Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.Japanese engineering has established a well-earned reputation for reliability over multiple decades, but not all Japanese brands are one and the same. Toyota and Lexus typically rank highest in dependability studies, with Honda not too far behind. In a tier below this but still above the industry average, we find Nissan. Its vehicles can last a long time, but a few high-profile powertrain issues have prevented the brand from challenging Toyota. Here, we'll take a look at what the latest data says about Nissan's reliability, while also delving into some of the major problems faced by specific Nissan models.Nissan's Brand Reliability: Better Than Average2024 Nissan RogueNissanUsing the most recent reliability studies from Consumer Reports, JD Power, and RepairPal, we can see a clear trend emerge. Nissan is consistently ranked above average for reliability, and it even managed to rank above Honda and Toyota in certain studies. Here's a snapshot of Nissan's reliability as a brand.How Reliable Are Nissans?Consumer ReportsJD Power Vehicle Dependability StudyJD Power Initial Quality StudyRepairPalNissan brand ranking6th out of 26 brands10th out of 28 brands5th out of 27 brands9th out of 32 brandsEach study has a slightly different methodology, but they all track the number of problems experienced by drivers of vehicles with different car brands. Below, we'll break down each study in more detail.Consumer ReportsThe Consumer Reports study uses data for around 380,000 vehicles, dating all the way back to the 2000 model year, so it's a better indication of longer-term dependability than the JD Power studies. CR does require eligible automakers to have at least two models from the 2023-2026 model years, though, so newer vehicles always form part of the final tally. The study takes into account 20 trouble areas, from broken interior trim to major mechanical issues.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe only brands to score higher than Nissan were Toyota, Subaru, Lexus, Honda, and BMW. Nissan placed just ahead of its luxury arm, Acura, which was ranked seventh.JD Power Vehicle Dependability StudyJD Power released two reliability/quality studies in 2026. The Vehicle Dependability Study is based on responses from 33,268 owners who owned 2023 model-year vehicles for three years, so it gives us a good idea of what to expect from cars that have covered a decent number of miles. 184 problem areas are covered in this study, and Nissan ranked a few spots above the industry average. While Toyota performed better, Honda was behind Nissan in this study.Nissan also achieved one segment win in this study. The Murano was ranked as the highest-rated midsize SUV after three years. 2022 Nissan MuranoNissanJD Power Initial Quality StudyAs the name suggests, this study focuses on initial quality in the early ownership period. The latest one is based on responses from 78,514 people who leased or purchased a 2026 model-year vehicle, with their experiences shared after 90 days of ownership. It takes into account repair data, the driving experience, displays, the powertrain, and many more aspects of each vehicle.AdvertisementAdvertisementNissan's top 5 finish was one of the best, with its cars seeing 156 problems per 100 models. That's comfortably better than the study average of 175 problems per 100 vehicles. Toyota and Honda were both worse than Nissan in this study, even though they tend to pull ahead of Nissan as the cars age.RepairPal Reliability RatingRepairPal's brand reliability ratings are formulated based on a database of millions of vehicle repair invoices, with a focus on unscheduled repairs. It covers 2010 to 2019 vehicles, so is an accurate indication of longer-term reliability.Nissan reliability ratings are solid here too; it has a RepairPal rating of 4 out of 5 and ranks 9th out of 32 brands, another good result that's consistent with the other studies. RepairPal also found Nissan's average annual repair costs to be $500 per year, below the average of $652 for all models.Related: Nissan Frontier Reliability: Better Than Ford And Chevy, But Not ToyotaMajor Nissan Problems2008 Nissan RogueNissanWhat many of these studies don't always indicate are serious model-specific problems that can completely sour the ownership experience. Over the last 10 or so years, Nissan has faced a few powertrain problems that have resulted in recalls, lawsuits, and expensive out-of-pocket expenses for some owners.Nissan CVT Faults2008 Nissan RogueNissanFor years, Nissan has relied heavily on continuously variable transmissions instead of conventional automatics. While CVTs can be smooth and improve efficiency when they're working properly, multiple Nissan models have seen premature mechanical failure of these transmissions.AdvertisementAdvertisementOwners have often reported the following symptoms:Shuddering or jerkingWhining or buzzingSurging revs not accompanied by commensurate accelerationLimp mode or transmission overheatingMultiple generations of the Nissan Rogue have had CVT issues, and it can cost between $3,500 to $8,000 to replace this transmission, according to Lemon Law Experts. These problems are especially prevalent in earlier first- and second-generation models. However, other Nissans are not immune to CVT issues; Car Complaints reports that the Murano's worst year on record is 2015 because of CVT-related problems.VC-Turbo Engine Failures2024 Nissan Rogue VC-Turbo engineNissanThe innovative three-cylinder turbocharged engine with variable compression has been a major headache for Nissan. In March 2026, Nissan announced another warranty extension for these engines due to throttle body problems and bearing failures. There have been multiple recalls for the engine, which is equipped to the latest generation of the Rogue, while a class action lawsuit claims that Nissan failed to address fundamental flaws in the VC-Turbo's design.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Rogue is one of America's best-selling compact crossovers, so thousands of models have been implicated in related recalls for this engine. It's a major red flag for these Nissans, especially since rivals from Mazda and Toyota still use naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engines that have been proven over many years to be more solid.Related: Nissan's Most Popular SUV Is Facing a Trust Crisis Around The WorldFinal Verdict: Reliable, But Watch Out For Certain Engines and Transmissions2022 Nissan FrontierNissanSo, are Nissans reliable? Yes, but with one or two major caveats. The automaker's reliability record is generally positive, with higher scores than the industry average in all major surveys. The brand appears to perform particularly well over the initial years of ownership. However, we advise buyers to watch out for models equipped with the VC-Turbo engine, as well as older CVT-equipped Nissans. These have the potential to add thousands to your annual maintenance costs if something goes wrong.On the other hand, a Nissan Frontier with an old-school V6 and traditional automatic is known to be highly dependable. The most reliable Nissans are newer models with naturally-aspirated engines, from smaller four-cylinder units to the respected VQ V6. If you are purchasing a used CVT-equipped model, we recommend staying on top of maintenance and finding out as much as possible about the vehicle's service history before taking the plunge.AdvertisementAdvertisementRelated: This Is The Most Reliable Nissan Rogue Model YearThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Aug 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the Features section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.