FaultScore

Worst years for a Nissan D21

Owners have filed 466 complaints about the Nissan D21 with NHTSA across model years 1988 to 1997. More of them are about the body & structure than anything else.

Avoid

1995 Nissan D21

159 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly body & structure.

Cleanest on record

1996 Nissan D21

47 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Nissan D21 year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
1997 C 72 31 0 68,000 Airbags
1996 C 47 7 1 75,000 Airbags
1995 D 159 11 4 99,000 Body & Structure
1994 C 76 6 2 118,000 Body & Structure
1993 C 49 4 6 150,000 Electrical System
1992 21 1 0 Seat Belts
1991 35 6 1 Seat Belts
1990 1 0 0 Brakes
1989 5 0 2 Electrical System
1988 1 0 0 Seat Belts

What breaks on a Nissan D21

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Body & Structure 69 14.8%

Worst in 1995

Engine & Cooling 47 10.1%

Worst in 1995

Tires 43 9.2%

Worst in 1994

Worst in 1995

Airbags 36 7.7%

Worst in 1997

Seat Belts 36 7.7%

Worst in 1991

Brakes 34 7.3%

Worst in 1995

Worst in 1993

Suspension 25 5.4%

Worst in 1995

Lights 23 4.9%

Worst in 1995

Fuel & Propulsion 18 3.9%

Worst in 1995

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 15 3.2%

Worst in 1995

Seats 13 2.8%

Worst in 1994

Acceleration & Cruise Control 12 2.6%

Worst in 1995

Exactly what failed on a Nissan D21

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Frame AND Members 37 21.3%
Frontal 27 15.5%
Buckle Assembly 21 12.1%
Tread/Belt 18 10.3%
Engine 14 8.0%
Front 14 8.0%
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 13 7.5%
Tail Lights 10 5.7%
Body 10 5.7%
Gasoline 10 5.7%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Nissan D21, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Jan 1995 peak 17 Feb 2018

Nissan D21 problems by state

Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.

Compare the Nissan D21

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.