2012 Nissan Rogue: Is It Reliable?
Problems, Recalls & Buyer Verdict
Shopping for a used 2012 Nissan Rogue? This page highlights owner-reported complaint patterns and recall history so you can inspect the right systems before buying. Current data includes 317 complaints, with Transmission / Drivetrain as the top reported area.
2012 Nissan Rogue Fuel Economy
✓ EPA Official DataEPA-rated fuel economy across 2 2012 Nissan Rogue trim configurations. The median figure is shown; range reflects all available trims.
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov. Figures reflect EPA lab testing; real-world results vary by driving style, load, and conditions. 2 trims analysed.
2012 Nissan Rogue Safety Ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Program2 variants tested — showing 2012 Nissan Rogue SUV AWDOfficial crash test results from the NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings program. Stars reflect government-conducted tests; higher is safer.
Overall
17.9% rollover risk
Frontal Crash
Side Crash
Rollover
17.9% probability
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Ratings are based on government crash tests and may not reflect all trim levels.
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2012 Nissan Rogue has 317 owner complaints, 8 crash-related complaints, and 2 recall campaigns on record. The most frequently reported component is Transmission / Drivetrain. NHTSA reliability signal: Notable Issues.
- Make
- Nissan
- Model
- Rogue
- Model year
- 2012
- NHTSA owner complaints
- 317
- Crash-related complaints
- 8
- Safety recall campaigns
- 2
- Top reported component
- Transmission / Drivetrain
- Reliability signal
- Notable Issues
- EPA MPG combined
- 25
- EPA MPG city / highway
- 23 / 28
- Fuel type
- Regular Gasoline
- NHTSA overall safety rating
- 4/5 stars
- NHTSA frontal crash rating
- 4/5 stars
- NHTSA side crash rating
- 5/5 stars
- NHTSA rollover rating
- 4/5 stars
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
Most Common 2012 Nissan Rogue Problems
Top owner-reported complaint areas and where they often appear.
Transmission / Drivetrain
Engine Problems
Uncategorized Issues
Complaint patterns center on Transmission / Drivetrain, Engine Problems, Uncategorized Issues. Use these as a pre-purchase inspection guide, then verify recall and damage history on the specific VIN.
Should You Buy a Used 2012 Nissan Rogue?
The 2012 Nissan Rogue shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase.
Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report.
What to Check Before Buying a Used 2012 Nissan Rogue
Inspection Focus
- Have a mechanic inspect the transmission/drivetrain before purchase.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for transmission, engine, and electrical systems.
- Test drive to check for unintended acceleration or shifting issues.
Before You Close the Deal
- Have a mechanic inspect the transmission/drivetrain before purchase.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for transmission, engine, and electrical systems.
- Test drive to check for unintended acceleration or shifting issues.
Shortlist with model-year data. Decide with the exact VIN.
Before buying a used 2012 Nissan Rogue, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, theft checks, and open recalls for the exact vehicle.
What the Complaint Data Suggests
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology
Complaints for the 2012 Nissan Rogue are concentrated in the transmission/drivetrain, which accounts for a large portion of the total. Other notable areas include engine problems, electrical faults, and unintended acceleration. The data suggests potential issues with these components, but the low confidence level means these patterns should be interpreted cautiously.
- Transmission/drivetrain complaints dominate the dataset for the 2012 model year.
- Engine problems, electrical faults, unintended acceleration, and airbag malfunctions each have a similar number of complaints.
- There are 2 recalls and 8 crash-related complaints, though the latter is a small fraction of total complaints.
- Transmission / Drivetrain issues are the most frequently reported problem.
- Engine Problems are the second most common complaint category.
- Unintended Acceleration and Airbag Malfunctions each have a notable number of complaints.
All 2012 Nissan Rogue Complaints by Category
Every owner-reported complaint category filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Nissan Rogue. Use this as a pre-purchase inspection checklist.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 136 | — | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 45 | 1 | 2 | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 44 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 41 | 1 | 9 | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 41 | 1 | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 41 | 5 | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 17 | — | — | — | |
| Brake System | 13 | 1 | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 9 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 8 | — | 1 | — | |
| Tire Issues | 7 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 6 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Air | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Real Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2012 Nissan Rogue. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
The doors unlock or lock on their own. Some locks then don’t lock or unlock. Sometimes they have to be unlocked manually. The trunk does not unlock at all. I can’t open the trunk.
August 1, 2025 I was trying to get to [XXX] from [XXX] to see my mother, before Kansas City, Mo. Before getting to KC while cruise was engaged car RPM’s began amping but car did not speed up. I put it park and turned motor off and tried to drive again, but did the same thing.…
2008-13 Nissan Rogue/2014 Rogue Select (S35) Driver’s Kick Panel Harness Connector Inspection Voluntary Safety Recall Campaign Reference: R1421 I spoke with Nissan and the recall does not cover my VIN number however I had previously owned a 2015 Nissan Altima and experienced the…
I was looking at the fact that this car has 2 recalls for problems that I never bothered to check, but it's better to have everything in order. everything is in order.
That my engine stalled while I’m driving. And I almost crashed another car.
I have a Nissan Rogue 2012...I get a P0101 error code a lot...doing a quick search on the internet, seems like I'm not the only one.
My vehicle is making this rattling noise so I took it to the dealership and they said I need a subframe. Be advised this vehicle has never been in a accident so why is the subframe needed and I only have 81,000 miles on it
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal, before the engine seized. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road.…
1/2024 car loses power going from 70mph to about 40mph - dealership adjusted transmission fluid, 12/2024 started having power issues again dropping from 40mph to 20mph. Dealership said they couldn't do anything until it starts happening more frequently. So I'm suppose to just dri…
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shaking and made an abnormal rattling sound. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who retrieved DTC codes: …
The rear transmission area makes a loud grinding noise on turns under 10 miles an hour. Needs a rear electronic coupler. Happening on many years of this car model
The main and most dangerous issue is first hearing high pitch whining/winding sound while driving as the rpm's start to spike and stay high resulting & causing vehicle to lose power and speed for no apparent reason. Subsequently, as you attempt to depress the gas pedal to increas…
There is a very strong odor of gas that I can smell inside the cabin and fuel consumption is at an all time high.I drove on a full tank less than 100 miles and it was on empty. The storing gas odor is concerning and Nissan refuses to address or fix.
Passenger side air bag inoperable,have been told it was sensor in seat
A problem with the torque converter clutch solenoid12 causes the car's RPM to increase while the vehicle loses speed.
Unknown I was driving to st. Louis on the highway and was going 70 mph and then I hear a winding noise and loss acceleration and had my foot all the way down on the gas pedal and it would not speed up I was only going 40 on a highway that I was going 70 mph on and kept losing spe…
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that 6 hours after their vehicle was parked around sometime after midnight the vehicle suddenly caught fire. The key fob began to sound off an alarm where the contact had pressed a button to deactivate about 2 times before …
My cvt transmission is bad. It's apparently a problem with a lot of 2012 Nissan rogues. When I drive, if I stop at a stop light, when the light turns green I hit the gas pedal and the car doesn't move.
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated while driving at approximately 75 MPH, the transmission failed to operate as designed and the vehicle lost motive power. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and was able…
The contact owned a 2012 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while driving at 35-75 MPH, the transmission failed to shift gear as needed. In addition, the RPMs decreased. The contact also stated that the vehicle accelerated independently. There were no warning lights illuminate…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2012 Nissan Rogue.
2012 Nissan Rogue Recalls
2 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2012 Nissan Rogue. 2 recall campaigns are on record for this model year. Recalls are free to fix at authorized dealers, but completion status must be verified on the exact VIN.
2012 Nissan Rogue Buying FAQ
Buyer-focused answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this model year.
Is the 2012 Nissan Rogue reliable?▾
Notable Issues. NHTSA currently shows 317 owner complaints, 8 crash-related complaints, and 2 recall campaigns for this model year. The 2012 Nissan Rogue shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase. Treat this as a model-year signal, then verify the exact vehicle's condition and history before purchase.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Nissan Rogue?▾
#1: Transmission / Drivetrain (136 complaints). #2: Engine Problems (45 complaints). #3: Uncategorized Issues (44 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2012 Nissan Rogue?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2012 Nissan Rogue?▾
Complaint data is not the same as crash-test scoring, but it does highlight possible risk patterns. For the 2012 Nissan Rogue, NHTSA complaints include 8 crash-related reports and 10 fire reports out of 317 total complaints. 7 injury reports are also on file. For controlled crash-test ratings, check nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2012 Nissan Rogue have any recalls?▾
Yes. 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2012 Nissan Rogue. A major recall area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 2 recall campaigns are on record for this model year. Always verify open recalls by VIN because completion status varies by vehicle.
Should I buy a 2012 Nissan Rogue?▾
The 2012 Nissan Rogue shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase. Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report. Pay extra attention to Transmission / Drivetrain during inspection. Before committing, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, and recall completion for the exact car.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Nissan Rogue reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Owner Reliability Rating
Rate the 2012 Nissan Rogue based on your ownership experience.
Add your rating:
Ratings are based on owner experience and are separate from NHTSA data shown above.
Check the Exact Vehicle History Before You Buy
Model-year complaints and recalls reveal patterns. A VIN report confirms whether the exact car has accident history, title brands, mileage issues, or open recalls.