RoadVitals

1996 Nissan 200SX Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
37
Latest Jan 14, 2008
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
4
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jun 20, 1996

What this page shows

Our database holds 37 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Nissan 200SX. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 37 · page 1 of 2

Transmission
Filed Jan 14, 2008

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
Visibility
Filed Dec 6, 2007

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
Suspension
Filed Nov 29, 2007

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
Visibility
Filed Aug 3, 2006

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
Visibility
Filed Jul 7, 2006

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
Tires & wheels
Filed Nov 8, 2005

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
Visibility
Filed Nov 1, 2005

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
Transmission
Filed Jul 8, 2005

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
Visibility
Filed Jun 28, 2005

DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM BALL JOINT FAILED RESULTING IN THE INOPERABILITY OF THE DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER. ACCORDING TO THE NHTSA WEBSITE, THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM. NISSAN SAYS THIS PROBLEM IS VIN NUMBER SPECIFIC AND MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. MY CAR HAS THIS VERY SPECIFIC PROBLEM AND WE BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THE RECALL COVERS SEVERAL YEARS (1995 TO 1998) OF THE MANUFACTURE OF THE CAR AND MINE IS A 1996. ABOUT 500,000 OF THESE CARS WERE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL, WHY NOT MINE? WE ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR IN A RAINSTORM WHICH COULD HAVE KILLED US AT THE LEGAL SPEED OF 65 MPH AT THE TIME OF FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10126935
Incident
Jun 13, 2005
Mileage
100,506 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 28, 2005
Fire reported

VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 4 OR 5 HOURS. OWNER HEARD A LOUD POP BUT IGNORED IT BECAUSE HE RESIDED CLOSE TO THE INTERSTATE. MINUTES LATER, THE OWNER HEARD ANOTHER POP SOUND AND WENT TO INVESTIGATE. OWNER FOUND THE VEHICLE ENGULFED IN FLAMES . THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. *AK *TT *NM

NHTSA ID
10115641
Incident
Mar 22, 2005
Mileage
105,500 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 24, 2004

WIPERS STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE IN THE FIRST DAY OF SNOW DURING VERY BAD WHETHER CONDITIONS. TOOK THE CAR TO NISSAN, A 49.99 FEE JUST TO LOOK AT THE CAR. LEFT AND WENT SOMEWHERE ELSE WERE THEY MADE ME AWARE OF A RECALL ON THE PROBLEM AND TO GO BACK TO NISSAN FOR THE REPAIR WHICH SHOULD BE FREE OF CHARGE. AFTER I RETURNED TO NISSAN THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MADE ME AWARE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER ONLY FOR CERTAIN CARS OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL BUT WITHIN A CERTAIN VIN NUMBER RANGE BASED ON THE MANUFACTURER. IN SHORT, EVEN THOUGHT IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL CAR IT WAS NOT COVER. FURTHERMORE, THE SALE REPRESENTATIVE MADE A PHONE CALL TO NISSAN TO CHECK AND THEY WOULD NO SOMETHING ON FRIDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2004. I IN DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE CONDITIONS WAS LEFT TO TRY TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME. AFTER I RETURNED HOME, I CALLED THE NISSAN NUMBER LISTED ON THE RECALL (1-800-647-7261) AND SPOKE WITH ERICA. ERICA CREATED A FILE ON THIS COMPLAINT AND ALSO INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED EVEN THOUGH A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL CAR BUT NOT THE VIN NUMBER. AT THIS POINT I INFORMED HER THAT I WOULD BE CONTACTING THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AS INSTRUCTED IN THE RECALL ANYWAY, SHE STATED THAT THIS WAS NO SOMETHING THAT SHE WANTED ME TO DO THAT IN SHORT, THAT I COULD JUST WAIT UNTIL THE WHETHER WAS DRY AND CLEAR AND GO AND PAY FOR THE REPAIRS NEEDED FOR MY CAR. *NM

NHTSA ID
10100510
Incident
Nov 24, 2004
Mileage
103,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 22, 2004

AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES CONSTANTLY. DLR SAYS SRS COMPUTER HAS FAILED AND WILL COST $600.00 TO REPAIR. DLR SHOULD PAY FOR THIS ITEM AS IT IS SAFETY AND HAS BEEN REPORTED SEVERAL TIMES BY DIFFERENT OWNERS. ON SOME THE AIRBAG HAS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. *JB

NHTSA ID
10058723
Incident
Feb 22, 2004
Mileage
72,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 18, 2003

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WHILE USING WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION WIPERS WOULD PAUSE INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

NHTSA ID
10034131
Visibility
Filed Oct 30, 2002

WHILE DRIVING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO WORK. THERE WAS A RECALL CAMPAIGN, BUT THE CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL. HOWEVER, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING AN EXPLANATION AND REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *YH

NHTSA ID
568184
Airbags
Filed Sep 18, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported

REAREND COLLISION WITH 2000 DODGE P/U. INJURIES INCLUDE CONCUSSION, FACIAL AND CHEST BRUISES, THREE BROKEN BONES ON RIGHT FOOT. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID
767355
Incident
Aug 12, 2002
Heating & air conditioningEngineSuspension
Filed Feb 13, 2002

THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A DIASTER FOR US SINCE WE DROVE IT OFF THE LOT ON MARCH 18, 1996. WITHIN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF OWNING THE CAR THE WATER PUMP BLEW UP WHILE WE WERE DRIVING IT, THEN THE CAR KEPT LOCKING UP WHILE DRIVING IT ABOUT FOUR TIMES AND ALL TIMES WE KEPT BRINGING IT BACK TO THE NISSAN DEALER. WE ASKED TO GIVE THE CAR BACK CAUSE IT WAS A LEMON TO US BUT THEY DID NOT ACCEPT AND WE HAVE HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR EVER SINCE. THIS CAR IS A PIECE OF JUNK, IT IS IN GOOD CONDITION BY LOOKING AT IT YOU WOULD THINK IT WAS NEW. TO MANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. I WILL NEVER IN MY LIFE BY ANOTHER NISSAN. WE STILL OWN IT AND WOULD LIKE TO GET RID OF IT. WE HAD TO REFINACE IT CAUSE THE PAYMENTS FOR IT WAS TOOOO HIGH. I WISH WE COULD BE REIMBURSED. EVERYONE WE KNOW EVEN KNOWS THE TROUBLE WE HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR. I TRIED CALLING THE ORIGINAL PLACE WHERE WE BOUGHT IT TO TELL THEM ALL THE PROBLEMS AND NO ONE NEVER CALLED ME BACK. IT HAS BEEN HECTIC WITH THIS CAR. IT HAS BEEN SITTING INOUR DRIVEWAY FOR THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS. IS THERE ANYWAY YOU CAN HELP US??? THE ENGINE WENT OUT ONE DAY WHEN MY HUSBAND WENT OUT TO GO TO WORK ONE DAY. WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WATERPUMP THREE TIMES, THE AC COMPRESSOR WENT OUT TOO EARLY AND HAD TO GET DISCONNECTED CAUSE IT COST TOO MUCH TO GET FIXED. THIS CAR IS A HEART ACHE AND WE CAN'T AFFORD TO GET ANYMORE WORK DONE TO IT. NOW IT NEEDS SHOCKS. IT IS ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER. I CAN GET PROOF FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY STATING THAT WE HAVE SPENT MOST OF OUR TIME GETTING THIS CAR FIXED THAN DRIVING IT. WE HAVE HAD TO GET LOANS TO GET IT FIXED AND CAN'T AFFORD IT NO MORE.

NHTSA ID
758164
Incident
Jun 1, 2000
Airbags
Filed Jan 27, 2002

AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES. DEALER SAYS AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY AND COMPUTER MODULE IS BAD WITH A REPLACEMENT COST TO US (THE OWNER) OF $600. THERE IS NO EXPLANATION WHY THIS WOULD GO BAD. DEALER SAYS THEY SOMETIMES GO BAD. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND WE BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD BE REPAIRED AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER.*AK

NHTSA ID
757407
Incident
Aug 25, 2001
Tires & wheels
Filed Dec 7, 2001

CONSUMER PURCHASED A NEW UNIROYAL P175/65R14 WW UNIR AS TIRE ON 10-13-2001 AND STATES THAT THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE WITH A DAMAGED BELT, CONSUMER IS EXPECTING A FULL REFUND. *SLC

NHTSA ID
563846
BrakesTransmission
Filed Aug 17, 2001

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY AND NOTICED THAT BRAKES WERE GRINDING. ALSO, WHEN SHE PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE VEHICLE WOULD JERK AND MAKE A ROARING NOISE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID
894631
Incident
Jul 21, 2001
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 25, 2000

SET OF 4 TIRES WERE BOUGHT AS REPLACEMENT TO VEHICLE, AFTER 13500 MILES OF USE A LARGE BULDGE WAS OBSERVED ON RIGHT FRONT TIRE SIDEWALL, DEALER REPLACED TIRE AT NO COST(FIRESTONE FT70C SIZE P175/65R14 8/S M+S). NLM

NHTSA ID
555087
Incident
Sep 9, 2000
Airbags
Filed Jan 31, 2000

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 45MPH, BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT REASON OR WARNING. DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES. DLR HAS NOT SEEN. *AK

NHTSA ID
855829
Brakes
Filed Dec 20, 1999

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE WOULD FREEZE UP WHEN ENGAGED AT 33 DEGREE OR LOWER. UNABLE TO MOVE UNTIL WEATHER GET WARMER. DEALER NOTIFIED AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
854196
Incident
Jan 29, 1998
Airbags
Filed Sep 24, 1999

SRS CONTROL UNIT FAILED WITHOUT ANY REASON. CAR WAS NOT IN MOTION, AND HAD NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENT OF ANY KIND AT ANY TIME. AFTER VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE RED AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. DEALER REPLACE THE SRS CONTROL UNIT FOR $595 (INSTALLED.) HOW RELIABLE ARE THESE UNITS? CAN IT BE DEPENDED UPON IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT?O

NHTSA ID
712016
Incident
Aug 3, 1999
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 22, 1999

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ACCELERATES UNEXPECTEDLY AND IDLES HIGH. OCCUPANT HAS TO PRESS THE BRAKES HARD IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, UNABLE TO DUPLICATE IT. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
843043
Incident
Oct 1, 1998
Airbags
Filed Jul 9, 1999

WHILE DRIVING 30MPH SUDDENLY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. PRIOR TO DEPLOYMENT, AIR BAG LIGHT WAS FLICKERING ON/OFF. *AK

NHTSA ID
842014
Incident
Mar 10, 1999

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.

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