Head-to-head reliability
Nissan Rogue vs Nissan Frontier
How the Nissan Rogue and Nissan Frontier compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Nissan Rogue vs Nissan Frontier: The Rogue has 3,427 complaints over 10 years (about 343 per year), while the Frontier has 499 (about 50 per year). The Rogue also has more recalls (43 vs. 22) and injuries (185 vs. 12). Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Nissan Rogue or Nissan Frontier more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Nissan Rogue
The Nissan Rogue is a compact SUV with a high complaint volume: 3,427 over 10 years, averaging about 343 per year. Owners frequently report engine stalls, sudden acceleration, brake problems, and forward collision avoidance glitches. With 43 recalls and 185 injuries reported, it demands careful inspection and a thorough test drive before purchase.
Nissan Frontier
The Nissan Frontier is a midsize pickup with far fewer complaints: 499 over 10 years, about 50 per year. Reported issues include electrical shutdowns, transmission hesitation, and brake pedal problems. It has 22 recalls and 1 death reported, so while less frequent, some complaints are serious.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Nissan Rogue | Nissan Frontier |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 3,427 | 499 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 43 | 22 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 193 | 32 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 342.7 | 49.9 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 185 | 12 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
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.
Nissan Rogue
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER769
- 02ENGINE713
- 03SERVICE BRAKES575
- 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE506
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM420
Owners report sudden acceleration and engine stalls while driving, such as a 2026 Rogue that violently accelerated in a parking lot and another that lost power on the highway. These can be dangerous and are hard to predict.
Complaints include unusual brake noises and ineffective brake pedal application during sudden acceleration events. This suggests potential brake system issues that could affect stopping ability.
The ProPilot assist system may fail to stop for stopped cars at traffic lights and lane keeping can overshoot curves by 2 feet before sharply correcting. This undermines driver confidence in the safety tech.
Electrical problems appear in 420 complaints, though specific symptoms are not detailed in the sample. Buyers should test all electrical features and check for recalls related to ignition and anti-theft systems.
“I am reporting a serious safety incident involving the powered rear liftgate of my 2026 Nissan Rogue Platinum. On Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at approximately 9 AM, I was helping my daughter unload her cosmetology case at the Sherman Oaks Galleria. The rear l…”
“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…”
Nissan Frontier
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM131
- 02POWER TRAIN121
- 03SERVICE BRAKES81
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER76
- 05FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE65
Owners report the engine and electrical system completely shutting off randomly while driving, with all power lost and the vehicle resetting to low gear. This can happen multiple times and is a serious safety concern.
Complaints include failure to accelerate properly, engine jerking, and running at idle for several seconds. One owner found a cracked high-pressure AC line, but transmission hesitation is also reported.
The brake pedal can go almost to the floor when depressed, and the accelerator pedal sits too close to the brake. This may cause confusion or delayed braking in emergencies.
With 65 complaints, this system may have issues, though sample texts do not detail specific failures. Buyers should verify that all driver-assist features work correctly during a test drive.
“Issue: engine and electric system completely shut off randomly while vehicle is driving. Cannot reliably reproduce, but all electric is lost and engine shuts off or at best resets in low gear until things come back alive. This has happened about 4 times to me…”
“The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the infotainment system was inoperative; the contact had to restart the infotainment system several times for the infotainment system to return to normal operat…”
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.
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…
Nissan Frontier — 22 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2017 Nissan NV200, Sentra, NV3500 Van, NV3500 Bus, NV200 Taxi, NV1500, NV2500 Van, Chevrolet City Express, 2017-2018 Frontier, Versa Note, and Versa Sedan vehicles that have a mechanical (physical) key ignition system. In these models, over t…
The risk: If the vehicle stalls, it can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the production information on the ignition switch, and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additio…
The risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additio…
The risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2017 Nissan NV200, Sentra, NV3500 Van, NV3500 Bus, NV200 Taxi, NV1500, NV2500 Van, Chevrolet City Express, 2017-2018 Frontier, Versa Note, and Versa Sedan vehicles that have a mechanical (physical) key ignition system. In these models, over t…
The risk: If the vehicle stalls, it can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the production information on the ignition switch, and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7…
Buyer analysis
Nissan Rogue or Nissan Frontier: which should you buy?
The Nissan Frontier has far fewer complaints per year (about 50 vs. 343 for the Rogue), suggesting it may be less troublesome overall. However, the Frontier's electrical shutdown issue is severe, while the Rogue's problems are more varied and frequent. In practice, the Frontier may require fewer repair visits, but both need careful inspection.
Key differences
- The Rogue has nearly 7 times more complaints per year than the Frontier, indicating a higher rate of owner-reported problems.
- The Rogue's top issues include engine stalls and sudden acceleration, while the Frontier's most serious complaint is random electrical shutdowns while driving.
- Forward collision avoidance complaints are much higher on the Rogue (506 vs. 65), suggesting more problems with driver-assist tech.
- The Frontier has 1 reported death and 12 injuries, while the Rogue has 0 deaths but 185 injuries, showing different risk profiles.
- During a test drive, check for any hesitation, sudden acceleration, or stalling, especially when parking or at low speeds.
- Test the forward collision avoidance and lane keeping systems on a highway or road with curves to ensure they function smoothly without overshooting.
- Look for any signs of electrical issues: flickering lights, infotainment resets, or warning lights on the dash.
- Press the brake pedal firmly to see if it feels spongy or goes too close to the floor, and check the accelerator pedal position relative to the brake.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on engine, transmission, brakes, and electrical systems.
- During a test drive, deliberately test all safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane keeping.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and check if the vehicle has been regularly serviced.
- For the Rogue, specifically test the ProPilot assist system if equipped; for the Frontier, test for any electrical glitches by operating all accessories.
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 | Nissan Rogue | Nissan Frontier |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 61 | 20 |
| 2025 | 186 | 16 |
| 2024 | 204 | 44 |
| 2023 | 728 | 132 |
| 2022 | 264 | 112 |
| 2021 | 289 | 38 |
| 2020 | 152 | 46 |
| 2019 | 336 | 28 |
| 2018 | 609 | 25 |
| 2017 | 598 | 38 |
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 Nissan Rogue or Nissan Frontier in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Nissan Rogue vs Nissan Frontier
- Nissan Rogue total complaints
- 3,427
- Nissan Frontier total complaints
- 499
- Nissan Rogue total recalls
- 43
- Nissan Frontier total recalls
- 22
- Nissan Rogue avg complaints/year
- 342.7
- Nissan Frontier avg complaints/year
- 49.9
- More reliable overall
- Nissan Frontier
- Nissan Rogue top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Nissan Frontier top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM