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1998 Nissan 200SX

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
18Owner complaints

Model-year median: 4

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
51
199537
199616
199718
19982
2001
Compare all 200SX years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
3Engine And Engine Cooling
3Equipment
3Power Train
3Visibility
3
All reported categories
Air Bags
2Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Suspension
2Steering
1Tires
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 2 of 18 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Equipment. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

3 reports
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162,000 miles · Dec 10, 2018
Electrical System

CAR WONT CRANK, REPLACED THE STARTER, BATTERY, IGNITION SWITCH AND NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM EVEN THE DEALERSHIP WONT HELP UNLESS YOU HAVE OVER $1,000. ITS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE DASH LIGHTS COMES ONE BUT NOTHING ELSE. I REPLACED EVERYTHING. WHEN YOU SHUT THE ENGINE OFF YOU HAVE TO WAIT SOMETIMES FOR 3 TO 4 HOURS…

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CAR WONT CRANK, REPLACED THE STARTER, BATTERY, IGNITION SWITCH AND NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM EVEN THE DEALERSHIP WONT HELP UNLESS YOU HAVE OVER $1,000. ITS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE DASH LIGHTS COMES ONE BUT NOTHING ELSE. I REPLACED EVERYTHING. WHEN YOU SHUT THE ENGINE OFF YOU HAVE TO WAIT SOMETIMES FOR 3 TO 4 HOURS OR LONGER AND THAT IS IN PUBLIC PARKING LOTS.

NHTSA ODI #11157211

78,395 miles · Feb 25, 2012
Electrical System

ALL INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES QUIT WORKING ODOMETER, GAS. RPM. TEMP, ALL QUIT WORKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10449320

Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 1999
Electrical SystemFire

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES BEFORE PARKING VEHICLE, IMMEDIATELY AFTER ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF COSUMER BEGAN TO NOTICE SMOKE, FIRST WHITE SMOKE. CONSUMER THEN STARTED ENGINE AND BACKED VEHICLE OUT OF GARAGE. SHORTLY AFTER, FLAMES BEGAN UNDER HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. ONE MONTH LATER DEALERSHIP DECID…

Read full complaint

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES BEFORE PARKING VEHICLE, IMMEDIATELY AFTER ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF COSUMER BEGAN TO NOTICE SMOKE, FIRST WHITE SMOKE. CONSUMER THEN STARTED ENGINE AND BACKED VEHICLE OUT OF GARAGE. SHORTLY AFTER, FLAMES BEGAN UNDER HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. ONE MONTH LATER DEALERSHIP DECIDED TO REPLACE VEHICLE BECAUSE NISSAN COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE FOR FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #837029

Official recalls

1

98V093000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:linkages

May 5, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. WATER CAN ENTER AND DISPLACE THE GREASE IN THE WIPER ARM LINKAGE BALL JOINT WHERE THE WIPER LINKAGE ATTACHES TO THE WIPER MOTOR LINKAGE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN GRADUAL WEAR OVER A PERIOD OF TIME INSIDE THE JOINT THAT COULD LEAD TO THE SEPARATION OF THE WIPER LINKAGE ASSEMBLY FROM THE WIPER MOTOR LINKAGE AT THE BALL JOINT. A LOSS OF WINDSHIELD WIPER FUNCTION CAN RESULT IN THIS SEPARATION OCCURS.

Remedy: TO PREVENT GREASE FROM BEING WASHED OUT OF THE JOINT, THE DEALERS WILL MODIFY BY ADDING A WATER DIVERSION SEAL THAT WILL PREVENT WATER FROM ENTERING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE BALL JOINT AREA.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.