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2021 Nissan Rogue Sport
Solid pick. The complaint record is strong for its age. It does carry safety recalls, so confirm every one shows "remedy completed" on the VIN before money changes hands.
35 owner complaints · 3 recalls · data verified July 15, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Driver assistance problems dominate (31% of complaints).
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
5/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2021 Nissan Rogue Sport SUV AWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 14%
No open NHTSA defect investigations on file.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2021 Nissan Rogue Sport, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Driver assistance (11) · Electrical system (7) · Engine (6) · Brakes (6)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Driver assistance
31%11 complaints · 5 in the last 2 years
“I was on the freeway, going 65mph. Suddenly, i felt my car partially brake. Thank God I was close to an exit and got off safely. My car partially braked again while i …”
Electrical system
20%7 complaints · 3 in the last 2 years
“Door lock actuators on driver side doors failed after less than 4 years. Both were “burnt” out according to Nissan tech. Unable to lock, unlock doors. Safety concerns.”
Engine
17%6 complaints · 4 in the last 2 years
“The engine fan fails causing the fan to move and coolant levels to diminish which causes the engine to over heat.”
Brakes
17%6 complaints · 4 in the last 2 years
“I was on the freeway, going 65mph. Suddenly, i felt my car partially brake. Thank God I was close to an exit and got off safely. My car partially braked again while i …”
Recalls (3)
Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.
Electrical System · 23V093000
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2014-2020 Rogue and 2017-2022 Rogue Sport vehicles equipped with a jackknife style ignition key. The jackknife key may collapse into a folded position while driving.
Risk: Driver contact with a key in the collapsed position could inadvertently shut off the vehicle while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, if the vehicle shuts off while driving, the air bags may not deploy in a crash as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will insert a spacer into the key slot of the jackknife key, free of charge. Interim notification letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed March 29, 2023. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 30, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R22C5.
Seat Belts · 21V555000
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Rogue Sport vehicles. The seat belt automatic locking retractor (ALR) may deactivate early, reducing the protection offered to an installed child seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: A seat belt retractor that does not function as intended can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the front passenger seat belt and as necessary both outer rear seat belts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 14, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is RT049 & RT050.
Structure · 21V525000
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Rogue Sport vehicles. The liftgate hinges can separate from the vehicle during a rear end crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components."
Risk: Separated hinges compromise the protection offered by the liftgate, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the left and right liftgate hinges, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 7, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R21A7.
Before you hand over money
Verify the recall work was done
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2021 Nissan ROGUE SPORT beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2021? See how every Rogue Sport model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2021 Nissan Rogue Sport against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.