So, the 2023 Rogue is now available in all Nissan dealerships with little to no waiting time. That's a good and comfortable SUV but has it solved the problems of its predecessor? One of the most important problems with the previous Rogue generation was the transmission. Has something changed in the new Rogue?
Nissan CVT transmissions highlights
- Average lifespan:90,000-100,000 miles
- Reliability Score:Low
- Prone to minor issues:Yes
- Price for repair after failure:Usually, no repair
- Price for replacement:$4,000-$6,000
- Availability of parts:Poor
- Common problems:bad fluid leaks, shuddering, only reverse available, various noises, complete loss of power, slipping.
What kind of transmission is in the Rogue?
To understand how you can safely tow the vehicle, you should know the type of transmission. And in the new Rogue, you will get the CVT, just the same transmission that was used in the previous generation of the SUV and also in many other Nissan cars. Not completely the same, because it was given an update. But the technology is equal.
This is the XTronic CVT made by Jatco. The transmission is not that bad. It goes really well and you get access to the full potential of the engine. By the way, the engine is also different. Now you have the 3-cylinder VCTurbo 1.5L engine which is pretty new and hard to estimate.
The engine is a risk, although the same 4-cylinder 2.0L engine had good records in the Infiniti QX50. The transmission is also a risk but it should go about 100K miles or more depending on the quality of service.
So, I hope you will not need to shift your transmission to Neutral but I will anyway tell you how to do it and what problems you can have with this.
Neutral Hold mode in the 2023 Rogue
So, the Neutral Hold mode is the mode for towing or pushing the car. Whatever happens, the electronics will not apply brakes or use any other safety systems to control the movement of the car. Also, in this mode, the car will stay in Neutral even when the engine is off. This is the true Neutral that you want to get. And you will not get it just by moving the shifter to the N position.
Here's how you do that:
- First, make sure that the engine is on.
- After that, press the brake pedal and release the parking brake.
- Press the P button on the shifter.
- Shift to N and make sure you see N on the dash.
- Now, return the shifter to the Home position and then slide to the Neutral again.
- Then, you will see the message on the dash telling you that the Neutral Hold mode has been activated.
- Whenever you move the shifter to Driver or Reverse, the Neutra Hold mode will be deactivated automatically.
After the neutral mode is on, you may leave the engine running or shut it off. Now, your Nissan Rogue is ready to be pushed manually or you can use the tow-truck equipment to get it onto the platform. It seems easy but if you don't know how to do it, it's not that easy in reality. I don't think anyone can deduct the way to activate the real Neutral mode in the Rogue.
Why will you need the neutral mode?
First of all, this keeps your parking pawl disengaged even if you shut off the engine. Also, it allows you to push the car to even flat-tow it without any serious damage to the transmission. I still don't recommend flat-towing any modern vehicle. But at least, in your Nissan Rogue you have the option of real Neutral mode.
I strongly recommend applying this mode at any time when you need to push the vehicle manually, get it onto the tow-truck platform, go down the hill without applying D or R mode, or flat-towing (if you are a brave person).
How common are transmission problems with the new Rogue?
Unfortunately, there is still no reliable information about the transmission problems in the new Rogue generation. But given it's still the CVT, I can guess that it won't be much more durable than the previous-gen one. Also, the 1.5 Turbo engine offers quite a lot of power and high low-RPM torque, so the transmission will suffer a little more wear and tear.
So, if the second-gen Rogue could go about 120,000 miles till the CVT dropped, the newer generation will probably go about 100,000 miles. Unless Jatco did some magic to its transmission which is highly unlikely.
About the authors
The CarAraC research team is composed of seasoned auto mechanics and automotive industry professionals, including individuals with advanced degrees and certifications in their field. Our team members boast prestigious credentials, reflecting their extensive knowledge and skills. These qualifications include: IMI: Institute of the Motor Industry, ASE-Certified Master Automobile Technicians; Coventry University, Graduate of MA in Automotive Journalism; Politecnico di Torino, Italy, MS Automotive Engineering; Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Mechanical University in Skopje; TOC Automotive College; DHA Suffa University, Department of Mechanical Engineering
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