NissanRogue Sport2021Overview/nissan/rogue-sport/2021/base/

2021 Nissan Rogue Sport

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2021 Rogue Sport.

Transmission Automatic (AV-S8)

The 2021 Nissan Rogue Sport arrives with an automatic transmission (AV‑S8) and EPA‑rated fuel economy of 26 mpg city, 31 mpg highway and 28 mpg combined. Reliability data show 35 total owner complaints, with the most frequent issues centered on forward‑collision‑avoidance systems and three recall actions. In the context of its model‑year history, this places the 2021 figure below the 96 complaints recorded in 2019 but above the 11 complaints seen in 2022, indicating a modest improvement in reliability as the nameplate moves forward.

Model year202220212020201920182017

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy26/31/28 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 47 · 510 EN rating CCA battery, OE oil filter 1520865F0E. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 47 · 510 EN rating CCAOEM · verified
Tire size215/65R16 98HOEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5, Optional: 7 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter1520865F0E
Engine air filter165464BA1J
Spark plug224011VA1C
Front wiper blades288906MA1A alt 288906MA0A
Serpentine belt117201VA0A
Thermostat212303RC0A alt 21200ED00A
Cabin air filter272774BU0A

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (AV-S8)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length182.7 in
Overall width72.4 in
Overall height66.5 in
Wheelbase106.3 in
Curb weight3545 lb
Track (front / rear)62.2 / 62.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)58/42

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined26 / 31 / 28 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume96 cu ft
Cargo volume23 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Rogue Sport of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

9.8–10.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.80 sec — 2020 SL
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2020SL 2.0L I-49.80 sec17.40 sec141 hpFWD
2017SL 2.0L I-49.80 sec17.50 sec141 hpAWD
2017SL 2.0L I-410.00 sec17.60 sec141 hpAWD
2017SV 2.0L I-410.00 sec17.60 sec141 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel Bolts80.0 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts80.0 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts18.0 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts25.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs62.0 Inch lbs. ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs5.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)Setting Speed: 650 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (Secondary Under Load)Checking Speed: 650 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (Secondary Under Load)50 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerNissan
Spark Plug Gap0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque14.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Standard BCI Group Number47
Standard BCI Cranking Performance510 EN rating cca

Brakes

Minimum Pad Thickness0.079" in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
117.0 inch lbs., Step 2: 52.0 inch lbs., Step 3: 84.0 inch lbs.17 in
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
11.4 ft. lbs., Step 2: 4.3 ft. lbs., Step 3: 7.01.4 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
120.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: Loosen all bolts., Step 3: 14.0 ft. lbs., Step 4: 60-65°20 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
120.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: Loosen all Bolts., Step 3: 14.0 ft. lbs., Step 4: 60-65°20 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
122.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 60°22 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
130.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 100°, Step 3: Loosen all bolts in reverse order of tightening. Step 4: 30.0 ft. lbs., Step 5: 100°, Step 6: 100°30 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
125.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 60°25 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
125.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 60°25 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs at 105,000 mi; coolant at 105,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 105,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 22,500 miKeyless Entry Remote Battery (replace)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Drive Axle Assembly (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
At 105,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 180,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue Sport shows a sharp decline in federal complaints, dropping to 35 from a peak of 96 in 2019, while recalls rise modestly to three from one in 2020. Compared with the prior year (2020) and the following year (2022), 2021 sits near the bottom of the complaint trend, indicating improved reliability during its generation. The recall count climbs slightly in 2021, but the data does not specify a root cause, so the increase appears isolated. Top complaint areas for 2021 focus on Forward Collision Avoidance (5) and Engine (4) issues, with only 7 crash and 1 fire complaints, underscoring a relatively low safety‑related problem rate. Overall, the 2021 model year is a solid choice for a used buyer, offering the lowest complaint volume in the recent sequence while maintaining a manageable recall profile.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
87
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
35
Owner complaints
7 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 35 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Forward Collision Avoidance5
Engine4
Service Brakes,Forward Collision Avoidance4
Unknown Or Other4
Electrical System3
Service Brakes1
Exterior Lighting1
Electrical System,Vehicle Speed Control,Forward Collision Avoidance1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

21V555000Seat Belts:Front:RetractorReported 21/07/2021

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Rogue Sport vehicles. The seat belt automatic locking retractor (ALR) may deactivate early, reducing the protection offered to an installed child seat. As… Remedy: Dealers will replace the front passenger seat belt and as necessary both outer rear seat belts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 14, 2021…

21V525000Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And AttachmentsReported 09/07/2021

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Rogue Sport vehicles. The liftgate hinges can separate from the vehicle during a rear end crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements… Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and right liftgate hinges, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 7, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 87 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
NTB09-131C2026-04-13StructureCERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision…
NTB09-131C2026-04-13StructureCERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision…
NTB15-049CC2026-03-30Electrical SystemTELEMATICS SERVICE INFORMATION HINT: This bulletin applies to vehicles equipped with a 4G…
NTB19-042F2025-02-20Electrical SystemAUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING WARNING LIGHT BLINKING APPLIED SYSTEMS: Vehicles equipped…
NTB19-033G2025-02-20Forward Collision AvoidanceINTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE AND AEB/FEB WARNING LIGHT ON OR RADAR OBSTRUCTION…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Rogue Sport. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2021 Rogue Sport have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Rogue Sport get?

EPA figures are 26 city / 31 highway / 28 combined mpg.