Problems · NHTSA complaints
1996 Nissan 2 Series problems
Owners filed 14 complaints about the 1996 Nissan 2 Series with NHTSA between Jan 1997 and Mar 2011. The most-cited component is service brakes, hydraulic (3).
Complaints
14
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Service brakes, hydraulic3
- Air bags3
- Fuel system, gasoline2
- Engine and engine cooling2
- Tires2
- Suspension1
- Equipment1
- Latches/locks/linkages1
- Parking brake1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
6
1
0
0
2
0
1
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 6 |
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Service brakes, hydraulic
3 reports2 crashes
“NO ACCELERATION WITH AIR CONDITIONER ON. O2 SENSOR REPLACED, IS THAT NORMAL. BRAKES GOING OUT AFTER RECENTLY HAVING THEM FIXED, WHY? *AK”
Air bags
3 reports
“CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN STATED THAT HE HAS IDENTIFIED CAUSE OF NISSAN AIR BAG MODULAR FAILURE.”
Fuel system, gasoline
2 reports
“I WAS DRIVING NORMALLY TO SCHOOL ALONG WITH MY BROTHER AND I NOTICED THAT THERE'S A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GAS INSIDE THE CAR DURING DRIVING. I STOPPED AT A SAFE PLACE TO CHECK AND I NOTICE THAT THERE'S GAS DRIPPING SLOWLY UNDER THE GAS TANK. IT STILL LEAKS AND IT SEEMS TO BE CONTINUING TO LEAK A LITTLE MORE. PARTS FOR THIS REPAIR ARE ESTIMATE TO $400+ EXCLUDING LABOR, AS THE GAS TANK IS ALSO LOCATED QUITE BEHIND LOADS OF SUSPENSION PARTS FOR THE REAR. *TR”
Engine and engine cooling
2 reports
“IF THE AIR CONDITION WAS ON WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE SURGED AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD. *JB”
Tires
2 reports1 crash
“BRIDGESTONE TURANZA T SIZE P20555R16, REPLACEMENT TIRES ON A NISSAN, 240SX, 1996. VEHICLE WAS WOBBLING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THE DEALER STATED THAT LEFT FRONT TIRES BELT HAD SEPARATED. *AK BRIDGESTONE TURANZAT, DOT NUMBER Y78KPVB397. *SLC”
Suspension
1 report
“PLEASE REFER TO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (NTB98-001) WHEN ROUNDING A CURVE OR GOING OVER A DIP IN THE ROAD, AT 40 MILES PER HOUR THE CAR STARTING WOBBLING AND SWAYING AND YOU THINK IT IS GOING TO FLIP OVER. IT IS VERY SCARY. THE WOBBLE IS NOT INDUCED BY THE STEERING WHEEL, IT JUST HAPPENS. THERE IS NO REAL WARNING. I BELIEVE IT IS THE REAR LINK ARM BUSHINGS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS STORIES FROM OTHERS PERTAINING TO THIS SAME PROBLEM ON THE WEB SITE (TOPIX.NET) SEARCH PATHFINDER PROBLEMS. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN A MUST FIX FOR MANY AND IT IS VERY SCARY AND COULD BE VERY VERY DANGEROUS IF IT HAPPENED AT HIGHER SPEEDS. IT WOULD DEFINATELY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND/OR CRASH.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.