Automatic emergency braking systems, which are supposed to protect cars from impending collisions, are giving some owners of late model Nissan Rogue sport utility vehicles a massive scare.

According to an online report by Eyewitness News in Chicago, the automatic braking systems in some 2017 and 2018 Nissan Rogues are activating unexpectedly, even when there is no impending collision, and is leaving owners of these vehicles afraid to drive them.

Owners of 2017 and 2018 Nissan Rogues are concerned about the emergency braking system in their vehicles activating for no reason. (WLS-TV, Chicago)

Sponsored by Digi-Key Digi IX20 Secure LTE Router Available for Immediate Shipment from Digi-Key The IX20 rugged, secure LTE router is a great choice for applications from basic connectivity to industrial-class and security solutions. Its high-performance architecture gives primary and backup WWAN over software selectable multi-carrier LTE. Learn More

The report quoted one Rogue owner, Todd Burrow, owner of a 2017 Rogue, uncomfortable about letting his wife and two children into the vehicle.

"The car just slammed that emergency brake," Burrow was quoted as saying in the online report. "It's happened to me three times―and that's three too many times."

According to Burrows, those sudden stops are happening for no reason. Nissan equipped 2017 and 2018 Rogues with radar-based sensors that detect when other vehicles are approaching and can apply the automatic emergency braking system to avoid an accident.

"The emergency sensors on the side of the car started lighting up, so I immediately look and there were no other cars," Burrows was quoted as saying.

The problem is not isolated. According to the report, 145 documented complaints have been filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), of 2017 and 2018 Rogues suddenly stopping in traffic.

So far, the NHTSA has not issued a recall for the problem, something that Jason Levine, with the Center for Auto Safety, believes should happen. Back in March, the Center for Auto Safety has petitioned the NHTSA to investigate the problem.



"It's dangerous if the false trigger happens then someone behind you could end up crashing into you because there is no reason," says Levine in the report. "It should be a recall. At the end of the day it's going to cause people either crashes or potential injuries that should be avoided if they just fixed all the Nissan Rogues.”

Meanwhile, Burrow tried to resolve his problem by bringing his Rogue to his dealership, Berman Nissan, which performed an update they say has proved effective, according to the report.

But Burrows says the problem persists, and rejected the dealership’s offer of a model with fewer upgrades. Burrows added that a Nissan customer service initiative acknowledged existence of the problem but says the problem can be resolved at a dealership.

The report quoted Burrows as saying he has no faith in Nissan and wants the manufacturer to buy back the vehicle.

The report adds that a 2018 class action suit filed in Los Angeles claims that Nissan concealed these same sensor problems in numerous models.

According to the Eyewitness News report, Nissan has declined to be interviewed or issue further comments on the class action suit.