2008 Nissan Rogue: engine overheating

Filed Apr 25, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · TX

On February 6, 2025, while driving at highway speed, the lower radiator hose ruptured, causing complete coolant loss. The CVT transmission overheated, seized, and the engine was destroyed. Vehicle lost motive power at speed without warning. Repair estimate: $20,356.16. Vehicle declared total loss and sold for salvage at $400. Nissan Technical Service Bulletin NTB14-002b acknowledges this identical failure chain in 2008-2012 Rogues and prescribes a supplemental cooler kit (cost under $85) as the fix. Nissan has not included this VIN in any recall despite the identical mechanism. Loss of power at highway speed constitutes a safety-related defect under 49 U.S.C. § 30118.

Filed Sep 20, 2018 · 101,000 miles · NC

After 1hr driving on highway speed drops to approx 50mph altho speed odometer needle stays 60-70mph; RPM at 2 1/2 does not move. Pedal to the metal no reaction. Once approach slower traffic area, speed to like 40mph car drives ok. Told it is the failsafe for overheating transmission!!

Filed Aug 31, 2017 · Transmission · 72,000 miles · TX

The transmission on my 2008 nissan rogue is failing due to overheating.the overheating causes the transmission to fail and the vehicle loses power. I've been told that even if I replace the transmission, at $4000, the new one will likely fail as well. I'm told that the transmission is overheating because the cooling fan is not powerful enough. I'm also being told that this is a known issue with nissan but they will not provide a cheaper fix in order to profit from nissan owners getting stuck with a bill for $4000 for a new transmission. $4000 is quote from aamco transmission replacement for 2008 nissan rogue. Please provide more economic solution.

Filed Feb 8, 2015 · Acceleration · 75,000 miles · FL

We were driving back home when my husband noticed that the car would not accelerate above 65 MPH. This occurred about halfway home, so about 200 miles into our drive back home (of the 350 mile total). The car was not overheated, nor was it making noise. He would put his foot down all the way on the accelerator, as if he wanted to go full speed and it would not respond. There weren't any warning lights lit up on the console, and it was not overheated. We immediately called our local honda dealer and explained the problem we were having. They said we could take the car into them, but we would have to pay $150 just for the inspection of the vehicle, and they confirmed there wasn't a recall so we would also have to foot the bill for the repairs. We stopped to eat and calm our nerves and got back on the road. When we got back in the car, the problem did not start up again until a few months later, during our next long drive away from home, and have avoided taking it on long trips since then. This was my first and last nissan. I can't wait to get rid of the rogue! It has proven to be busy with electrical issues.

Filed Sep 1, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 64,000 miles · CO

May 2014: on a trip to az, vehicle suddenly began to decelerate and could not be driven more than 3000 rpms. Suddenly and drastically slowing down without using brakes and with no brake light warning to following vehicles could have caused a serious rear-end accident. Problem occurred without warning more 20 times. Took rogue to economy nissan to repair problem. They replaced dip stick and drained off some transmission fluid and stated this would correct what they said was a transmission fluid overheating problem. July 2014: on another cross country trip problem re-occurred. Went to dave solon nissan in pueblo colo. They advised not to continue driving rogue until a transmission cooler kit was installed. This part was on perpetual back order. In reality we were informed that at that time there was no fix for this problem. Because of our schedule, we traded the rogue in for a used nissan pathfinder. We later found out that dave solon nissan got tired of waiting for the part and took rogue to a car action. It is unclear whether they informed the public of problem or just sold the vehicle with a serious safety problem that could not be corrected. To date there appears to be no fix to this problem. We believe this should be a recall issue given the high potential for serious rear-end accidents.

Filed Jun 19, 2014 · Transmission · 85,000 miles · CO

Driving and suddenly the car went from 70mph to 50mph. Unable to get it to go any faster. Transmission in some sort of safe mode from overheating or something. I was almost run into by the car behind me. This is the 4th time this has happened and every time I have only narrowly avoided a collision. Nissan says they have a fix for the problem, however the parts are on restriction, meaning that the dealer can't even get them in. This needs to be fixed and a recall issued asap before people start dying from this problem.

Filed Jun 6, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 78,445 miles · MD

We bought a car last monday on may 26, 2014 at antwerpen nissan security dealership (1701 woodlawn drive, baltimore, md 21207). Please find the car details: year: 2008 make: nissan model: rogue body type: 4dr sl fwd trim: sl black VIN: [xxx] odometer: 78321 with a dealer warranty for one month or 1000 miles, powertrain only ; for the total cash delivered price of $13,000.00 (thirteen thousand us dollars) already paid by check on may 26, 2014. The second day we were facing problems with the car as the motor was overheated in very few miles, it was smelling smoky inside and the motor was making cracking noises even when it was turned off. We called immediately the sales manager and let him know that we want to turn the car back as it is not functioning properly. The day after we almost get an accident in the traffic that put our life in danger. The car lost power while driving: gas pedal was fully pushed down and the tachometer showed 3500 RPM while the speed hardly reached 20 MPH for about 2 miles till we pulled over at bel air road. We decided to call the general manager for turning the car back as it was within the warranty and I was very clear to him that I do not want that car any more. He agreed to do so, and on last friday may 30th, 2014, they carried the car from our home location. We requested the money back. Since that day we have being waiting for days and hours in the dealership offices for a response of our request, but they lied to us all the time and last night after many attempts on deaf phone calls the response was: no, they are not giving us the money back. The car dealer pretend that this dangerous car has no problems at all !!! Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed May 13, 2014 · Transmission · 85,000 miles · IL

Vehicle has sudden loss of power due to overheating of transmission fluid causing vehicle to go into a limp mode reducing speed to approximately 40-50 MPH. Happens when driving at highway speeds for 2 or more hours. Once coming to a stop, the vehicle will not accelerate at all...completely powerless. Have had to a nissan dealer 4 times receiving nothing more than a band-aid temporary repair by draining some of the trans fluid rather than installing a better transmission cooling system. Nissan has know about hundreds of cases over the course of 7 years and to date has no credible repair, thus totally ignoring consumers safety. There are tens of reviews regarding this by concerned consumers. This is a fatality( if not already) waiting to happen.

Filed Sep 26, 2013 · Transmission · 40,000 miles · CO

I own a 2008 nissan rogue that has had ongoing problems with the CVT. When I first experienced the problem, nissan did not even know/acknowledge there was an issue. When traveling during the summer on the highway at high speeds (70-80 MPH) I would randomly lose power to the vehicle. For instance, if I was driving with the cruise control on, it would shut off and gradually start to decelerate. Stepping on the gas did nothing. In some cases, I would be driving down the highway only able to go about 25 MPH. Additionally, when coming to a complete stop, for example when exiting the highway and waiting at a light, the car is very slow to respond to start moving again. After taking my car to three different dealerships, nissan finally began to acknowledge there was an system issue (not after making me spend $400+ for a transmission flush). They said that the combination of elevation, heat and high speeds was causing the transmission to overheat and go into "fail safe" mode. Finally last summer (july 2012) nissan replaced the transmission in the vehicle. Now, one year later and only 20,000 miles on the new transmission, I am having the same issues. Most bothersome, however was the last few times this has happened, it was not hot and I was not driving in the mountains. After 30 minutes of driving about 82 MPH with 65 degree weather, I lost all power to the vehicle. I had to merge with traffic that was moving at least 70 MPH and I was only able to move at 40 MPH. Nissan has said that they are aware of the continued issue, but because the CVT is technically performing as it should, they will not cover it under warranty. They said they are developing a coolant, but is this a real solution? Bottom line, this is not a safe, reliable vehicle. Every time I get in my car, I wonder if I will be able to get where I need to go in a timely and safe fashion.

Filed Aug 17, 2011 · Transmission · 42,000 miles · GA

On a drive from nc to ga we noticed that we were losing acceleration on every hill on the highway after about 2 1/2 hours into the drive. We could not accelerate up hills and pressed the gas pedal all the way to the floor. As we climbed the hills we lost acceleration. After stopping for lunch the problem seemed to go away until another 2 1/2 hours more where the problem got worse. Tractor trailor trucks were barreling down on us because we kept losing acceleration. We pulled off at an exit and barely could accelerate from a stop. We pulled into a nissan dealer and turned the car off and explained the problem. They said they thought it went into safety mode but could not replicate the problem. It seems that the transmission overheats after a couple hours into the drive and goes into the safety mode which reduced acceleration and power. Nissan said there is nothing they can do because they can't replicate the problem but they can only do so by driving it more than 2 hours.