Total Complaints
21 filings
NISSAN D21 · model year
1992 NISSAN D21
21 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1992NISSAND21 carries 21 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 1 injury, 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 1992 D21 is seat belts:front:buckle assembly with 4 filings, followed by tires:tread/belt (3) and electrical system:starter assembly:relay (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 1992 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.
21
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 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 |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 4 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY | 2 |
| WHEELS | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20140715WHEELS
UPON PURCHASE OF VEHICLE...PREVIOUS OWNER STATED THAT AT 32,000 HE HAD TO HAVE THE FRAME PLATED ON BOTH SIDES IN FRONT OF REAR WHEELS... DO TO EXCESSIVE RUST AND CRACKS.I JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE WITH ONLY 57,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK NOW AS OF 5/15/2014. THE TRUCK SAT FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS BECAUSE THE FRAME HAD PROGRESSED TO THE POINT OF NON DRIVE ABILITY.BOTH SIDE FRAME RAILS FROM THE REAR TO THE FRONT AXLES ARE HANGING BY THE FUEL AND BRAKE LINES. RESEARCHED THE SALVAGE YARDS AN ALL SUITABLE DONORS ARE STARTING TO BE THE SAME WAY.I HAD ANOTHER ONE YEAR AN A HALF AGO I HAD TO PLATE IT TOO.THE INSIDE OF THE BEDS ARE ALL CANCER-ED UP AS WELL.VERY POOR METAL QUALITY AND PREPPING. *TR
Mileage: 32,000
20140715STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
UPON PURCHASE OF VEHICLE...PREVIOUS OWNER STATED THAT AT 32,000 HE HAD TO HAVE THE FRAME PLATED ON BOTH SIDES IN FRONT OF REAR WHEELS... DO TO EXCESSIVE RUST AND CRACKS.I JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE WITH ONLY 57,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK NOW AS OF 5/15/2014. THE TRUCK SAT FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS BECAUSE THE FRAME HAD PROGRESSED TO THE POINT OF NON DRIVE ABILITY.BOTH SIDE FRAME RAILS FROM THE REAR TO THE FRONT AXLES ARE HANGING BY THE FUEL AND BRAKE LINES. RESEARCHED THE SALVAGE YARDS AN ALL SUITABLE DONORS ARE STARTING TO BE THE SAME WAY.I HAD ANOTHER ONE YEAR AN A HALF AGO I HAD TO PLATE IT TOO.THE INSIDE OF THE BEDS ARE ALL CANCER-ED UP AS WELL.VERY POOR METAL QUALITY AND PREPPING. *TR
Mileage: 32,000
20130325STRUCTURE:BODY
VEHICLE WAS LIFTED ON HOIST, AND LITERALLY BROKE IN HALF. FRAME WAS NOT VISIBLY DAMAGED PRIOR TO INCIDENT, AND HAD ONLY SMALL AMOUNT OF SURFACE RUST. REAR END OF VEHICLE SMASHED TO GROUND FROM 4 FEET IN THE AIR. VERY LUCKY SOMEONE WAS NOT UNDER IT WORKING AT THE TIME. FRAME EXTREMELY WEAK WITH NO VISIBLE SIGNS. VEHICLE HAD LESS THAT 125,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. *TR
Mileage: 124,654
20010810TIRES:TREAD/BELT
I WAS TRAVELING ALONG INTERSTATE 10, AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. THE VISIBILITY WAS CLEAR; THE ROADWAY WAS CLEAR OF ANY OBSTRUCTIONS. THE TREAD ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING TO CAUSE THIS TREAD SEPARATION. THE TIRE HAD JUST BEEN INSPECTED/ROTATED BY A FIRESTONE DEALER WITHIN THE PREVIOUS MONTH. WHEN THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE, THE LOOSE TREAD HIT THE REAR QUARTER PANEL ON MY TRUCK CAUSING $2,000 WORTH OF DAMAGES.*AK (DOT NUMBER: H4P9DJD486 TIRESIZE: P195/75R14)
20010423CrashSEATS
SEAT BROKE AND THROUGH ME INTO THE STERING WHEEL WHEN I CRASHED INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER CAR.*AK
20001130ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY
VEHICLE WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO START DUE TO MAIN STARTER RELAY GOING OUT, HAPPENED ALL THE TIME . TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THE DEALER RECOMMENDED TO BUY EXTRA RELAYS, SO IT COULD BE FIXED NEXT TIME AROUND.*AK THE PART THAT FAILED IS CALLED A DOUBLE BLUE RELAY. *SLC
20000918TIRES:TREAD/BELT
EXPERIENCED BELT SEPARATION ON ALL FOUR TIRES - SAME PROBLEM AS RECALLED TIRES. THIS MODEL NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND ADDED TO RECALL LIST. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P195/75R14 )
20000807TIRES:TREAD/BELT
ODI# 6141; WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE WHICH CAUSED TRUCK TO SWERVE. TIRE IS A FIRESTONE ATX, SIZEP215/75R15 W/ APPROX. 25K MILEAGE. TIRE WAS A PART OF THE ORIGINAL TIRES BOUGHT WITH VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS A NISSAN PICKUP TRUCK 1992. *AK FIRESTONE ATX P215/75/R15 *MW
19990608EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS GO ON AND OFF,USUALLY ONE SIDE AT A TIME.IT SEEMS TO ALTERNATE SIDES OR BOTH GO OFF. THE BRIGHT LIGHT SWITCH SOME TIMES ONLY ONE WILL BE OFF AT A TIME WITH THE OTHER ONE COMING ON WHEN EVER. IT DOES NOT SEEM LIKE A GROUND IS BAD SINCE IT CAN BE SITTING STILL AND THE LIGHTS WILL GO ON OR OFF AS THEY PLEASE. I HAVE NEW LIGHTS INSTALLED. *AK
19981109SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER SEAT BELT POPPED LOOSE WHILE THE DRIVER STRETCHED AT A STOP LIGHT, BELT DOES NOT LOCK TIGHTLY, DEALER CONTACTED, AND IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. NO WARRANTY AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
19980730POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SLIPS FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND IN O/D AND DOWN SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 2ND BUMPS, RESULTING IN TRANSMISSION FAILURE, OVER DRIVE SWITCH INOPERATIVE REPLACED SOLENOID AND VALE BODY. *AK
19980128ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
EXHAUST MANIFOLD MOUNTING STUDS FAILURE.
19960307SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER'S SHOULDER/LAP BELT BUCKLE/LATCH WIRES ARE FRAYING, ALSO PASS. SIDE FEMALE PORTION BUCKLE HAS FALLEN OFF. *AK
19960307SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER'S SHOULDER/LAP BELT BUCKLE/LATCH WIRES ARE FRAYING, ALSO PASS. SIDE FEMALE PORTION BUCKLE HAS FALLEN OFF. *AK
19951018ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE SECOND SINCE HAD CAR PURCHASE CAR NEW . TT
19950706WHEELS
STEEL RIMS CRACKED, 1 SPLIT CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE PRIOR TO RECALL. (92V139) *TW
19950308SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT STAY LATCHED. TT
19950117POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION JUMPD OUT OF 3RD/4TH GEAR, CAUSING GRINDING. TT
19950117ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY
STARTER RELAY FAILED, CAUSING ENGINE NOT TO CRANK. *AK
19950117VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR
NOISY HEATER FAN. *AK
Compare 1992NISSAND21 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 1992 NISSAN D21 have?▼
The 1992 NISSAN D21 has 21 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1992 NISSAN D21?▼
The most-complained component for the 1992 NISSAN D21 is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES:TREAD/BELT and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY.
Is the 1992 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.