Problems · NHTSA complaints
2001 Nissan Quest problems
Owners filed 51 complaints about the 2001 Nissan Quest with NHTSA between Apr 2001 and Jun 2015. The most-cited component is equipment (8).
Complaints
51
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
10
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
7
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Equipment8
- Structure7
- Electrical system7
- Visibility7
- Service brakes, hydraulic6
- Air bags5
- Engine and engine cooling4
- Seat belts4
- Tires4
- Power train4
- Latches/locks/linkages3
- Fuel system, gasoline3
- Vehicle speed control2
- Interior lighting2
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 Nov 6, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
4
9
8
7
6
3
5
2
0
2
2
1
0
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 9 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 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
Equipment
8 reports
“AUTOMATIC WINDOWS DEFECTIVE ; REGULATORS AND MOTORS GRIND RESULTING IN HOT MOTOR SMELL AND WINDOWS FAILING TO OPERATE UP OR DOWN .DO NOT USE FOR FEAR OF FIRE AND NOT BEING ABLE TO CLOSE WINDOWS AT ALL. SAFETY CONCERNS AND FEAR OF ENTRAPMENT IF IN AN ACCIDENT..DEALER REFUSED TO FIX OR REPAIR DEFECTIVE DEVICES..”
Structure
7 reports1 crash1 fire
“THE MAIN ENGINE SUPPORT FRAME MEMBER TO WHICH THE BOTTOM-FORWARD MOTOR MOUNT IS ATTACHED RUSTED COMPLETELY FREE WHERE IT ATTACHES AT THE AREA UNDER THE RADIATOR. THIS CAUSED THE ENTIRE ENGINE TO DROP. THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER DRIVABLE. REPAIR REQUIRES EXTENSIVE STRUCTURAL WORK. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A PROBLEM IN ADVANCE OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICE REGULARLY. THE COMPROMISED AREA WAS NOT PREVIOUSLY VISIBLE AS IT IS CONCEALED BY A SPLASH GUARD. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITION, ESPECIALLY WHEN TRAVELING AT SPEED, DUE TO POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF CONTROL RESULTING FROM COMPROMISED STEERING, BRAKING AND OTHER SYSTEMS. NISSAN HAS NOT ISSUED ANY BULLETINS, RECALLS FOR INSPECTION, OR OTHER COMMUNICATION REGARDING THIS ISSUE. A BRIEF INTERNET SEARCH PRODUCES NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS STATE NISSAN HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE TO COMPLAINTS. *TR”
Electrical system
7 reports2 crashes2 fires
“2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER 3.5L 4WD SE MODEL STARTED MISFIRING AT 89,000 MILES, WHICH THE JEFF WYLER NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN OHIO ADVISED ON REPLACING AN IGNITION COIL. CAR RAN OK FOR 2 WEEKS, THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THIS TIME IT WAS A VALVE TIMING SENSOR. REPLACED THAT AND 2 WEEKS LATER MORE MISFIRING, AND THE SAME DEALER SAYS IT'S ANOTHER IGNITION COIL. A LITTLE RESEARCH SHOWS THERE ARE OVER 2500 PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ENGINE TYPE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES (MAXIMAS), AND OTHER CAR MANUFACTURERS NOT HAVING THIS ISSUE. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT AND NEEDS SERIOUS SCRUTINY OR LEGAL ACTION.”
Visibility
7 reports
“1) BETWEEN 8/07 & 10/07 THREE WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE BROKEN 2) WINDOW REGULATORS BROKE & WINDOWS UNABLE TO MOVE UP OR DOWN 3) CAR WAS TAKEN TO AUTO BODY SHOP FOR REPAIR, REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED & MONEY PAID TO AUTO BODY SHOPS. *TR”
Service brakes, hydraulic
6 reports2 crashes
“WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED OUT OF A RUSTY, CORRODED BRAKE LINE WHICH REDUCED BRAKING ABILITY. I HAD RUSTY PORTION OF THE BRAKE LINE REPLACED AT A SERVICE STATION. *TR”
Air bags
5 reports5 crashes2 fires
“WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 NISSAN QUEST VAN, TRAVELLING AT BETWEEN 30 AND 35 MPH, A DRIVER OF A FULL-SIZED PICKUP TRUCK COMING FROM A SIDE STREET, DIDN'T SEE HIS STOP SIGN. HE WAS ALSO TRAVELLING AT APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH. I NOTICED HIM ONLY IN TIME FOR MY FOOT TO REACH THE BRAKE PEDAL BEFORE IMPACTING THE PASSENGER SIDE OF HIS TRUCK AT THE REAR OF THE PASSENGER DOOR. THE IMPACT SPUN HIS VEHICLE 180 DEGREES AND MINE ABOUT 25, FROM THE DIRECTION OF ORIGINAL TRAVEL. IT TOOK APPROXIMATELY 1 SECOND FOR MY VEHICLE TO DECELERATE FROM 35 TO 0. THE IMPACT TO MY VEHICLE WAS FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE ACROSS THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DAMAGE WAS ENOUGH TO PUSH THE RADIATOR BACK AT ABOUT A 35 DEGREE ANGLE FROM VERTICLE. I SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND THE OTHER PASSENGERS SUSTAINED NO TREATABLE INJURIES. IN MY OPINION THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED, BUT DIDN'T. THIS IS THE REASON FOR MY COMPLAINT.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 6, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.