Steering complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 1 | 6% | 51,000 miles |
| 2012 | 1 | 1% | 2,000 miles |
| 2009 | 3 | 14% | 32,000 miles |
| 2008 | 4 | 8% | 130,000 miles |
| 2007 | 8 | 4% | 130,000 miles |
| 2006 | 4 | 5% | 70,000 miles |
| 2005 | 4 | 5% | 25,000 miles |
| 2004 | 8 | 2% | 120,000 miles |
| 2002 | 2 | 7% | 139,000 miles |
| 2000 | 4 | 5% | 127,000 miles |
| 1999 | 4 | 3% | 0 miles |
| 1998 | 1 | 2% | — |
| 1997 | 4 | 4% | 83,000 miles |
| 1996 | 9 | 7% | 153,000 miles |
| 1995 | 5 | 3% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Went on a road trip. Our new Nissan Quest 2009 was fine until after 4 hours of driving and then suddenly the steering wheel started to shake. It shook so badly that we thought we had a flat tire. It continued to shake until we pulled over to the shoulder and come to a complete stop. We went back on the highway and it was fine for a couple of hours and then acted up again. The same thing happened. It won't let us accelerate and no matter how slow we go it was still shaking. We had an infant in the van and our other son was 5 yrs. Very dangerous to be on the road in the middle of the night and having to pull over every couple of hours when it started acting up. Imagine when there are no shoulders to pull over and the van was shaking so bad that you can't control it. Please recall this item. Something is wrong with the brake system/rotors etc.
Steering locks up at low/high speeds. Rack and pinion comes apart internally. Can cause accident/death. First steering will be slow in cold weather making noise second metal shows up in power steering resivore third a dragging popping noise from steering forth failure steering system. Could break leaving tires to separate in the v pattern or lock up causing loss of steering. This vehicle locked up unexpectedly on a side street at low speeds. While turning right. Able to free up to avoid going through a gard rail (with a 60ft drop off) only to have lock up again while correcting the sudden jar and getting out of oncoming traffic. To end up in a business parking lot.
I backed out of driveway towards the south to head north on public way. Vehicle immediately started accelerating backwards (south) without assistance, quickly getting out of control. No amount of pressure on my part would make the brakes work and there was no control of the steering. The vehicle was no longer under my control and crashed backwards into a large tree which held it from crashing farther, and a small tree on the side which held it from rolling down into a brook. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request and I would prefer that it be inspected. No vehicles or pedestrians were in the street when the vehicle lost all control without human assistance. The passenger is front passenger seat was taken to ER and has since been seeing a doctor. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or other service center. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Nissan Quest. While driving 10 MPH, the power steering seized and the contact had to use extra strength to steer the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. The contact mentioned that there was a leak from the power steering sensor. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.
1. Fuel Gauge- the fuel Hague is incorrect. I suspect somewhere between 1/2 tank and 3/8 tank will actually be an empty tank. I was almost left stranded when I could make it to the next service station. The car performed slow and the car came to a slow stop. No fuel indicator light came on. 2. My steering wheel has been very difficult to turn. Suddenly the power steering tank requires daily service. There is a rattling noise that gets a little better when I pour power steering fluid. I am unable to make safe turns due to the steering wheel no moving at it's normal rate. Turning at intersections is the worst as I sometimes have to try several attempts. I end up having to take wide turns and that is not always safe in our narrow streets. There is no indicator light related to this concern.
The first incident, occurring in the summer of 2014, caused my 2007 Nissan Quest to stall/shut off and nothing worked - it lost all steering, power, acceleration, braking, etc. It just died, going approximately 15mph while veering right to turn into a shopping center. This same incident occurred about a month later, while traveling approximately 25mph (posted speed limit) going uphill at night. Van just died and I was stranded on the road - lucky enough to get far enough near a private driveway not to get hit by a car, an to call for help. The fuel gauge was showing sufficient gas left in the tank, but it had run out of gas. We had put the vehicle in the shop for repair and luckily the mechanic was honest and Smart and concluded that it needed fuel and the gauge was defective. Luckily on both occasions, none of our three children (one special needs) were in the van. …
Tl contact owns a 2006 Nissan Quest. While driving between 30-50 MPH, the steering column began to shake and the vehicle became difficult to steer. The dealer stated that the entire steering column needed to be replaced due to worn bushings. The contact feels that the manufacturer should pay for the repair because the vehicle is three years old; therefore, the steering column should not need replacing. The current and failure mileages were 30,900. Updated 6/8/09 updated 06/11/09.
Steering wheel started shaking when I would press the brake. So took the van to my mechanic said my rotor needed replacing. While since then I had to replaced the front rotors five times. They keep getting bent. The steering wheel shaking stop with new rotors and start when rotors bend again. And yes the shaking is uncontrollable when it happens. Some one told me the Nissan sentra had that type of problem too.
Related recalls (1)
Steering › Rack and pinion
Vehicle description: Mini vans. One or more of the five bolts that mount the rack and pinion steering gear to the vehicle May have been incorrectly tightened.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicles and, if the bolts are missing, will replace the steering gear mounting bolts. All bolts will be tightened to the specified torque.
Frequently asked questions
Which Nissan Quest years have steering problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1996 (9), 2004 (8), 2007 (8) and 1995 (5) model years. Steering complaints make up 7% of all complaints for the 1996.
Is there a recall for Nissan Quest steering problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 00V292002 (rack and pinion, Oct 2, 2000). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Nissan Quest steering problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 91,000 miles; 37% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the hydraulic power assist system (8 mentions), followed by the steering wheel/handle bar (4).
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.