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
SEATS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
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.
Car need transmission replaced - there is no warning on car that transmission is having major issues (ie no check engine light). My car shakes on turning this has been on going since I purchased the car in 2017. In late 2023 the car did not have as much pick up power like it used to and had a whining noise once you drive for a while (without the power it used to). There were no check engine light warning to date. On 1/12/24 I used auto zone engine diagnostic and following error codes came up - P17FO - CVT JUDDER P17F2 -JUDDER T/C inspection Diagnostic at AAMCO ON 3/25/24 show additional issues that don’t show any warning signs eg check engine light PER AAMCO additional issues: Engine missing cylinder 3,4; and cylinder 1 is misfiring. Transmission juddering around 2nd gear, chain slipping under pressure…transmission having internal mechanical failure. I am not sure if these issues are serious enough to show as check engine. If they should I don’t know why my car check engine light is not on?
Check engine light appeared without warning and car would slow down and no longer accelerate on the highway. Took to the dealership and was told it needed a new transmission with only 64,000 miles of use.
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Quest. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, the contact shifted the CVT transmission into low (L) manually. The contact stated that the vehicle began to vibrate and then began to shake the entire vehicle. The contact removed his foot from the accelerator pedal and started to tap the brakes. The contact stated that the vehicle started to shake more violently while slowing down. The contact stopped the vehicle and felt resistance from the shift lever while attempting to shift the vehicle into park (P). The contact stated that the check engine warning light momentarily illuminated, but then turned off. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but had reoccurred without manually shifting gear. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who scanned the vehicle and retrieved DTC code: P17F1 (CVT Judder). The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 136,022.
The control arms on the vehicle malfunctioned and had to be replaced. I typically lost control of steering causing the vehicle to jerk in one direction or the other. This was repaired almost a year ago. I had the vehicle serviced at a independent service center. It could have possible caused an accident had I not been able to counteract the loss of steering. I am currently experiencing this same issue again and was notified in May 2023 that the control arms have once again malfunctioned. There are no warning lights for this issue, I noticed it when the car seemed to need a front end alignment but once I took it to the shop they confirmed that the control arms had malfunctioned. I researched this issue and saw that there was a recall of these exact same parts for 2016 Nissan Quest vehicles used as emergency vehicles. I am concerned that this is some sort of on going issue, that is costing $1600 + on every repair.
MY TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO DRIVE,ITS WILL REVERSE GREAT BUT WILL NOT MOVE IN DRIVE OR LOW
NISSAN COMMON PROBLEM IS THE BREAK SENSOR SWITCH. *TR
Read 14 more owner reports
I HAVE A 2016 NISSAN QUEST. IT SNOWED LAST NIGHT, AND A PIECE OF ICE GOT STUCK IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE AND KEPT THE HANDLE SLIGHTLY AJAR. BECAUSE OF THIS, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN USING THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE. I HAD TO UNROLL THE WINDOW, AND PUSH THE EXTERIOR HANDLE BACK TO ITS NORMAL POSITION BEFORE THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE WOULD OPEN THE DOOR. I AM GRAVELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE DESIGN OF THE DOOR LATCH MECHANISM. IT WOULD BE LOGICAL THAT THE INTERIOR HANDLE SHOULD OVERRIDE ANY STATE THE THAT THE EXTERIOR HANDLE IS IN (FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE EXTERIOR HANDLE WAS DAMAGED IN AN ACCIDENT) AS A SAFETY PRECAUTION.
TOOK MY NISSAN IN FOR THE 60000 SERVICES AND FOUND OUT THERE IS A PROBLEM ON THE CVT HAS A CODE P17F1. THE SERVICE TECH EXPLAINED WHAT'S WRONG HOW IS SHAKES AND JUDDER AND I HAVE BEEN FEELING THIS SINCE 45000MILE AND I'M JUST ABOUT 3000 OUT OF WARRANTY AT 63000 MILES AND NISSAN USA DOES NOT WANT TO COVER THE REPAIR. THE CVT JUDDER UPON ACCELERATION 0-40. I WAS ADVISED TO GET THE VALVE BODY REPLACED AND WAS QUOTED $1340.47. I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL NISSAN OWNER FOR YEARS I HAVE NISSAN TITAN 2006 , 1984 NISSAN 300ZX, 2004 INFINITY I35, 2014 NISSAN ALTIMA,AND HAD 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA.
THE AIRBAG LIGHT TURNS ON WHEN A PASSENGER IS SITTING ON THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE "AIRBAG OFF" IS "ON" ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS DURING THE DRIVE, IT GOES ON AND THEN AFTER SOME TIMES IT TURNS OFF. THE AIRBAG SEEMS FAULTY. LOOKS LIKE IF THE VEHICLE IS IN AN ACCIDENT, THE AIRBAGS MIGHT NOT DEPLOY, THEREFORE THE PASSENGER IS NOT SAFE FROM A VEHICLE CRASH. IT ALWAYS HAPPENS WHEN I DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND A PASSENGER IS SITTING ON THE PASSENGER SEAT.
THIS VEHICLE HAS SEVERAL MANUFACTURING FAULTS THAT THREATEN THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. SINCE THE VEHICLE LEFT THE CONSESSION, ACCORDING TO NEW, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SAFELY USE THIS VEHICLE SINCE ITS TRANSMISSION, SUSPENSION AND FRONT. THESE COMPONENTS HAVE A VIBRATION AND CRUNCH THAT DOES NOT ALLOW SAFE USE. SINCE THEN IT HAS TAKEN IMNUMERABLE TIMES TO REPAIR FOR THE SAME FAULTS AND THEY STILL PERSIST. THE NISSAN HAS ALREADY BEEN DOCUMENTED THIS CLAIM AND HAVE IGNORED THE SAFETY RISKS INVOLVED IN DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT CAN BE BLOCKED TRANSMISSION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY EXPOSING THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND OTHER DRIVERS.
BRAKE SWITCH STOPPED FUNCTIONING. BRAKE LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY DID NOT WORK, AND EVENTUALLY PUSH START DID NOT FUNCTION. RESEARCHED ONLINE IS A COMMON PROBLEM.
VEHICLE WHEEL/TIRE SENSORS ARE FAULTY. IT KEEPS GIVING ME WARNING SIGNAL TO CHECK TIRE PRESSURE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO FIX IT AND IT WAS FINE FOR 2 WEEKS AND THIS WEEK ITS AGAIN GIVING SAME CHECK TIRE PRESSURE SIGNAL. I HAVE IT CHECKS WITH DEALERSHIP ONCE AND WITH LES SCHWAB TWICE. IN ONE MONTH PERIOD.
JERKING TRANSMISSION WHILE ACCELERATING ABOVE 40MPH; AT SPEED CRUISING GOING UP AND DOWN HILLS; AND DECELERATING FROM 70MPH. OCCURRING MORE OFTEN WHILE ON CRUISE CONTROL SETTING.
The front passenger door actuator stopped working so that you can lock and unlock the door. I saw that there is a lawsuit for other Nissan models of the same year for issues with the same part and figured it might all be the same part and should report it. It has been confirmed by monro auto repair shop.
The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Quest. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle started overheating and jerking with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle started smoking, and the contact pulled over on the side of the road and added coolant, but the failure continued. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the radiator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.
Well the problem is unknown to nissan and I filed a complaint with the BBB, and it is not resolved, the Mechanics at the Nissan in Hammond La, said they could not find the problem and in Mccomb Ms, The Mechanics stated that Nissan to had send a Electrical Engineer take a look the Vehicle. Customer Service never did any thing to solve the problem, The problem started when I had repairs Done on the Vehicle about year and half ago and started pulling in EMF from the power lines over or near the road ways, also shocking me if I touch the Door or console , I have used a Electricamagnetic Radiation tester to read how high the Radiation is in the car, Tester is a Erickhill RT-100 rated in the top 10, it is also shocking me on my left foot , I have to drive with left foot tuck under my other leg, this Issue needs to be fix I am thinking of suing if I find evidence there is foul play involved. I am 61 years old and never have I had a vehicle shock me and give me headaches,
Transmission shudder at 1000-1500 rpm.
The passenger side curtain airbag spontaneously stopped working. The airbag warning light started flashing on the dashboard, and we took it in to the dealership. They reset the code warning, but the light came on again. They said they needed to replace the airbag after trying to replace the sensor and having the same issue. The van has not been in any accidents or had any side impacts and has about 72,000 miles on it. Nissan refuses to cover any part of the $3,000 repair cost since the manufacturer warranty expires at 60,000 miles. The dealership advised us that since there's an issue with one airbag, it's possible that no airbags would deploy in the event of a crash. So the airbag or airbag system is faulty and possibly has been all along, but we just now got the warning light. Obviously driving a car without working airbags is incredibly unsafe, and Nissan doesn't seem to think they should have to stand behind their products or consumers to fix the issue and ensure their safety.
WHEN VEHICLE IS WARMED UP, WHILE EXCELERATING THE TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS. THIS TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN RECALLED AND WARRANTY EXTENDED ON ALL NISSAN VEHICLES EMCEPT THE QUEST. THE DEALERSHIP IN TERRE HAUTE SAYS IT NEEDS REPLACED AT A VALUE OF $4300. I WOULD LIKE SIGNIFICANT HELP WITH THIS.
I PURCHASED 2015 NISSAN QUEST ON JULY 3, 2019. AFTER I BROUGHT IT HOME, NOTICED IT HAD A NIL IN FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. WENT BACK TO DEALERSHIP ON JULY 3, AND ADV THE SALES REP STEVE PUSATERI. HE STATED THAT IT WOULD BE FIXED. ALSO ADVISED THAT THERE IS POOR ACCELERATION. JULY 6 2019, HAD AN APPT AND NOTHING WAS FOUND WITH ACCELERATION, THE TIRE WAS FIXED. ON JULY 11, 2019, MY WIFE WAS ON A ROAD TRIP, AND TEXT STEVE TO ADVISE THAT THE VAN IS SHAKING AND THERES A MAINTENANCE ISSUE. ON AUGUST 7TH, MY WIFE TOOK THE VAN TO DUNN TIRE. THAT IS WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE TIRES ARE T AND V RATING TIRES, AND THEY SHOULD NEVER BE COMBINED AND THAT IS DANGEROUS. DUNN TIRE BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE TIRE DEPTH WAS AT 3-32. TOOK VAN BACK TO DEALER ON THURSDAY AUGUST 8, TO CHECK OUT THE SHAKING, THEY ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A BROKEN BELT IN ONE OF THE TIRES, AND THAT CAUSES THE SHAKING. AT THAT TIME, WE BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION ABOUT THE MIXTURE OF TIRES ON VAN. AND WE ALSO ADV THAT THE REAR TIRE WAS CRACKED, AND LEAKING AIR PER DUNN TIRE. WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VAN, THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED US THAT THE VAN WAS CERTIFIED AND HAD A DETAILED INSPECTION. ON THE CERTIFIED PRE OWNED INSPECTION CHECKLIST IT READS AS FOLLOWS. THE TREAD DEPTH WAS AT 5-32. HOW COULD MIKE BARNEY NISSAN CERTIFY THE VEHICLE, WITH A COMBINATION OF DIFFERENT TIRES ON THE VAN? THIS WAS A DANGER TO MY WIFE AND 3 CHILDREN, WHILE THEY WERE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY.. WHEN WE PICKED UP THE VAN ON AUGUST 13, THE CAN HAD 4 BRAND NEW TIRES. AFTER LEAVING THAT NIGHT, THE VAN CONTINUES TO SHAKE. MY WIFE LEFT A MESSAGE FOR SERVICE REP AUGUST 14, AND SHE HAS YET TO RETURN THE CALL.
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.