Head-to-head reliability
Toyota RAV4 vs Nissan Rogue
How the Toyota RAV4 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
Toyota RAV4 vs Nissan Rogue: Over 10 years, the RAV4 has 3099 complaints (avg 309.9/yr) and 27 recalls, while the Rogue has 3336 complaints (avg 333.6/yr) and 43 recalls. The RAV4 shows more electrical and engine issues, while the Rogue has more brake and acceleration problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Toyota RAV4 or Nissan Rogue more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Toyota RAV4
The Toyota RAV4 is a popular compact SUV, but owner complaints over the past decade reveal a pattern of electrical and engine-related issues that can affect daily usability. Many reports describe sudden loss of power or stalling while driving, as well as problems with the multimedia screen and fuel system components. These issues, while not universal, suggest that some RAV4s may require unexpected repairs, especially as they age.
Nissan Rogue
The Nissan Rogue, another compact SUV, shows a higher number of complaints and recalls, with a notable focus on braking and forward collision avoidance systems. Owners report sudden unintended acceleration, ineffective brakes, and erratic behavior of driver-assist features, which can be alarming. The Rogue also has issues with door locks and engine performance, indicating potential reliability and safety concerns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Toyota RAV4 | Nissan Rogue |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 3,099 Better | 3,336 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 27 Better | 43 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 220 | 188 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 309.9 Better | 333.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 187 | 181 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 4 | 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.
Toyota RAV4
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER647
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM632
- 03ENGINE586
- 04FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM417
- 05AIR BAGS295
Owners report the multimedia screen going blank, causing loss of navigation, and in some cases, complete loss of propulsion due to transmission failure. These electrical gremlins can be intermittent and hard to diagnose.
Several complaints describe the engine losing power and shutting off while driving at highway speeds, with no warning lights. This can be dangerous if it happens in traffic, leaving the driver without control.
A persistent check engine light due to faulty fuel tank pressure sensors and switching valves has been reported, leading to warranty disputes. This can result in poor fuel economy and potential emissions issues.
“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…”
Nissan Rogue
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER758
- 02ENGINE678
- 03SERVICE BRAKES569
- 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE503
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM410
Owners report sudden unintended acceleration, where the vehicle surges forward without warning, and brake application is ineffective. This is a serious safety concern that could lead to crashes.
Brake failures are reported, with the pedal going to the floor or not stopping the car effectively. This is critical for safety and may require immediate attention.
The ProPilot assist and lane-keeping systems can malfunction, causing the vehicle to veer out of its lane or not respond correctly to stopped traffic. This can lead to collisions if the driver relies on these features.
“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.
Toyota RAV4 — 27 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…
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
Toyota RAV4 or Nissan Rogue: which should you buy?
The Toyota RAV4 has fewer complaints per year (309.9) compared to the Nissan Rogue (333.6), and also fewer recalls (27 vs 43). While both have serious issues, the RAV4's problems are more electrical and engine-related, whereas the Rogue has more safety-critical braking and acceleration concerns. In practice, the RAV4 may be a slightly safer bet, but both require thorough inspection.
Key differences
- The RAV4 has fewer complaints per year and fewer recalls, indicating a slightly better reliability record.
- The Rogue has a higher number of complaints related to braking and unintended acceleration, which are safety-critical.
- The RAV4's top issues are electrical and engine-related, such as stalling and screen failures, while the Rogue's top issues include brake failures and erratic driver-assist systems.
- The Rogue has more crash-related complaints (188) and injuries (181) compared to the RAV4 (220 and 187), but the RAV4 has 4 deaths reported, while the Rogue has none.
- Check for any history of engine stalling or loss of power, as multiple owners report this happening without warning.
- Inspect the multimedia screen for intermittent blanking or freezing, which can affect navigation and other functions.
- Test the brakes thoroughly, including sudden stops, to ensure they respond properly and don't feel spongy or ineffective.
- Verify the forward collision avoidance and lane-keeping systems work correctly, as they have been reported to malfunction and cause the vehicle to veer.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report to check for any open recalls and prior complaints.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the engine, transmission, and electrical systems.
- Test drive both vehicles on highways and in stop-and-go traffic to feel for any hesitation, stalling, or brake issues.
- Check the NHTSA website for the specific VIN to see if any recalls have been completed.
- Ask for service records to see if any of the common issues have been addressed.
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 | Toyota RAV4 | Nissan Rogue |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 28 | 41 |
| 2025 | 83 | 176 |
| 2024 | 171 | 193 |
| 2023 | 152 | 699 |
| 2022 | 143 | 256 |
| 2021 | 382 | 285 |
| 2020 | 630 | 149 |
| 2019 | 875 | 332 |
| 2018 | 330 | 609 |
| 2017 | 305 | 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 Toyota RAV4 or Nissan Rogue in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Toyota RAV4 vs Nissan Rogue
- Toyota RAV4 total complaints
- 3,099
- Nissan Rogue total complaints
- 3,336
- Toyota RAV4 total recalls
- 27
- Nissan Rogue total recalls
- 43
- Toyota RAV4 avg complaints/year
- 309.9
- Nissan Rogue avg complaints/year
- 333.6
- More reliable overall
- Toyota RAV4
- Toyota RAV4 top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Nissan Rogue top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER