EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1996 Nissan 200SX
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 37 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Nissan 200SX, most frequently naming the airbags, visibility and transmission categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 40 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 1996 | 1 | 1 |
| Sep 1996 | 1 | 2 |
| Dec 1996 | 1 | 3 |
| Jan 1997 | 1 | 4 |
| Feb 1997 | 1 | 5 |
| Apr 1997 | 1 | 6 |
| Oct 1997 | 2 | 8 |
| Sep 1998 | 3 | 11 |
| Nov 1998 | 1 | 12 |
| Jul 1999 | 2 | 14 |
| Sep 1999 | 1 | 15 |
| Dec 1999 | 1 | 16 |
| Jan 2000 | 1 | 17 |
| Sep 2000 | 1 | 18 |
| Aug 2001 | 1 | 19 |
| Dec 2001 | 1 | 20 |
| Jan 2002 | 1 | 21 |
| Feb 2002 | 1 | 22 |
| Sep 2002 | 1 | 23 |
| Oct 2002 | 1 | 24 |
| Aug 2003 | 1 | 25 |
| Feb 2004 | 1 | 26 |
| Nov 2004 | 1 | 27 |
| Jun 2005 | 2 | 29 |
| Jul 2005 | 1 | 30 |
| Nov 2005 | 2 | 32 |
| Jul 2006 | 1 | 33 |
| Aug 2006 | 1 | 34 |
| Nov 2007 | 1 | 35 |
| Dec 2007 | 1 | 36 |
| Jan 2008 | 1 | 37 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Airbags1229.3%
- Visibility922.0%
- Transmission49.8%
- Tires & wheels37.3%
- Brakes37.3%
- Suspension24.9%
- Electrical24.9%
- Engine24.9%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
2 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govVISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 NISSAN 200SX. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS OR EXCEED 20 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 92,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10214708
- Incident
- Jan 9, 2008
- Mileage
- 92,000 mi
WIPER ARM LINKAGE POPS OFF AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL SECTION, BOTH WIPERS BECOME NON-FUNCTIONAL. LOCAL NISSAN DEALER WILL NOT HONOR THE RECALL, STATING THAT MY CAR DOES NOT HAVE THE DEFECTIVE PART - NO RECORD OF THIS RECALL BEING PERFORMED LINKED TO THIS VIN. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10211068
- Incident
- Nov 10, 2007
- Mileage
- 141,500 mi
ENTERING A RIGHT TURN ON A CLOVER LEAF THE CAR MADE A SUDDEN SIDEWAYS MOVEMENT. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 20 MPH AND WAS FORCED TO THE SHOULDER. INITIAL ROADSIDE INSPECTION FOUND LEFT REAR TIRE TOUCHING LEFT REAR FENDER WELL. CAR WAS TAKEN BY FLATBED CARRIER FROM ROADSIDE. UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION FOUND THAT THE BRACKET THAT CONNECTS THE REAR LEFT TRAILING-LINK ARM TO THE REAR AXLE HAD SEPARATED FROM THE CHASSIS. NISSAN DEALERSHIP INSPECTED CAR AND BRACKET AND FOUND THAT THE BRACKET WAS NOT WELDED TO THE CHASSIS WITH THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF SPOT WELDS. IN FACT, SIX TO SEVEN SPOT WELDS WERE MISSED COMPARED TO THE RIGHT SIDE. NISSAN HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR THIS QUITE OBVIOUS MANUFACTURERS DEFECT ACCOUNT HIGH MILEAGE AND UNKNOWN MAINTENANCE RECORDS ON CAR. I WONDER IF ROBOT MISSED OTHER WELDS ON OTHER CARS? *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10210318
- Incident
- Apr 12, 2007
- Mileage
- 181,000 mi
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WIPER ARM LINKAGE DISENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING, WHILE THE WINDSHIELD WASHER/WIPERS WERE ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 98V093000, REGARDING THE WINDSHIELD WASHER/WIPER ARM LINKAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED.
- NHTSA ID
- 10164385
- Incident
- Aug 3, 2006
- Mileage
- 128,000 mi
I OWN A 1996 NISSAN 200SX WITH . I PURCHASED THE CAR IN LATE SUMMER OF 2005. ON JULY 5 2006 MY SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR IN A RAIN STORM AND THE WIPERS STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE NEXT DAY HE ASKED ME TO LOOK AT THE CAR AND I DISCOVERED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE HAD FAILED AT THE BALL JOINT WHERE THE CONNECTING ROD FROM THE MOTOR JOINS THE PIVOT ROD FOR THE WIPER BLADES. I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED THIS PROBLEM WAS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED IN NHTSA RECALL 98V093000. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALER AND I WAS TOLD MY VIN HAD NO OUTSTANDING RECALLS. I CALLED NISSAN CORP. AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. HOWEVER, NISSAN IS GOING TO PULL THE ARCHIVES ON MY VEHICLE TO SEE IF IT HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR THIS RECALL. THIS PROCESS WILL TAKE SEVERAL DAYS. EVEN IF THIS CAR WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED FOR RECALL 98V093000, WHATEVER FIX WAS DONE OBVIOUSLY WASN'T SUFFICIENT BECAUSE THE PROBLEM RECURRED. I CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. IF MY VIN NUMBER TURNS OUT NOT TO BE PART OF THE ORIGINAL RECALL GROUP THEN I BELIEVE NISSAN SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO EXPAND THE LIST OF VEHICLES COVERED BY THIS RECALL. *JB
- NHTSA ID
- 10161804
- Incident
- Jul 5, 2006
- Mileage
- 141,000 mi
MY WITNESS WHO DROVE WITH ME CHECKED THE TIRE PRESSURE BEFORE WE LEFT BECAUSE WE WERE DRIVING OVER 150 MILES. WE WERE DRIVING FROM ALMOST APACHE JUNCTION,AZ TO SIERRA VISTA AZ. TO PICK MY 7 YEAR OLD SON FROM HIS MOTHERS. WE GOT OUTSIDE OF CASA GRANDE GOING THE SPEED LIMIT, WE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND FELT SOMETHING HIT THE SIDE OF THE CAR. COME TO FIND OUT THE TREAD COMPLETELY PEELED OFF AND WHEN IT PEELED OFF IT DID $2000 OF DAMAGED TO MY PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. EVEN THOUGH THE TREAD PEELED OFF THERE WAS STILL AIR IN THE TIRE, SO WE DROVE TO A TIRE PLACE AND GOT A SPARE TIRE IN ELOY, AZ. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH COOPER TIRES AND THEY DENIED ME SAYING THAT THE TREAD CAME OFF DO TO UNDER INFLATION AND TO REPAIR PLUGS. THIS IS FALSE MY WITNESS CHECKED MY INFLATION IN THE TIRES BEFORE WE LEFT AND HE USE TO WORK AT A AT GOODYEAR TIRES. UNTIL THIS DAY THEY STILL DENY ME. I AM NOT GIVING UP BECAUSE THE GAVE ME A DEFECTED TIRE. *JB
- NHTSA ID
- 10142207
- Incident
- Oct 2, 2005
- Mileage
- 17,300 mi
DT: THE CONTACT STATED DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER DOES NOT WORK. THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER WILL WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THERE WAS NO FOREWARNING PRIOR TO THE WIPERS NOT WORKING. THERE WAS RECALL 98V093000. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER, THEY STATED IT WAS TOO OLD OF A RECALL IN THEIR DATABASE. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 10141372
- Incident
- Oct 24, 2005
- Mileage
- 113,000 mi
MANUAL TRANSMISSION CLUTCH CABLE FAILED, UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS WHILE DRIVING. THIS CONDITION WAS INTERMITTENT AND HAPPENED THREE TIMES BEFORE DEALER WAS ABLE TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR. AS A RESULT OF FAILURE, CAR WAS UNABLE TO DOWNSHIFT WHICH LED TO VEHICULAR LACK OF CONTROL. LOCAL NISSAN DEALER FINALLY WAS ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND REPLACE THE ENTIRE CLUTCH CABLE ASSEMBLY. UNKOWN OF OLD PART IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.
- NHTSA ID
- 10127865
- Incident
- Apr 30, 2005
- Mileage
- 97,400 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
STEERING
DIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT) AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF-CENTER This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
12 VOLT BATTERY TESTING FOR IN-SERVICE VEHICLES SERVICE INFORMATION The following Service Information lists NNA procedural recommendations for establishing good connections while performing 12V battery testing. These recommendations are expected to promote uniformity during the connection process, therefore reducing the number of incorrect âTest with DCAâ and âReplaceâ results. HINT: If 12 volt batteries are allowed to discharge for a prolonged period of time, battery life may be drastically reduced. This condition may lead to premature battery replacement and customer dissatisfaction. IMPORTANT: ï· CPX-900 is now an accepted testing tool to use along with or in place of the DSS-5000 ï· CPX-900 operating instructions are found at: https://nissancpx900.midtronics.com/ ï· DSS-5000 operating instructions are found at: https://nissandss5000.midtronics.com/ ï· DCA-8000 is now a required testing tool to be used for all warranty replacement decisions. The DCA-8000 is also a more efficient charger than previously available, and will charge any available 12 volt lead acid battery safely and accurately as long as all precautions and inputs are made correctly. The DCA-8000 operating instructions are found at: https://nissandca8000.midtronics.com/
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SILICONE-BASED LUBRICANT OR GREASE CAN DAMAGE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SERVICE INFORMATION Do not apply Silicone-based lubricants or grease to, or around, any interior electrical components. To avoid the risk of death or severe personal injury, do not directly spray Silicone-based lubricant or grease, or inadvertently overspray Silicone-based lubricant or grease onto any interior electrical components. These types of lubricants can be detrimental to the proper operation of electrical components.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INTELLIGENT KEY REPLACEMENT OR SWAPPING BETWEEN VEHICLES This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Discard all previous versions of this bulletin.
STRUCTURE; VISIBILITY
WINDSHIELD CRACKING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.