NISSAN D21 · model year

1994 NISSAN D21

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

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1994NISSAND21 carries 76 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 6 crashes, 2 fires, 12 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 1994 D21 is structure:frame and members with 13 filings, followed by tires:tread/belt (5) and tires (5). 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 1994 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.

76
Complaints
6
Crashes
2
Fires
12
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

76 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
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS13
TIRES:TREAD/BELT5
TIRES5
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS4
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION3
STRUCTURE:BODY3
STRUCTURE3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM2

Recent Complaints

20180203STRUCTURE:BODY

I HAVE A 1994 NISSAN PU D21 . I JUST NOTICED THAT THE FRAME HAS A RUSTY HOLE ON THE FRAME AT THE FRONT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE . FOR MY SAFETY AND OTHERS I CAN'T DRIVE THIS TRUCK . I HOPE NISSAN WILL PAY ATTENTION THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE GET KILLED .

Mileage: 180,000

20130903TIRES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 NISSAN D21 EQUIPPED WITH 4 TOYO ECLIPSE TIRES, SIZE: 195/75/R14. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO WOBBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED OFF THE ROADWAY AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE WAS DEFORMED. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE. ONE WEEK LATER, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION AND SAW THAT THE DEFORMED TIRE BLEW FROM THE SPARE TIRE CABIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE ONE YEAR LATER. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS 90,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE TIRE FAILURE WAS 5,000. UPDATED 10/23/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER EXPERIENCING TWO TOYO TIRE FAILURES, HE WENT TO THE LOCAL TOYO STORE. WHERE HE INFORMED THEM HE HAD TWO DEFECTIVE TIRES AND WANTED THEM REPLACED. THEY INSPECTED THE TIRES, BUT THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE THEM SIMPLY FOR DEFECTIVE OR UNSAFE. THEY INSISTED HIS

Mileage: 90,000

20121008STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

FRAME BROKE LOOSE IN 7 SPOTS ONCE A WEEK I WAS PATCHING THEN I WOULD FIND A NEW SPOT BUT NOW FROM IS TO SOFT TO EVEN PUT A JACK UNDER IT TO GET THE SPARE TIRE ON I FINALLY HAD TO RETIRE IT. BUT THIS TRUCK ONLY HAS 81000 ON IT. *TR

Mileage: 78,357

20121008SUSPENSION

FRAME BROKE LOOSE IN 7 SPOTS ONCE A WEEK I WAS PATCHING THEN I WOULD FIND A NEW SPOT BUT NOW FROM IS TO SOFT TO EVEN PUT A JACK UNDER IT TO GET THE SPARE TIRE ON I FINALLY HAD TO RETIRE IT. BUT THIS TRUCK ONLY HAS 81000 ON IT. *TR

Mileage: 78,357

20120910ENGINE

NOTHING HAPPENED TO ME YET. BUT I'VE BEEN READING REPORTS OF THIS FRAME RUST THE SAME WAY IN OTHER TRUCKS. I THINK THERE'S INTEGRITY ISSUE WITH THE FRAME NISSAN MADE. THE REST OF MY TRUCK IS FLAWLESS NO BODY RUST. WAS THERE A RECALL PUT OUT I JUST HAVEN'T HEARD OF IT? I JUST WANT TO REPORT IT TO MAKE SURE THAT NISSAN MIGHT BE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 160,000

20120910STRUCTURE:BODY

NOTHING HAPPENED TO ME YET. BUT I'VE BEEN READING REPORTS OF THIS FRAME RUST THE SAME WAY IN OTHER TRUCKS. I THINK THERE'S INTEGRITY ISSUE WITH THE FRAME NISSAN MADE. THE REST OF MY TRUCK IS FLAWLESS NO BODY RUST. WAS THERE A RECALL PUT OUT I JUST HAVEN'T HEARD OF IT? I JUST WANT TO REPORT IT TO MAKE SURE THAT NISSAN MIGHT BE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 160,000

20120406SUSPENSION

THE FRAME SECTION ABOVE THE RIGHT REAR FRONT SPRING PERCH IS CRACKED. FRAME HAS HOLES ON BOTH SIDES NEAR FRONT SUSPENSION ALSO. UNSAFE TO OPERATE VEHICLE. *TR

20120406STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

THE FRAME SECTION ABOVE THE RIGHT REAR FRONT SPRING PERCH IS CRACKED. FRAME HAS HOLES ON BOTH SIDES NEAR FRONT SUSPENSION ALSO. UNSAFE TO OPERATE VEHICLE. *TR

20111206STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

1994 NISSAN PICK UP TRUCK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IT BEING UNSAFE TO DRIVE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FRAME ROTTING OUT *TGW

20110805STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 NISSAN PICKUP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, HE NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES FOR THIS FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 120,000

20110601STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 NISSAN KING CAB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED THE MECHANIC ADVISED HIM THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS SEVERELY COVERED WITH RUST. THEY ALSO ADVISED HIM NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 225,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 225,000

20110326STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

THE STRUCTURAL FRAME OF THE TRUCK IS ROTTING OUT IN VARYING DEGREES THROUGHOUT THE TRUCK. CREATES A SAFETY ISSUE IF IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE TRUCK MAY FAIL AND CAUSE A GREAT DEAL OF INJURY TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE. THE ROTTING WAS NOT NOTICED (ALTHOUGH IT WAS FREQUENTLY CHECKED FOR) UNTIL THE FRAME LITERALLY CRACKED OPEN WHILE IT WAS SITTING IN THE GARAGE. *TR

Mileage: 165,000

20100419STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

1994 NISSAN PICKUP, RUSTED FRAME. UNSAFE TO DRIVE BUT HAVE NO CHOICE NEED TO GET TO WORK. NISSAN SHOULD BE MADE TO BUY THESE VEHICLES BACK AT A REASONABLE PRICE. TOYOTA BOUGHT BACK THERE TRUCKS WITH ROTTED FRAMES. HOPEFULLY I DON'T GET HURT OR MORESO AN INNOCENT DRIVER. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

20091018STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

1994 NISSAN EX 4X4 PICKUP TRUCK BAD FRAME ROT. THE TRUCK WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION. *TR

Mileage: 140,000

20081217STRUCTURE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 PICK UP. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR SERVICE. THE TECHNICIAN INSPECTED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED SEVERE FRAME DAMAGE. THE FRAME EXHIBITED HOLES AND EXCESSIVE RUST CORROSION FROM THE INSIDE TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE CAB. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000. UPDATED 1/6/09 *CN UPDATED 01/14/09. *JB

Mileage: 110,000

20081127STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

I HAVE A 1994 NISSAN TRUCK, WHICH I BOUGHT NEW. TRUCK RUNS GREAT HARDLEY AND RUST ON BODY. I WAS DRIVING TRUCK ON 11-19-2008 AND HEARD A LOUD BANG. TRUCK DARTED TO THE RIGHT AND JUST ABOUT WRECKED. I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED UNDER MY TRUCK. MY FRONT A-ARM STRUT MOUNT RUSTED AND BROKE FROM MY FRAME. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS KILLED OR INJURED. I LOOKED AT MY FRAME AND THE ENTIRE FRAME IS RUSTED COMPLETELY. NOT JUST A SPOT HERE OR THERE BUT ENTIRE FRAME IS LITERALLY FALLING OFF THE TRUCK. I AM TO AFRAID TO DRIVE TRUCK AND NOONE WILL REPAIR DUE TO CONDITION OF THE FRAME. THE TRUCK HAD BEEN WELL CARED FOR AND SHOULD NOT BE RUSTED. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. IT APPEARS THAT TOYOTA HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND PURCHASED THEIR FAULTY TRUCKS BACK. NISSAN SHOULD DO THE SAME BEFORE MORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED OR INJURED FROM THEIR FAULTY PRODUCT. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

20081117STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

I AM AN OWNER OF A 1994 NISSAN PICK UP WITH SERIOUS FRAME PROBLEMS. THE FRAME IS RUSTED IN MANY PLACES AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM IT SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH NISSAN PICK UPS AND PATHFINDERS. *TR

Mileage: 110,000

20080619STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

DANGEROUS RUST ON THE FRAME. ONLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. SOON TRUCK WILL BE UNABLE TO PASS INSPECTION. *TR

Mileage: 110,000

20080514STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 NISSAN PICKUP. SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, PORTIONS OF THE UNDERBODY FRAME RUSTED. THE FRAME HAD BEEN WELDED PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE BEING PURCHASED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Mileage: 120,000

20080118ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I TOOK MY 1994 NISSAN 4X4 PICKUP TRUCK IN FOR A WATER PUMP AND EXHAUST SYSTEM TO A NISSAN DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE TRUCK BECAUSE THE FRAME IS SO RUSTED THAT IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE TRUCK. THIS VEHICLE HAS 118,000 MILES AND WAS NOT USED FOR ANYTHING OTHER THEN DAILY TRANSPORTATION TO WORK AND BACK HOME. *TR

Mileage: 118,000

Compare 1994NISSAND21 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 5 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1994 NISSAN D21 have?
The 1994 NISSAN D21 has 76 NHTSA complaints, 6 crashes, 2 fires, 12 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 NISSAN D21?
The most-complained component for the 1994 NISSAN D21 is STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS with 13 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES:TREAD/BELT and TIRES.
Is the 1994 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.