Nissan Quest Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Nissan Quest options? We analyzed 10 model years (2007–2017) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Nissan Quest has 526 owner complaints and 8 safety recalls across model years 2007–2017. The most reported issue area is FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM. 2007 drew the most complaints; 2017 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Nissan
- Model
- Quest
- Model years analyzed
- 2007–2017 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 526
- Safety recall campaigns
- 8
- Crash-related complaints
- 15
- Fire-related complaints
- 9
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2007 (228 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2017 (6 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
Nissan Quest: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe NISSAN QUEST has 526 NHTSA complaints and 8 recalls on record. 15 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 526 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 8 federal recall campaigns
- 15 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Aug 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
8 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
SUSPENSION:FRONT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
SEATS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2007–2017. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 526 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
526 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
Terrible paint peeling on the hood and rear. No accidents or anything that would cause peeling paint. Color is white.
Driving our van out of town, we started having problems with the transmission 2 hours into our drive. We have never had problems out of the transmission. When we accelerate from a stop it would give a shutter and sometimes a pop. It was very dangerous turning into the traffic as it was shuttering you loose power and could get hit. When we stopped at a store where i could check things out at turning the van off. When we started the vehicle it would not go into forward or reverse. We had it towed and had to pay over $4500 to replace the transmission with a new one. The mechanic said they get these all the time because it has a cvt transmission and they are no good. The replaced and refunded a lot of people that had different makes and model. I don’t understand why they don’t on a Nissan Quest . Nissan knows this is a problem. We had our entire family in the van and could have gotten hurt or killed. Nissan needs to do the right thing here and reimburse or replace them.
Air bag light went off beginning of Nov 2023. Took to the dealership, they diagnosed the air bag module and harness as bad. Paid $2k to replace that, took 2 days for part to arrive. Fast forward, mid December 2023, air bag light on again. Take back to dealership and now the passenger side air bag has failed and needs to be replaced. $3k estimated to replace. Many Nissan vehicles (much later year models) have passenger side air bag recalls. This should be under recall as well as the module.
I was driving on the roadway when I felt a jolt and my 2017 Nissan Quest suddenly would not accelerate. I was almost rear-ended and had to come to a stop in a moving lane of traffic. I had no warning lights or previous symptoms, and my Quest has about 80,000 miles. I had my vehicle towed to a local mechanic and was told that they have seen many other similar issues with the Nissan Quest's premature CVT transmission failure. The codes thrown indicated CVT transmission "judder." They recommend that I call AAA and have it towed to a Nissan dealership. I had my Quest towed to a local Nissan dealership and was told the transmission would cost $6200 to repair, which is more than it is worth.
The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Quest. The contact stated that all the windows inadvertently failed to operate as needed. The contact also stated that she attempted to operate the HVAC system and noticed an abnormal odor. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the air filters were replaced; however, the failure recurred. The contact was concerned of the lack of ventilation. Additionally, the contact stated that the rear center captains seat belt failed to operate as designed. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the contact was informed that the vehicle was operating as designed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 44,000.
Car had internal fire with the push start system. Brake switch caught fire when the car was started melted electrical underneath
Read 14 more owner reports
The contact owns a 2014 Nissan Quest. The contact stated that while at a red light, once the light turned green, the contact had to depress the accelerator pedal several times, and 5 seconds afterward,s the vehicle accelerated. No warning lights were illuminated; however, the "Low Coolant" message was displayed on the instrument panel. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the residence, and was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.
Sent the van to Nissan for ABS recall repair and also got my serpentine belt replaced. The check engine light went on when I got the car back. I got a P0840 code which is for transmission pressure sensor. Nissan said I would have to replace transmission. They have a faulty transmission or they could have ruined my van after the repairs
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 NISSAN QUEST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HESITATED, JERKED, AND FAILED TO PROPERLY SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC RETRIEVED AN UNKNOWN FAULT CODE PERTAINING TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED ROUNTREE MOORE NISSAN (4262 US-90, LAKE CITY, FL 32055, (386) 752-5050) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
UPON ACCELERATING FROM A STATIONARY POSITION AT A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE DRIVER WAS TURNING RIGHT, AND SHE WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER WHERE SHE TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AWAY WITH LITTLE NOTICEABLE PROBLEM. SHE STATES THE CAR WILL OFTEN JERK INTO GEAR AND SOMETIMES WILL SEEM TO JUMP IN/OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE CODE READS "P0746".
TAKATA RECALL. WORRIED THAT SEAT BELTS WILL EXPLODE WHEN FAMILY IS TRAVELING IN VAN. NO WAY SEAT BELTS CAN TELL US THEY WILL EXPLODE IN 1 WEEK OR EXPLODE NOW! WHY CAN'T YOU REPLACE ALL OF THE SEAT BELTS BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE IS HURT OR KILLED? I AM THINKING SERIOUSLY ABOUT REPLACING SOON IF SEAT BELTS AREN'T REPLACED,
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 NISSAN QUEST. WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT HIS RESIDENCE, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED AND PUNCTURED. THE FAILURE DAMAGED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL AND FENDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS REPAIRED. HORNE DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP NISSAN (LOCATED AT 2046 US-60, GLOBE, AZ 85501, (928) 615-5600) WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.*BF UPDATE: THE CONTACT GOT IN TOUCH WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE AFORMENTIONED ISSUE. *AS
88,000 MILES ON MY MINIVAN. THE CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION (CVT) SLIPS REPEATEDLY. CAR LOOSES POWER AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE FOR 10-60 SECONDS FREQUENTLY. CVT JERKS AT TAKEOFF MOST OF THE TIME. I TRIED CROSSING A BUSY HIGHWAY AND I WENT HALFWAY ACROSS THEN THE VAN STOPPED MOVING FORWARD. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES IN THE LANE IT STOPPED IN. IT TOOK ABOUT 2 MINUTES BEFORE IT WOULD MOVE FORWARD AGAIN. THIS IS A DANGEROUS VEHICLE TO DRIVE OR RIDE IN BECAUSE YOU CAN'T TRUST THE TRANSMISSION TO WORK PROPERLY.
THE VEHICLE STOPPED ON THE ROAD WITH NO FAULT INDICATION. ON A LONG HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURE DRIVE FROM NASHVILLE, TN TO FLORIDA, WE EXITED THE EXPRESSWAY STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN AND AFTER A BRIEF ACCELERATION ALL PROPULSION TO THE WHEELS WAS LOST WHILE THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. THIS HAPPENED AT 12:30 AM, THE NEXT MORNING WENT TO THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF IT WAS HEAT RELATED, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD START TO ACCELERATE TO A LOW SPEED AND THEN ENGINE TORQUE WOULD DROP AND VEHICLE WOULD ROLL FOR A WHILE AND THEN ACCELERATE. IT WOULD TAKE 4- 6 SECONDS TO ACCELERATE UP TO 35 MPH. DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT WAS A FEW MILES AWAY. AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY FOUND MULTIPLE DIAGNOSTIC CODES RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION: P1700, P1778, P1740, P0868. P0746 THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION TO FIX. AMONGST ALL OF THIS THERE WAS NEVER A FAULT INDICATION TO THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE QUITS ON THE ROAD WITH TROUBLE CODES IN THE CONTROL MODULE AND NO INDICATION TO THE DRIVER TO GIVE A CHANCE TO SERVICE THE TRANSMISSION BEFORE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. ALONG WITH THE LACK OF ACCELERATION WITH NO DRIVER NOTIFICATION (WAS EVIDENT THAT THE ENGINE TORQUE WAS BACKED OFF DUE TO TRANSMISSION DTC'S).
TAILGATE OPENS BY ITSELF AND ACTIVATES THE ALARM (VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY), ALSO TAILGATE OPENS WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING STARTING 5MPH. BRAND NEW BATTERY ON THE VEHICLE AND NO ELECTRICAL FUSES BAD WHERE FOUND.
FAILURE OF CVT TRANSMISSION AT ONLY 73,000 MILES. NISSAN REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION COMES WILL ONLY A 12 MONTH WARRANTY.
MY CAR KEY WAS NOT STARTING THE CAR LAST FEW WEEKS AND I REPLACED THE BATTERY OF THE KEY. THAT SEEMED TO FIX THE ISSUE, BUT ON THAT DAY THE "NO KEY" MESSAGE SHOWED AGAIN. AFTER A FEW TRIES I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR. AFTER A FEW MINS I STARTED HEAR A SMELL AND SMOKE, PULLED OVER AND FIRE STARTED. SOME ONE IN THE PARKING LOT HAD AN EXTINGUISHER AND I WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE THE FIRE STARTED FROM THE FLOOR BETWEEN DRIVER SEAT AND THE DOOR AFTER THE FIRE I CAN SEE THAT THE POWER CABLE AREA IS WHERE IT STARTED
CVT TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT AT 64K MILES POWER TRAIN WARRANTY ONLY GOOD THRU 5/YEAR 69K MILES DEALER REFUSING TO FIX/PAY FOR REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE SEVERAL INSTANCES WHEEE THEY HAVE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 10/YEAR 139K MILES ENGINE LIGHT STARTED TO FLICKER AT ABOUT 57K MILES BUT STAY ON NO PERFORMANCE ISSUES NOTED AT THE TIME LENGIBEVWARNING LIGHT WOULD GO OFF SO COULD NOT GET A CODE STARTED TO NOTICE NO EXCELERATION WHEN GAS PEDDLE WAS PRESS FINALLY ENGINE LIGHT STATED ON AND GOT A P1778 CODE AND TOOK INTO THE DEALER WITH ABOVE RESULT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 NISSAN QUEST. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING NEW ROTORS, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 NISSAN QUEST. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE THIRD ROW SEAT FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,910.
Showing 20 of 526 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Nissan Quest
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Nissan Quest, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Nissan Quest has 526 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Nissan Quest has 8 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 15 of the Nissan Quest's 526 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Nissan Quest vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Nissan Quest vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Nissan Quest has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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Check a Nissan Quest by state
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Nissan Quest.
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Nissan Quest reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Nissan Quest reliable?
Poor. The Nissan Quest has 526 NHTSA owner complaints and 8 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Nissan Quest years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2007 (228 complaints), 2012 (93 complaints), 2011 (66 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Nissan Quest problems?
Top reported issues: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (121 complaints); POWER TRAIN (85 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (83 complaints).
Does the Nissan Quest have recalls?
Yes — 8 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Nissan Quest. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.