1996 Nissan D21: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
25 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
75,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 25 complaints (16.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 4 | 16.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 12.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 8.0% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 8.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 4.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 |
| Tires | 3 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 1 |
Air Bags: 4; Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Tires: 3; Electrical System:Horn: 1; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 18 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 |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 4 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
1996: 4; 2000: 2; 2001: 6; 2002: 6; 2003: 2; 2004: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2012: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 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 10009345 · 2002-05-23 (May 23, 2002)
FIRESTONE SAID 6 YEAR OLD TIRE NOT COVERED IN RECALL. HAD GOOD TREAD AND NOT LOW ON AIR PRESSURE. BLEW OUT SIDEWALLS AND BELTS WITHOUT ANY WARNING THAT TIRES WERE LOSING AIR. *TS *NLM ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS***762204
Owner-reported narrative. 66,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009345 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020624 · 2003-05-28 (May 28, 2003)
TRIED TO GET EMISSIONS TEST, DUE TO SENSOR LIGHT COMING ON (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT), VEHICLE FAILED TEST. HAVE REPORTED THIS LIGHT SEVERAL TIMES. THIS LIGHT STAYS ON, NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. HAVE CHANGED SENSOR THREE TIMES. DID NOT HAVE CONCERNS BEFORE THE EMISSIONS PROBLEMS. DLR SEEMS TO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, OR HOW TO TO FIX IT. MAYBE THERE SHOULD BE SOME WAY OF CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ONLY SOLUTION WAS TO KEEP REPLACING THE SENSOR. WHICH IS GETTING TO BE A PROBLEM. DLR WOULD DO SOMETHI…
Owner-reported narrative. 5 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020624 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024078 · 2003-07-10 (July 10, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK *TS *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024078 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088129 · 2004-08-18 (August 18, 2004)
WE PURCHASED A TRUCK AT CURRY'S USED CARS. THE TRUCK HAD BEEN WRECKED, IT WAS REPAIRED AT CURRY'S PAINT AND BODY SHOP. THEN THE OWNER SAM CURRY HAD IT FOR SALE. WE PURCHASED IT. LATER WE FOUND OUT THAT HE DID NOT REPLACE THE AIRBAG THAT HAD DEPLOYED. IT HAS A DUMMY AIRBAG IN THE VEHICLE. I KNOW THAT THIS IS A FEDERAL OFFENSE. SINCE I FOUND THIS OUT KNOW THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE REPAIRED AT THIS BODY SHOP AND AIRBAGS REPLACED WITH DUMMY BAGS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10088129 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10218263 · 2008-02-17 (February 17, 2008)
I BOUGHT THE TRUCK IN 1999 FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, IT HAD 29,800 MILES ON IT. THE TRUCK HAD 59,500 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED AND SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND THAT THE MAIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS ALONG SIDE OF THE ENGINE VALVE COVER HAD MELTED ABOUT EIGHT WIRES TOGETHER. THE TRUCK SAT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE I HAD TIME TO WORK ON IT. I SEPARATED THE WIRES AND PUT THEM BACK TOGETHER AND THE TRUCK WOULD RUN, BUT NOT THE WAY IT SHOULD. I ENDED UP TAKING IT …
Owner-reported narrative. 59,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10218263 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10247264 · 2008-10-30 (October 30, 2008)
LEAKING FUEL TANK. FUEL TANK STARTED LEAKING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10247264 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10262367 · 2009-03-18 (March 18, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 NISSAN PICKUP. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND BEGAN TO ACCELERATE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT AN ENGINEER WOULD COME OUT AND INSPECT THE VEHICLE. TWO WEEKS AFTER THE INSPECTION, THE MANUFACTURER CALLED THE CONTACT AND STATED THAT NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED DUE TO THE HIGH MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE NISSAN DEALER AND RECEIVED AN ESTIMATE OF $2,000 FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND …
Owner-reported narrative. 205,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10262367 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10445245 · 2012-01-25 (January 25, 2012)
MY NISSAN TRUCK IS VERY BADLY EATEN BY RUST. THE FRAME AND BODY ARE BEING EATEN AWAY WITH RUST. THE BRAKE LINES AND THE POWER STEERING LINES HAVE DISINTEGRATED. THE WHEEL AXLES AND JOINTS ARE BADLY CORRODED. INFERIOR QUALITY METALS AND PAINT WERE USED TO MANUFACTURE THIS TRUCK. THIS TRUCK IS NOW TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON THE ROAD. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ARE GOOD BUT THE REST IS A DISGRACE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10445245 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.
98V234000 · Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights
Reported: 1998-09-21 (September 21, 1998)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS. A REAR LAMP WILL NOT ILLUMINATE BECAUSE THE METAL BARREL IN THE LIGHT BULB SOCKET MOVES OR SEPARATES FROM THE PLASTIC SOCKET HOUSING DUE TO INADEQUATE HEAT RESISTANCE OF THE PLASTIC AT THE LAMP OPERATING TEMPERATURE.
Consequence: THE STOP/TAIL COMBINATION LAMP OR THE TURN SIGNAL LAMP WILL NOT FUNCTION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BULB SOCKETS IN THE REAR COMBINATION LAMPS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗