2017 Nissan Rogue Sport Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2017 Rogue Sport most often describe hesitation or loss of power from the continuously variable transmission, and a separate cluster of complaints about the radiator cooling fan failing so the engine overheats and the A/C stops cooling. Transmission reports usually appear past 60,000 miles and often come with no warning light, while cooling-fan reports often arrive at low mileage and are frequently tied to a long wait for the replacement part.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   CVT hesitation, slipping or loss of power

   Mentioned in 21 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe pressing the accelerator and getting little or no response, with the engine revving while the car creeps or stays put, sometimes after a stop or while merging. Some say the transmission jerks or shudders while driving, and a few report it dropping out of gear on the highway. Complaints mention dark, odorous transmission fluid and CVT-related codes; some dealers replaced valves or the transmission, while others could not duplicate the concern. Often reported between roughly 35,000 and 90,000 miles, with several past 100,000 miles; frequently intermittent with no warning light.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask for transmission service records and whether the CVT control module calibration has been updated. During a test drive, note any delay when accelerating from a stop or after slowing for a turn, and have a shop scan for stored CVT codes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “For over a year, I've had trouble with one of the tires losing air every few days. I'm thinking that perhaps it is the valve stem, but I'm not a mechanic. The other day, though, I was accelerating on a mountain road moving about 45/50 MPH and the car stopped accelerating. It was as if it was in neutral and could no longer move. I had to have it towed back to my house, about 5 miles away. It still will not move when I put it in gear. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11415605, filed 2021-05, 100,425 miles

   “I have experienced, at least 10 times as of 9/12/2020, the latest instance being yesterday 9/11/2020, a lack of response when accelerating. Every instance occurred after the vehicle was at a complete stop, no rolling stops were affected. Some of the times it was really hot (95 degrees fahrenheit), but other times it was 65-70 degrees fahrenheit. Some of the instances were right after I turned the car on and needed to stop and then go, other instances were after driving for 30 minutes or more. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11354613, filed 2020-09, 43,500 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Cooling fan failure leading to overheating

   • 16 complaints (22%)
   • median 42,000 mi at 4.2 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2020–2025

   Complaints describe the A/C blowing warm at idle, the temperature gauge climbing, the check engine light coming on, and in some cases smoke or coolant loss from under the hood. Owners say the radiator cooling fan assembly was diagnosed as the cause. Several report that the part was on back order, leaving the vehicle at the dealer or undrivable for weeks. Reported from very low mileage up to around 52,000 miles; often noticed in hot weather or when the car sits in traffic.

   What to check: With the engine warm and the A/C on, confirm the cooling fan runs; watch the temperature gauge in stop-and-go traffic. Ask whether the fan assembly has been replaced and check for coolant residue or a low coolant level.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My car A/C started to run hot air, so I purchased the rechargeable A/C pro. My boyfriend and I figured out that wasn't the issue. So I continued to use the A/C byt it would run cold while I was in motion but if I was stopped at a light hot air would come out. Now the car started overheating if I would use the A/C. Meanwhile I has just taken the car to the Nissan dealership for an oil change a week prior to that. So I stopped using the A/C, but now the car would overheat if I drove for more than an hour. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11354491, filed 2020-09, 52,000 miles

   “My vehicle would be working and running fine for a little bit but after driving it for a while, my A/C would stop blowing cool air. It would be blowing cool air at first and then start blowing hot air and then my car would start to overheat afterwards. I mostly have this problem when my car is stopped for a while or not going above 40 MPH. I went to the Nissan dealership to get it checked out and they said the problem was the cooling fan. My car is practically brand new. I bought it brand new in february of 2018. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11340456, filed 2020-07, 48,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Engine stalling or shutting off while driving

   • 13 complaints (18%)
   • median 150,000 mi at 5.2 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2025

   Owners describe the engine cutting out at low speed, at a stop, or while turning, sometimes with the dash going dark, and then restarting after shifting to park. Several note it happens more in cold weather or when braking to a stop. Mechanics often could not reproduce the problem, and some suggested longer warm-up periods. Reported across a wide mileage range, from under 30,000 to over 150,000 miles, with several owners linking it to cold weather.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether any stalling incidents were diagnosed and whether the engine control software has been updated. On a test drive, include a few stops from speed and a cold start to see whether idle stays steady.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This only happens in cold weather. The engine shuts off when coming to a stop. Once the Rpm’s get to 1 when braking the car bucks and then stalls out. I have had this car a few years and every winter it does the same thing. I have taken it to a local mechanic who could not identify where the problem is coming from. I have read that others have a similar issue, but no remedy.”

   NHTSA complaint #11637497, filed 2025-01

   “I was driving my car and in the middle of me driving it completely stalled out in the middle of the road. I was lucky enough to hurry and put it in park before my brakes and gas locked on me. I turned the car off and turned it back on but was unsuccessful in getting the car to do anything except for drift back into traffic. I was stranded in the middle of the road and needed triple A to come and help. It completely stalled out.”

   NHTSA complaint #11436643, filed 2021-10
4. 4
   Air bags

   Passenger airbag light and occupant sensor faults

   • 6 complaints (8%)
   • median 37,000 mi at 3.1 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners report the airbag warning light staying on, or the passenger airbag indicator switching off with someone seated in the seat. Complaints describe resets or replacement of the occupant detection sensor unit or seat track, and some say the light returned after repair. Several mention being quoted four-figure repair costs, and one notes the vehicle failed inspection because of the light. Reported anywhere from roughly 37,000 to over 100,000 miles, often after several years of ownership.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Turn the ignition on and confirm the airbag light goes out after the bulb check, then have someone sit in the passenger seat and verify the passenger airbag indicator reads on. Ask whether the occupant sensor has been reset or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The censor on the passenger air bag failed and my air bag light is on. My car has not been in a accident took it to the Nissan dealers in selma ca they quoted me over $1000.00 I seen online that there is a recall on passenger air bags but when I looked up my VIN # it doesn't show but it the same part that was recalled can you please help me find out if this could be under warranty”

   NHTSA complaint #11308793, filed 2020-02, 37,000 miles

   “The passenger airbag sensor on my dashboard has been on constantly even if the seat is empty for two years and has been passing inspection. However, for some odd reason, my car failed inspection this year due to the airbag light. It costs over $2200 to fix. My Altima also has this issue. Nissan needs to recall this issue. It’s becoming a common problem with your cars.”

   NHTSA complaint #11430349, filed 2021-08

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection that scans for stored transmission and airbag codes, plus a check that the cooling fan runs and the A/C cools at idle, covers the faults owners describe most often. Service records showing transmission fluid changes and any software updates are worth asking about.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.