1997 Nissan QUEST problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
62 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
68,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 23 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Body:Door is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 62 complaints (17.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 7 | 11.3% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 9.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 8.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 3.2% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 3.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 3.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure:Body:Door | 11 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 7 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 |
Structure:Body:Door: 11; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 7; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 5; Unknown Or Other: 4; Electrical System: 3; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 39 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 4 |
| 2001 | 18 |
| 2002 | 9 |
| 2003 | 9 |
| 2004 | 10 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
2000: 4; 2001: 18; 2002: 9; 2003: 9; 2004: 10; 2005: 7; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Body:Door leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10039277 · 2003-09-22 (September 22, 2003)
VEHICLE STOPPED WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. A/C COMPRESSOR KICKS ON AND VEHICLE'S IDLE STARTS TO RACE SO FAST THAT THE BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO REAR-END THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. IDLE KEPT RACING UNTIL VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. WHEN RESTARTED THE IDLE WAS BACK DOWN. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 53,220 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039277 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040970 · 2003-09-30 (September 30, 2003)
VEHICLE STOPPED WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD INTO REAR END OF VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE IDLE WAS RACING SO FAST THAT THE BRAKE WAS UNABLE TO HOLD THE VEHICLE. IDLE KEPT RACING UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. WHEN RESTARTED THE IDLE WAS BACK DOWN. CAR HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENTLY SIGNIFICANT FORWARD SURGES WHEN THE A/C COMPRESSOR KICKED ON. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO NISSAN SEVERAL TIMES. ALL TIMES THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 53,220 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040970 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032784 · 2003-08-13 (August 13, 2003)
CAR STALLS/DIES.. WHEN DRIVING LONG DISTANCE.DEALER SAYS NOTHING WRONG. CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. TWICE STALLED ON HIGHWAY. TWICE STALLED ON FASTRAK/CARPOOL. TOWED. PURCHASED CAR 3/02 W/56K SERVICE. HAD L SERVICE WARRANTY WORK DONE. AIR CONDITIONER (A/C) NEVER REALLY WORKED GREAT AS LIKE OTHER CARS. SOME DAYS IT WORKS SOMEDAY NOT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 56,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032784 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044802 · 2003-11-24 (November 24, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE CAUSE OF STALLING WAS UNDETERMINED. *AK *JB *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 38,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044802 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10093194 · 2004-09-27 (September 27, 2004)
I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THIS VAN. VARIOUS LIGHTS WILL COME ON WHEN I TURN ON THE OPERATING LIGHTS AT NIGHT, BUT SOME WILL RANDOMLY NOT WORK. FOR EXAMPLE, THE LIGHTS ON THE HEATER WILL SOMETIMES COME ON IF I PUSH BUTTONS UP AND DOWN THE PANEL, OR TURN THE FAN OFF AND ON. SOMETIMES I CAN GET THE LIGHTS ON THE AM/FM CASSETTE TO COME ON IF I PUSH VARIOUS BUTTONS FOR THE RADIO STATIONS. THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD HAVE GONE OUT COMPLETELY BY DEGREES. I CURRENTLY HAVE A DARK DASHBOARD. THESE PROBLEMS STARTED H…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10093194 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 747731 · 2001-07-03 (July 3, 2001)
ON 6/30/01, WHEN I STARTED THE CAR IN MY HOUSE GARAGE AND HEARD A DEAFENING EXPLOSION WITH A BIG SMOKE THAT LIKE A BOMB EXPLODED. MY DAUGHTER AND I WAS SHOCKED UNCONSCIOUSLY FOR SECONDS. AFTER CHECKING AND FOUND THAT EXPLOSION CAUSED BY BATTERY WHICH I REPLACED IN SEPT. 1999 WITH WONDRIES NISSAN. AT THAT TIME I WAS TOLD IT HAD 4 YEARS WARRANTY. ON 7/2/01 8:00 A.M., I CALL NISSAN [phone removed]) AND TALKED TO MS. MENDOZN. SHE ASKED ME TO TOW MY VAN TO THE NEAREST DEALOR GUNDERSON NISSAN. AFTER CHECKING, I WAS TOLD THE ALTERNATOR IS OVER CHA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 747731 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10726313 · 2015-06-20 (June 20, 2015)
TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF GEAR IN TRAFFIC, RPM GO HIGH THEN TRANSMISSION ENGAGES.THIS COULD CAUSE AACCIDENT.
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10726313 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 760939 · 2002-04-20 (April 20, 2002)
TRANSAXLE LOCK-UP TORQUE CONVERTER APPEARED TO NOT DISENGAGE. COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE WITH BRAKING. SHIFTED TRANSMISSION TO NEUTRAL AND LOCK-UP TORQUE CONVERTER DISENGAGED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 760939 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 717226 · 2000-01-11 (January 11, 2000)
THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PLAGUED WITH A REOCCURRING INTERMITTENT "RUBBING" SOUND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. NISSAN HAS CHARACTERIZED THE PROBLEM AS "EXCESSIVE FRICTION" AND "INTERNAL FAILURE". TO DATE, THEY HAVE REPLACED THE RACK & PINION STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY, AND ASSOCIATED PARTS 3 TIMES, 8/97, 7/98 AND 1/99. WITH THE LAST REPLACEMENT WE WERE TOLD THAT THE RACK & PINION BEING INSTALLED WAS A REDESIGNED ONE. HOWEVER, THE NOISE HAS RETURNED JUST UNDER A YEAR (10,000 MILES) FROM THE LAST REPLACEMENT. WE ARE CURRENTLY ATTEMPTING TO GET B…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 717226 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 757762 · 2002-02-04 (February 4, 2002)
BATTERY BLEW UP WHEN CAR STARTED, STEERING GRINDS ON TURNS (WON'T PASS INSPECTION!), TWO MIDDLE WINDOWS THE CLOSING DEVICES EACH FELL APART AT SEPARATE TIMES, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND WON'T GO OFF, MECHANICS CAN NOT FIND SOURCE OF PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 757762 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10136003 · 2005-09-09 (September 9, 2005)
I BOUGHT THIS NISSAN QUEST 1997 TWO YEARS AGO AND I WAS TOLD THERE IS A FAULTY GAS TANK THAT CAN CAUSE A FIRE. I CONTACTED DEALERS IN MY AREA AND WAS TOLD THE REPAIR WAS DONE IN ONE OF THE DEALERS BUT THEY NEVER WANTED TO PROVIDED ANYTHING IN WRITING THAT SHOWS THE REPAIR. COURTESY NISSAN IN TAMPA FLORIDA WAS TERRIBLE AND DIDN'T WANT TO HELP, I CONTACTED NISSAN AT THE 1800 NUMBER AND THIS GUY CHRIS AT EXTENSION 8443 TOLD ME I WAS GOING TO RECEIVE A LETTER SHOWING THE REPAIR BUT I WAITED TWO WEEKS AND NEVER RECEIVED NOTHING, WHEN I CALLED HIM…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10136003 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 882765 · 2001-03-12 (March 12, 2001)
AFTER CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE, AND AFTER DRIVING OF VEHICLE FOR ABOUT A DAY, FUEL TANK STARTED TO LOSE ALL ITS FUEL. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS TRYING TO FIX PROBLEM. *AK *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 882765 at NHTSA ↗