The Rogue blind spot?

[Jazzy]

Hi everybody,

I have a new topic, the blind spot on the Rogue. Is it me or the blind spot on this car is huge. I find it hard to get use to it. I would like some comments on this issue or some advise.

Thank you. Frenchy.

[roguemocker]

I agree, this has been hard to get used to... but I'm trying to be sure to use my mirrors and look 2 or 3 times before making the turn or lane change. The very hardest part for me is pulling out of my driveway in a neighborhood FULL of kids.

[shedrock]

Just install blind spot mirrors on the side mirrors. That's what I did.

[Msdarkdiva]

Perhaps you would prefer a side fender mirror, which happens to be required on vehicles in Japan (I believe) - shown here on the Nissan Dualis.

http://autorama.jp/eshopdata/m68/47/p14297_bg.jpg

[Ticmxman]

If you adjust your mirrors properly there is no blind spot. I didn't learn this until just a couple of years ago. What is proper? 1. Lean your head to the left just by the drivers door window, adjust that mirror to just barely see the side of the vehicle.2. Adjust the right mirror by leaning the same amount till you are roughly over the console, adjust the right mirror to just barely see the passenger side of the vehicle.

This is how I set my mirrors and I have no blind spot at all.

[exeunt]

I have my mirrors set exactly as you describe. That didn't prevent me from coming this close to sideswiping a car while merging:

||

There is definitely a blindspot, and that doesn't include the enormous blindspot while reversing. I'm probably going to look into a blindspot mirror, and also invest in a backup camera.

[Ticmxman]

I agree reversing is a a lttle tricky. But I stand by my statement regarding mirror adjustment.

From Edmunds:To paraphrase CarSpace member Lateralg, your car’s rear quarter panels aren’t a threat. Why should you be looking at them in your side view mirrors then? If you are like most drivers, you are still aligning your side mirrors the “old” way.A better way to adjust your side mirrors is to move the glass outwards so your field of view is of other cars and blind spots are eliminated.To adjust your side mirrors the Zen way, first put your head against the driver’s side window. Adjust the mirror so the rear quarter panel just barely disappears from your field of view. Then move your head towards the center of the car – your console or gear selector is a good reference point to hover over if you have one. Repeat the adjustment for the right side mirror so that your right rear quarter panel just disappears from your field of view.This new arrangement will take a short while to get used to. If it absolutely drives you crazy, then move the mirrors in just a touch so that you can just barely see your rear quarter panels when you look at your mirrors. But a true Zen mirror master will no longer have any blind spots, will have more awareness of cars on either side of the vehicle and will thus see deeply . And maybe that’ll help keep others from dinging your rear quarter panels (not that you’ll ever look at them again anyway).

Also from Edmunds:Blind spots are a thing of the past now with every car being equipped with side mirrors, or are they. The mirrors can not function properly if they are not adjusted properly. Follow these steps to adjust your rear view and side mirrors correctly to eliminate blind spots.

Step 1: Adjust your rear view mirror to give you a direct view out the rear windsheild. Do not tilt this mirror in any direction to adjust in the side views. Use your side mirrors to do this.

Step 2: Lean your head until it almost touches your side window and adjust your sider mirror so that you can JUST barely see the side of your vehicle.

Step 3: Lean your head the opposite direction and adjust your right side mirror until you can just barely see the right side of your vehicle.

Step 4: To check your blind spot while driving, make visual contact with the vehicle behind you by utilizing your rear view mirror. As the vehicle approaches you in the left lane shift your line of sight to the side mirror. Once the vehicle leaves the line of sight from the side mirror you should be able to recognize it with your pheripheral vision. Without even turing your head you had no blind spot!

Sounds like you might need a little fine tuning of your adjustments.

[Jazzy]

I'm glad it's not only me who's having this problem. Thank you Tic for your help, I'll try your way to cut the blind spot. I'll would like this debate to continue to see how many people is having this problem.

Thank you all.

Frenchy.

[websfear]

I am in the process of trying one of those fresnel lenses on the rear window. It is 10" x 8" which might be too large for the rogue, but it might be worth a shot. It is a wide angel lense. Hopefully I will have it in a week or so.

While I don't do it in the winter for obvious reasons, in summer on my explorer, I crack open the rear side vents. There are some real blind spots on the explorer, but with opening the side vents I can hear vehicles in the blind spots.

It should work with the rogue, just open the back passenger windows a crack.

[cdmuile]

To me the main culprit is the rear headrests that can't be removed. Who would have thought to look at that before buying. They look like they are removable, but no. Shame on Nissan for that deception! Actually, the very large outside mirrors was a selling point for me. Adjustment is everything as previously mentioned. I also have a wireless backup assist with four sensors and 4 inch screen that will be mounted as soon as this stupid weather gets out of here. As for me, I'm out of here for awhile.......Going to Panama tomorrow for a break.

[shedrock]

If you adjust your mirrors properly there is no blind spot. I didn't learn this until just a couple of years ago. What is proper? 1. Lean your head to the left just by the drivers door window, adjust that mirror to just barely see the side of the vehicle.2. Adjust the right mirror by leaning the same amount till you are roughly over the console, adjust the right mirror to just barely see the passenger side of the vehicle.

This is how I set my mirrors and I have no blind spot at all.

This is kind of difficult to do each time when you have 2 or more people driving the same vehicle. The frustration alone is worth the $12.00 for the blind spot mirrors.

[eastgurl]

I asked about the large head rest in the back seat, the salesman told me the back seats fold down and I should drive with it folded down at all times if it bothers me...that was his solution.

By the way, where did you purchase your back up sensor? And how much was it? Thanks.

[Ticmxman]

This is kind of difficult to do each time when you have 2 or more people driving the same vehicle. The frustration alone is worth the $12.00 for the blind spot mirrors.

Yes, if your not fully comfortable with the properly adjusted mirrors by all means buy the blind spot mirrors, they have been around a long time. Do whatever you have to do to feel safe in your Rogue.

[exeunt]

Hrm.. well now that you've quoted two references stating that I don't have a blind spot, I guess I was wrong I have my mirrors setup to barely see the rear panel (this is important to get a frame of reference when looking in your mirrors), and I still have a blind spot. It might be true that on some vehicles there is no blind spot, but there's no way this is true for all vehicles, especially the Rogue.

Unless your mirrors cover a 90 degree angle between your car and your peripheral vision while looking forward, there will always be a blind spot. This is why its so important to look over your shoulder before changing lanes.

[Ticmxman]

Yes, if your not fully comfortable with the properly adjusted mirrors by all means buy the blind spot mirrors, they have been around a long time. Do whatever you have to do to feel safe in your Rogue. Or turn your head to check for vehicle, bottom line drive safe. I'm done.

[lectricbasser]

I don't have a rogue yet, but I know from experience with an old GMC Suburban that Ticmxman's explanation of how to set your mirrors works wonderfully. No blind spots. Car goes from my rear-view mirror, to my side mirror, to my peripheral vision.

CarTalk from NPR also promotes this as the only way to set your mirrors. http://cartalk.com/content/features/mirrors/

[crypto1300]

After reading this thread I setup my mirrors this way and it has made a huge difference.

Even my Wife likes the setup. No more blind spots, accept when reversing.

[MacRogue]

I had issues with the blind spot also until I purchased the blind spot mirrors. They've helped tremendously.

[Etch]

Perhaps you would prefer a side fender mirror, which happens to be required on vehicles in Japan (I believe) - shown here on the Nissan Dualis.

http://autorama.jp/eshopdata/m68/47/p14297_bg.jpg

I don't think it is a requirement, but more of a novelty as most cars in Japan had their mirrors on the fenders in the 70's and early 80's.

I lived in Japan for 5 years and one of my cars that I owned there had fender mirrors. They may look funny, but they work great. No blind spots!

Here is the car I owned, which was a 1982 Toyota Soarer. Toyota Soarer was Toyoa's sport luxury model and eventually became the Lexus SC400 in 1991. I also owned a 1987 turbo intercooled Soarer, basically a Supra engine.

1982:

1987:

[dflprd]

I too have been adjusting my mirrors as Tic says ever since drivers education (not going to share how long ago that was!) I have no problem with a bkind spot except like others in reversing. I think that will just take some getting used to as I was previously in a small sedan. Overall one must be comfortable with their driving experience thus do as you must to be safe!

[casperfun]

First, I like to say it's a forum improvement where you can now comment on old posts, so thanks great move!

So the other day, I almost side-swiped a car even with my add-on little blind spot mirror. Well I went back to this post to refresh myself since I DID utilized this technique mentioned here BUT I went back to the old way of adjusting the side mirrors because I MISSED seeing the side of my vehicle.

Well I think that was one of the problems since we know about the blind spots. I don't know if I was not paying attention because I was so sure that after passing a car to my right... it was clear! I guess somebody had sped right up to me when I was about to change lanes. LUCKY ME!

Well so I went back to the techniques suggested here and I would like to say I am now a 110% supporter of it. Just the other day I was about to change into the right lane and when I looked in the mirror, the car seemed RIGHT THERE. It was like, BAM...you know the car is there. (in you face)

So yes, for all you Roguers, I like to say this works really well.

[nitsudima]

Wish I could get my wife to believe this. I've been adjusting my mirrors like this for years (forget where I heard about it originally) and have been very pleased with the results, but every time I suggest to my wife that she adjust her Rogue's mirrors this way she shakes it off like it's the silliest thing she's ever heard. Her response is generally something to the effect of her mirror adjustments being different because her seat is farther up than mine. Well first, duh -- of course seat positions are going to be different, but how you set your mirrors is not affected by that! I think, like many others, she's just used to seeing the rear fenders in her mirrors and doesn't like it any other way. Doesn't stop her from complaining about the blind spots, though...

[kerrton]

I've never really understood the "Rogue blind spot" issue, I've driven a lot of vehices and drive several Rogue competitors at work including the Escape and Nitro, and I find the Rogue visiability to be great.

Going back to driver training days, the first thing the instructor usually does is stand beside the vehicle and demonstrate that there is a blind spot in every vehicle, hence the introduction to shoulder checking. I know everybody knows this, but some of the above posts make me wonder a little bit - I'm not accusing anybody of bad driving but I'm assuming nobody changes lanes without doing a shoulder check first. If you change lanes using your mirrors only, ALL vehicles become dangerous and you are an accident waiting to happen.

Regarding the back window visibility "issue", my opinion is that there is no issue. If that window went any lower it wouldn't do any good because the rear seatbacks would obscure the view. The Ford Escape I driev at work for example has a large rear window, but the bottom half of it is useless becaue the rear seat backs and the head rests in particular obscure the view. You can make the entire back end one big window but you still won't be able to see through those back seats! Also, I occaissionally drive a GM van for work, it has a huge back window too but the length from driver to back window is so long that it feels difficult to see clearly out the window, I think all minivans are like this but I don't hear a lot of people compalining about rear visibilty.

The point is, rear visibilty in cars is never great, that's probably why rearview cameras and/or sensors are becoming standard equipment on a lot of vehicles, or sought after options at the very least.

That's just my opinion, I drive a lot of vehicles and the Rogue feels much more secure for lane changes etc.. than most.

[casperfun]

I beg to differ. People are just too damn lazy to do a shoulder check. That is why we have the side mirrors (more efficient). Its bad enough half the people don't use their signals to tell everybody their driving intentions. Moreover, people who usually are passing a car on the right for instance, they will use the side mirror to check on the vehicle and once they see it at a safe distance on their rear mirror. ( if used ) then they will change lane. No way in hell are they turning their head because as stated earlier, most are way too lazy and its a pain in the a** if done 100% of the time all the time.

You would think that Nascar Drivers who drive nearly 200mph would want to be safe, but you don't see them doing a shoulder check.

Anyways, this is from a driver's ed site:

Personally, I believe that the over-the-shoulder check is dangerous because new drivers tend to inadvertently turn the wheel in the direction they look. Plus, it requires turning your entire field of vision away from the direction you’re traveling. Proponents of this method suggest that, well, it’s only for a second. They say that it’s just a “quick glance”. Well, then what good is it? A quick glance isn’t long enough to determine what a car is doing (if it’s changing direction or speed). It only tells you if a car is located where you’ve looked. Well, if you use the BGE mirror setting, you obtain the exact same information without the dangerous side-effects of an over-the-shoulder glance. Of course, there’s nothing illegal about the over-the-shoulder glance, so if it makes you feel more comfortable, go ahead and do it.

I am not against the shoulder check and it could be used at times to compliment good driving habits.

[takeshi]

The only problem I have with this mirror setup is that it's nearly impossible to back into spaces (which I always do). I'd seriously consider it if my vehicles had presets for the mirrors so I could switch them into "backup" mode. Until then, shoulder checks it is for me.

[kerrton]

All I know is that it's a fact that there is a blind spot to the left and right of all vehicles unless you have special side mirror setup that provides a wider field of view. But most if not all cars are designed with quite small side mirrors which creates a blind spot. It is a fact that a car can be traveling in your blind spot and you won't see them in your side mirror, only a quick shoulder check will alert you to the presence of the adjacent vehicle and prevent an accident.

It worries me that this is even a debate, I sure hope I don't run into any non-shoulder checking drivers out there anytime soon, unless of course they're NASCAR drivers in which case I wouldn't worry but most driver's skills are far from that of a professional NASCAR driver, so shoulder checking is a must!

[Pescakl1]

NASCAR drivers have spotters, that is why they don't need the shoulder checking. Kinda useless to compare apples to oranges.

If you don't like to do shoulder checking, the only thing left to you is anticipation: By checking quite often your mirrors while you are driving, you are aware of your surroundings. You can virtually imagine who are around you and anticipate where they will be in a few seconds.

[DanTheMan]

I have always purchased spot mirrors for all of my vehicles. They are very cheap for the benefit they provide. As mentioned above, there is a right and wrong way to adjust mirrors and I think most people adjust them incorrectly. With the spot mirror and correctly adjusted mirrors, I can back into any parking space without any issue. I pretty much always back into parking spaces, with all of my vehicles, and I have not noticed anything out of the ordinary with my Rogue.

Cheers!

[Nick 568]

...I sure hope I don't run into any non-shoulder checking drivers out there anytime soon, unless of course they're NASCAR drivers in which case I wouldn't worry but most driver's skills are far from that of a professional NASCAR driver...

Well...they're just professional circle drivers... :P

By the way, I hope me quoting you and then poking at it doesn't come across the wrong way. I'm just bored at work pretty often, lol.

[kerrton]

Bored at work.....me too!!! This is all just for fun, I was just joking around about the NASCAR drivers too!