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Nissan: reliability & common problems

#19 of 24
Longevity rank#1 Tesla holds up to ~176k
~108k
Trouble-free mileageacross all body styles
247
Nissans inspectedreal pre-purchase inspections
58/100
Average conditionall cars we check: 60/100



Based on 247 used Nissans we inspected, they tend to be in slightly worse shape than average — average condition 58/100 vs 60 for all cars we check. Every number on this page comes from real pre-purchase inspections — cars people were about to buy and paid an independent inspector to go through point by point, engine to underbody, paint depth to error codes. Not owner surveys, not warranty statistics, not forum lore: what we actually found.

What we found

Most common faults

Oil leaks · Engine
49%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
38%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
34%
Fuel trim out of range · Engine
23%
Low coolant / cooling system issues · Engine
18%

Share of inspected Nissans where each item was flagged.

How they score

Excellent 10% Good 43% Mediocre 34% Poor 13%
Hidden history

What the seller might not mention — how often we find it on Nissans.

77%had a repainted or replaced panelall cars: 76%
8%showed structural repairall cars: 4%
23%had fault codes recently clearedall cars: 23%

Compare with another brand:

Cross-shopping? Nissan vs Toyota · Nissan vs Honda · Nissan vs Ford

How long does a Nissan last?

Across every Nissan body style we've inspected — sedans, SUVs and anything else pooled together — the average one's condition dips below decent (a 55/100 score) around ~108k miles. It ranks Nissan #19 of 24 brands we have enough data to rate; the longest-lasting, Tesla, holds up to ~176k. Shopping a Nissan near that mileage? Expect more wear ahead — see which makes give the best odds at your budget.



Good cars by mileage
0 25 50 75 100 0–20k mi: 92% in good shape (12 cars) 20–40k mi: 82% in good shape (17 cars) 40–60k mi: 87% in good shape (31 cars) 60–80k mi: 68% in good shape (40 cars) 80–100k mi: 59% in good shape (39 cars) 100–120k mi: 29% in good shape (34 cars) 120–140k mi: 25% in good shape (32 cars) 140–160k mi: 24% in good shape (17 cars) 160–180k mi: 36% in good shape (11 cars) 180–200k mi: 0% in good shape (8 cars) 40k 80k 120k 160k 200k mileage when we inspected it
Good cars by age
0 25 50 75 100 1 years old: 100% in good shape (11 cars) 2 years old: 86% in good shape (14 cars) 3 years old: 86% in good shape (14 cars) 4 years old: 45% in good shape (22 cars) 5 years old: 72% in good shape (18 cars) 6 years old: 67% in good shape (24 cars) 7 years old: 65% in good shape (26 cars) 8 years old: 25% in good shape (24 cars) 9 years old: 39% in good shape (23 cars) 10 years old: 91% in good shape (11 cars) 11 years old: 21% in good shape (14 cars) 12 years old: 33% in good shape (9 cars) 13 years old: 20% in good shape (10 cars) 14 years old: 25% in good shape (8 cars) 15 years old: 25% in good shape (8 cars) 2y 4y 6y 8y 10y 12y 14y 16y vehicle age when we inspected it

Share of Nissans in good shape (scoring 60+/100) by mileage and by age when we inspected them (each dot ≥5 cars; rolled-back odometers excluded from the mileage curve). The dashed grey curve is all cars we check.

Is Nissan getting better?
↘↗ Dipped in the mid-2010s — the newest generation recovered 40% 60% 80% 2012–14: 65% in good shape (age-adjusted; 29 cars, raw 59%) 65 2015–17: 45% in good shape (age-adjusted; 45 cars, raw 44%) 45 2018+: 58% in good shape (age-adjusted; 47 cars, raw 66%) 58 2009–11 2012–14 2015–17 2018+

Share of Nissans in good shape (60+/100) when inspected at the same age — 5–10 years old, age-adjusted — by model-year generation; the dashed line is the all-brand average. Compare every brand's trajectory →



Nissan models we've inspected
Sentra 34 cars · 68% good Rogue 31 cars · 58% good Altima 48 cars · 39% good Versa 24 cars · profile soon Frontier 22 cars · profile soon Pathfinder 19 cars · profile soon Maxima 12 cars · profile soon Murano 10 cars · profile soon

Recently inspected:

2018 Nissan Pathfinder · 135k mi — flagged: oil leaks, signs of recent repair, transmission control module. Inspected Jul 11.
2013 Nissan Sentra · 92k mi — flagged: fault codes recently cleared, signs of recent repair, tires condition & wear. Inspected Jul 4.
The bottom line

Engine issues dominate these cars, with oil leaks the standout problem and fuel-trim or coolant faults common enough that a thorough under-hood check has to be your first move. Structural repairs run double the usual rate, so dig into the history and walk from any frame work. Longevity ranks near the bottom of the pack, which makes the 2012–14 generation the clear pick at 65 percent still in good shape age-adjusted while the 2015–17 drop to 45 percent is worth skipping. Lean on those engine faults to negotiate hard or walk away.

FAQ
?
Is Nissan reliable?
53% of the 247 Nissans we inspected scored 60/100 or higher, averaging 58/100 — they tend to be in slightly worse shape than average.
?
What are the most common problems with a used Nissan?
Across the Nissans we inspected, the items we flag most often are oil leaks (49%), tires condition & wear (38%), active error codes (34%).
?
Are newer Nissans more reliable than older ones?
The mid-2010s Nissans were the weak patch — the newest generation has recovered, comparing all of them at the same age (5–10 years old).
Thinking of buying a Nissan? Get the exact car inspected before you pay.
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Based on 247 inspections · updated Jul 12, 2026