Which Years Of Used Nissan Quests Are Most Reliable?
Nissan Quest by Dinkun Chen - CC-BY-SA-4.0
SUVs are the go-to vehicles for many who need to haul people and things, but this demand often means that utility vehicles fetch a higher price on the used car scene. Savvy shoppers with the same requirements often turn to second-hand minivans for plenty of space at a lower cost. One minivan to consider is the Nissan Quest, discontinued last decade. Let’s expand on this by identifying the most reliable Nissan Quest years.
We’ll look at information from carcomplaints.com and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) to decide. In particular, we’ll concentrate on engine and transmission issues, the most expensive components to repair. Fewer reports in these areas point to a vehicle with greater reliability potential.
THE NISSAN QUEST YEARS TO AVOID
It was a fairly popular vehicle when it was in production but poor safety ratings in the last years of production led to its cancellation. Although it was fairly popular, here are the Nissan Quest years to avoid.
Importantly, these recommendations don’t consider safety ratings, fuel economy, and other factors. So, you’ll want to thoroughly research these topics before buying a Nissan Quest.
Here’s an overview of the most reliable Nissan Quest years.
- 1995
- 1996
- 1997
- 1998
- 2000
- 2001
- 2002
- 2008
- 2009
- 2013
- 2014
- 2015
- 2016
Most Reliable Nissan Quest Years: First Generation (Sold: 1993-1998)
We include several model years from the first-generation Quest with a big caveat; this group of minivans is at least 25 years old. So, despite solid reliability ratings, these Quests can’t escape age and aging parts. Keep this in mind and only shop for a 1995-1998 Quest if your budget doesn’t allow for a more recent vehicle.
1995 Nissan Quest: We’ll skip the first two years of the Nissan Quest to avoid the problems that typically plague the first years of an all-new vehicle. Remarkably, there are only a few owner reports filed with carcomplaints.com. These issues, submitted to NHTSA, concentrate on the fuel and cooling systems, so make sure a pre-purchase inspection includes a review of these areas.
DOWNLOAD THE FREE APP
The CoPilot car shopping app is the smartest way to buy a car. Get a curated list of the best cars for sale in your area, as well as notifications if a similar vehicle is listed nearby at a lower price. CoPilot is the smartest way to shop for used cars.
1996 Nissan Quest: Owner reports are also modest for the 1996 model year, as are NHTSA-filed complaints about the fuel and cooling systems. Most of the problems with this Nissan involve things like a malfunctioning hatch lid. This is a significant matter, but it does not include the more vital systems.
1997 Nissan Quest: This Nissan gets even fewer complaints and reports. According to NHTSA records, the biggest issue is paint and body problems, which are probably not the greatest worry for a 25-year-old vehicle. You’ll need to dig deep to uncover more serious concerns, like engine troubles. But there are less than a dozen instances, which is notable because Nissan sold more than 40,000 quests for 2017.
1998 Nissan Quest: 1998 was another quiet year for Nissan Quest complaints. There are several reports about windshield cracking and leaking, so remember this issue during shopping.
Most Reliable Nissan Quest Years: Second Generation (Sold: 1999-2002)
Nissan’s second take on the Quest minivan began with the 1999 model year. However, we’ll continue to advise skipping the first year of an all-new model. Dozens of reports about engine troubles with the 1999 Quest prove this.
2000 Nissan Quest: The 2000 model year is the place to start shopping for a second-generation Nissan Quest. The number of engine-related complaints is down significantly (most are related to a troublesome accelerator pedal, not the engine itself). Problems with the headlight bulbs and wiring harness are known issues, so be sure to have these components checked out during the inspection process.
2001 Nissan Quest: Complaints about the 2001 Quest are spread all over the place, which means there’s no pattern, which is a good thing. In fact, there is no trouble category with double-digit amounts of reports.
2002 Nissan Quest: The Quest continues with minimal reported issues, basically a repeat of 2001. However, the 2002 Quest is the only second-generation model without a recall, a notable achievement.
THE BEST CARS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS
Whether you’re squeezing into a tight campus parking spot or hauling ten loads of laundry back home, these best cars for college students will get you, your friends, and your stuff where you’re going.
Most Reliable Nissan Quest Years: Second Generation (Sold: 2004-2009)
After a break for 2003, Nissan debuted the completely redesigned Quest for 2004. Unfortunately, this generation’s first several years (2004-2007) were the worst Quests ever built. Don’t just avoid these vehicles; run away from them.
2008 Nissan Quest: It took Nissan many years to reduce engine and transmission problems in the second-generation Quest. These efforts began to bear fruit with the 2008 model year as powertrain issues are almost non-existent among complaint logs. Reliability is much better; it’s almost impossible to believe the 2008 Quest shares mechanical DNA with the earlier models.
2009 Nissan Quest: Regarding reliability, the 2009 Quest is a copy-and-paste repeat of the 2008 model year. Owner reports are modest and only occupy single digits among the various trouble categories. One of the recalls for this model year involves a faulty brake pedal. Be sure to find out if repairs have been made to any Quest under consideration. Use the recall checker from Nissan or NHTSA.
Most Reliable Nissan Quest Years: Third Generation (Sold: 2011-2017)
Nissan skips the 2010 Quest model year and introduces an all-new fourth generation for 2011. True to form, this minivan’s first two years (2011-2012) get off to a rocky start reliability-wise. For this edition, start Quest shopping with the 2013 model year.
2013 Nissan Quest: Compared to the 2011-2012 editions, the 2013 Quest could be from another company due to the tremendous decrease in complaints. Admittingly, Nissan only sold 13,000 Quests in 2013, but you’ll only need a few fingers to count the number of problems in each category.
2014 Nissan Quest: There’s a slight uptick in the number of reports about the transmission in the 2013 Quest, but we’re still at single-digit levels. Otherwise, this minivan doesn’t have concentrated trouble areas.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU REPLACE YOUR BRAKES?
Unless you’re a mechanic or super-dedicated car enthusiast, you might not know much about the brakes on your car. How long do they typically last? How often should you replace your brakes? We’ve got answers
2015 Nissan Quest: 2015 is a recall-free year for the Quest and one with very few owner complaints. For those with a higher budget for a used minivan, this is the model year to start your search.
2016 Nissan Quest: The final full production year of the Nissan Quest duplicates 2015 in terms of reliability.
A note about the 2017 Nissan Quest: Nissan built a limited supply of 2017 Quests and sold them to fleets (like rental car companies). There is no reliability data for this model year, so a recommendation isn’t possible.
Get a Curated List of the Best Used Cars Near You
The CoPilot car shopping app is the easiest way to buy a car. Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll search the inventories of every dealership in your area to make you a personalized list of the best car listings in your area.
Only looking for newer models? CoPilot Compare is the search engine for nearly-new cars. Only see cars five years or newer with low mileage — CoPilot Compare is the best way to find off-lease, early trade-in, and CPO cars.
The best part? CoPilot is built using the same technology that dealerships use to buy and sell their inventories, so we have more info on each vehicle than competitors. CoPilot doesn’t work with dealerships, so there are no sponsored posts or other shady practices — just the most info on the best cars. Check out our About Us page to see how CoPilot works.
