'Just Beware:' Woman Buys A 2025 Nissan Rogue. She Says This One Feature Can Be Risky If You Don't Pay Attention

It’s not just frustrating—she warns it could actually be risky if drivers aren’t paying attention or haven't used it before.

Photo by: junepenny & Nissan USA

By: Alexandra Samuels

Jul 24, 2025 at 5:00am ET

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A Nissan driver is going viral after flagging a feature in her 2025 Rogue that she says can be confusing to new drivers, and worth knowing about before getting behind the wheel.

June Penny (@junepenny) says she drives a 2025 Rogue and has one major gripe with the gear shift. It’s not just frustrating—she warns it could actually be risky if drivers aren’t paying attention or haven't used it before.

“If you plan on getting the Nissan Rogue 2025, just beware,” she says in a recent TikTok. Unlike most vehicles where the gear shift locks into park when moved to the top-most position, the Rogue requires drivers to press a separate button marked with a “P.” The gear shifter also isn't a physical stick that moves into position when you're ready to be in Drive or Reverse. It's more of a clicker toggle that returns to a center position when it's ready to drive forward or back up.

Here's a demonstration from Nissan, which admits that the electronic shift lever "operates differently than a conventional shift lever."

Penny admits it took some time to get used to the change.

“You think you’re in park, [but] you are going back,” Penny says. “It took me a few times to get used to this. Keep that in mind if you know someone who wants this car.”

As of Sunday, Penny’s video had drawn more than 27,900 views.

How to Drive the 2025 Nissan Rogue

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To shift into reverse or drive in the 2025 Nissan Rogue, you’ll need to use its electronic gear selector.

Press the button on the side of the shift lever, then push it forward for reverse or pull it backward for drive.

To park, as Penny demonstrated, press the separate “P” button located on the shifter.

Why Is It Designed This Way?

The 2025 Nissan Rogue, along with other Nissan models, ditches the old-school mechanical gear linkage in favor of an electronic gear shift system. That shift allows for more design flexibility, like a sleeker dashboard and increased interior space.

The “P” button locks the transmission to prevent the car from rolling, and it’s tied to the vehicle’s electronic parking brake, which activates even when the car is off.

More Automation, Less Clutter

The Rogue’s electronic system includes a few extra perks. There’s an automatic brake hold in which the brakes stay applied when the vehicle is stopped, and release when you press the gas. The parking brake can also disengage automatically when you shift into gear and hit the accelerator.

It’s all designed to streamline the driving experience. Whether it succeeds—or just confuses drivers—depends on who you ask, but many modern cars come with a learning curve like this one.

Nissan Drivers Adjust

Penny’s not the only one who struggled with Nissan’s electronic shifter. In the comments of her video, other drivers admitted they also needed time to adjust.

“Getting into neutral for a car wash was brutal until I figured out the trick,” one woman wrote.

“I don’t know how to get my Pathfinder in neutral,” another added. “I panicked in the car wash one time.”

“I have a 2021 and, yeah, it was definitely a change,” a third commenter said. “But tbh it didn’t take too long to get used to.”

Others pointed out that the car actually handles some of the parking for you—no need to panic about hitting the wrong button.

“The car automatically goes into park once you turn it off and take your foot off the brake,” one person noted.

Still, not everyone was impressed by the redesign. Some drivers said they’d rather stick with a traditional gear shift and feel Nissan is doing too much.

“I hate how automakers feel like they have to reinvent the freaking wheel with their shifters,” one wrote.

“That’s dangerous,” added another.

Motor1 has reached out to Penny via a TikTok direct message. We'll update this article if she responds.