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
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Equipment8
  2. Structure7
  3. Electrical system7
  4. Visibility7
  5. Service brakes, hydraulic6
  6. Air bags5
  7. Engine and engine cooling4
  8. Seat belts4
  9. Tires4
  10. Power train4
  11. Latches/locks/linkages3
  12. Fuel system, gasoline3
  13. Vehicle speed control2
  14. 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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20014
20029
20038
20047
20056
20063
20075
20082
20090
20102
20112
20121
20130
20141
20151

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.

03 —Owner reports

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..”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 2, 2008Electrical system, EquipmentODI 10226449

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 22, 2014Engine and engine cooling, StructureODI 10615252

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 19, 2007Electrical systemODI 10179124

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 20, 2007VisibilityODI 10206382

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 14, 2010Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10343344

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 10, 2005Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10120583
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.