2014 Nissan Rogue experience after 10,100 miles

[Grafarian]

Hi everyone, thought I post at the Nissan forums since we do have a Rogue. Actually the 2014 Rogue belongs to my brother and my personal car is a 2012 Honda CRV.
The rogue was manufactured 3/14 and purchased 8/14. The color of the Rogue is that teal/ blue with a black interior. We were trying to go for the light interior but it was harder to find and it was getting to be "last year" as the 2015 Rogue were coming out soon.

Anyways, I have to say so far the Rogue has been average in terms of problem free for us, but instead of going directly all the negative stuff that has happen I should start off with the positive.
1. The interior is nice and roomy
2. I like the fact that you can have shelves for extra storage(trunk).
3. Good passenger room
4. Better sound system then the Honda
5. Quieter interior
6. Smooth acceleration
7 Much better headlight design (light visibility at night and in very dark roads are 100% better then the Honda)


Now for my experience with the Rogue after 10,000 miles

1. 6,500 miles after a heavy rain storm I got a Chassis system error and the Rogue would not start. After letting it sit for 2 minutes the Rogue did start up with a check engine light. Decided was a good time for a oil change anyways, got an oil change and the check engine light came back as a u0100 - Lost communication with ECM/PCM. Dealer spent an hour looking and oil change so 2 hours in service, all they did was clear the code. Hasn't come back yet.

2. 9,000 - 9,400 miles, found nail in sidewall... Small nail, and air was leaking very slow. You would not have seen it and I didn't notice the nail at all, I did get a low tire pressure warning light but thought it was just winter. I re-inflate tires all to 35 PSI for the winter time. No noticeable lost of air driving for the few hundred miles, but after spotting it and having a tire place check it out, took it back to the dealer for a replacement. Dealer replace (1) tire says treads were still new so I could just do 1 tire. They had to special order the matching tire. (Not cars fault, but just some extra maintenance)

3. 10,100 miles -
1. This winter storm, The AWD did not work in reverse unless the vehicle warmed up. We have a narrow driveway, the FWD RAV4 is parked in the back because it is a pain to get out especially since only 1 tire gets traction. Once we got the RAV4 out I went to back out the Rogue. I hit the AWD Lock button and switched to the 4x4-i screen. When reversing I notice the vehicle wasn't moving the 4x4-i screen was showing 100% to the front despite having the AWD Lock light on. I tried traction on and off but the front wheels were spinning and the rear was getting no power at all. None of the rear tires were spinning. Also I don't think I saw the traction control light flash at all. I spent about a minute without revving the engine past 2,500 rpm to try and get the Rogue to move out since I just started the car up. I left the car running and started to remove whatever snow I could reach off the Nissan rogue, after about 5-10 minutes went back into the Rogue and tried again. This time the AWD worked and the Rogue backed out of the driveway like the snow was not there. (Yes, I did make sure the parking brake was off before I tried to move the Rogue the first time.) This is vs the 2012 CRV AWD which backed out the first time without any complaints. The Rogue was near the CRV rear bumper so I can't move forward and rock it.

2. I am also encountering some sort of harsh vibration problems. I am wondering if it is the Snow or something causing the vehicle to shake. This only happens at speeds 65 MPH + at low speeds the vehicle is fine. I even checked the alignment by letting go of the steering wheel on the side streets at 25-30 MPH and the Rogue kept straight. As soon as you hit 65 MPH you start noticing the vibration in the gas pedal, the faster you go the more the vehicle begins to vibrate. The seats are most noticeable both driver and passenger while the steering wheel feels like it is just the vibration coming from the vehicle itself. I hate to take it to the dealer to have it look at for another problem. During traffic at 50 MPH no vibrations at all nothing seems wrong. I only notice it after the highway was clear and was going the 65 MPH speed limit.

This just started happening, it was fine before the winter storm hit. I even mange to do 100 MPH with the Rogue on the highway for the heck of it and it was problem free. After driving in the snow storm at low speeds, didn't notice anything until the roads are cleared up and went to 65 MPH to keep up with traffic.

So far only extreme winter storm, I have been a bit disappointed in terms of expectation. The rest of the season it is fine and performs as expected. ( Would get longer with details here then what I have already typed out..)

In terms of fuel economy, it is the same as the CRV, 26-28 MPG in the winter and 30-31 MPG the rest of the season. Best tank so far 34 MPG. No complaints in the fuel economy area

[followingnfront]

I cant help you with 1-3 because I have a 1st gen with 35k trouble free miles except for 2 tires with nails in them this past month but that has absolutely nothing to do with the Rogue itself.

But regarding the highway vibration... I get that too at times in the snow... What happens when you drive through snow that is deep enough to get into the inner part of the rim and such, is that it throws off the balance of your tires with the added weight. So you get a sensation that your tire(s) are out of balance. It essentually is, until the snow gets removed or melts off.

[Grafarian]

That is interesting, although I wonder why it only happens at highway speeds, maybe to many long drives without using the brakes for heating and removing the snow. Half the Rogue tires were submerged in snow when backing out of the driveway. Guess I should use my brakes a bit more to melt everything hopefully.


The vibration is still there although it is a bit less, but still noticeable, this time it is happening at a bit higher speeds 70 MPH instead of 65. Hopefully whatever is stuck inside will get out of it. It surprised me because the vehicle was shaking like something was going to fall apart. Doesn't help it gets cold so stuff will freeze over again.

By the way does anyone find traction control seems to intervene a bit late? A few times cornering < 5 MPH not from a dead stop the Rogue pulled straight after hitting slush on top of black ice at a few intersection and it took a while before the computer came and intervene. You hear the moan and groan of the ABS system as it realize you are not going in the direction the steering wheel is pointing, not before the point of almost slamming on your brakes and using the e-brake. Having AWD Lock when cornering does help the Rogue instead of going straight towards the car on the other side, the Rogue does under steer but not as horrible as having AWD Lock off. Cornering with AWD lock off is like slamming your brakes when you panic in a corner. Lucky for me I was slow enough and prayed that the system would try and point me in the right direction which it did eventually. So now every questionable intersection I hit the AWD lock button, even at a complete stop. Instead of plowing straight ahead it seems to handle slippery corners a bit better as long as all tires are getting power.

[followingnfront]

Thats really weird. Im glad I have a 1st gen (no offense).

I think the understeer and plow is your tires but Im not so sure.

You sure youre only going 5mph in those instances? My Rogue has tires that need changing and even at speeds higher than that it corners in the snow better.

What I do sometimes is gas it a little to help it rotate around. Then traction control prevents it from drifting. But again, my Rogue handles snow way better than it sounds like yours does so I wouldnt advise you try to swing around a corner just yet.

Thats kind of bazaar because I only turn on AWD lock when im stuck or I want to drift.

[Grafarian]

I don't think it helped because it was slightly down hill, the turn was more of a right turn into a street then a wide left. The right turn was sort of sharp, I guess if the wheels are pointed to far to one side you slide forward, although I wonder why the back tires wouldn't try to catch you first before it hit the slush and ice.

Is the first gen Nissan Rogue full time AWD or is it part time like the current generation? This current Gen of the Rogue is very FWD bias and it is very hard to get the rear wheels to engage, according to the 4x4-i screen. It doesn't like to engage at all after 25 MPH. I had the AWD Lock and tested to see when it will shut itself off, it does it at 25 MPH. The only time I have ever seen the rear tires to engage according to the screen is.

1. At a complete stop and moving once you get past 30 MPH it reverts to FWD mode only(Without lock it is 80% 20% rear)
2. Hitting certain bumps, even then it looks like only 1% goes to the rear tires.
3. Going up a slippery hill at 25 MPH, 1% to the rear and traction control slowing down the front when it detects excessive spinning.

I tried flooring it while already moving at 25 MPH on a flat road, the only thing the system did was flash traction control to slow the front spinning wheels. No power was sent to the back.
I tired a slow sharp corner in the snow without stopping ~3 MPH no gas either, I did get the horrendous understeer and no power to the back


If you do AWD Lock and stay below 25 MPH however the Rogue is a tank. With the snow and slush on a narrow street every time another car comes down the road and the road was plowed to only allow 1 car to pass I would always drive with half the rogue in the snow bank, so the trucks and fwd cars would pass since they don't have rear tires to assist and might get stuck. and the rogue would plow through the deep slush and snow like nothing. It did pull the rogue to the right at times and when it did that I had to correct to the left, the traction control light did not come on in those instances either. Cornering in slippery conditions with AWD lock is also a huge improvement. Although you get the normal understeer, it isn't excessive as having the vehicle in FWD mode.

That's why I was wondering if anyone else traction control system was late to engage, every other car I have with traction control as soon as you pull to one side and turn your steering wheel in the opposite direction the Traction control light would flash almost immediately. The Rogue on the other hand you would correct the pull and once corrected it acts like nothing happened at all.

The Hankook tires are great in a straight line in terms of emergency stopping. Cornering in snow not so much but straight line seems pretty good. AWD lock does help with the cornering. The Conti on the CRV when braking in the same straight line the ABS would go nuts and you would run the stop sign. Cornering on the other hand seemed better then the Hankook. I guess we will see in a few years when replacing tires if it was just the tires all along or if the system was design that way.

I really hope the vibration clears up, vibration through the gas pedal and seats tends to get annoying real fast. Plus having the car shake can't be good for any of the drivetrain and electronics. At least we are getting mostly rain this week.

[Maximus099]

I have a 2014 sv awd and the only time I get understear is when my speed is too high for cornering and even with very good winter tires this will even happen driving a hummer. For the vibrations I would either bring the rogue into a car wash and hopefully the warm water will melt away the ice/snow caught in the rims or park it inside a garage over night. If that doeasnt help maybe you need to get the tires balanced.

[followingnfront]

I don't think it helped because it was slightly down hill, the turn was more of a right turn into a street then a wide left. The right turn was sort of sharp, I guess if the wheels are pointed to far to one side you slide forward, although I wonder why the back tires wouldn't try to catch you first before it hit the slush and ice.

Is the first gen Nissan Rogue full time AWD or is it part time like the current generation? This current Gen of the Rogue is very FWD bias and it is very hard to get the rear wheels to engage, according to the 4x4-i screen. It doesn't like to engage at all after 25 MPH. I had the AWD Lock and tested to see when it will shut itself off, it does it at 25 MPH. The only time I have ever seen the rear tires to engage according to the screen is.

1. At a complete stop and moving once you get past 30 MPH it reverts to FWD mode only(Without lock it is 80% 20% rear)
2. Hitting certain bumps, even then it looks like only 1% goes to the rear tires.
3. Going up a slippery hill at 25 MPH, 1% to the rear and traction control slowing down the front when it detects excessive spinning.

I tried flooring it while already moving at 25 MPH on a flat road, the only thing the system did was flash traction control to slow the front spinning wheels. No power was sent to the back.
I tired a slow sharp corner in the snow without stopping ~3 MPH no gas either, I did get the horrendous understeer and no power to the back


If you do AWD Lock and stay below 25 MPH however the Rogue is a tank. With the snow and slush on a narrow street every time another car comes down the road and the road was plowed to only allow 1 car to pass I would always drive with half the rogue in the snow bank, so the trucks and fwd cars would pass since they don't have rear tires to assist and might get stuck. and the rogue would plow through the deep slush and snow like nothing. It did pull the rogue to the right at times and when it did that I had to correct to the left, the traction control light did not come on in those instances either. Cornering in slippery conditions with AWD lock is also a huge improvement. Although you get the normal understeer, it isn't excessive as having the vehicle in FWD mode.

That's why I was wondering if anyone else traction control system was late to engage, every other car I have with traction control as soon as you pull to one side and turn your steering wheel in the opposite direction the Traction control light would flash almost immediately. The Rogue on the other hand you would correct the pull and once corrected it acts like nothing happened at all.

The Hankook tires are great in a straight line in terms of emergency stopping. Cornering in snow not so much but straight line seems pretty good. AWD lock does help with the cornering. The Conti on the CRV when braking in the same straight line the ABS would go nuts and you would run the stop sign. Cornering on the other hand seemed better then the Hankook. I guess we will see in a few years when replacing tires if it was just the tires all along or if the system was design that way.

I really hope the vibration clears up, vibration through the gas pedal and seats tends to get annoying real fast. Plus having the car shake can't be good for any of the drivetrain and electronics. At least we are getting mostly rain this week.

No the 1st gen is primarily fwd as well. But it is a tank in the snow as far as Im concerned. And I believe the AWD Lock on the 1st gen only works up to 6mph... So I literally only turn it on when Im stuck or I want to get sideways from a stop to mess around. Other than that, I really dont have problems.

Granted if I was flying around a corner Id get understeer and plow but in normal driving there isnt much. And my "normal driving" is many other people's "hurrying" lol.

Im not sure if they tweaked the AWD system at all between the 1st and 2nd gen, but the 1st gen doesnt have that information screen showing the torque distribution so I couldnt tell you how often my rear wheels kick in during normal driving.

[followingnfront]

I have a 2014 sv awd and the only time I get understear is when my speed is too high for cornering and even with very good winter tires this will even happen driving a hummer. For the vibrations I would either bring the rogue into a car wash and hopefully the warm water will melt away the ice/snow caught in the rims or park it inside a garage over night. If that doeasnt help maybe you need to get the tires balanced.

Agreed

[Rogue One]

Title revised to reflect topic. Original Post was more of a review. Some of it could have been addressed separately in other open topics.
The discussion on the Rogue AWD system can be found here: taking-the-awd-rogue-off-road-t292301.html
Yes, that thread is for the first gen, but it still applies to the current model.