NISSAN D21 · model year

1991 NISSAN D21

35 NHTSA complaints, 6 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1991NISSAND21 carries 35 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 6 crashes, 1 fire, 8 injuries, and 0 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 1991 D21 is seat belts:front:buckle assembly with 6 filings, followed by seat belts:front:anchorage (3) and suspension:rear:springs:leaf spring assembly (2). 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 1991 D21, 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.

35
Complaints
6
Crashes
1
Fires
8
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

35 filings

Crashes Reported

6 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY6
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE3
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE2
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT2
POWER TRAIN2
SEAT BELTS1
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR1
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM1
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM1
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION1
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR1
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS1

Recent Complaints

20161116TIRES

AROUND FIVE YEARS AGO, WE BOUGHT 4 NEW DOUGLAS ULTRA TRAC 2 TIRES FROM THE LOCAL WALMART. THE TRUCK WAS RETIRED FROM HIGHWAY USE SHORTLY AFTER AND THE TIRES HAVE LESS THAN A THOUSAND MILES USE ON THEM. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN IN LIGHT USE AROUND THE HOUSE TO MOVE MATERIALS AFTER, AND SEEN LESS THAN ONE HUNDRED MILES USE. SILVER CITY NEW MEXICO IS A RURAL AREA WITH NO SMOG AT AROUND 6 THOUSAND FEET. I HEARD A NOISE IN THE YARD, WENT TO INVESTIGATE AND FOUND THAT A REAR TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT ON THE INSIDE REAR. THE FAILURE HAD COME FROM THE BEAD OF THE TIRE, ON THE SHADED SIDE OF THE WHEEL. THERE WAS NO OTHER DAMAGE TO BE SEEN ON THE TIRE. ON EXAMINING THE TIRE BEFORE REMOVAL, I FOUND THAT THE RUBBER WAS SO DETERIORATED THAT I COULD TEAR IT, CHORD INCLUDED, WITH MY BARE HANDS (I'M NEARLY 70 AND DISABLED). I FELT THAT THESE TIRES ARE A CONSIDERABLE SAFETY HAZARD. HAVE TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO CONTACT THE LOCAL WALMART MANAGEMENT WITHOUT SUCCESS. HAS ANYTHING BEEN DONE TO REMOVE THESE TIRES FROM USE

20120721SUSPENSION

THIS TRUCK HAS 18300 ORIG MILES THE FRAME IS ROTTED SO BAD THAT IT IS READY TO BREAK IN HALF. I GOOGLED THIS AND FOUND MANY OTHER PICKUPS AND PATHFINDERS THAT USE THE SAME FRAME ASSY ALSO ROTTED BADLY . THIS SEEMS TO BE THE SAME AS TOYOTA. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE CONTACT ME ON THIS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 18,343

20100927UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1991 NISSAN D21 PICK UP TRUCK. CONSUMER STATES HE NEEDS THE STOPPING DISTANCE FROM 60 MPH *TGW THE CONSUMER WOULD ALSO LIKE INFORMATION ON THE BRAKING SYSTEM, *JB

20090217STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

THE FRAME ON MY 1991 NISSAN PICKUP TRUCK RUST OUT ON BOTH SIDES AND ALMOST SNAP CLEAN THROUGH. ITS BEING HELD TOGETHER BY A FEW INCH OF STEEL ON FRAME. *TR

20080613ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM, FILTER FILLS UP WITH WATER, CAUSING THE AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM TO RUST OUT, AND THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR TO RUST SHUT, FLOODING THE ENGINE, FIX IS REPLACE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, REBUILD/REPLACE AIR INDUCTION CONTROLS, AND THE FILTER AND CANISTER, AND DRILL A SMALL DRAIN HOLE IN THE CANISTER SO THAT THE CONDENSATION CAN DRAIN OUT, UNTIL NISSAN MAKES A BETTER REPLACEMENT CANISTER FOR THE FILTER. *TR

Mileage: 10

20041122CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WHERE THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GARAGE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB

Mileage: 135,000

20040821ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

TIMING CHAIN, TIMING CHAIN COVER DEFECT (NISSAN KA24E). TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILURE CAUSES DAMAGE TO INSIDE OF TIMING CHAIN COVER. COOLANT SEEPS INTO OIL PAN CAUSING OVERHEATING AND STALLING. *JB

Mileage: 83,000

20000918TIRES:TREAD/BELT

I CHECKED AND NO DOT#'S WERE ON TIRE STARTING WITH DOT, FIRST SET TIRES TREAD BLEW OFF BACK TIRES, NOW SECOND SET IS STARTING TO SEPARATE, CONTACTED DEALER AND TIRE MANUFACTURER BOTH BASICALLY TOLD ME TO BAD!*AK( DOT NUMBER: NOT ONTIRE TIRE SIZE: 30/9.5/15 )

19991202SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

AFTER REPAIR OF RECALL (95V103002) IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT REPLACE THE RESTRAINTS AS INSTRUCTED IN THE RECALL. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DIFFERENT DEALER. *AK

19990928SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH MY 1991 NISSAN PICKUP IS THAT THE SEAT BELTS INADVERTANTLY UNLOCKING AT WILL. A COWORKER MENTIONED HIS SON'S 1991 NISSAN PICKUP WAS RECALLED OR TSB FOR SEAT BELTS INADVERTANTLY UNLOCKING.

19990830POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

CLUTCH FAILED TWICE. *YC

19990718VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

POWER WINDOW FAILURE - WITHIN 6 MONTHS, BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW GLASS FELL INTO DOOR PANEL, CAUSING SECURITY AND WATER DAMAGE PROBLEM. FAN BLADE: THE NYLON FAN BLADE HAS MULTIPLE WIDE (.08" THROUGH) CRACKS AND FRACTURES BETWEEN THE FAN BLADES. *AK

19990718ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

POWER WINDOW FAILURE - WITHIN 6 MONTHS, BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW GLASS FELL INTO DOOR PANEL, CAUSING SECURITY AND WATER DAMAGE PROBLEM. FAN BLADE: THE NYLON FAN BLADE HAS MULTIPLE WIDE (.08" THROUGH) CRACKS AND FRACTURES BETWEEN THE FAN BLADES. *AK

19990426POWER TRAIN

SPEEDOMETER CABLE FAILED.

19990426SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT

HEAD RESTS ON VEHICLE DO NOT ADJUST.

19990424SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT IS FRAYING AT THE POINT WHERE THE GUIDE/LATCH PULLS IT THROUGH WHEN ENGAGED INTO ANCHORED LOCK.

19990325CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

REPORT WAS GIVEN BY TROOPER T. BEE. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, CAUSING THE SEAT BELTS TO DISCONNECTED FROM THE ANCHORS. PLEASE PROVIDE FUTHER INFORMATION. *AK

19990217POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHEN SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO OVERDRIVE WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, OVERDRIVE DID NOT WORK. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE CONTACTED. *AK

19990120CrashSEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

WHEN TRUCK WAS REAR ENDED AT A STOP SIGN BY A HALF TON PICKUP, THE SEAT SLIPPED OUT OF PLACE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AND COLLAPSED. THE SEAT HAS BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

19980608POWER TRAIN

SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE WARPED, NEEDLE BEGAN TO DRAG AND CURRENTLY HANGS AWHILE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, NEEDLE SHOWS 30 OR 70 MPH AND VEHICLE GOING 15 OR 60MPH.

Compare 1991NISSAND21 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 5 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1991 NISSAN D21 have?
The 1991 NISSAN D21 has 35 NHTSA complaints, 6 crashes, 1 fires, 8 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1991 NISSAN D21?
The most-complained component for the 1991 NISSAN D21 is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE and SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1991 NISSAN D21 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.