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The Nissan GT-R Years To Avoid

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Nissan GT-R driving quickly

Source: Pixabay

In the world of high-performance vehicles, the Nissan GT-R holds a unique position. This iconic car, often called “Godzilla” by enthusiasts, has been a symbol of Japanese automotive engineering prowess since its inception. The GT-R’s combination of power, speed, and technology has made it a compelling choice for those seeking an exhilarating driving experience.

The Nissan GT-R was Introduced to the world as a successor to the revered Skyline GT-R. However, the GT-R has undoubtedly carved its own path, earning a distinct reputation within the high-performance car segment. Under the hood, the GT-R is powered by a twin-turbocharged V6 engine, delivering impressive power and speed. The car’s advanced all-wheel-drive system and dual-clutch automatic transmission help it make a strong statement within the segment.

However, the Nissan GT-R has quirks and potential issues like any other vehicle. So today, we will highlight the Nissan GT-R years to avoid if you’re buying a used model – with the goal of helping prospective buyers understand the GT-R’s long-term performance and reliability. Let’s take a look.

THE MOST RELIABLE YEAR FOR THE NISSAN GT-R

It’s the successor to the Nissan Skyline GT-R, another version of the quality Nissan Skyline. If you’re interested in a used version of this car, you might wonder - what is the most reliable Nissan GT-R year available today?

Which Nissan GT-R Years to Avoid?

Based on data from RepairPal, Nissan earns a reliability score of 4.0 out of 5.0, placing it 9th among 32 car brands. This score is derived from an analysis of repairs’ cost, frequency, and severity across 345 distinct models. When it comes to the cost of maintenance, Nissan vehicles, on average, incur an annual expense of about $500 for upkeep and repairs.

Having said that, the Nissan GT-R years to avoid are as follows:

  • 2009 Nissan GT-R
  • 2010 Nissan GT-R
  • 2016 Nissan GT-R

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2009 Nissan GT-R

The 2009 Nissan GT-R is the debut model for the U.S. markets. As such, we recommend approaching this model with caution due to its numerous potential issues. CarComplaints logged 22 complaints and one recall for the 2009 Nissan GT-R.

One of the main pain points of the 2009 GT-R is its electrical system. Many users reported that the LEDs in the dash cluster had gone out, making it difficult to see the speed and gear at night. This issue seems to be a common problem and has been discussed in various forums. Along with the LEDs in the dash cluster, the shift indicator display has also failed for some users, and the speedometer was sometimes inaccurate.

Moreover, based on the discussion in the GTRLife forum thread, here are some common problems identified by users for the 2009 Nissan GT-R:

  • Transmission Issues: Some users reported problems with the transmission. However, it was also mentioned that if the transmission were going to fail, it would have likely already done so and probably been replaced. A complete rebuild these days is estimated to cost around $3,000.
  • Steering Lock Module: One user mentioned replacing the steering lock module, which they described as a costly repair. However, other users pointed out that this should be a Nissan recall and not cost the owner anything.
  • Bell Housing: Recalls, including the bell housing, were mentioned.
  • Dash Lights: There were recalls related to lights on the dash.
  • Multi-Function Display (MFD): Problems with the MFD were reported, though it was mentioned that replacements were done at no cost.

Overall, the 2009 GT-R is far from a problem-ridden car. However, if you’re looking for the least problematic year of this speedster, the 2009 model year is not it.

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2010 Nissan GT-R

The 2010 Nissan GT-R has fewer complaints than the 2009 version but still has several problem areas, including the transmission. CarComplaints says the 2010 GT-R has 21 complaints, and its main issues are faulty tire valves, fuel/propulsion system, and transmission.

One user reported that the vehicle would not accelerate and had no power. They had to pull over and restart the car to clear the problem. This issue occurred when the fuel gauge indicated that 64 miles of gas remained in the tank. Moreover, Multiple users reported fuel leakage from the EVAP canister onto the rear passenger wheel fender liner under heavy driving and cornering. This leakage was also the source of strong fuel fumes inside the car cabin. 

Based on another forum post on GTRLife, here are some problems identified by users for the 2010 Nissan GT-R:

  • Fuel Pump Fuse Blowing: According to the original poster, the vehicle’s 15 amp primary fuel pump fuse tends to blow out, mainly during startup and often after a full tank refill. Interestingly, this issue doesn’t occur while the car is in motion.
  • Grinding Noises: The car makes grinding noises at low RPMs (approximately 800 RPM) during acceleration from a complete stop or going up a hill. The noise comes from the back and worsens right before the fuses are blown.
  • Fuel Pump Replacement: The user swapped the OEM pumps with AEM 50-1215 models and replaced the OEM pump hanger/basket with a Visconti variant. Despite these changes, the noise issue persisted.
  • Third-Party DRL Module: An improperly installed third-party DRL module was discovered by the original poster. This module was incorrectly connected to the primary fuel pump circuit for low beam headlight power when off and only switched to the original circuit when on. This faulty setup caused the fuse to blow on startup due to the combined power draw of the fuel pump and headlight.

2016 Nissan GT-R

On this list of the Nissan GT-R years to avoid, the 2016 is perhaps the most reliable. However, as always, there are specific issues you would want to know as a used car buyer.

Again, we scoured the GTRLife forums for potential issues of the 2016 GT-R. One forum user has broken down some of the potential problems you may encounter with a 2016 GT-R:

  • Brake Performance: The brakes were reported to be inadequate for track duty and may need cooling or upgrades for full sessions and hot laps.
  • Cooling for Fluids: The transmission, differential, and engine oil may need additional coolers to handle track duty.
  • Bell Housing Rattle: Bell housing rattle was reported as a potential issue, though it was unclear if this was still a significant problem with the 2016 model.
  • Dash / Center Console Cracking: Users reported dash and center console cracking issues.
  • Gauge Cluster Lights: Premature burnout of gauge cluster lights was reported.
  • Transmission / Driveline Failure: Older models had issues with transmission/driveline failure, but it was mentioned that this was more of a software issue with older models and had been fixed.

If you plan to use your GT-R for track duty, you’ll have to keep in mind the above mentioned issues.

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