When vehicle problems present, it’s not uncommon for them to be one-off issues. Sometimes there are just anomalies in production or with off-the-line parts. But in the case of the Nissan Rogue, costly and potentially dangerous transmission concerns are so frequent, they’re almost expected. These problematic transmissions have recently inspired a class-action lawsuit, with the hopes that these broken transmission symptoms in the Rogue get fixed once and for all.

The Nissan Rogue’s transmission problems

In general, the Nissan Rogue, despite its popularity, is becoming well-known for its transmission issues. More specifically, the 2014, 2015, and 2016 model years seem to be the most problematic. Based on official Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) alone, as reported by CarComplaints.com, a few notable concerns include a transmission shake, a hesitation, and a lack of power on command. In most of these instances, a complete replacement of the CVT assembly is the only solution, although some reprogramming efforts help, as well.

What the class-action lawsuit claims

Three of the potential thousands of disgruntled Nissan Rogue owners have brought forth a class-action lawsuit to address this classic broken transmission issue. The suit claims that not only do the transmissions contain defects, it also suggests that Nissan was made aware of the ongoing issues as early as 2013.

The Nissan lawsuit goes on to claim that the CVT is to blame and describes its unconventional design that uses a steel belt and pulleys instead of the more commonly accepted gear structure.

Why transmission issues are so costly and dangerous

Transmission issues with these various Nissan Rogue models have proven to be costly for the SUV owners. The Drive shared a customer experience in which the first transmission replacement was covered under warranty. However, the following two replacements (yes, a total of three replacements) fell outside the warranty parameters and cost this Rogue owner thousands of dollars. The lawsuit claims owners have spent more than $400 to fix the problem. We found others, like this Rogue owner, who ended up spending nearly $5,000 on out-of-warranty transmission replacements. 

But the cost isn’t the only concern. Failing transmissions, especially while driving, can lead to potentially hazardous situations and accidents. One of the plaintiffs in the class-action lawsuit claimed her Rogue would significantly hesitate when she attempted to accelerate. Then it would rev at RPMs and jerk before surging forward. Even more dangerous was her experience with transmission slippage at highway speeds. Being unable to maintain the flow of traffic speeds puts drivers at risk of being rear-ended or inadvertently causing an accident.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue may be a safer buy

The 2020 Nissan Rogue managed to earn a better reliability rating, and the 2021 model may be on track to maintain the positive momentum. The latest generation still offers a single engine variation across all of its S, SV, SL, and Platinum trims. Edmunds outlines the details, including this 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine’s 181-hp capability. The Nissan Rogue is still using a continuously variable automatic transmission. But it’s hard to tell for sure if the transmission issues of 2013-2016 are in the rearview mirror just yet.

Despite the transmission concerns, and even this latest class-action lawsuit, the Nissan Rogue continues to be a popular SUV among consumers. And based on the most recent few years of ownership experience reporting, the hope is Nissan found the necessary transmission solutions. 

For now, this lawsuit is ongoing in the U.S. District Court in Tennessee, and the plaintiffs are represented by attorneys with the firms, Branstetter Stranch & Jennings PLLC, Greenstone Law APC, and Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP. And there soon may be reimbursements for these dissatisfied Rogue owners.