1997 Nissan 200SX: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
11 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
142,653 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Linkages is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 11 complaints (36.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 18.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 9.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 9.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Linkages | 4 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Linkages: 4; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 2; Air Bags: 1; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Electrical System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1
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 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 2
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 6 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 | 2 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
2000: 2; 2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2009: 1; 2012: 1; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Linkages leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10037259 · 2003-09-04 (September 4, 2003)
ELECTRICAL PROBLEM: ALTERNATOR IN 2000 THERE WAS A BULLETIN IN MY LOCAL NEWSPAPER OF A DEFECTIVE ALTERNATOR IN A 1997 NISSAN 200 SX. I REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR PRIOR TO THIS PRESS RELEASE. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED AND NEVER RECEIVED THIS RECALL OR REPAIR NOTICE I WASN'T SURE IF THIS WAS COVERED SEEING IT WAS A USED VEHICLE. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION FROM NISSAN OR THE DEALERSHIP SO I GAVE UP UNTIL I SEEN YOUR ORGANIZATION ON LOCAL TV. IS THERE ANY FORM OF REIMBURSEMENT I CAN RECEIVE? *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10037259 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10059065 · 2004-02-26 (February 26, 2004)
THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPERS IN MY 1997 NISSAN 200SX JUST STOPPED WORKING WHILE IN USE. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR GOING TO MY MOTHER'S HOME FROM WORK AND THE WIPER JUST STOPPED. IT WAS VERY SCARY AND I COULD HARDLY SEE BECAUSE IT WAS RAINING SO HARD. I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN IN A TERRIBLE WRECK. I QUICKLY PUT ON MY BLINKERS AND WITH ONLY VIEW OF MY REAR VIEW MIRROR MOVED TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF I-75. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10059065 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10066472 · 2004-04-19 (April 19, 2004)
I HAD TO PAY $235 FOR A REPAIR THAT WAS PART OF A RECALL IN 1998. I WAS NEVER SENT RECALL INFO. REGARDING MY VEHICLE. I HAPPENED UPON THE NISSAN WEBSITE LOOKING FOR OTHER INFORMATION. FIRST NISSAN REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THE REPAIR HAD TAKEN PLACE IN SEPTEMBER OF 1998 AT THE DEALERSHIP, WHEN I PROVED THAT TO BE WRONG I WAS THEN TOLD THAT MY VIN # WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. NISSAN WEBSITE CLEARLY SHOWS A RANGE OF VIN'S AND MINE FELL WITHIN THAT RANGE, NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN I WAS TOLD THE RANGE IS NOT SPECIFIC. IF THAT IS THE CASE THEN I SH…
Owner-reported narrative. 79,001 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066472 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10101894 · 2005-01-24 (January 24, 2005)
HEADLIGHT LENSES PRODUCED A THICK FOG OVER THEM. AS A RESULT, THE LIGHTS WERE NOT AS BRIGHT AT NIGHT. *AK THE HEADLIGHT LENSES WERE DAMAGED DUE TO THE SUNS ULTRA-VIOLET RAYS. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 135,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10101894 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10286366 · 2009-10-05 (October 5, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NISSAN 200SX. WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF A RAIN STORM, HER WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE TOWED SINCE SHE HAD NO VISIBILITY. THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE WIPER LINKAGE SEPARATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED IN REFERENCE TO RECALL 98V093000; HOWEVER, THEY CONFIRMED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 156,036 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 156,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 156,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10286366 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10478382 · 2012-10-02 (October 2, 2012)
AFTER MAKING A RIGHT TURN, ABOUT 20 FEET AFTER TURN BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. I WAS STRUCK IN THE FACE, CHIN, THROAT AND CHEST. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, NO POT HOLES IN THE ROAD, NO OTHER CAR EVEN ON THE ROAD. I CANNOT FIND ONE REASON WHY THE AIR BAGS WOULD DEPLOY. IT HAS BEEN 48 HOURS AND I AM STILL SORE INCLUDING MY NECK AND BRUISING ON MY NECK AND CHEST. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 142,653 miles reported. Look up ODI 10478382 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10705397 · 2015-04-13 (April 13, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NISSAN 200SX. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT HAVING THE BATTERY RECHARGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FORMALLY DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10705397 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 552401 · 2000-05-25 (May 25, 2000)
CONSUMER MADE APPOINTMENT TO HAVE RECALL 998-093 SERVICE PERFORMED AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD ONLY TAKE AN HOUR, UPON RETURNING TO PICK IT UP CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN SERVICED. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 552401 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
98V093000 · Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Linkages
Reported: 1998-05-05 (May 5, 1998)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. WATER CAN ENTER AND DISPLACE THE GREASE IN THE WIPER ARM LINKAGE BALL JOINT WHERE THE WIPER LINKAGE ATTACHES TO THE WIPER MOTOR LINKAGE.
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN GRADUAL WEAR OVER A PERIOD OF TIME INSIDE THE JOINT THAT COULD LEAD TO THE SEPARATION OF THE WIPER LINKAGE ASSEMBLY FROM THE WIPER MOTOR LINKAGE AT THE BALL JOINT. A LOSS OF WINDSHIELD WIPER FUNCTION CAN RESULT IN THIS SEPARATION OCCURS.
Remedy: TO PREVENT GREASE FROM BEING WASHED OUT OF THE JOINT, THE DEALERS WILL MODIFY BY ADDING A WATER DIVERSION SEAL THAT WILL PREVENT WATER FROM ENTERING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE BALL JOINT AREA.
NHTSA campaign record ↗