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2013 Nissan Rogue problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

VERY HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
76%
396 of 523 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

76% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2013 Nissan Rogue are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.

Worse than 95% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 87 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 65%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2013 Nissan Rogue have transmission problems?

Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 396 of 523 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Nissan Rogue concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (76%), and the largest group is filed under power train (314). For comparison, the 2012 scores 65% and the 2014 scores 58%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
396
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
610
this model year
Fires reported
16
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
1
14 crashes · 9 injuries

Complaints by component

POWER TRAIN314 · 51%
ENGINE104 · 17%
AIR BAGS90 · 15%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL90 · 15%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM65 · 11%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER60 · 10%

The years either side

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

How the 2013 compares with other Nissan Rogue years

Of the 14 Nissan Rogue years with enough complaints to score, the 2013 is the 2nd-worst on engine and transmission share (76%). The worst is the 2022 (79%), the best the 2018 (17%). By volume, the 2013 drew 610 complaints (396 drivetrain), against 318 for the 2012 and 440 for the 2014.

Nissan Rogue years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2013 Nissan Rogue

  • The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2013 Nissan Rogue said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
  • What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
  • Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
  • Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
  • What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
  • Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.

What one owner reported

ENGINE04/22/2024FIRE1 INJURED
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH on the highway, other vehicles were honking attempting to get her attention. Then a strong abnormal odor was coming the vehicle and it was discovered that there was a fire coming from the driver’s side footwell. The contact merged to …

One of 396 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

2013 Nissan Rogue engine and transmission recalls

No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2013 Nissan Rogue, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

1 other recall on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
electrical system15V032000 · Jan 2015
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Nissan Rogue vehicles manufactured March 7, 2007, to November 26, 2013, and 2014 Nissan Rogue Select vehicles…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.

Checking one particular 2013 Nissan Rogue? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2013 Nissan Rogue

Does the 2013 Nissan Rogue have transmission problems?

Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 396 of 523 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Nissan Rogue concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (76%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

What is the most common problem with the 2013 Nissan Rogue?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2013 Nissan Rogue is power train: 314 of 610 complaints (51%) name it, followed by engine (104) and air bags (90). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.

Is the 2013 Nissan Rogue reliable?

On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 76% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (very high signal). That is worse than 95% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Nissan Rogue years we score, it ranks 2nd-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2013 Nissan Rogue?

No. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2013 Nissan Rogue, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.

Which Nissan Rogue years are better?

Among the Nissan Rogue years we track, the 2018 (17%), the 2019 (19%) and the 2020 (20%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2013 (76%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/nissan-rogue

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.