U.S. public vehicle records

1996 Nissan QUEST: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

84 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

103,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 27 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 84 complaints (20.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Fuel system concerns	12	14.3%
Electrical and battery issues	4	4.8%
Steering behavior	3	3.6%
Transmission and shifting	2	2.4%
Braking behavior	2	2.4%
Engine operation	1	1.2%

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.

Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch

Fuel System, Gasoline

Structure:Body:Door

Unknown Or Other

Air Bags

Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System

Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls

Engine And Engine Cooling

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch	17
Fuel System, Gasoline	9
Structure:Body:Door	7
Unknown Or Other	6
Air Bags	5
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System	4
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls	4
Engine And Engine Cooling	3

Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 17; Fuel System, Gasoline: 9; Structure:Body:Door: 7; Unknown Or Other: 6; Air Bags: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 4; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 5

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 57 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.

1996

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2008

2010

2011

2014

2015

2017

2018

1996: 1; 2000: 15; 2001: 23; 2002: 7; 2003: 12; 2004: 10; 2005: 5; 2006: 1; 2008: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1

Pattern summary

Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 12 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 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 10001339 · 2002-12-20 (December 20, 2002)

WHILE DRIVING OR EVEN IF THE VEHICLE IS PARKED, THE SLIDING DOOR LOCK WILL UN-LATCH AND DOOR WILL OPEN BY ITSELF AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL ALSO COME ON. TS

Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001339 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10013927 · 2003-04-03 (April 3, 2003)

THE CAR HESITATES, COUGHS AT INTERVALS LIKE IT IS MISS-FIRING. A THROTTLE CLEAN, MANIFOLD CLEAN AND TANK FILTER CLEAN HAVE ALL BEEN PERFORMED AND STILL IT JOLTS AND APPEARS FOR A SPLIT SECOND LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL AND DIE. STARTED JUST WHEN STOPPED OR IDLING NOW IS APPARENT WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEED. PROBLEM IS UNRESOLVED AS YET.

Owner-reported narrative. 53,935 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013927 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10018632 · 2003-05-13 (May 13, 2003)

ENGINE KNOCK,ENGINE FAILURE, REPLACE CORRODED THROTTLE BODY, GAS SMELL LEAKS INTO INTERIOR, FAULTY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT RESTRAINT,VEHICLE NOW HAS 110,000 MILES ON IT AND IS IN THE SHOP FOR A NEW FUEL PUMP. EXCESSIVE NOISE POLLUTION WHEN DRIVING, FAULTY REAR HATCH LOCK(ELECTRICAL), FAULTY ELECT. PWR. DOOR LOCKS, LOCKS WHEN NOT TOUCHED. THIS VEHICLE IS WHAT LEMON LAWS WERE INTENDED FOR YET NISSAN IS IN DENIAL ABOUT ALL THE PROBLEMS OWNERS HAVE ENDURED WITH NO COMPENSATION. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018632 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10018890 · 2003-05-18 (May 18, 2003)

THE COLUMN SHIFTER IS VERY "SLOPPY" AND HARD TO GET INTO THE RIGHT GEAR. THE SHIFTER POPS OUT OF PARK. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018890 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10022724 · 2003-06-10 (June 10, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING SLIDING DOORS OPENED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 116,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10022724 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10026626 · 2003-07-02 (July 2, 2003)

VEHICLE TIRE DEFLATED CAUSING VEHICLE TO RUN OFF THE ROAD. NAR 07/02/2003 *MR THE VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROAD TO THE RIGHT AND STRUCK A MILE MARKER THEN RAN INTO A DITCH. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT HURT DURING THIS ACCIDENT (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026626 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10030272 · 2003-07-28 (July 28, 2003)

HAD GASOLINE SMELL FOR QUITE A WHILE. THE DEALER INFORMED ME OF A RECALL ON A VAPOR VENT HOSE FOR MY VAN AND REPLACED IT BUT THE GASOLINE SMELL NEVER WENT AWAY. I TOOK IT BACK A SECOND TIME BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. LESS THEN A YEAR AND WHILE DRIVING WITH THE SAME SMELL OF GASOLINE COMING THROUGH THE A/C MY VANT CAUGHT ON FIRE, AND WITHIN SECONDS EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I CALLED NISSAN BUT THEY TELL ME THE VAN IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY SO THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 135,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030272 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10030773 · 2003-08-04 (August 4, 2003)

1996 NISSAN QUEST DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK ON THEIR OWN.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030773 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.

00V419001 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Reported: 2000-12-15 (December 15, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS. THE FUEL TANK VENT HOSE ALLOWS AIR TO VENT FROM THE FUEL TANK DURING REFUELING. CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED IN THE VENT HOSE. IF (1) THE FUEL TANK IS OVERFILLED, NOT ALLOWING EXCESS FUEL IN THE VENT HOSE TO FLOW BACK INTO THE TANK, (2) THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ONLY A SHORT DISTANCE AFTER REFUELING AND, (3) THERE IS SUBSEQUENTLY SIGNIFICANT HEATING OF THE FUEL TANK, THE FUEL IN THE TANK CAN EXPAND INTO THE VENT HOSE AND LEAK FUEL.

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE VENT HOSE.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

98V012002 · Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls

Reported: 1998-03-03 (March 3, 1998)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH POWER WINDOWS THAT CAN BE CLOSED AFTER THE IGNITION KEY IS TURNED TO THE "OFF" POSITION AND THE RIGHT FRONT (PASSENGER) DOOR IS OPENED. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 118, "POWER-OPERATED WINDOW SYSTEMS."

Consequence: THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR UNSUPERVISED CHILDREN TO OPERATE THE POWER WINDOWS, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO THE CHILD.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A LABEL REMINDING OWNERS NOT TO LEAVE CHILDREN UNATTENDED BECAUSE THE POWER WINDOWS CAN OPERATE FOR 15 MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE IGNITION HAS BEEN TURNED OFF UNLESS THE DRIVER'S DOOR IS OPENED. ALSO INCLUDED ARE INSTRUCTIONS DESCRIBING HOW AND WHERE THIS LABEL IS TO BE INSTALLED. IF AN OWNER PREFERS, THEIR DEALER CAN INSTALL THIS LABEL FOR THEM.

NHTSA campaign record ↗