Last updated: 2026-10-10

Dodge Hornet vs Nissan Rogue: Reliability Compared

The Nissan Rogue is the more reliable pick by a wide margin over the Dodge Hornet. Hornet owners file complaints at a much higher rate. The Hornet's door latch, battery drain, and power loss reports decide it, though the Rogue's false emergency braking deserves a close look.

How Do the Dodge Hornet and Nissan Rogue Generations Compare?

Every Hornet sold in the US belongs to one first generation that runs from 2023 to 2025. The 2025 model year got a minor refresh. That leaves a short window of used cars with no older design to compare against. The 2025 ranks among the strongest years, but it is also the newest and has had the least time to collect complaints, so that ranking is not proof it is better. The 2024 is among the weakest years. Shoppers should treat all three years as the same basic car and focus on recall completion and each car's repair history.

Verdict

The Nissan Rogue is more reliable than the Dodge Hornet, scoring 75/100 vs 59/100.

Reliability favors the Rogue by a large gap. Hornet owners file complaints at more than three times the Rogue's rate per car sold, and the Hornet's worst problems hit basic function: door latches that fail, batteries that drain, and total power loss. The Rogue has its own serious flaw in automatic emergency braking that fires with nothing ahead. Even so, it has a good standing, low repair cost, and few shop visits. The Hornet's standing is mixed, and owners say dealers often have no fix.

Key Differences

  1. 1Dodge Hornet has 30 fewer total recalls
  2. 2Nissan Rogue scores 16 points higher in reliability
  3. 3Nissan Rogue has 15.5 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

1Dodge Hornet
—
2Nissan Rogue
Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

Dodge Hornet vs Nissan Rogue: Which Is More Reliable?

Dodge Hornet vs Nissan Rogue at-a-glance reliability comparison
MetricDodge HornetNissan Rogue
Reliability Score59/10075/100
Years Tracked39
Total Recalls1343
Complaints per 10k Sold21.76.2
Year Wins03

What Are the Common Problems With the Dodge Hornet and Nissan Rogue?

Electrical faults that spread define the Hornet's trouble. Door latches fail, the battery drains, and a jump start can leave the center screen dark. Power steering can drop out along with it. Many brake and rear camera complaints are about back-ordered recall parts, not failures. The Rogue's biggest pattern is false automatic emergency braking, which shows up under both brakes and forward collision avoidance as sudden hard stops. Its crash-linked reports also reach the engine and power train, including a parked car rolling away in Park. The Hornet has no crash-linked reports in those two areas.

Dodge Hornet vs Nissan Rogue common problem areas comparison
ComponentDodge HornetNissan Rogue
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6.8Average0.7Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES2.5Low0.8Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1.8Low1.1Low
BACK OVER PREVENTION2Low—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE1.5Low0.5Very Low
ENGINE1.3Low0.7Very Low
STEERING1.8Low0.1Very Low
POWER TRAIN0.5Very Low0.5Very Low
STRUCTURE0.5Very Low0.1Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING—None0.3Very Low
AIR BAGS—None0.2Very Low
VISIBILITY/WIPER—None0.2Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL—None0.2Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM—None0.2Very Low
SEATS—None—None
SUSPENSION—None—None
SEAT BELTS—None—None
FUEL SYSTEM—None—None
VISIBILITY—None—None
TIRES—None—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

How Does Dodge Hornet vs Nissan Rogue Reliability Compare by Year?

Dodge Hornet vs Nissan Rogue year-by-year reliability scores
YearDodge HornetNissan RogueEdge
202564/1002R / 1C84/1001R / 103CNissan Rogue
202454/1007R / 60C79/1002R / 116CNissan Rogue
202359/1004R / 25C68/1005R / 519CNissan Rogue

Best years to cross-shop: The 2023 Dodge Hornet scored 59/100 and the 2024 Nissan Rogue scored 79/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Dodge Hornet vs the Nissan Rogue?

Pick the Rogue if you want the lower-risk used buy. Its repair cost is modest and shop visits are rare. Avoid 2018 and 2023, the two weakest years. The 2025 and 2026 years rank strongest, but they are newer and have had less time to collect complaints, so check recall status before you trust that ranking. Test the emergency braking on a drive, and ask whether the dealer has addressed any false-stop reports. Consider the Hornet only if you find a car at a price that covers the risk, and you can live with dealer waits. Every Hornet is the same first generation, so there is no better design to hold out for. Of the model years, 2024 is among the weakest and 2023 is listed as both strong and weak. Before buying, confirm every recall repair is finished. Check that all doors latch, the battery holds a charge after sitting, and driver-assist warnings stay off.

Dodge Hornet vs Nissan Rogue: Common Questions

Is the Dodge Hornet more reliable than the Nissan Rogue?
No. The Rogue leads by a large gap. It has a good reliability standing, while the Hornet's is mixed. Hornet owners filed 21.7 complaints per 10,000 sold, against 6.2 for the Rogue. Hornet reports include failing door latches, a draining battery, and total power loss.
Which has more recalls, the Hornet or the Rogue?
The Rogue has more in total, with 43 recalls across 9 model years. The Hornet has 13 across its 3 model years. The Rogue has been on sale longer, so it has had more time to collect them. Many Hornet complaints concern waits for recall parts.
Which costs less to repair, the Hornet or the Rogue?
The Rogue is the only one with repair-cost data here. It averages $467 a year in repairs and 0.3 unscheduled shop visits a year. Just 12% of its repairs are major. We have no matching figures for the Hornet, so a direct cost comparison is not possible.
What is the biggest problem with the Nissan Rogue?
False automatic emergency braking is the top complaint. Owners report a beep, then a sudden hard stop at 20 to 70 mph with nothing ahead. Some cases led to crashes. Dealers often find no fault. Test the system on a drive and ask about service bulletins.
Are Dodge Hornet electrical problems serious?
Yes. Electrical is the Hornet's largest problem area, with one crash-linked report. Owners describe door latches that will not open or lock, a battery that drains when the car sits, and power loss with no restart. Some say dealers cannot find a fix.

Decided between Dodge Hornet and Nissan Rogue? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

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How we score the Dodge Hornet and Nissan Rogue

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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