P0128 on a 2023 Nissan Rogue

P0128 means the engine warmed up slower than expected or stayed cooler than the computer expected.

Not your vehicle? See general P0128 info.

Most common causes on the 2023 Nissan Rogue

Ranked from 660 NHTSA owner complaints filed for this vehicle.

Sort by:

1
Low coolant level from a leak
High severity
One owner reported a recurring coolant leak needing repeated refills (smelled from the exhaust) before the engine was eventually replaced; low coolant is a direct, common trigger for this code.
Reported in 1 NHTSA complaint
Parts:coolant
2
Engine cooling system defect covered by an active NHTSA campaign
Medium severity
A complaint tied to NHTSA Campaign 25V437000 ('Engine and Engine Cooling') reported rumbling on startup and intermittent power loss, consistent with a cooling-system component affecting thermostat regulation.
Reported in 1 NHTSA complaint
Parts:thermostat
3
Stuck-open thermostat
Medium severity
A thermostat that won't close lets coolant circulate before the engine reaches operating temperature; verify warm-up time and compare commanded vs. actual coolant temp on a scan tool.
Common cause
Parts:thermostat
4
Failed engine coolant temperature (ECT) sensor
Medium severity
A sensor reading falsely low keeps the PCM thinking the engine hasn't warmed up; cross-check the ECT reading against actual engine temperature.
Common cause
Parts:coolant temperature sensor
5
Cooling fan stuck running continuously
Low severity
A fan that won't shut off (bad relay or control module) keeps pulling heat out of the coolant, delaying warm-up; check fan operation with the engine cold.
Common cause
Parts:cooling fan relay
6
Water pump or coolant bypass valve fault limiting proper coolant flow
Medium severity
A worn water pump or a failing coolant bypass valve can disrupt normal warm-up circulation; pressure-test the cooling system.
Common cause
Parts:water pump

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These causes are aggregated from NHTSA owner complaints and general repair knowledge — this is not a diagnosis. P0128 on your car still needs shop confirmation before any repair.

Common symptoms

Check engine light
Weak cabin heat
Poor fuel economy
Temperature gauge low
Long warm-up time

What to check before replacing parts

Check coolant level when the engine is cold

Look for: Low coolant reduces the system's ability to reach and hold operating temperature — top off and recheck before assuming the thermostat or sensor is at fault.

Compare scan-tool coolant temperature to actual warm-up time

Look for: An engine that takes noticeably longer than normal to reach operating temperature (or never gets there) on the scan tool, with normal coolant level, points to the thermostat rather than the sensor.

Inspect thermostat operation

Look for: A thermostat stuck open (or opening at the wrong temperature) lets coolant circulate through the radiator too early, keeping the engine running cooler than it should — this is the most common cause of this code.

Check cooling fan command

Look for: A fan that runs constantly or turns on too early (commanded on when temperature is still low) keeps the engine from warming up normally, mimicking a stuck-open thermostat.

Inspect coolant temperature sensor data

Look for: A sensor reading that doesn't rise smoothly with actual engine warm-up, or that reads implausibly low compared to how the engine feels/behaves, points to a sensor or wiring fault rather than a true cooling problem.

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