Total Complaints
51 filings
NISSAN 240SX · model year
1990 NISSAN 240SX
51 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1990NISSAN240SX carries 51 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injury, and 2 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1990 240SX is fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system:injectors with 13 filings, followed by fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system (8) and engine and engine cooling:engine (4). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 54 investigation files overlapping the 1990 240SX, and 5 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
51
Complaints
2
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Injuries
2
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS | 13 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 8 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 3 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 2 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 2 |
| SEATS | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20160908SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 NISSAN 240SX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 95V103002 (SEAT BELTS). THE CONTACT WAS EXPERIENCING A FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE DEALER WOULD NOT HONOR THE RECALL AND WANTED TO CHARGE THE CONTACT FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
20160323STRUCTURE:BODY
THE FACTORY BREAK BOOSTERS ON NISSAN 240SX MODEL YEARS 1989-1998 LEAK AND DRIP BREAK FLUID ONTO THE FRAME RAIL, EATING AWAY THE RUST PREVENTIVE COATING. THIS ALLOWS THE ELEMENTS TO CONTACT BARE METAL, OXIDIZING IT AND BOTH WEAKENING THE STRUCTURE OF THE VEHICLE AND POTENTIALLY CAUSING THE BREAKS TO FAIL.
20050515FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL
I HAVE PURCHASED THIS AUTO APRIL 20, 2005. I DROVE IT FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS. THEN AN OVERPOWERING ODOR OF GASOLINE EMITTED IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. UPON INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THERE WAS GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THE FUEL RAIL. I HAVE HAD THE O-RINGS AND INSULATORS REPLACED ON ALL FOUR FUEL INJECTORS AND THE LEAK IS STILL PRESENT. IT SEEMS THAT I MUST NOW REPLACE THE INJECTORS. IN CHECKING FOR POSSIBLE RECALLS, I HAVE NOTICED THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS MADE REFERRING TO THE FUEL SYSTEM ON THESE MODELS, AND THAT NISSAN WOULD NOT RECALL THE 240 SX EVEN THOUGH THE EXACT SAME DESIGN IS USED IN THE FOUR CYLINDER ENGINE AS THE SIX CYLINDER MODELS THAT THEY DID RECALL. !!! WHY NOT THE 240 SX, NISSAN????? I INTEND TO KEEP ALL OLD PARTS THAT ARE REPLACED.
Mileage: 163,630
20050515FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
I HAVE PURCHASED THIS AUTO APRIL 20, 2005. I DROVE IT FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS. THEN AN OVERPOWERING ODOR OF GASOLINE EMITTED IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. UPON INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THERE WAS GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THE FUEL RAIL. I HAVE HAD THE O-RINGS AND INSULATORS REPLACED ON ALL FOUR FUEL INJECTORS AND THE LEAK IS STILL PRESENT. IT SEEMS THAT I MUST NOW REPLACE THE INJECTORS. IN CHECKING FOR POSSIBLE RECALLS, I HAVE NOTICED THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS MADE REFERRING TO THE FUEL SYSTEM ON THESE MODELS, AND THAT NISSAN WOULD NOT RECALL THE 240 SX EVEN THOUGH THE EXACT SAME DESIGN IS USED IN THE FOUR CYLINDER ENGINE AS THE SIX CYLINDER MODELS THAT THEY DID RECALL. !!! WHY NOT THE 240 SX, NISSAN????? I INTEND TO KEEP ALL OLD PARTS THAT ARE REPLACED.
Mileage: 163,630
20040412FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
SMELLED BAD GAS ODOR. TOOK TO REPAIR SHOP AND SAID 3 OUT OF 4 INJECTORS WERE LEAKING, VERY DANGEROUS. REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. NOW I AM READING ABOUT RECALL # 95I006000--NEVER NOTIFIED. WILL NISSAN REFUND OR CREDIT ME FOR COST SINCE THIS WAS IMMEDIATE DANGER PROBLEM. WILL PROVIDE PROOF OF SERVICE AND COST.*AK
Mileage: 170,000
20040111FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
3 OF 4 FUEL INJECTORS LEAKING AND FUEL REGULATORS NEEDS REPLACEMENT. *AK
Mileage: 78,155
20020604FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
FUEL INJECTOR HAS LEAKED FUEL DUE TO FUEL RAIL. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED THREE TIMES. THIS PART IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
20020506FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
FUEL INJECTORS HAVE LEAKED FUEL DUE TO THE FUEL RAIL. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED THREE TIMES. PARTS ARE ON A NATIONAL BACK ORDER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
20020411FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
FUEL INJECTOR IS LEAKING AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEM YET DUE TO LEAKING FUEL INJECTORS. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *TT
20020312ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE. TIMING CHAIN HAS MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
20020228FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
FUEL INJECTORS LEAKING SAME AS RECALL 951006000. *AK
20020225FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
GAS LEAKING FROM FUEL INJECTORS, OTHER OWNERS WITH SAME PROBLEM, IS IT RECALLED?*AK
20001025SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
MASTER CYLINDER LEAKING. *ET
20001025FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
FUEL INJECTORS LEAKING. *ET
20001024SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
MASTER CYLINDER LEAKING. *ET
20001024FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
FUEL INJECTORS LEAKING. *ET
20000623ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE SAFTEY BUTTON ON THE IGNITION THAT YOU USUALLY HAS TO BE PUSHED IN TO GET THE KEY OUT KEEPS GETTING STUCK. THEREFORE I'M NOT ABLE TO GET MY KEY OUT. THE PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 5 OR 6 TIMES ALREADY AND TO RESOLVE IT, I HAVE TO REMOVE THE PLATE THAT COVERS THE IGNITION AND BUTTON AND PRESS IT A CERTAIN WAY. I HAVE BEEN STUCK AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS, NOT BEING ABLE TO LEAVE MY CAR, DUE TO THE FACT THAT I CAN'T GET MY KEY OUT. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD FALL UNDER THE MANUFACTURERS RESPONSIBILITY AND NOT THE CUSTOMERS. *AK
20000531SEATS
THE METAL BACKING IN THE DRIVERS SEAT IS STARTING TO PROTRUDE THROUGH THE SEAT MATERIAL AND INTO THE DRIVERS BACK.
20000303VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
THE ENGINE IDLE CONTROL FAILS WHILE ON THE ROAD, NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF IDLE PROBLEMS. YH
20000222ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WAS COMING TO A LIGHT, TOOK FOOT OFF GAS, AND RPMS DROPPED TO 1800. WHEN TAKEN VEHICLE OUT OF GEAR, RPMS WOULD JUMP UP OVER 1800 & THEN SLOWLY DECREASE. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP 5 OR 6 TIMES FOR PROBLEM. MECHANIC NOT ABLE TO RESOLVE PROBLEM. FRONT TIRES WOULD HAVE NO GRIP. CAR WOULD KEEP ROLLING DUE TO BACK WHEEL PUSHING. *AK *ML
Compare 1990NISSAN240SX to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 5 Open
PE25005Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Driver Airbag Inflator Rupture
PE24020Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Inner Tie Rod Failures
PE24017Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Side curtain air bags may deploy inadvertently
PE24007Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Reduced Power After Engine Stall
PE23020Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of motive power due to broken crankshaft with no ability to restart.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1990 NISSAN 240SX have?▼
The 1990 NISSAN 240SX has 51 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 NISSAN 240SX?▼
The most-complained component for the 1990 NISSAN 240SX is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS with 13 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE.
Is the 1990 NISSAN 240SX safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.