Most common 1996 Nissan Quest problems
Share of the 134 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Nissan Quest complaints by model year
Best Quest years: 2017, 2015, 2016. Years to avoid: 2004, 2007, 2012, 1995, 1996. Compare all years →
1996 Nissan Quest recalls (2)
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
Vehicle description: minivans. The fuel tank vent hose allows air to vent from the fuel tank during refueling. Cracks have developed in the vent hose. If (1) the fuel tank is overfilled, not allowing excess fuel in the vent hose to flow back into the tank, (2) the vehicle is driven only a short distance after refueling and, (3)…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the vent hose.
Visibility › Power window devices and controls
Vehicle description: Mini vans. These vehicles were produced with power windows that can be closed after the ignition key is turned to the "off" position and the right front (passenger) door is opened. This does not meet the requirements of FMVSS 118, "power-operated window systems."
Remedy: Owners will be provided with a label reminding owners not to leave children unattended because the power windows can operate for 15 minutes after the vehicle ignition has been turned off unless the driver's door is…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 1996 Nissan Quest:
Unexpected opening on sliding door
There is no summary currently available
Fuel tank vent hose leakage
Periodic exposure to liquid gasoline May result in extraction of antidegradants from the subject fuel tank vent hose.hoses which have suffered loss of antidegradant can develop cracks in areas of high strain.fuel May spray or drip from cracked vent hoses following tank fill.starting at job#1 1998 my (california emissions vehicles) and job#1 1999 my (federal emissions vehicles), the subject vent hose composition…
What 1996 Nissan Quest owners say
Locks & latches all 26 →
1. Driver door lock will not open at lease once a day. Replaced actuator by dealer on 6/14/00, worked for about a year then started doing same thing again plus. 2. Sliding door opens and the ajar light comes on daily or whenever a bump in the road is hit. 3. Rear door has to be opened and has to be manually reset for all the doors to lock. The number of failures, 1890 is an estimate, every time I drive this car, which belongs to my wife the doors act as described, my wife has been complaining since 1998. The dealer suggested replacing the locks, but after reading several of the other complaints from this site, I feel that this would not fix the problem. Thank for your help. Wayne plaisance
All doors will lock under 3 scenarios: 1) doors will relock immediately following, unlocking the doors. 2) doors will lock after closing driver door. 3) doors May lock without any action taking place. Could be locked out of vehicle if doors lock when closing door, with keys in the vehicle. Dealership replaced door lock actuator in 1998, problem started reoccuring in 2002 and continues to occur intermittently.
Fuel & propulsion system all 21 →
The interior of van would fill with a gas odor. It also had a gas leak when the tank was filled. I had it checked out at the dealer and they informed me that it was related to a manufacturer's recall of the fuel filler vent hose. They repaired it and replaced the vent hose, but the odor continued. I took it back for a second time but the dealer could not find anything wrong with it. The gas odor would come on mainly when the A/C was on. I contacted customer service at the dealer and all they could tell me is that they could not find anything wrong. 1 year later after living with this gas odor my van exploded and the entire engine burned. I've called Nissan and all they can tell me is that the vehicle is not under warranty anymore and the fire is not related to the recall because it was only the vent hose.
Tl contact owns a 1996 Nissan Quest. While driving to a stop. The contact noticed a puff of smoke near the front end of her vehicle. She stopped and exited the vehicle to look under the hood and noticed flames. She immediately slammed the hood down and removed her children from the vehicle. The fire department extinguished the fire and stated that a fuel leak was the cause of the failure. There were no warning indicators prior to the fire. A police report was filed. The failure mileage was 80,000. Updated 09/10/08. Updated 09/12/08
Air bags
Engine light on - computer code: anti-knock sensor estimated repair @$350. Did not repair; reset system, light did not reappear for 3,000 miles, reset again. Door locks intermittent problem, ESP. With slider. Airbag light flashing, cannot afford repair. Read light burning out bulbs (twice within 3 mos.) after market repair caused different problem.
Dt: the airbags did not deploy although the van was destroyed and totaled. Even the police couldn't believe that the airbags did not depoly. Consumer hit a deer, and the impact was on the driver's front side. Neither of the two front airbags worked.
1996 Nissan Quest engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 21 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Minivan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Nissan Quest a good car?
Based on 134 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 Quest rates avoid: 2.6× as many complaints as a typical year of the Quest at the same age. It is one of the Quest years we suggest avoiding. 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 1996 Nissan Quest?
The locks & latches — 26 complaints, 19% of all complaints for this model year, most often about doors › latch. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (21) and air bags (18).
How many recalls does the 1996 Nissan Quest have?
There are 2 recalls for the 1996 Nissan Quest, the most recent from December 15, 2000 (tank assembly). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Nissan Quest?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2017, 2015 and 2016. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2004, 2007, 2012, 1995 and 1996. See the full Nissan Quest years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 Nissan Quest problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 103,000 miles; 4% 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.