Most common 1997 Nissan D21 problems
Share of the 57 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Nissan D21 complaints by model year
Best D21 years: 1996, 1997. Years to avoid: 1995. Compare all years →
What 1997 Nissan D21 owners say
Air bags all 21 →
Was going about 40-50mph when another vehicle had stopped. Applied brakes quickly. Vehicle slid into other vehicle. Front end pushed towards radiator. The air bags failed to deploy. The ABS brakes failed to stop vehicle quickly. The seat belts failed to restrain passenger who hit head on dashboard. Will be taking vehicle to dealer.
The vehicle was involved in a frontal collision, which forced the vehicle into another vehicle, and into a retaining wall. Upon impact, the driver's air bag did not deploy. Manufacturer was notified. The consumer states theat the vehicle had three major impacts and was considered a total loss.
Transmission & drivetrain
What does it mean above in this web form to request a form to sign to send a notice to mfg? I don't care or mind you doing it? I thought this is what happenns anyway. Do you need my signature??? My truck has an automatic transmission. There are times.
While driving at 55 MPH the vehicle hit the barrier, causing the rear axle to fall off, the vehicle kept going and hit an embankment in a frontal collision and the air bag didnot deploy.
Electrical system
Dt*: the contact stated while driving at various speeds the battery and brake indicator lights illuminated. Upon inspection the contact determined the alternator failed. The failure and replacement occurred on six different occasions under various circumstances. The failure continued to occur. The alternator part number is 23001-0s300. The vehicle was not inspected by a dealership.
Battery keep's going dead over and over! I put a new one in and it happen all over. I had to have the alternator fixed about 3 times. The 4th time I got a new one and new battery and the battery is the same. I will drive and it runs the battery down. I can not find any recalls for this.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Nissan D21 a good car?
Based on 57 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 D21 rates average: 22% fewer complaints than a typical year of the D21 at the same age. It is one of the best D21 years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1997 Nissan D21?
The air bags — 21 complaints, 37% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (7) and electrical system (6).
How many recalls does the 1997 Nissan D21 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1997 Nissan D21. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Nissan D21?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1996 and 1997. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995. See the full Nissan D21 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 Nissan D21 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 68,000 miles; 29% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.