Nissan D21 Problems by Year
NHTSA has 230 owner complaints and 3 safety recalls on file for the Nissan D21, across 3 model years (1995–1997). The 1995 model year has the most complaints (129). The most reported problem area overall is structure.
Nissan D21 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
No D21 model year stands out with more than twice the complaints of a typical year.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1995 D21: 129 complaints, 3 recalls
- 1997 D21: 57 complaints, 0 recalls
- 1996 D21: 44 complaints, 1 recall
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Nissan D21 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 36 | 3 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 35 | 3 | 26 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 25 | 3 | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 20 | 3 | 5 |
| Tires | 20 | 3 | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 19 | 3 | 0 |
| Power Train | 19 | 3 | 2 |
| Electrical System | 17 | 3 | 1 |
| Suspension | 16 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 11 | 3 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 10 | 3 | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 | 3 | 1 |
| Visibility | 10 | 2 | 0 |
| Seats | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Parking Brake | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Steering | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Equipment | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Nissan D21 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 D21 | 57 | 0 | — | Air Bags | |
| 1996 D21 | 44 | 1 | — | Air Bags | |
| 1995 D21 | 129 | 3 | — | Structure |
More from Nissan: all Nissan models · Nissan VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Nissan D21 years should you stay away from?
No year stands out at twice the typical count; the most complaints are for 1995 (129), 1997 (57), 1996 (44). Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Nissan D21?
Structure, with 36 complaints across 3 model years.
How many recalls does the Nissan D21 have?
3 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.