior.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the vehicle, focusing on the steering column, fuel system, and brake components.
- Check for any pending investigations or consumer complaints on the specific model year online.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Honda CR V | Nissan Rogue |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 127 | 41 |
| 2025 | 243 | 176 |
| 2024 | 383 | 193 |
| 2023 | 516 | 699 |
| 2022 | 253 | 256 |
| 2021 | 326 | 285 |
| 2020 | 351 | 149 |
| 2019 | 1088 | 332 |
| 2018 | 2128 | 609 |
| 2017 | 1759 | 596 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Honda CR V or Nissan Rogue in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda CR V vs Nissan Rogue
- Honda CR V total complaints
- 7,174
- Nissan Rogue total complaints
- 3,336
- Honda CR V total recalls
- 40
- Nissan Rogue total recalls
- 43
- Honda CR V avg complaints/year
- 717.4
- Nissan Rogue avg complaints/year
- 333.6
- More reliable overall
- Nissan Rogue
- Honda CR V top complaint area
- STEERING
- Nissan Rogue top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER