Nissan D21 Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Nissan D21 model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 1988 drew the fewest (1) and the 1995 the most (129).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 1 | Seat belts | — | — |
| 1990 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 1 | Service brakes | — | — |
| 1989 Among the fewest complaints |
4 | 1 | Seat belts | — | — |
| 1992 | 16 | 0 | Electrical system | — | — |
| 1991 | 31 | 1 | Seat belts | — | — |
| 1993 | 43 | 0 | Tires | — | — |
| 1996 | 44 | 1 | Air bags | — | — |
| 1997 Among the most complaints |
57 | 0 | Air bags | — | — |
| 1994 Among the most complaints |
65 | 2 | Structure | — | — |
| 1995 Among the most complaints |
129 | 3 | Structure | — | — |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Nissan D21 years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
1995 Nissan D21: 129 complaints
Most-reported: Structure 31 (24%); Engine and engine cooling 17 (13%); Exterior lighting 16 (12%).
Reports mention 10 crashes, 4 fires, 9 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 95,000 miles. 3 recall campaigns listed.
1994 Nissan D21: 65 complaints
Most-reported: Structure 23 (35%); Tires 9 (14%); Engine and engine cooling 8 (12%).
Reports mention 5 crashes, 2 fires, 11 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 120,000 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
1997 Nissan D21: 57 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 21 (37%); Power train 7 (12%); Electrical system 6 (11%).
Reports mention 22 crashes, 11 injuries. 0 recall campaigns listed.
The Nissan D21 years with the fewest complaints
1989 Nissan D21: 4 complaints
Most-reported: Seat belts 2 (50%); Electrical system 1 (25%); Engine and engine cooling 1 (25%).
Reports mention 1 fire. 1 recall campaign listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Nissan D21 owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 57 | 22 | 0 | 11 | 0 | — |
| 1996 | 44 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 129 | 10 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 95,000 |
| 1994 | 65 | 5 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 120,000 |
| 1993 | 43 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 144,000 |
| 1992 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 31 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 0 | — |
| 1990 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1989 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1988 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Nissan D21 recalls
- INTERIOR SYSTEMS:ACTIVE RESTRAINTS:BELT BUCKLES (1991 model year; 2,730,462 vehicles across all models; filed May 1995; 95V103002)
- EQUIPMENT:TIRE RESERVE LOAD LABEL (GLOVE COMPARTME (1986–1990 model years; 750,000 vehicles across all models; filed Apr 1990; 90V072000)
- NISSAN/LIGHT BULB SOCKET (1995–1996 model years; 100,032 vehicles across all models; filed Sep 1998; 98V234000)
- NISSAN/TAKATA SEAT BELTS (1994 model year; 92,500 vehicles across all models; filed May 2002; 02V125000)
- NISSAN/TAKATA SEAT BELTS (1994 model year; 84,000 vehicles across all models; filed Sep 1996; 96V170001)
All 7 Nissan D21 recall campaigns · Nissan D21 problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Nissan D21 years FAQ
Which Nissan D21 year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 1988 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (1). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Nissan D21 years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 1995, 1994 and 1997 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the structure. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Nissan D21 problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the structure (65 of 391 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Nissan D21 have?
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns covering the Nissan D21. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Nissan D21 recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.