RoadVitals

1996 Nissan Quest Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints 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.
15
Latest Mar 12, 2014
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
11%
of 134 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Nissan Quest submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

EngineSteering
Filed Mar 12, 2014

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 WHO INDICATED THE VEHICLE HAD A DESIGN FLAW AND THE MOTOR MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THREE TIMES FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,799. *TR

NHTSA ID
10568736
Incident
Mar 12, 2014
Mileage
152,799 mi
AirbagsElectricalEngine+4 more
Filed Jan 15, 2004

WEIRD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS,I HAVE TAKEN TO 2 DIFFERENT PEOPLE, 1 OF WHICH SPECIALIZES IN TRANSMISSIONS, THE PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS WARMED UP THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T KNOW WHAT GEAR IT IS IN, ON INITIAL INVESTIGATION THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE THE TROTTLE POSITION SENSOR BUT THAT WAS REPLACED AND STILL NO FIX. THEY HOOKED UP COMPUTERS TO THE CAR WHILE DRIVING AND SAY THE COMPUTER DOESN'T READ THE TPS BEING OPERATIVE DURING DRIVING BUT NO PROBLEMS CAN BE FOUND WITH THE WIRING AND COMPUTER BOARD. WHEN THE ENGINE TRANSMISSION STARTS TO MESS UP THE LOCKS START TO LOCK AND UNLOCK BY THEMSELVES WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT BLINKS OFF AND ON. AT ONE TIME THE AIR BAG LIGHT COME ON FOR NO REASON IT WAS CHECKED AND PROBLEM FOUND. THE SLIDING DOOR LATCH BROKE WITHIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS OF BUYING. THE BACK WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WOULD ALSO COME ON BY ITSELF, WE ENDED UP TAKING THE FUSE OUT FOR THAT.

NHTSA ID
10070045
Incident
Feb 15, 2002
Mileage
53,706 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 15, 2004

MY QUEST WOULD TAKE A LONG TIME TO GET HEAT INTO THE INTERIOR. RECENTLY IT STARTED OVERHEATING AS WELL. I REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, BUT ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS SAY TO INSTALL THE THERMOSTAT SO THE SPRING IS FACING TO THE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE. HOWEVER, THE T'STAT LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE WILL NOT FIT WITH THE SPRING TO THE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE; AND THE ORIGINAL T'STAT (I DON'T THINK IT HAS EVER BEEN REPLACED - IT HAD NISSAN ON IT) WAS INSTALLED WITH THE SPRING END FACING THE HOSE END. SO I INSTALLED A SHORTER T'STAT SO THE SPRING WOULD FIT TOWARD THE ENGINE. NOW THE INTERIOR GETS HEAT QUICKLY, BUT THE ENGINE STILL OVERHEATS. THE RADIATOR CAP HAS BEEN REPLACED, AND THE COOLING SYSTEM FLUSHED. THE PROBLEM EPRSISTS.

NHTSA ID
10069968
Incident
Jan 15, 2003
AirbagsEngineFuel system
Filed Jan 15, 2004

I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS OUEST.I HAVE REPLACED THE HEATER CONTROL,BOTH SIDE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS,REPLACE ACC C/V BOOT,REPLACE ANTENNA MOTOR,REPLACE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT,REPLACE BACK WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR,REPLACE BOTH FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS AND THE VENT HOSE. THIS ARE JUST THE MAJOR THINGS. I HAVE SPEND AROUND 7000.00 ON THIS QUEST FOR REPAIRS AND UP KEEP. I BROUGHT IT NEW IN MAY OF 1996. NEVER AGAIN.

NHTSA ID
10069383
Incident
Dec 15, 1999
Mileage
62,384 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system+2 more
Filed May 13, 2003

ENGINE KNOCK,ENGINE FAILURE, REPLACE CORRODED THROTTLE BODY, GAS SMELL LEAKS INTO INTERIOR, FAULTY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT RESTRAINT,VEHICLE NOW HAS 110,000 MILES ON IT AND IS IN THE SHOP FOR A NEW FUEL PUMP. EXCESSIVE NOISE POLLUTION WHEN DRIVING, FAULTY REAR HATCH LOCK(ELECTRICAL), FAULTY ELECT. PWR. DOOR LOCKS, LOCKS WHEN NOT TOUCHED. THIS VEHICLE IS WHAT LEMON LAWS WERE INTENDED FOR YET NISSAN IS IN DENIAL ABOUT ALL THE PROBLEMS OWNERS HAVE ENDURED WITH NO COMPENSATION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10018632
Incident
May 13, 2003
Mileage
68,000 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Feb 28, 2002

VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER AND STEERING WILL LOCK UP. THIS HAPPENS WHEN CONSUMER IS DRIVING AT SPEEDS BELOW 40 MPH. *AK

NHTSA ID
8004710
Incident
Jan 1, 2002
Engine
Filed Jan 11, 2002

THE HEAD OF A BOLD HOLDING THE HEAD TO THE ENGINE BLOCK FAILED. THE LOOSE BOLT HEAD THEN JAMMED THE CAM SHAFT PREVENTING THE CAM SHAFT FROM ROTATING. WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE, THE TIMING BELT BROKE AT THE DRIVE SHAFT DAMAGING VALVES SINCE THE ENGINE IS A "NON-CLEARANCE" ENGINE. THE BOLT FAILED BY FATIGUE WHICH IS EVIDENT IN THE FAILURE SURFACE. THE FATIGUE FAILURE ORIGINATED AT A LOCATION JUST UNDER THE BOLT HEAD DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE REPAIR WILL COST ABOUT $2000.

NHTSA ID
756703
Incident
Jan 6, 2002
Engine
Filed Jun 26, 2001

THE VEHICAL HAS FAILED ON ME FOUR TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED IT USED IN EARLY 2000, WHILE OPERATING UNDER HEAVY STRAIN AT HIGHER ELEVATIONS, THE ENGINE QUITS DEAD WITH NO NOTICE OF THE ON COMING FAILURE, I HAVE HAD IT INTO A DEALER TWICE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY CAN NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM.IT IS DANGEROUS AND POSSIBLE A DEADLY SITUATION FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. I HAVE HAD THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR CHECKED AND CHECKS OK. I WOULD NOT NOR WILL NOT SELL THIS CAR TO ANYONE UNDER IT'S CURRENT CONDITION.*AK

NHTSA ID
747407
Incident
Jul 1, 2000
Engine
Filed Jun 25, 2001

DEALERSHIP FIXED LOCK PROBLEM, BUT THEN REFUSED TO FIX ALARM PROBLEM AFTER CAR WAS PAID FOR. THEY TOLD ME IT WASN'T THEIR PROBLEM, AND THAT IT WOULD COST ME ABOUT $500.00 TO FIX IT. I COULDN'T AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED RIGHT. CAN YOU HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
747383
Incident
Feb 16, 2001
Engine
Filed Oct 27, 2000

GAS FUMES WERE LEAKING INTO VEHICLE. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER'S SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
874059
Incident
Jul 15, 2000
Engine
Filed Sep 25, 2000

THE FUEL TANK VENT LINE FLEXIBLE RUBBER HOSE BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND THE METAL VENT PIPE DEVELOPED AT LEAST TWO CRACKS IN IT. THIS IS CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK OUT OF THIS CONNECTING HOSE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS REFUELD. THIS LEAKAGE OCCURS UNTIL THE LEVEL IN THE FUEL TANK IS LOW ENOUGH THAT IT IS BELOW THE FLEXIBLE HOSE.

NHTSA ID
732421
Incident
Sep 24, 2000
EngineFuel system
Filed Apr 11, 2000

WHILE TRAVELING WITH WINDOW OPEN CONSUMER NOTICED RAW GAS ODOR INSIDE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK.ET.

NHTSA ID
860054
Engine
Filed Sep 22, 1999

OXYGEN SENSOR CAUSING "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. CHANGE ONCE UNDER WARRANTY AND ONCE AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED.

NHTSA ID
711849
Incident
Apr 1, 1998
Engine
Filed Apr 10, 1997

SMOG PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
602977
Incident
Dec 28, 1996
Engine
Filed Jan 15, 1997

ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER FIVE THOUSAND MILES, DEALER IS PICKING UP THE CHARGES. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT SHE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO. *AK

NHTSA ID
807654

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .