Head-to-head reliability
Nissan Rogue vs Toyota RAV4
How the Nissan Rogue and Toyota RAV4 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 Toyota RAV4: The Rogue averages 342.7 complaints per year with 43 recalls, while the RAV4 averages 313.9 complaints per year with 28 recalls. The RAV4 has 4 reported deaths and 225 crash-related complaints; the Rogue has 0 deaths and 193 crash-related complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Nissan Rogue or Toyota RAV4 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 that has averaged about 343 owner complaints per year over the past decade, with 43 recalls in that time. The most common trouble spots owners write in about are engine problems, brake issues, and forward collision avoidance features that don't behave as expected. There are also 193 crash-related complaints and 185 injuries reported, though no deaths. Living with a Rogue means staying on top of software and brake-related service, because several complaints describe sudden acceleration or braking that didn't respond as the driver expected.
Toyota RAV4
The Toyota RAV4 is a compact SUV with a slightly lower complaint rate of about 314 per year and fewer recalls at 28 over ten years. Owner reports cluster around electrical system glitches, engine and transmission failures, and fuel/propulsion problems like check engine lights and valve failures. There are 225 crash-related complaints, 191 injuries, and 4 deaths reported. The RAV4's pattern suggests that while overall complaint volume is a bit lower, some reported failures—like a complete loss of forward power—can be severe when they happen.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Nissan Rogue | Toyota RAV4 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 3,427 | 3,139 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 43 | 28 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 193 Better | 225 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 342.7 | 313.9 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 185 Better | 191 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 4 |
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, violent acceleration while parking and engine stalls that cause a sudden loss of power while driving. These are serious because they can happen without warning and leave a driver unable to control speed or keep moving in traffic.
Complaints describe the brake pedal being ineffective during unintended acceleration events, and unusual brake noises when starting the car. For a buyer, this means brake feel and function should be tested carefully, especially at low speeds and during parking maneuvers.
Drivers report that the ProPilot assist system can fail to stop for a stopped car at a light and that lane-keeping can let the vehicle drift over lane lines before sharply correcting. These are driver-assist features, so a buyer should understand their limits and not treat them as fully self-driving.
Electrical complaints appear frequently, often tied to unknown or other issues that can affect multiple systems. This matters because electrical gremlins can be hard to diagnose and may lead to repeated dealer visits.
“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…”
Toyota RAV4
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER657
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM638
- 03ENGINE595
- 04FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM418
- 05AIR BAGS297
Owners report the multimedia screen going blank and losing navigation, as well as warning messages like LTA malfunction. These issues can distract the driver and may require dealer software updates or hardware repairs.
Some complaints describe a complete mechanical and hydraulic transmission failure at low mileage, causing a total loss of forward propulsion. This is a severe safety concern because the vehicle can stop moving even when placed in Drive.
Drivers report a permanent check engine light with codes pointing to a failed switching valve and fuel tank pressure sensor, sometimes around 40,000 miles. This can lead to failed emissions tests and expensive repairs if not covered by warranty.
Air bag complaints appear in the top five, often related to occupant classification sensors for the front passenger. A buyer should verify that the passenger air bag status indicator works correctly and that no recall is outstanding for this system.
“The multimedia screen which shows the map and direction guidance became to blank occasionally, just white grey since February 2026. I immediately lost the direction. It could be back by restarting the engine at the beginning. The problem got worse, happened m…”
“I was driving on a 4 lane highway heading north bound in the right hand lane with my sister in the passenger seat both wearing seat belts traveling at approximately 55-60 miles per hour. Traffic was light. At the time of the incident other cars were at least…”
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…
Toyota RAV4 — 28 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Toyota Venza, 2023-2025 RAV4 Prime, RAV4, Highlander, GR Corolla, Crown, 2024-2025 Lexus TX, LS, Toyota Tacoma, Grand Highlander, and 2025 Lexus RX, Toyota Crown Signia, Camry, RAV 4 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and 4 Runner…
The risk: An instrument panel display that does not show critical information can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will update the instrument panel software over-the-air (OTA) for non-PHEV vehicles, free of charge. For PHEV vehicles, dealers will inspect the instrument panel assembly, and either replace it, or update the software, free of charg…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or d…
The risk: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB13 and 25LB06. Subaru's nu…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2025 RAV 4 vehicles. The front seat brackets for the seat rails may be welded improperly.
The risk: Improperly welded seat brackets can prevent the seat from adequately restraining an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and repair the seat bracket welds as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 19, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022 Rav4, Rav4 Hybrid, and Rav4 Prime vehicles. The front passenger seat may have been assembled with interference between internal parts that may cause the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor to incorrectly detect the…
The risk: Incorrect detection of an occupant may result in improper air bag deployment during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and repair the front passenger seat, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 2, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this reca…
Buyer analysis
Nissan Rogue or Toyota RAV4: which should you buy?
The Toyota RAV4 has fewer complaints per year (about 314 vs. 343) and fewer recalls (28 vs. 43) over the same ten-year window. In practice, that means a RAV4 owner may face slightly fewer trips to the dealer for reported problems, but the RAV4's complaints include some very serious failures like complete loss of power. The Nissan Rogue's pattern leans more toward brake and driver-assist complaints, which are also safety-relevant but different in nature.
Key differences
- The Nissan Rogue has more recalls (43) than the Toyota RAV4 (28) over the same ten-year period, suggesting more frequent manufacturer campaigns for the Rogue.
- Rogue owners frequently report brake and forward collision avoidance problems, including ineffective braking during unintended acceleration and lane-keeping that drifts over lines.
- RAV4 owners report severe engine and transmission failures that cause a complete loss of forward power, sometimes at low mileage like 7,741 miles.
- The RAV4 has 4 reported deaths in the data versus 0 for the Rogue, though the RAV4 also has slightly more crash-related complaints (225 vs. 193).
- During a test drive, check for any sudden acceleration or hesitation when parking or driving at low speeds, and make sure the brake pedal feels firm and responsive.
- Ask the seller for proof that all open recalls—especially those for the engine, brakes, and forward collision avoidance—have been completed.
- Listen for any transmission slipping or loss of power when accelerating, and have a mechanic scan for stored codes related to the fuel system or transmission.
- Check that the multimedia screen and driver-assist warnings (like LTA malfunction) do not appear intermittently, as these are common electrical complaints.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on the NHTSA website to see all open recalls for the specific vehicle and confirm they have been fixed.
- Take a test drive that includes parking lot maneuvers, highway driving, and use of any driver-assist features to check for unexpected braking or steering.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the brakes, engine, and transmission, and scan for any stored diagnostic trouble codes.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for oil changes and any transmission or fuel system repairs.
- Check the age and condition of the battery and electrical components, since both vehicles have electrical complaints.
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 | Toyota RAV4 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 61 | 35 |
| 2025 | 186 | 88 |
| 2024 | 204 | 175 |
| 2023 | 728 | 157 |
| 2022 | 264 | 145 |
| 2021 | 289 | 387 |
| 2020 | 152 | 635 |
| 2019 | 336 | 879 |
| 2018 | 609 | 331 |
| 2017 | 598 | 307 |
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 Toyota RAV4 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Nissan Rogue vs Toyota RAV4
- Nissan Rogue total complaints
- 3,427
- Toyota RAV4 total complaints
- 3,139
- Nissan Rogue total recalls
- 43
- Toyota RAV4 total recalls
- 28
- Nissan Rogue avg complaints/year
- 342.7
- Toyota RAV4 avg complaints/year
- 313.9
- More reliable overall
- Toyota RAV4
- Nissan Rogue top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Toyota RAV4 top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER