1994 Nissan D21: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
58 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
120,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 model year. Data snapshot: . 21 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Frame And Members is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 58 complaints (22.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 6.9% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 3.4% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.7% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.7% |
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:Frame And Members | 13 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 5 |
| Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields | 4 |
| Tires | 4 |
| Structure | 3 |
| Structure:Body | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 2 |
Structure:Frame And Members: 13; Tires:Tread/Belt: 5; Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields: 4; Tires: 4; Structure: 3; Structure:Body: 3; Electrical System:Ignition: 2; Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 2
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 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 11 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 7
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 37 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 13 |
| 1996 | 4 |
| 2000 | 8 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 7 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
1995: 13; 1996: 4; 2000: 8; 2001: 4; 2002: 3; 2003: 3; 2004: 1; 2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 7; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 4; 2012: 3; 2013: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Frame And Members leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 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 10006145 · 2003-01-31 (January 31, 2003)
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT FIRESTONE TIRE ATX WILDERNESS. 30X95R15LT DOT. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 40MPH IT HAD HEAVY VIBRATION. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. CONSUMER STATED THIS TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE FROM MANUFACTURER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AKINFORMATION.*AK *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006145 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006257 · 2003-02-03 (February 3, 2003)
VEHICLE'S FUEL TUBE CAME OFF AND CUT TIRE BACK . DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PH
Owner-reported narrative. 114,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006257 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014225 · 2003-04-10 (April 10, 2003)
1994 NISSAN PICKUP WITH 3.5 V6 ENGINE. MANIFOLDS BREAK LOOSE. I'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. MY MECHANIC SEES IT ALL THE TIME. $2000 DEALER REPAIR. INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS MANY SIMILAR PROBLEMS. HEAVY FUMES IN CAB OF TRUCK. FIRE RISK. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014225 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073012 · 2004-05-23 (May 23, 2004)
BADLY RUSTED FRAME. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10073012 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10135340 · 2005-09-05 (September 5, 2005)
NHTSA NEEDS TO TAKE A VERY HARD LOOK AT THE FRAMES ON NISSAN TRUCKS FROM THE EARLY/MID 90'S BECAUSE THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM COULD CAUSE A FATALITY. MY 1994 NISSAN PICKUP HAS FAILED VIRGINIA STATE INSPECTION DUE TO A SEVERELY RUSTED SECTION OF FRAME. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC, THE FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH FROM THE INSIDE AND AS A RESULT AN 8 INCH CRACK HAS DEVELOPED OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL AREA. THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL AREA APPEARS TO BE FORMING A SIMILAR CRACK AS WELL. I LIVE JUST OUTSIDE OF WASHINGTON DC (NOT A SALT WATER CLI…
Owner-reported narrative. 152,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10135340 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10143065 · 2005-11-17 (November 17, 2005)
I HAVE A 1994 NISSAN XE PICKUP THAT HAS ABOUT 80% OF THE FRAME COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. THIS TRUCK HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGE KEPT. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET AND THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE STORY I GOT WAS THAT NISSAN WAS BUYING THEIR STEEL FROM A DIFFERENT SOURCE THAN IT NORMALLY DID AND THAT FOR THOSE YEARS (92-95 I THINK) THE FRAMES ON THE PICKUPS AND PATHFINDERS RUSTED OUT WITHIN ABOUT 10 YEARS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10143065 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10169483 · 2006-09-28 (September 28, 2006)
FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE RIGHT TAILLIGHT ON MY 1994 NISSAN PICKUP. I'VE TRIED TO HAVE IT REPAIRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THUS FAR IT HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. I AM NOT ABLE TO GET MY TRUCK PAST STATE INSPECTION BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. IN LOOKING UP RECALLS ONLINE, I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR TAILLIGHT FAILURE FROM 1995 FORWARD AND WANTED TO KNOW IF 1994 WAS ALSO IMPACTED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10169483 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10199787 · 2007-08-16 (August 16, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 NISSAN PICKUP. ON AUGUST 15, 2007, THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED ON A LIFT TO REPLACE THE WHEELS WHEN THE VEHICLE'S FRAME FAILED BY THE REAR WHEELS. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES. THE POWER TRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 105,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 105,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10199787 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
02V125000 · Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
Reported: 2002-05-02 (May 2, 2002)
ON CERTAIN LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS, THE LATCH PLATE USED IN THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WAS NOT MANUFACTURED ACCORDING TO DESIGN DIMENSIONS. IF THE SEAT BELT TONGUE IS INSERTED SLOWLY AT AN ANGLE INTO THE BUCKLE, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE SEAT BELT TONGUE TO COME OUT OF THE BUCKLE IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION OR HARD BRAKING OF THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT OF THE SEAT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BUCKLE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW BUCKLE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 22, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V170001 · Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
Reported: 1996-09-10 (September 10, 1996)
THE LATCH PLATE USED IN THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WAS NOT MANUFACTURED ACCORDING TO DESIGN DIMENSIONS. IF THE SEAT BELT TONGUE IS INSERTED SLOWLY AT AN ANGLE INTO THE BUCKLE, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE SEAT BELT TONGUE TO COME OUT OF THE BUCKLE IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION OR HARD BRAKING OF THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT OF THE SEAT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BUCKLE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW BUCKLE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗