NISSAN D21 · model year

1997 NISSAN D21

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.

72
Complaints
31
Crashes
0
Fires
14
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

72 filings

Crashes Reported

31 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL18
SUSPENSION:FRONT3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3
TIRES3
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE2
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR2
STRUCTURE:BODY2
AIR BAGS2
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE2
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY1
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL1

Recent Complaints

20121119STRUCTURE:BODY

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

20080818ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

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

20080207TIRES

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

20070410SUSPENSION:REAR

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

20060531ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

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

20060122ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

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

20050604ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

20031026CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT

CLUTCH, SEAT BELTS, NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL, THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, HORN, SPARK PLUGS AND DISTRIBUTOR. *LA

20031026CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CLUTCH, SEAT BELTS, NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL, THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, HORN, SPARK PLUGS AND DISTRIBUTOR. *LA

20031026CrashPOWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

CLUTCH, SEAT BELTS, NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL, THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, HORN, SPARK PLUGS AND DISTRIBUTOR. *LA

20031026CrashSTEERING

CLUTCH, SEAT BELTS, NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL, THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, HORN, SPARK PLUGS AND DISTRIBUTOR. *LA

20031026CrashELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

CLUTCH, SEAT BELTS, NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL, THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, HORN, SPARK PLUGS AND DISTRIBUTOR. *LA

20031026CrashENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CLUTCH, SEAT BELTS, NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL, THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, HORN, SPARK PLUGS AND DISTRIBUTOR. *LA

20030828CrashAIR BAGS

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

20030304CrashSEATS

THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND BOTH FRONT SEATS BROKE AND TWISTED TOWARDS RESULTING IN INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS. *AK *NLM

20030128ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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

20021227CrashSEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

DURING A COLLISION AND WITHOUT WARNING DRIVER'S SEAT FULLY RECLINED BACKWARD CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS....*AK

20021022CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

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

20021022CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

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

20020820TIRES:VALVE

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

Compare 1997NISSAND21 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 5 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1997 NISSAN D21 have?
The 1997 NISSAN D21 has 72 NHTSA complaints, 31 crashes, 0 fires, 14 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 NISSAN D21?
The most-complained component for the 1997 NISSAN D21 is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 18 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION:FRONT and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 1997 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.