DT:THE CONTACT STATED THE LIFTER VALVE WAS MAKING A TAPPING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. THE NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT EXPERIENCED ANY ENGINE FAILURE AT THIS TIME. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP OR REPAIRED.*AK
1995 Nissan D21
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most D21 years
Owner complaints for the 1995 Nissan D21 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 23.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all D21 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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: 28 of 129 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.
- Structure. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
17 reportsEXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAK.*AK
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH WIRE HARNESS ROUTED OVER THE ENGINE NUT CAUSING ACCELARATING CHAFING WHICH CAUSED A FIRE ON THE VEHICLE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THE SAME REASON. ALSO CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS HAS HAPPEND TWICE. TS
EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAKS AT THE ENGINE. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT WITH THE MANIFOLD STUDS. SOME MODELS AND MODEL YEARS HAVE BEEN COVERED BY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. ALTHOUGH MY ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAKS, NISSAN REFUSES TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. THEY EVEN REFUSE TO ADMIT THAT THIS NISSAN ENGINE HAS A WELL K…
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EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAKS AT THE ENGINE. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT WITH THE MANIFOLD STUDS. SOME MODELS AND MODEL YEARS HAVE BEEN COVERED BY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. ALTHOUGH MY ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAKS, NISSAN REFUSES TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. THEY EVEN REFUSE TO ADMIT THAT THIS NISSAN ENGINE HAS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS ISSUE. ASK ANYONE THAT WORKS IN A CAR REPAIR OR EXHAUST REPAIR SHOP. THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH ALL NISSAN 3.0 L ENGINES, INCLUDING MINE. IT IS A VERY EXPENSIVE, TIME CONSUMING REPAIR AND OFTEN NEEDS TO BE DONE MORE THAN ONCE DURING OWNERSHIP.*AK
WITHIN 60,000 MILES EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS CRACK, CAUSING EXHAUST FUMES TO ESCAPE, AND EVENTUALLY CAUSE DAMAGES TO ENGINE. *AK *YH
EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BREAK, NISSAN SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB 94041 4/94) STATES IMPROVED MATERIALS ARE NEEDED. COST TO REPAIR IS NEARLY $1,000 BECAUSE THE MANIFOLDS WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WARPAGE. NISSAN WILL NOT COVER DEFECT, I'M NOT SURE I CAN AFFORD IT AND THE CABIN FILLS WITH EXHAUST GASSES. NISSAN CLAIMS THEY HAVE N…
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EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BREAK, NISSAN SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB 94041 4/94) STATES IMPROVED MATERIALS ARE NEEDED. COST TO REPAIR IS NEARLY $1,000 BECAUSE THE MANIFOLDS WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WARPAGE. NISSAN WILL NOT COVER DEFECT, I'M NOT SURE I CAN AFFORD IT AND THE CABIN FILLS WITH EXHAUST GASSES. NISSAN CLAIMS THEY HAVE NOT SEEN THIS AS A PROBLEM AND YET THEY HAVE A SERVICE BULLETIN STTING THE STUDS NEED TO BE MADE FROM IMPROVED MATERIALS. *AK
THE VEHICLE NEARLY STALLS,HAS SEVERE LOSS OF POWER,AND DECELERATES AT RANDOM TIMES AND AT ANY SPEED.THERE IS ALSO AN OCCCASIONAL KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE.THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION BUT, IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.THE PROBLEM OCCURED OUT OF NOWHERE CAUSING ME TO BELIEVE IT IS A MANUFACTURER DE…
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THE VEHICLE NEARLY STALLS,HAS SEVERE LOSS OF POWER,AND DECELERATES AT RANDOM TIMES AND AT ANY SPEED.THERE IS ALSO AN OCCCASIONAL KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE.THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION BUT, IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.THE PROBLEM OCCURED OUT OF NOWHERE CAUSING ME TO BELIEVE IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT.THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALER BEFORE PURCHASE AND RAN SMOOTHLY UNTIL THIS POINT..*AK
EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS BROKE. FOUR (4) STUDS ON EACH SIDE, SECURING THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD TO THE CYLINDER HEAD FAILED AND BROKE. THIS ALLOWED EXHAUST GASSES TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE AND PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. FAILURE NOTED BY DEALER WHEN PERFORMING OTHER SERVICE.
LIFTER FAILED, LOSS OF ACCELERATION, LOUD TAPPING IN ENGINE. REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY
ADVISED CRANK ANGLE SENSOR FAILED AND REQUIRED FULL DISTRIBUTOR REPLACEMENT. NISSAN WOULD NOT COVER ANY OF REPLACEMENT COST BECAUSE VEHICLE HAS 77800 MILES ROUTINE SERVICE WAS NOT NISSAN DEALER. NISSAN SERVICE DEPARTMENTS (6 LOCATIONS) ADVISE THIS IS PREMATURE FAILURE OF COMPONENT.
Official recalls
398V234000 · Exterior Lighting:tail Lights
Sep 21, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS. A REAR LAMP WILL NOT ILLUMINATE BECAUSE THE METAL BARREL IN THE LIGHT BULB SOCKET MOVES OR SEPARATES FROM THE PLASTIC SOCKET HOUSING DUE TO INADEQUATE HEAT RESISTANCE OF THE PLASTIC AT THE LAMP OPERATING TEMPERATURE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE STOP/TAIL COMBINATION LAMP OR THE TURN SIGNAL LAMP WILL NOT FUNCTION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BULB SOCKETS IN THE REAR COMBINATION LAMPS.
94V251000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper
Dec 30, 1994
THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER PISTON SEAL GROOVE WAS IMPROPERLY MACHINED CAUSING A BRAKE FLUID LEAK WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE BRAKE CALIPERS ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.
94V243000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Dec 14, 1994
TRUCKS WERE ASSEMBLED WITHOUT A DOOR LOCK PLATE IN THE RIGHT SIDE DOOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN THE DOOR NOT LATCHINGCORRECTLY, IN AN ACCIDENT, EXPOSING PASSENGER TO INCREASED RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND INSTALL DOOR LOCK PLATE IN VEHICLES WHICH ARE MISSING A DOOR PLATE.
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
1PE95024 · Inadvertent Release Of Parking Brake
Opened Apr 12, 1995 · Closed Jul 27, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
Illustration