2021 Nissan Rogue
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2021 models.

- Class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
- Body styles
- 4dr SUV AWD, 4dr SUV FWD
- Engines
- 1.5L 3-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl
- Transmission
- CVT
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
- Seats
- 5
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 33 combined · 30 city / 37 hwy
- Length
- 182.7 in
- Curb weight
- 3,386–3,545 lb
- NHTSA rating
- ★★★★★
- Recalls
- 10 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
- Excellent fuel economyUp to 33 MPG combined — 25% better than the average 2021 small SUV (26.4 MPG).
- AWD / 4WD available
- Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
Watch out for
- 10 recallsMore than similar models (about 3). Confirm repairs with the VIN.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 30 similar 2021 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2021 Nissan Rogue is a small SUV offered with 2 engines (1.5L 3-cyl turbo and 2.5L 4-cyl) and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
It measures about 183 inches long and 72 inches wide on a 106-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,545 lb (4dr SUV AWD).
EPA rates its most efficient version at 33 MPG combined (30 city / 37 highway), 25% better than the 2021 small SUV average of 26.4 MPG, for an estimated $2,050 a year in fuel.
In NHTSA crash testing it earned a 4-star overall rating.
It has 10 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 294 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the unknown or other.
What changed for 2021
- Engine added: 1.5L 3-cyl turbo
- Best combined MPG up from 29 to 33
Compared with 2020; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2020 Rogue →
Trims, performance & features
Trims
Safety & driver-assist features
Built in: Smyrna, Tennessee · Kyushu Plant, Miyako-Gun, Fukuoka
NHTSA vPIC, as reported by the manufacturer for 5 2021 Rogue configurations; may not list every trim. How we calculate this →
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4dr SUV AWD | 182.7 in | 72.4 in | 66.5 in | 106.3 in | 62.2 / 62.6 in | 3,545 lb | 58/42 |
| 4dr SUV FWD | 182.7 in | 72.4 in | 66.5 in | 106.3 in | 62.2 / 62.6 in | 3,386 lb | 59/41 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rogue FWD | 1.5L 3-cyl turbo | Automatic (AV-S8) | Front-Wheel Drive | 30 / 37 / 33 | +25% | $2,050 | 270 |
| Rogue AWD | 1.5L 3-cyl turbo | Automatic (AV-S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 30 / 36 / 33 | +38% | $2,050 | 275 |
| Rogue FWD SL/Platinum | 1.5L 3-cyl turbo | Automatic (AV-S8) | Front-Wheel Drive | 30 / 36 / 32 | +21% | $2,100 | 278 |
| Rogue AWD SL/Platinum | 1.5L 3-cyl turbo | Automatic (AV-S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 29 / 35 / 32 | +34% | $2,100 | 284 |
| Rogue FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | Automatic (AV-S8) | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 / 34 / 30 | +14% | $2,250 | 292 |
| Rogue FWD SV/SL/Platinum | 2.5L 4-cyl | Automatic (AV-S8) | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 / 33 / 29 | +10% | $2,300 | 304 |
| Rogue AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | Automatic (AV-S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 26 / 33 / 29 | +21% | $2,300 | 310 |
| Rogue AWD SV/SL/Platinum | 2.5L 4-cyl | Automatic (AV-S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 25 / 32 / 28 | +17% | $2,400 | 318 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2021 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Driver / passenger | Side | Side pole | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Nissan Rogue SUV FWD Later Release | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 4★ / 4★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 17.9% |
| 2021 Nissan Rogue SUV AWD Later Release | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 4★ / 4★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 17.9% |
| 2021 Nissan Rogue SUV AWD Earlier Release | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 4★ / 2★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 17.9% |
| 2021 Nissan Rogue SUV FWD Earlier Release | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 4★ / 2★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 17.9% |


Similar 2021 small SUVs
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Nissan Rogue (this car) | 33 MPG | ★★★★★ | 10 |
| 2021 Toyota RAV4 | 40 MPG | ★★★★★ | 1 |
| 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime | 38 MPG | Not rated | 4 |
| 2021 Honda CR-V | 38 MPG | ★★★★★ | 5 |
| 2021 Toyota 4Runner | 17 MPG | ★★★★★ | 1 |
| 2021 Hyundai Tucson | 25 MPG | ★★★★★ | 1 |
| 2021 Subaru Forester | 29 MPG | ★★★★★ | 0 |
Recalls (10)
Engine And Engine Cooling › Engine › Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical · Jun 27, 2025
NHTSA campaign 25V437000 · 443,899 vehicles
- Problem
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Rogue, 2019-2020 Altima, 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50, and 2022 Infiniti QX55 vehicles equipped with 3-cylinder 1.5L or 4-cylinder 2.0L variable compression turbo (VC-Turbo) engines. The engine bearings may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine failure.
- Risk
- Engine failure increases 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.
- Fix
- Dealers will reprogram the engine control module (ECM) software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed April 8, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261 or Infiniti's customer service at 1-800-662-6200. Nissan's numbers for this recall are R25A8/A9 and R25B1/B2.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Caliper · Nov 22, 2023
NHTSA campaign 23V791000 · 2 vehicles
- Problem
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Rogue vehicles. The left and/or right rear brake caliper assemblies may be missing an internal bushing, allowing the O-ring seal to move and brake fluid to leak.
- Risk
- A loss of brake fluid may reduce braking performance, increasing the risk of crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the left and right rear brake calipers, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 12, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC933. The two vehicles that were previously inspected under recall 21V-286 and did not receive a brake caliper replacement will need to have the new remedy completed.
Back Over Prevention › Display Function · Oct 13, 2022
NHTSA campaign 22V772000 · 27,388 vehicles
- Problem
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2022 Titan, Titan XD, Frontier, and 2021-2022 Rogue vehicles. The in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system may continuously reboot when the vehicle is restarted, which can result in an inoperative rearview display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Risk
- An inoperative rearview camera display reduces the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- The IVI software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 18, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are R22B8, R22C1, and PC923/25.
Seat Belts › Rear/Other › Buckle Assembly · Sep 1, 2022
NHTSA campaign 22V666000 · 8,391 vehicles
- Problem
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Rogue vehicles. The rear seat belts for the left-hand and right-hand rear seats may not retract properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection," and 209, "Seatbelt Assemblies."
- Risk
- Seat belts that do not retract properly may be difficult to operate, preventing their usage, which can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will inspect and replace the rear seat belts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 27, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC915.
Equipment › Electrical › Infotainment › Software · Jul 21, 2022
NHTSA campaign 22V527000 · 10,477 vehicles
- Problem
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Rogue, 2022 Frontier, Pathfinder, and Titan rental vehicles. When the Sirius XM subscription is set to "Not Subscribed," it may cause the infotainment head unit to reboot, resulting in an inoperative rearview camera. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Risk
- An inoperative rearview camera display reduces the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- The Infotainment system software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 29, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R22A5 PC901 PC902.
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump · Dec 9, 2021
NHTSA campaign 21V957000 · 24,793 vehicles
- Problem
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Rogue vehicles. Abnormal wear inside the fuel pump may cause it to overheat and fail.
- Risk
- Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 27, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R21B8.
Seats › Mid/Rear Assembly · Jun 24, 2021
NHTSA campaign 21V474000 · 47,098 vehicles
- Problem
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Rogue vehicles. The second-row upper tether wires may have been improperly welded to the seatback frame, preventing a child seat from being securely anchored. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."
- Risk
- An insecurely anchored child seat can move during a sudden stop or crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Fix
- Dealers will inspect and replace the rear seatbacks as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 30, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC812.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Caliper · Apr 22, 2021
NHTSA campaign 21V286000 · 14,054 vehicles
- Problem
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Rogue vehicles. The rear left and/or right brake caliper assemblies may be missing an internal bushing, allowing the O-ring seal to move and brake fluid to leak.
- Risk
- A loss of brake fluid may reduce braking performance, increasing the risk of crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will inspect and replace the left and/or right rear brake calipers, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 10, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC804.
Wheels › Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs · Mar 17, 2021
NHTSA campaign 21V186000 · 21 vehicles
- Problem
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Nissan Rogue vehicles. The incorrect wheel nuts may have been installed, and may loosen causing wheel vibration.
- Risk
- The wheel vibration may break the wheel studs and cause the wheel assembly to separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wheel nuts and replace any incorrect ones, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC799.
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings · Feb 11, 2021
NHTSA campaign 21V068000 · 2,150 vehicles
- Problem
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Nissan Rogue vehicles. The fuel hose may not be secured in the proper position and the fuel tank lock ring may not be fully seated.
- Risk
- An improperly secured fuel hose may leak, increasing the risk of a fire. The fuel hose may also disconnect completely, causing the engine to stall and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, reposition and secure the fuel hose and lock ring, free of charge. The recall began March 16, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC791.
Not every 2021 Nissan Rogue is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Used 2021 Nissan Rogue buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 10 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Electrical System — 61 owner reports. Test every window, lock, light, screen and USB port; check the battery age.
- Engine — 53 owner reports. Cold-start the engine, listen for knocking, and watch for warning lights or hesitation on acceleration.
- Fuel/Propulsion System — 33 owner reports. Smell for fuel around the car and in the cabin, check that it starts easily when warm, and look at the oil dipstick for a fuel smell or rising level.
- Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 30,992 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
- Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.
Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2021 Nissan Rogue. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.
Other Rogue years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Rogue | 32 | 182.7 in | Not rated | 2 | 53 |
| 2025 Rogue | 33 | 182.7 in | ★★★★★ | 3 | 198 |
| 2024 Rogue | 33 | 182.7 in | ★★★★★ | 4 | 221 |
| 2023 Rogue | 33 | 182.7 in | ★★★★★ | 6 | 755 |
| 2022 Rogue | 33 | 182.7 in | ★★★★★ | 1 | 244 |
| 2020 Rogue | 29 | 184.6 in | ★★★★★ | 1 | 153 |
| 2019 Rogue | 34 | 184.6 in | ★★★★★ | 4 | 339 |
| 2018 Rogue | 34 | 182.3 in | ★★★★★ | 4 | 670 |
| 2017 Rogue | 34 | 182.3 in | ★★★★★ | 6 | 600 |
| 2016 Rogue | 28 | 182.3 in | ★★★★★ | 7 | 543 |
| 2015 Rogue | 28 | 182.3 in | ★★★★★ | 9 | 552 |
| 2014 Rogue | 28 | 182.3 in | ★★★★★ | 10 | 414 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Nissan. How we calculate this →