Last updated: 2026-03-04
Nissan Rogue vs Toyota RAV4: Reliability Compared
Nissan Rogue
Toyota RAV4
Choosing between the Nissan Rogue and the Toyota RAV4? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two compact suvs.
Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Toyota RAV4 currently leads with an average score of 76/100 compared to 74/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.
How Do the Nissan Rogue and Toyota RAV4 Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Toyota RAV4 is more reliable than the Nissan Rogue, scoring 76/100 vs 74/100.
The Toyota RAV4 demonstrates slightly superior reliability with an average score of 85/100 compared to the Nissan Rogue's 80/100. While the RAV4 has a higher number of total recalls at 53 across eight years, it maintains a lower owner complaint rate at 4.4 per 10,000 units sold versus the Rogue's 6.2. Additionally, independent repair cost estimates favor the RAV4 with an annual cost of $429, lower than the Rogue's $467. Both vehicles share some common issues, but the RAV4's lower complaint rate and repair costs make it the more reliable choice overall.
Key Differences
- 1Toyota RAV4 costs $38 less per year to repair
- 2Nissan Rogue has 10 fewer total recalls
- 3Toyota RAV4 scores 2 points higher in reliability
Category Scoreboard
Nissan Rogue vs Toyota RAV4: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Nissan Rogue | Toyota RAV4 |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 74/100 | 76/100 |
| Years Tracked | 9 | 8 |
| Total Recalls | 43 | 53 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 6.2 | 4.4 |
| Annual Repair Cost | $467/yr | $429/yr |
| Repair Frequency | 0.3/yr | 0.3/yr |
| Major Repair Risk | 12% | 10% |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2026 NHTSA | 2025 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | Not rated | |
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 2 (1 tied) | 5 (1 tied) |
What Are the Common Problems With the Nissan Rogue and Toyota RAV4?
The Toyota RAV4 and Nissan Rogue both exhibit a range of reliability issues, though their problem profiles differ. The RAV4 shows a higher number of complaints in the electrical system and air bags categories, with the latter having a significant 71 crash-linked incidents, indicating a potential safety concern. In contrast, the Nissan Rogue's most frequent issues lie in the unknown or other and service brakes categories, with the latter having 15 crash-linked complaints. While both models report issues with their power trains and engines, the RAV4's air bags and the Rogue's service brakes present particularly notable areas for potential risk.
| Component | Nissan Rogue | Toyota RAV4 |
|---|---|---|
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 0.9Very Low | 0.7Very Low |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 0.7Very Low | 0.7Very Low |
| ENGINE | 0.7Very Low | 0.5Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.8Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| POWER TRAIN | 0.5Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 0.2Very Low | 0.5Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.2Very Low | 0.4Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 0.5Very Low | —None |
| STEERING | 0.2Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.2Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 0.3Very Low | —None |
| STRUCTURE | —None | 0.2Very Low |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | —None | —None |
| SUSPENSION | —None | —None |
| FUEL SYSTEM | —None | —None |
| VISIBILITY | —None | —None |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | —None | —None |
| TIRES | —None | —None |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Nissan Rogue or Toyota RAV4?
How Does Nissan Rogue vs Toyota RAV4 Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Nissan Rogue | Toyota RAV4 | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 84/1001R / 103C | 84/1005R / 49C | Tie |
| 2024 | 79/1002R / 116C | 80/1006R / 150C | Toyota RAV4 |
| 2023 | 68/1005R / 519C | 80/1006R / 147C | Toyota RAV4 |
| 2022 | 70/1007R / 211C | 80/1006R / 133C | Toyota RAV4 |
| 2021 | 70/10013R / 269C | 73/1006R / 450C | Toyota RAV4 |
| 2020 | 79/1002R / 185C | 70/10011R / 611C | Nissan Rogue |
| 2019 | 73/1006R / 409C | 66/10010R / 864C | Nissan Rogue |
| 2018 | 70/1006R / 718C | 76/1003R / 330C | Toyota RAV4 |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2025 Nissan Rogue scored 84/100 and the 2025 Toyota RAV4 scored 84/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
Who Should Buy the Nissan Rogue vs the Toyota RAV4?
Nissan Rogue vs Toyota RAV4: Common Questions
- Is the Nissan Rogue more reliable than the Toyota RAV4?
- Based on our data, the Toyota RAV4 is more reliable with an average score of 76/100 compared to 74/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the Nissan Rogue or the Toyota RAV4?
- The Toyota RAV4 has more recalls (53) compared to the Nissan Rogue (43). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
- Which has fewer owner complaints, the Nissan Rogue or the Toyota RAV4?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the Toyota RAV4 has a lower complaint rate at 4.4 per 10,000 sold versus 6.2 for the Nissan Rogue. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
- Which is cheaper to maintain, the Nissan Rogue or the Toyota RAV4?
- Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Toyota RAV4 is cheaper to maintain at $429/year versus $467/year for the Nissan Rogue.
- Is the Nissan Rogue or Toyota RAV4 safer?
- Both the Nissan Rogue and Toyota RAV4 received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.
Related Reliability Comparisons
More Nissan Rogue comparisons
How We Calculate Reliability Scores
Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.
Key Ranking Factors
Complaint Severity
NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.
Repair Costs
Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.
Recall Impact
Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.
Issue Diversity
Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.
Scores are grouped into four tiers:
- 80–100: Excellent — Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
- 60–79: Good — Reliable with some minor concerns
- 40–59: Mixed — Notable issues, research before buying
- 0–39: Risky — Significant problems, proceed with caution
Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.
See incorrect data? Report an issue