1996 Nissan Quest Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Oct 25, 2018 · 134 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Quest years
Far more complaints than other years 4th of 21 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 134 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Nissan Quest. That ranks 4th out of 21 Quest model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is latches/locks/linkages (26 complaints, 19%), typically at around 81,000 miles. Complaints mention 4 crashes, 6 fires, 4 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.

Nissan Quest
NISSAN QUEST RE52 China. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Dinkun Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

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Most common 1996 Nissan Quest problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Latches/locks/linkages26 · ~81,000 mi
Air Bags18 · ~97,200 mi
Structure16 · ~200,000 mi
Engine and Engine Cooling15 · ~65,192 mi
Fuel System, Gasoline15 · ~100,000 mi
Unknown or Other12 · ~58,045 mi
Visibility11 · ~79,353 mi
Equipment9 · ~68,000 mi
Steering9 · ~152,799 mi
Electrical System8 · ~74,000 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Latches/locks/linkages2619%81,000——
Air Bags1813%97,200——
Structure1612%200,000——
Engine and Engine Cooling1511%65,192——
Fuel System, Gasoline1511%100,000——
Unknown or Other129%58,045——
Visibility118%79,353——
Equipment97%68,000——
Steering97%152,799——
Electrical System86%74,000——
Seat Belts75%68,000——
Service Brakes, Hydraulic54%———
Power Train43%96,853——
Fuel/propulsion System32%165,500——
Fuel System, Other32%102,500——
Suspension21%53,706——
Tires21%———
Vehicle Speed Control21%———
Parking Brake11%———
Wheels11%———

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2001, with 23 complaints
1996: 4199641997: 16161998: 9199891999: 22222000: 152000152001: 23232002: 7200272003: 12122004: 102004102005: 552006: 1200612008: 112010: 2201022011: 222014: 2201422015: 112017: 1201712018: 11

n = 134 complaints · Source: NHTSA

1996 Nissan Quest recalls (2)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assemblyDec 15, 2000 · NHTSA campaign 00V419001 · 268,229 vehicles

Problem: Vehicle description: minivans. The fuel tank vent hose allows air to vent from the fuel tank during refueling. Cracks have developed in the vent hose. If (1) the fuel tank is overfilled, not allowing excess fuel in the vent hose to flow back into the tank, (2) the vehicle is driven only a short distance after refueling and, (3) there is subsequently significant heating of the fuel tank, the fuel in the tank can expand into the vent hose and leak fuel.

Risk: Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in a fire.

Fix: Dealers will replace the vent hose.

Visibility:power window devices and controlsMar 3, 1998 · NHTSA campaign 98V012002 · 46,500 vehicles

Problem: Vehicle description: mini vans. These vehicles were produced with power windows that can be closed after the ignition key is turned to the "off" position and the right front (passenger) door is opened. This does not meet the requirements of fmvss 118, "power-operated window systems."

Risk: There is the potential for unsupervised children to operate the power windows, increasing the risk of personal injury to the child.

Fix: Owners will be provided with a label reminding owners not to leave children unattended because the power windows can operate for 15 minutes after the vehicle ignition has been turned off unless the driver's door is opened. Also included are instructions describing how and where this label is to be installed. If an owner prefers, their dealer can install this label for them.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • Fuel tank vent hose leakage (EA00015) — opened May 22, 2000, closed Jan 4, 2001, led to recall 00V419001.
  • Unexpected opening on sliding door (SQ00008) — opened May 12, 2000, closed Apr 1, 2002.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

Tl* the contact owns a 1996 nissan quest. The contact noticed an abnormal fuel odor inside and outside of the vehicle while driving. The contact was unaware of a fuel leak under the vehicle or inside the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was…

Fuel/propulsion System · received Oct 25, 2018 · NHTSA complaint 11142545

Tl* the contact owns a 1996 nissan quest. While inspecting the vehicle, it was discovered that the rear passenger side subframe was rusted and corroded. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. A local dealer was not contacted in reference to the failure. The…

Structure · received Sep 6, 2017 · NHTSA complaint 11021823

Can not fill up the van whit gasoline,stop fill in ,like if is full,and gasoline gauge indicates wrong reading

Fuel/propulsion System · received Jun 9, 2015 · NHTSA complaint 10724440

My nissan quest just started with gas odor. *tr

Fuel/propulsion System · received Nov 21, 2014 · NHTSA complaint 10660174

Tl* the contact owns a 1996 nissan quest. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 mph, the vehicle started to shake without warning. The contact was able to continue driving the vehicle. The failure occurred approximately every four months. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic…

Steering · received Mar 12, 2014 · NHTSA complaint 10568736

Other Nissan Quest years

← 1995 Quest · 1997 Quest →

See all Nissan Quest problems by year, every Nissan model, or the Nissan VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 1996 Nissan Quest?

Owners most often report latches/locks/linkages, air bags, structure problems. The top one, latches/locks/linkages, accounts for 26 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 1996 Nissan Quest?

Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 1996 Nissan Quest a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Quest model years, the 1996 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.