1986 Nissan 200SX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
11 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1986 model year. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 11 complaints (18.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 18.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 9.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 2 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 2 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors | 1 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 2; Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage: 2; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors: 1; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 11 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 1 |
| 1996 | 3 |
| 1997 | 3 |
| 1998 | 1 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 1 |
1995: 1; 1996: 3; 1997: 3; 1998: 1; 2000: 2; 2001: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 807778 · 1997-03-11 (March 11, 1997)
HEADLIGHTS AND COMMUNCATION SYSTEM, THE SWITCH THAT CONTROLS THE HEADLIGHTS/LIGHTING SYSTEMS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS, HAD AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, CONTINUES TO FAIL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 807778 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 855261 · 2000-01-20 (January 20, 2000)
VEHICLE WAS NOT GETTING GAS AT FIRST & HAD DIED OUT ON HIGHWAY. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP & HAD TEMPORARY REPAIR DONE ON FUEL PUMP WIRING HARNESS. LATER, THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE INSIDE VEHICLE AFTER HAVING FUEL PUMP REPAIRED. VEHICLE WAS STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME LEAKAGE PROBLEM. TOOK VEHICLE BACK & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC VEHICLE COULD BE DRIVING FROM MASSACHUSETTS TO RHODE ISLAND WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. OWNER WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH ANSWER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 855261 at NHTSA ↗
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
11 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1991 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 2001 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1937.3%ODI 530146FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG, CAUSING INJURY (BURN) TO WRIST OF CONSUMER. DUP 820761, POSTED ON 03-NOV-98. *AK | 924.3%ODI 10058723 · 72,000 miAIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES CONSTANTLY. DLR SAYS SRS COMPUTER HAS FAILED AND WILL COST $600.00 TO REPAIR. DLR SHOULD PAY FOR THIS ITEM AS IT IS SAFETY AND HAS BEEN REPORTED SEVERAL TIMES BY DIFFERENT OWNERS. ON SOME THE AIRBAG HAS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. *JB | 212.5%ODI 717799DRIVING DOWN ROAD AND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED CAUSING DRIVER TO STEER INTO CURB. ONLY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE WAS DEEP SCRAPES ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE RIM AND MINOR SCRAPES ON REAR PASSENGER SIDE RIM. NO OTHER BODY OR SHEET METAL DAMAGE. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES DID ANYTHING HAPPEN WHICH WOULD HAVE OR SHOULD HAVE CAUSE THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. WINDSHIELD BROKE AS A RESULT OF PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Air Bags | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 611.8%ODI 10090646 · 48,000 miI HAD A MINOR FENDER BENDER ABOUT 5 DAYS AGO AND MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING SERIOUS BURNS TO MY HANDS AND WRISTS AND MINOR FACIAL BURNS. I WOULD HAVE BEEN UNHURT HAD THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYED. I REAR-ENDED ANOTHER CAR DUE TO SUN GLARE. I HAD NO IDEA AIRBAGS CAUSED SUCH INJURY AND I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE OR ANY OTHER WARNING ABOUT THIS. THE AIRBAGS ALSO BROKE MY STEERING WHEEL AND MY WINDSHIELD. OTHERWISE THE CAR SUFFERED RELATIVELY MINIMAL DAMAGE.*AK | 38.1%ODI 712016SRS CONTROL UNIT FAILED WITHOUT ANY REASON. CAR WAS NOT IN MOTION, AND HAD NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENT OF ANY KIND AT ANY TIME. AFTER VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE RED AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. DEALER REPLACE THE SRS CONTROL UNIT FOR $595 (INSTALLED.) HOW RELIABLE ARE THESE UNITS? CAN IT BE DEPENDED UPON IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT?O | 212.5%ODI 10478382 · 142,653 miAFTER MAKING A RIGHT TURN, ABOUT 20 FEET AFTER TURN BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. I WAS STRUCK IN THE FACE, CHIN, THROAT AND CHEST. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, NO POT HOLES IN THE ROAD, NO OTHER CAR EVEN ON THE ROAD. I CANNOT FIND ONE REASON WHY THE AIR BAGS WOULD DEPLOY. IT HAS BEEN 48 HOURS AND I AM STILL SORE INCLUDING MY NECK AND BRUISING ON MY NECK AND CHEST. *TR | 211.1% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Linkages | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 23.9%ODI 10190264 · 169,500 miWINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF OPERATION ON A RAINY DAY, IMPAIRING VISIBILITY.*AK | 513.5%ODI 10100510 · 103,000 miWIPERS STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE IN THE FIRST DAY OF SNOW DURING VERY BAD WHETHER CONDITIONS. TOOK THE CAR TO NISSAN, A 49.99 FEE JUST TO LOOK AT THE CAR. LEFT AND WENT SOMEWHERE ELSE WERE THEY MADE ME AWARE OF A RECALL ON THE PROBLEM AND TO GO BACK TO NISSAN FOR THE REPAIR WHICH SHOULD BE FREE OF CHARGE. AFTER I RETURNED TO NISSAN THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MADE ME AWARE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER ONLY FOR CERTAIN CARS OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL BUT WITHIN A CERTAIN VIN NUMBER RANGE BASED ON THE MANUFACTU… | 425.0%ODI 10059065THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPERS IN MY 1997 NISSAN 200SX JUST STOPPED WORKING WHILE IN USE. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR GOING TO MY MOTHER'S HOME FROM WORK AND THE WIPER JUST STOPPED. IT WAS VERY SCARY AND I COULD HARDLY SEE BECAUSE IT WAS RAINING SO HARD. I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN IN A TERRIBLE WRECK. I QUICKLY PUT ON MY BLINKERS AND WITH ONLY VIEW OF MY REAR VIEW MIRROR MOVED TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF I-75. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 215.4% | 112.5%ODI 970841SMALL ENGINE FIRE OCCURED ON THE SIDE WERE THE DISTRIBUTOR IS LOCATED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 12.7%ODI 758164THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A DIASTER FOR US SINCE WE DROVE IT OFF THE LOT ON MARCH 18, 1996. WITHIN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF OWNING THE CAR THE WATER PUMP BLEW UP WHILE WE WERE DRIVING IT, THEN THE CAR KEPT LOCKING UP WHILE DRIVING IT ABOUT FOUR TIMES AND ALL TIMES WE KEPT BRINGING IT BACK TO THE NISSAN DEALER. WE ASKED TO GIVE THE CAR BACK CAUSE IT WAS A LEMON TO US BUT THEY DID NOT ACCEPT AND WE HAVE HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR EVER SINCE. THIS CAR IS A PIECE OF JUNK, IT IS IN GOOD CONDITION BY LOOKING AT IT YOU WOULD THINK IT WAS N… | 16.3%ODI 758286IN 03/01 THE ENGINE WENT AT 69,000 MILES, THEN 2 WEEKS AFTER THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AXLE WENT, 06/01 THE FRONT CRANK SEAL WENT, 02/02 THE TRANSMISSION AND THE CLUTCH WENT ALONG WITH THE EGR SYSTEM CODE HOSE NOT BEING ATTACHED TO THE DASH. | 316.7%ODI 10015028NAR 04/01/2003. THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE HER VEHICLE TOWED TWICE BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT START. WHEN EVER THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE SERVICE NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND REGARDING THE VEHICLE NOT STARTING. ON ONE OCCASION THE DEALER LOCATED A CRACKED BELT. THE STUD/NUT WAS REPLACED ON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 323.1%ODI 10057219GAS FUMES LEAKED THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. GAS SMELL BECAME OVERWHELMING WHEN VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR AWHILE. DEALER INDICATED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL INJECTORS. *AK | 337.5%ODI 10038240 · 100,000 miFUEL LEAKED ONTO THE ENGINE THAT COULD HAV E CAUSED A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED, AND WAS INFORMED THAT FUEL INJECTERS WERE DEFECTIVE.*AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors | 430.8%ODI 806640THE FUEL INJECTERS ARE LEAKING GAS AND THE FUMES ARE MAKING THE DRIVER SICK AND POSING A FIRE HAZARD. *AK | 112.5%ODI 562304THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BECAUSE A FUEL ODOR WAS PRESENT WHICH WAS COMING FROM THE FUEL INJECTORS, THE CONSUMER MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE VEHICLE REPAIRED BUT PRIOR TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED, THE CONSUMER WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN CONCERNING THE FUEL INJECTORS AND HOSES. NLM | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 17.7% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 803033THE THROTTLE CLIP CAME OFF THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE AND BRAKES TO MALFUNCTION RESULTING IN A CRASH. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 35.9% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 16.3%ODI 826390WHEN BRAKES GET WET THEY WILL LOCK UP, AND THE VEHICLE WILL SLIDE ALL ACROSS THE ROAD. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 12.0% | 12.7%ODI 758164THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A DIASTER FOR US SINCE WE DROVE IT OFF THE LOT ON MARCH 18, 1996. WITHIN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF OWNING THE CAR THE WATER PUMP BLEW UP WHILE WE WERE DRIVING IT, THEN THE CAR KEPT LOCKING UP WHILE DRIVING IT ABOUT FOUR TIMES AND ALL TIMES WE KEPT BRINGING IT BACK TO THE NISSAN DEALER. WE ASKED TO GIVE THE CAR BACK CAUSE IT WAS A LEMON TO US BUT THEY DID NOT ACCEPT AND WE HAVE HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR EVER SINCE. THIS CAR IS A PIECE OF JUNK, IT IS IN GOOD CONDITION BY LOOKING AT IT YOU WOULD THINK IT WAS N… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 316.7%ODI 7230071. WHEN I DROVE @ THE SPEED OF 55, THE WHEEL STILL SHIFT TO THE RIGHT. 2. ELLIS BROOKS(DEALER) REPLACED THE NEW CABLE ON 01/2000, TWO WEEKS LATER I WANT ON VACATION FOR 5 WEEKS, THE CAR HAVEN'T DRIVE THEN. ABOUT 2 WEEKS AFTER I CAME BACK FROM VACATION, I START TO FEEL THE CLUTCH LOOSE AGAIN. THEN ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER THE CLUTCH CABLE HAD BROKEN AGAIN. FROM THERE I CHANGED NEW CLUTCH(DEALER SUGGEST TO REPLACE CLUTCH), BUT NOW THE CAR STILL IN THE DEALER GARAGE WAITING FOR THE CABLE, IT IS BEEN 3 WEEKS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURE CLAIM CAN'T FIND… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No usable records for this analysis. | ||||
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
1998: 12 complaints · 2001: 2 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 6 | 10 | 12 |
| 2001 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 13 | 5 | 0 |
| 2001 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch | Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors | Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.