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Nissan: reliability & common problems

#8 of 24
Longevity rank#1 Tesla holds up to ~197k
~122k
Trouble-free mileageacross all body styles
268
Nissans inspectedreal pre-purchase inspections
62/100
Average conditionall cars we check: 61/100



Based on 268 used Nissans we inspected, they are in about average shape — average condition 62/100 vs 61 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
37%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
32%
Fuel trim out of range · Engine
24%
Low coolant / cooling system issues · Engine
17%

Share of inspected Nissans where each item was flagged.

How they score

Excellent 22% Good 35% Mediocre 27% Poor 16%
Hidden history

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

78%had a repainted or replaced panelall cars: 75%
7%showed structural repairall cars: 4%
24%had fault codes recently clearedall cars: 24%

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 ~122k miles. It ranks Nissan #8 of 24 brands we have enough data to rate; the longest-lasting, Tesla, holds up to ~197k. 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: 100% in good shape (12 cars) 20–40k mi: 90% in good shape (20 cars) 40–60k mi: 82% in good shape (33 cars) 60–80k mi: 67% in good shape (43 cars) 80–100k mi: 71% in good shape (42 cars) 100–120k mi: 36% in good shape (36 cars) 120–140k mi: 38% in good shape (34 cars) 140–160k mi: 29% in good shape (17 cars) 160–180k mi: 13% in good shape (16 cars) 180–200k mi: 13% 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: 91% in good shape (11 cars) 2 years old: 100% in good shape (17 cars) 3 years old: 87% in good shape (15 cars) 4 years old: 52% in good shape (23 cars) 5 years old: 74% in good shape (19 cars) 6 years old: 71% in good shape (24 cars) 7 years old: 66% in good shape (29 cars) 8 years old: 44% in good shape (25 cars) 9 years old: 48% in good shape (27 cars) 10 years old: 73% in good shape (11 cars) 11 years old: 44% in good shape (16 cars) 12 years old: 22% in good shape (9 cars) 13 years old: 20% in good shape (10 cars) 14 years old: 22% in good shape (9 cars) 15 years old: 11% in good shape (9 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: 60% in good shape (age-adjusted; 29 cars, raw 55%) 60 2015–17: 48% in good shape (age-adjusted; 49 cars, raw 47%) 48 2018–20: 69% in good shape (age-adjusted; 46 cars, raw 76%) 69 2009–11 2012–14 2015–17 2018–20 2021+

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
Rogue 37 cars · 70% good Sentra 37 cars · 59% good Versa 27 cars · 59% good Altima 49 cars · 40% good Frontier 24 cars · profile soon Pathfinder 20 cars · profile soon Maxima 13 cars · profile soon Murano 10 cars · profile soon

Recently inspected:

2019 Nissan Rogue · 36k mi — flagged: fault codes recently cleared, fuel trim out of range, tires condition & wear. Inspected Sep 22.
2011 Nissan Xterra · 122k mi — flagged: oil leaks, vibration, worn suspension joints. Inspected Sep 22.
The bottom line

The engine is the story: leaks, fuel-trim, and cooling issues pile up, so pop the hood and scan for codes before talking price. Tires are often worn, cheap leverage. Hunt a 2018–20—that generation holds up best at the same age—while 2015–17 cars lag and need a bigger discount or a pass. They typically stay decent until around 122,000 miles, but frequent repaint work and extra structural repairs mean check the frame and panels hard; walk if the structure is compromised or the engine is already weeping.

FAQ
?
Is Nissan reliable?
57% of the 268 Nissans we inspected scored 60/100 or higher, averaging 62/100 — they are in about average shape.
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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 (37%), active error codes (32%).
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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 268 inspections · updated Oct 1, 2026