2012 Nissan Rogue: whining or grinding noise

Filed Jul 3, 2024 · Acceleration, Engine · TX

The main and most dangerous issue is first hearing high pitch whining/winding sound while driving as the rpm's start to spike and stay high resulting & causing vehicle to lose power and speed for no apparent reason. Subsequently, as you attempt to depress the gas pedal to increase speed to try to mitigate the issue, the vehicle continues to lose power and speed regardless of how depressed gas pedal is (even completely depressed to floorboard). Within seconds vehicle is forced to a stop from lack of power and acceleration and will not continue to drive at all. This issue is nothing less than terrifying and incredibly dangerous especially while on the freeway with heavy traffic speeding and whizzing past you at 70+ mph. If this is happening to people at night, it's only a matter of time before someone will be killed by the speeding and oblivious traffic coming from behind if that has not already occurred. I was travelling with my child and our dog in the back and wonder would have happened if I couldn't have merged into the slower lanes in heavy traffic and off to the shoulder to "safety." What will happen to a family in the fast lane that is not able to merge to safety or when they find themselves forced and stuck in the middle of the freeway between the median and the fast lane?? In addition, upon starting, vehicle will also idle higher than normal and stay high with slight fluxuation even while in park. While driving, rpm's continue to spike with every gear shift and vehicle is slow to respond and keep up with desired speed and will continue to worsen as time progresses. The longer the drive, the more (tired) and sluggish it seems with both lack of response, lack of power, and lack of speed. First signs of issue were while idling at stoplights, vehicle will shake and seem to idle very low as if going to die while at idle. There is also a noticeable shake while driving especially at higher speeds with this problem remaining and lasting the duration of drive.

Filed Oct 12, 2021 · DC

I have a 2012 Nissan Rogue with 84,000 miles and my CVT makes a howling noise when I start up the car. After warming up the car, the howling noise continues onto the local city streets and into the highway, and after a few minutes of driving, the screeching sounds go away. A few weeks later, I brought the car into a local mechanic for an oil change and the mechanic determined that the transmission needs to be replaced. I have maintained the car in optimal care by ensuring maintenance and general repairs are done bi-annually. After discussing this matter with Nissan Corporate, they determined my car warranty has expired and they cannot extend other Nissan Rogue extended warranty for my car. However, the 2003-2010 Nissan vehicles equipped with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) have a 10-year/120,000-mile (whichever comes first) CVT limited warranty extension, according to the Nissan Corporate warranty page. The cost to fix the car is approximately $5,500. The replacement of the transmission and additional normal wear and tear repairs (back rotors and pads) will cost more than the value of the car. Due to the faulty CVT design based on historic reporting on this model, I am very disappointed to learn that the quality and integrity of the transmission for having a car at such a low mileage. I had been lucky to bring the car into a local mechanic just in time before it stopped working. Had the car stopped on the highway, I would have caused a major traffic accident due to the poor quality design of the transmission.

Filed Dec 2, 2019 · Transmission · 115,000 miles · AR

I had to have the transmission replaced in august. I originally had troubles in may (car would not accelerate and I had my foot pedal on the floor trying to accelerate on the interstate (40 MPH being passed by semis without anywhere safe to pullover) and brought my car to the dealership who told me there was nothing wrong. In august I had similar problems of not being able to accelerate on the interstate and the dealership told me my transmission was toast and I needed another one. They told me that if I did not install the cooling kit, it would happen again. I brought my car to aamco for a second opinion. He agreed that I needed a new transmission and a cooling kit added as this is common with the nissan CVT transmission. My check engine light never came on and this car was not safe on the road. Nissan clearly knows there is a problem with their transmissions in this model and admit to needing an add-on cooling kit to address. It was negligent of the dealership to let me drive off of the lot in may. It is now december and I am having troubles with my car again. When I first turn my car on, it makes a whining noise with pressing the accelerator. My mechanic believes this to be a problem with the transmission and I will be bringing my car to the local dealership to see. I also had problems with the check engine light coming on in august and my car making noises with changing gears. I was told this was due to the mass air flow sensor. But, I am still having troubles and now I am told it is the transmission again. I am not convinced that all of these problems are not all related to the transmission. Nissan knows there is a problem with the transmission and are allowing people to drive with an unsafe vehicle.

Filed Jul 24, 2018 · Transmission · 82,899 miles · MA

Cvt whining noise (high frequency) generated often during accel from 10 to 40 MPH. The issue started a couple of months ago. The dealer diagnosed it on jul 23, 2018 and told me entire CVT needs to be replaced. They said CVT fluids overheated and damaged CVT chain. No warning light or some sort of engine light came on. Also they said CVT cooling kit needs to be installed which didn't exist in the vehicle in the first place. Lots of CVT issues reported from nissan vehicles. It is 2012 rogue and 82900 miles. It is tool early for transmission to fail. I think this is major design defect or flaw.

Filed Jul 30, 2017 · Transmission · 100,000 miles · AL

After only 5 years and 100,000 miles I was told I had to have a new transmission. I am a very safe driver; only I have driven car; mostly highway miles. All maintenance was maintained. Whine developed in transmission; first told nothing wrong; a few weeks later told this news by pat peck nissan, mobile, al. Happened when accelerating.

Filed Jul 2, 2017 · Transmission · 55,000 miles · SC

The vehicle has had multiple problems pertaining ro the transmission. It's loud and whining for the last 40000 miles. The dealership says it is normal, there is no way. It also has a problem of binding up when you turn the wheels at same time of accelerating. The vehicle also tries to walk over itself. It also will have delays within the transmission. You begin to accelerate but it doesnt go theres a delay and then it shoots out like a bullet. I have had my dealership check it out and they say its fine. Other years and models they have extended warranty because of complaints but not mine for whatever reason.

Filed Aug 24, 2016 · Transmission · 55,000 miles · MA

The CVT transmission overheats and begins to whine. , [xxx]. : thank you for writing about your concerns about your nissan. The ntsb doesn't handle recalls and associated vehicle safety issues of that nature. However, the federal safety agency does. They may be reached through their website at where you will find complaint forms and other information. [xxx] ntsb atc investigations -----original message----- from: [xxx] [mailto:[xxx]] sent: monday, august 22, 2016 18:33 to: tcas subject: nissan rouge safety issue sent from my ipad nissan safety issue about there CVT transmission failures. Before families are killed, nissan should have a recall on these transmissions. I own a 2012 nissan rouge that when the transmission overheats the car starts to whine and completely loses power. This happened to me on multiple occasions on the highway and I thought l was going to get killed trying to get into the breakdown lane with no power. I stepped on the gas and l was just losing power. I have read about many similar issues online. Nissan claims that this is a safety device and when the transmission overheats is goes into safe mode. This is not a safety device, this is going to kill people if it hasn't all ready. The longer the drive and the warmer the day is when it has more potential for loss of power. I am at the point where I am afraid of going on any long distance drive because l feel I am going to loss power. This starting happening at around 55,000 miles and is getting worse.there needs to be a recall on these transmissions. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Jul 18, 2016 · Transmission · 790,000 miles · NY

Loss of power goes into limp mode intermittent pull feels like transmission is slipping and failing I was on a major interstate doin 65 MPH I am absolutely sure that there is something wrong withe the transmission been whining since I purchased it wit 49000 miles kept taking it back and said nothing was wrong

Filed Nov 10, 2015 · Transmission · 50,000 miles · NJ

After the vehicle gets warm the transmission will intermittently whine (started after 50,000 miles. It increases with speed and is most noticeable with the window open. It also starts to loose power if you continue to drive it. If you park and let the truck sit for a few minutes the whining stops. Took it to the dealer today and they say they cannot do anything about it. I also had a 2010 nissan rogue which did the very same thing at almost the same mileage. Nissan did replace the CVT transmission on that one.

Filed Oct 26, 2015 · Transmission · 33,000 miles · OH

Just bought the car @ 33,000 miles. Noticed almost imediately that there was some whining and squealing from the transmission at various times and speed (both on city streets at lower MPH and on highways) it would stop when I depressed the excellerator. It wasn't constant and I couldn't pin point when it was accuring but it happened enough. Read all sorts of things and simialr stories with these nissan CVT transmissions, so I called the dealer (carmax) and they set up an appointment and took it in. Their guys agreed adnd send it to a local nissan dealer as it's under warranty, the local nissan dealer is trying to say it might be the wheel bearings. I'm beside myself and the carmax service people are fighting for me as they agree with me. My research shows numerous issues with this exact problem over several nissan CVT transmissions on numerous makes of vehicles.

Filed Jul 28, 2014 · Engine · 8,000 miles · AZ

Acceleration problems, when stepping on gas vehicle crawls and whining noise from engine sounding transmission problems. Had it looked at when new with clunking noise from engine at dealer. They said they not seen any problems with rogues and claimed a road test was done and no noises were heard from techs. Noises have continued and now having severe problems accelerating to even 30mph. Problem seems to come and go quite frequently, most occurrences happen after a long road trip. Vehicle has been serviced regularly, including transmission fluids and oil changes as recommended. Not sure what to do where dealers claim nothing wrong with vehicles. Does a serious accident or death have to happen to finally acknowledge several people complaining of the same issue. Google searches will show many forums of same complaints...

Filed Jul 16, 2014 · Transmission · 8,500 miles · CA

Lost power going uphill on a freeway. Could not get off the freeway as I was in the middle lane. Car made whining sounds but would not go uphill. I was pressing gas with no effect just noise. Turned on my emergency lights and stopped in the middle lane causing back up. Gladly I had cellphone signal and was able to call a tow. This is unbelievable on the new vehicle with 8k miles. After the tow to the dealership it started and drove normally. Good thing that dealer was closed and I had no choice but test it. I will take it to my local dealer for check up but new cars should not loose power like that on the freeway.