Total Complaints
72 filings
NISSAN D21 · model year
72 NHTSA complaints, 31 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997NISSAND21 carries 72 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 31 crashes, 0 fires, 14 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 1997 D21 is air bags:frontal with 18 filings, followed by suspension:front (3) and vehicle speed control (3). 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 1997 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
72 filings
Crashes Reported
31 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 18 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 3 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 3 |
| TIRES | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 2 |
| AIR BAGS | 2 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL | 1 |
LADDER FRAME RUSTED FROM INSIDE. WILL NO LONGER PASS STATE INSPECTION. PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED BUT NO LONGER REPAIRABLE. VEHICLE HAS LESS THAT 58K MILES ON IT AND MECHANICALLY PERFECT. ALWAYS CAREFULLY MAINTAINED. SUBSTANDARD STEEL IN LADDER FRAME, REAR AXLE AND DIFFERENTIAL COVER AND DRIVE SHAFTS. TIN WORM EVIDENT AND ANTI-RUST TREATMENT INADEQUATE FOR USE ON ROADS IN NE. TOYOTA CORRECTED SIMILAR PROBLEM BY REPLACING FRAMES OR BUYING BACK TRUCK. WHAT IS WRONG WITH NISSAN? *TR
Mileage: 57,245
THE SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING AT WILL. A CHECK ON THE INTERNET SHOWS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM. NISSAN 1997 KING CAB PICKUP, 2.4L ENGINE 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANS. *TR
Mileage: 160,000
RECEIVED NOTICE FROM GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY THAT CERTAIN P215/70R14 DOUGLAS ETRA-TRAC A/W IT PRODUCED HAVE EXPERIENCED ADVERSE SERVICE CONDITIONS THAT HAVE LED TO TREAD AREA SEPARATION. IN THERE LETTER I WAS DIRECTED TO GO TO THE NEAREST WAL-MART RETAIL OUTLET TO SEE IF I QUALIFIED FOR THE FREE REPLACEMENT. I QUALIFIED. MY VEHICLE WAS PULLED INTO THE BAY, THE TIRES WERE REPLACE, AND I WAS THEN PRESENTED WITH A BILL OF $118.00 FOR THE NEW TIRES. IT WAS THEN THAT THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY PRORATE THE OLD TIRES AND GAVE ME A SMALL DISCOUNT FOR TIRE WARE. MY OLD TIRES SHOWED NO DEFECT AT THE TIME AND I BROUGHT THEM IN AS A PRECAUTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE RECALL. HAD I KNOW THAT I WAS GOING TO BE THE VICTIM OF A BAIT AND SWITCH SCHEME TO GET ME TO BUY THE NEW TIRES. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD PULLED THE DEFECTIVE TIRES OFF THE SHELF, SO THEY HAD TO SELL ME A MORE EXPENSIVE BRAND AS A REPLACEMENT. THAT TO ME IS BAIT AND SWITCH. I KNOW HAVE TO MORE EXPENSIVE TIRES ON MY VEHICLE THAN I NE
WHILE DRIVING THE 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER AT CERTAIN SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH THE TRUCK WILL BEGAN TO WOBBLE FROM SIDE TO SIDE NCONTROLLABLY. I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN OR COME TO A COMPLETE STOP BEFORE THE TRUCK RETURNS TO NORMAL.*AK
Mileage: 98,000
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE BATTERY AND BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. UPON INSPECTION THE CONTACT DETERMINED THE ALTERNATOR FAILED. THE FAILURE AND REPLACEMENT OCCURRED ON SIX DIFFERENT OCCASIONS UNDER VARIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE ALTERNATOR PART NUMBER IS 23001-0S300. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALERSHIP.
Mileage: 68,000
I HAVE A 1997 NISSAN PICKUP TRUCK THAT HAS A DANGEROUS HESITATION PROBLEM. WHENEVER I DRIVE THE TRUCK UP ANY HILLS OR ENCOUNTER STRONG HEAD WINDS, THE TRUCK'S ENGINE LOOSES POWER AND SPEED. CONSEQUENTLY, I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR-ENDED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. IN 2005 I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED NISSAN DEALER. UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS CHARGED $450.00 TO REPLACE A PART THAT WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SERVICE PERSONNEL DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THE MALFUNCTION. AFTER COMPLAINING TO THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED, I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS AGAIN TOLD THAT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM CANNOT BE DETECTED. PLEASE HELP ME AND OTHER NISSAN PICKUP TRUCK OWNERS WHO ARE DRIVING A VEHICLES THAT HAVE A DANGEROUS DEFECT THAT IS CAUSED BY A MALFUNCTION THAT THE DEALER STATES CANNOT BE DETECTED. *JB
Mileage: 37,046
BATTERY KEEP'S GOING DEAD OVER AND OVER! I PUT A NEW ONE IN AND IT HAPPEN ALL OVER. I HAD TO HAVE THE ALTERNATOR FIXED ABOUT 3 TIMES. THE 4TH TIME I GOT A NEW ONE AND NEW BATTERY AND THE BATTERY IS THE SAME. I WILL DRIVE AND IT RUNS THE BATTERY DOWN. I CAN NOT FIND ANY RECALLS FOR THIS.
Mileage: 100,000
CLUTCH, SEAT BELTS, NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL, THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, HORN, SPARK PLUGS AND DISTRIBUTOR. *LA
CLUTCH, SEAT BELTS, NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL, THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, HORN, SPARK PLUGS AND DISTRIBUTOR. *LA
CLUTCH, SEAT BELTS, NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL, THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, HORN, SPARK PLUGS AND DISTRIBUTOR. *LA
CLUTCH, SEAT BELTS, NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL, THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, HORN, SPARK PLUGS AND DISTRIBUTOR. *LA
CLUTCH, SEAT BELTS, NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL, THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, HORN, SPARK PLUGS AND DISTRIBUTOR. *LA
CLUTCH, SEAT BELTS, NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL, THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, HORN, SPARK PLUGS AND DISTRIBUTOR. *LA
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND BOTH FRONT SEATS BROKE AND TWISTED TOWARDS RESULTING IN INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS. *AK *NLM
I HAVE A 1997 NISSAN PU TRUCK AND HAVE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE TIMING CHAIN ASSEMBLY. I HAVE HAD 2 TIMING CHAINS REPLACED AND BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 8 TIMES CONCERING THIS PROBLEM. THE MANAGER OF THE NISSAN REPAIR DEPARTMENT IN MISSOULA FINALLY TOULD ME THAT EVERY 1997 NISSAN PU THAT HE HAD EVER SEEN HAS THE SAME PROBLEM BUT HE DID NOT INFORM ME OF A RECALL OF THE TRUCK. HE TOULD ME THAT THE ENGINE DESIGN DOES NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT OIL PRESSURE TO THE TIMING CHAIN ASSEMBLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED. THIS SEEMS TO LEAD TO ECCESSIVE WEAR TO THE TIMING CHAIN ASSEMBLY CAUSING PREMATURE FAILURE. MY TRUCK IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY WITH 60000 MILES ON IT AND THE TIMING CHAIN RATTLE IS GETTING LOUDER AND LOUDER. HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL OF THIS VEHICLE? THANKS RICHARD HARRISON
Mileage: 41,000
DURING A COLLISION AND WITHOUT WARNING DRIVER'S SEAT FULLY RECLINED BACKWARD CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS....*AK
FRONTAL CRASH WITH LIVESTOCK - AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO THE PASSENGER SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK INTO PLACE PREVENTING PASSENGER FROM GOING FORWARD INTO DASH AND WINDSHIELD. TS
FRONTAL CRASH WITH LIVESTOCK - AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO THE PASSENGER SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK INTO PLACE PREVENTING PASSENGER FROM GOING FORWARD INTO DASH AND WINDSHIELD. TS
I HAD PURCHASED A SET OF SEVENTEEN INCH CENTERLINE RIMS, AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS DIDNT IDENTIFY THE CENTERPIECE WHICH PROTRUDES AND APPLIES PRESSURE TO THE VALVE STEM CAUSING IT TO EVENTUALLY SHEAR OFF AND RAPIDLY FLATTEN MY TIRE. SINCE IM RUNNING LOW PROFILE TIRES WITH THE RIMS IT IS HARD TO IDENTIFY FLAT TIRES UNTIL HITTING SOMETHING THAT FEELS SOLID. IVE HAD TWO SHEAR OFF SO FAR AND HAVE SPENT HUNDREDS IN TIRES AND WHEEL REPAIRS OR REPLACEMENT BUT STILL MORE IS NEEDED TO REMOVE NUMEROUS DENTS THAT EVEN WHEN REPAIRED WONT LOOK LIKE THEY DID BEFORE. IVE CONTACTED CENTERLINE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD I MUST PAY TO HAVE THEM SHIPPED TO LOS ANGELES WHERE THEY WILL ALTER THE RIMS. I PAID FOR THESE RIMS WITH THIS FLAW AND CENTERLINE EXPECTED ME TO PAY FOR THEM TO BE FIXED. CENTERLINE MANUFACTURED THIS PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE THE ONES PAYING TO SHIP OR REPLACE THE RIMS. BEING A FULL TIME STUDENT CURRENTLY MONEY IS UNDERSTANDABLY TIGHT, A
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.