Total Complaints
47 filings
NISSAN D21 · model year
47 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996NISSAND21 carries 47 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 7 crashes, 1 fire, 6 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 1996 D21 is air bags:frontal with 7 filings, followed by suspension:front (6) and air bags (6). 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 1996 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.
Total Complaints
47 filings
Crashes Reported
7 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 7 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 6 |
| AIR BAGS | 6 |
| TIRES | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 1 |
| INTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
| TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
MY NISSAN TRUCK IS VERY BADLY EATEN BY RUST. THE FRAME AND BODY ARE BEING EATEN AWAY WITH RUST. THE BRAKE LINES AND THE POWER STEERING LINES HAVE DISINTEGRATED. THE WHEEL AXLES AND JOINTS ARE BADLY CORRODED. INFERIOR QUALITY METALS AND PAINT WERE USED TO MANUFACTURE THIS TRUCK. THIS TRUCK IS NOW TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON THE ROAD. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ARE GOOD BUT THE REST IS A DISGRACE. *TR
Mileage: 110,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 NISSAN PICKUP. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND BEGAN TO ACCELERATE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT AN ENGINEER WOULD COME OUT AND INSPECT THE VEHICLE. TWO WEEKS AFTER THE INSPECTION, THE MANUFACTURER CALLED THE CONTACT AND STATED THAT NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED DUE TO THE HIGH MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE NISSAN DEALER AND RECEIVED AN ESTIMATE OF $2,000 FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 205,000.
Mileage: 205,000
LEAKING FUEL TANK. FUEL TANK STARTED LEAKING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *TR
Mileage: 75,000
I BOUGHT THE TRUCK IN 1999 FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, IT HAD 29,800 MILES ON IT. THE TRUCK HAD 59,500 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED AND SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND THAT THE MAIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS ALONG SIDE OF THE ENGINE VALVE COVER HAD MELTED ABOUT EIGHT WIRES TOGETHER. THE TRUCK SAT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE I HAD TIME TO WORK ON IT. I SEPARATED THE WIRES AND PUT THEM BACK TOGETHER AND THE TRUCK WOULD RUN, BUT NOT THE WAY IT SHOULD. I ENDED UP TAKING IT TO THE NISSAN DEALER WHERE IT STAYED FOR A FEW MONTHS AND THEY TRIED SEVERAL THINGS TO FIX THE TRUCK BUT DIDN'T. THE DEALER ENDED UP SAYING THAT IT NEEDED A COMPLETE WIRING HARNESS, WHICH IS FROM BUMPER TO BUMPER ALL ONE PIECE AND THE WIRING HARNESS WOULD COST APP. $1400.00 PLUS LABOR. I BROUGHT THE TRUCK BACK HOME WHERE IT SETS TODAY WITH 59,600 MILES ON IT. *TR
Mileage: 59,500
WE PURCHASED A TRUCK AT CURRY'S USED CARS. THE TRUCK HAD BEEN WRECKED, IT WAS REPAIRED AT CURRY'S PAINT AND BODY SHOP. THEN THE OWNER SAM CURRY HAD IT FOR SALE. WE PURCHASED IT. LATER WE FOUND OUT THAT HE DID NOT REPLACE THE AIRBAG THAT HAD DEPLOYED. IT HAS A DUMMY AIRBAG IN THE VEHICLE. I KNOW THAT THIS IS A FEDERAL OFFENSE. SINCE I FOUND THIS OUT KNOW THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE REPAIRED AT THIS BODY SHOP AND AIRBAGS REPLACED WITH DUMMY BAGS. *JB
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK *TS *JB
Mileage: 110,000
TRIED TO GET EMISSIONS TEST, DUE TO SENSOR LIGHT COMING ON (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT), VEHICLE FAILED TEST. HAVE REPORTED THIS LIGHT SEVERAL TIMES. THIS LIGHT STAYS ON, NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. HAVE CHANGED SENSOR THREE TIMES. DID NOT HAVE CONCERNS BEFORE THE EMISSIONS PROBLEMS. DLR SEEMS TO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, OR HOW TO TO FIX IT. MAYBE THERE SHOULD BE SOME WAY OF CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ONLY SOLUTION WAS TO KEEP REPLACING THE SENSOR. WHICH IS GETTING TO BE A PROBLEM. DLR WOULD DO SOMETHING TO TURN OFF THE LIGHT, I DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD...THE LIGHT COMES BACK ON...AND STAYS ON. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING EVER SINCE VEHICLE PURCHASE.
Mileage: 5
FIRESTONE SAID 6 YEAR OLD TIRE NOT COVERED IN RECALL. HAD GOOD TREAD AND NOT LOW ON AIR PRESSURE. BLEW OUT SIDEWALLS AND BELTS WITHOUT ANY WARNING THAT TIRES WERE LOSING AIR. *TS *NLM ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS***762204
Mileage: 66,400
CONSUMER WAS GETTING INTO TRUCK AND BEGAN TO SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM STEERING WHEEL. CONSUMER GOT OUT OF TRUCK ONCE SMOKE CLEARED. DROVE TO MECHANIC, AND WAS INFORMED THAT AIR BAG WIRE ASSEMBLY HAD BURNED, AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
HORN WOULD GO OFF WHILE TURNING TRUCK EITHER DIRECTION UNTIL HORN BLAIRED CONSTANTLY. AFTER DEALER INSPECTED STEERING WHEEL, THEY FOUND HORN WAS LOOSE, AND A PART HAD ENGAGED ITSELF INSIDE AIR BAG. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE DEPLOYMENT WITH NO WARNING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
THE DRIVER'S SHOULDER HARNESS IS FRAYING WHERE IT WEARS AGAINST THE CLIP THAT INSERTS IN THE RECEIVER TO SECURE THE BELT. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS SHOULD HAPPEN IN LESS THAN 6 YEARS/70,000 MILES. IT MAY BE HAPPENING IN OTHER VEHICLES, AND IF SO, IS POTENTIALLY QUITE DANGEROUS AS THE RESTRAINING HARNESS COULD FAIL IN AN ACCIDENT. I WILL CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER NEXT.
WHILE PARKING VEHICLE AT 2 MPH DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED.*AK
FEMALE END OF SEATBELT CABLE HAS BROKEN. NO UNUSUAL STRESS OR ACCIDENT JUST GOT IN AND FOUND THAT FEMALE CONNECTOR WAS ONLY HELD ON BY 2 ELECTRICAL CABLES. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
I CHECK MY TIRE PRESSURE REGULARLY SINCE I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK USED WITH 15,000 MILES ON IT I HAD THE TIRES ROTATED A MONTH AGO OR SO.I HAVE 40,000 ON THE TRUCK NOW.THE LEFT REAR FIRESTONE TIRE SHREDDED LIKE A POTATO PEEL .IT DAMGED MY REAR FENDER WHEN IT PEELED BACK.I RECENTLY HAD HELPED A MOTORIST WITH A FLAT TIRE ON THE HIGHWAY.THE VEHICLE WAS A FORD RANGER WITH FIRESTONE TIRES.THE TIRE DAMGE LOOKED IDENTICLE TO MY TIRE DAMAGE.I BELIEVE FIRESTONE HAS MORE BAD TIRES OUT THERE THAN THEIR SAYING.ARE MY TIRES RECALLED I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS A COINCIDENCE.I WANT MY TIRES REPLACED AND MY TRUCK FIXED. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2HYFRN206 TIRESIZE: P215-70R-1)
FIRESTONE, FR480, P215/70R14, DOT UNKNOWN, REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT, MILEAGE UNKNOWN ON A 1996, NISSAN KING CAB WITH 55000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH PASSENGER'S REAR TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION. NO ACCIDENT.*AK DOT NUMBER W2HYFRN226. *SLC
I HAVE HAD AN EMISSIONS PROBLEMS (MIL) CONTINOUSLY SINCE OCTOBER 1996. THE EMISSION SYSTEM WAS REPLACED BY NISSAN IN 1998. THE MIL STILL COMES ON AND I AM GETTING ABOUT 16-17 MPG ON 13.59 GALS. I HAVE WRITTEN LETTERS TO NISSAN AND HAVE TALKED TO NUMEROUS NISSAN SERVICE PERSONNEL BUT HAVE GOTTEN NOWHERE. I TRIED GOING THROUGH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU FOR ARBITRATION BUT THEY TOLD ME I HAVE TOO MANY MILES ON THE PICKUP. THE SAFETY RECALL ON THE REAR LIGHTS WAS NEVER DONE, EVEN THOUGH ANDERSON NISSAN IN ASHEVILLE, NC SAYS IT WAS DONE. THEY LIED. I WOULD APPRECIATE ALL THE HELP THAT YOU CAN GIVE ME, IF ANY. THE NEXT STEP WILL HAVE TO BE SUING NISSAN FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY. BREACH OF WARRANTY BECAUSE , EVEN THOUGH THEY REPLACED THE PARTS, THEY NEVER FIXED IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DEBBIE. *AK
COMPONENTS BUSTED INSIDE OF STEERING WHEEL WHERE AIRBAG IS LOCATED AND SOUNDS METALIC FEAR THE STEERING MAY FAIL OR CAUSE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY WHILE DRIVING. I EMAILED NISSAN CORP OF THIS MATTER AND NO RESPONCE AS OF YET.
COMPONENTS BUSTED INSIDE OF STEERING WHEEL WHERE AIRBAG IS LOCATED AND SOUNDS METALIC FEAR THE STEERING MAY FAIL OR CAUSE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY WHILE DRIVING. I EMAILED NISSAN CORP OF THIS MATTER AND NO RESPONCE AS OF YET.
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYS ON, INDICATING A DEFECT, BUT DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE AND CAN'T REPAIR.*AK
Driver Airbag Inflator Rupture
Inner Tie Rod Failures
Side curtain air bags may deploy inadvertently
Reduced Power After Engine Stall
Loss of motive power due to broken crankshaft with no ability to restart.
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.