RoadVitals

1989 Nissan 240SX Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
36
Latest May 16, 2012
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
10
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.
5

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1989 Nissan 240SX, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Engine614.0%
  • Driver assistance49.3%
  • Brakes37.0%
  • Steering37.0%
  • Visibility37.0%
  • Electrical24.7%
  • Interior & seats24.7%
  • Powertrain (other)12.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

11
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

FUEL INJECTORS LEAKING-- 2 OUT OF THE 4

NHTSA ID 731656 · filed Sep 16, 2000

FUEL INJECTORS ARE LEAKING GAS, AND ITS A FIRE HAZARD.*AK

NHTSA ID 869729 · filed Sep 6, 2000
All 11 reports naming fuel system

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

8
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY CAR THE ELECTRONIC SEAT BELT WENT FORWARD, WHICH BASICALLY MEANS IM UNBUCKLED AND IT WONT GO BACK TO THE BUCKLED POSITION FOR SOME REASON.

NHTSA ID 10458747 · filed May 16, 2012

AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT DOESN'T MOVE WHEN DOOR IS OPENED OR CLOSED. *TR

NHTSA ID 10285093 · filed Sep 24, 2009
All 8 reports naming seat belts

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE IS STALLS AND DIES DUE TO THE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID 836909 · filed Apr 20, 1999

FUEL INJECTORS: FUEL INJECTORS ARE LEAKING. EGR IS BROKEN, , VACUUM IS CRACKED. *AK

NHTSA ID 812575 · filed May 29, 1997

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN A VEHICLE COLLISION.

NHTSA ID 533882 · filed Apr 8, 1998

SUDDEN ACCELERATION,RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL/COLLISION. *AK

NHTSA ID 533378 · filed Mar 27, 1998

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE LOWER BOLT THAT HOLDS THE BACK, LEFT BRAKE CALIPER HAS BROKEN TWICE WITHIN 3 YEARS. *NLM

NHTSA ID 10023070 · filed Jun 14, 2003

FUEL INJECTORS: FUEL INJECTORS ARE LEAKING. EGR IS BROKEN, , VACUUM IS CRACKED. *AK

NHTSA ID 812575 · filed May 29, 1997

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION SWITCH, ALSO TILT STEERING MECHANISM DOES NOT LOCK STEERING WHEEL IN PLACE. *AK

NHTSA ID 509818 · filed Oct 17, 1996

TILT STEERING WHEEL LOCKING MECHANISM FAILS TO HOLD STEERING WHEEL IN POSITION. *DSH

NHTSA ID 503522 · filed Apr 15, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ABOUT 65 MPH, REAR WINDOW JUST POPPED OUT WITH NO WARNING, LANDED ON TRUNK, PULLED TO SIDE AND PUT WINDOW IN TRUNK. *AK

NHTSA ID 802261 · filed Sep 11, 1996

WINDOW CABLE BROKE. *SD

NHTSA ID 506288 · filed Jul 9, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION SWITCH, ALSO TILT STEERING MECHANISM DOES NOT LOCK STEERING WHEEL IN PLACE. *AK

NHTSA ID 509818 · filed Oct 17, 1996

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORT WHILE DRIVING WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID 801049 · filed Aug 19, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE INTERIOR OF VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID 10029200 · filed Jul 25, 2003

AN ELECTRICALSHORT IN THE WIRING IN THE DASH, CAUSING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS TO FAIL. *AK

NHTSA ID 805542 · filed Nov 25, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

POWER WINDOW ASSEMBLY FAILED. *SKD

NHTSA ID 481787 · filed Feb 20, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .