Nissan vehicles are often thought of as being a reliable first choice for new drivers but as with any vehicle manufacturer, Nissan’s vehicles have their fair share of reported concerns, from rusting bodywork and oil leaks to faulty hood latches and issues with their CVT gearbox system. It’s worth keeping in mind that Nissan is still one of the most reliable brands on the road today, and these issues are based on consumer reports and recalls and are often few and far between. If you own a Nissan or are looking to buy a new Nissan vehicle in the near future, we’ve gathered together some of the most commonly reported problems by Nissan owners, so you can keep an eye out and catch potential problems early.

Oil Leaks

Any car owner is likely to see an oil leak in their time, and there are plenty of makes and models out there that are more prone to this issue than others. Oil leaks in older vehicles are a given, however there have been issues raised with some of Nissan’s newer models. According to MotorAndWheels, “The problem of oil leakage is alarmingly common in Nissan vehicles and has been reported by Nissan owners,” (https://motorandwheels.com/problems-with-nissan-cars/, 2023). In 2011, for example, a recall was issued by Nissan themselves for over 15,000 vehicles, which had all been affected by excessive oil leaks.

CVT Issues

Nissan’s Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) is a feature included in a number of their vehicles, designed to improve efficiency and performance overall. It’s a form of shiftless transmission, which has proven to improve overall ride and drive quality, but with new features also come new problems. According to NissanProblems.com, Nissan owners have reported a number of issues with CVT, including “difficulty accelerating, shaking/stuttering, running hot and suddenly shutting down.” Nissan has handled a number of concerns, and in many cases extended the warranty on these parts. According to NissanProblems, “the extension essentially doubled previous coverage, bumping the powertrain warranty from 5 years/60,000 miles, to 10 years/120,000 miles.”. (https://nissanproblems.com/cvt/, 2021)

Rusting

While some of Nissan’s vehicles might be renowned for their lasting power, unfortunately, the manufacturer has also been reported as having some vehicles that rust easily. According to MotorandWheels, this is “one area Nissan has received the most severe criticism, especially with Navara truck” (https://motorandwheels.com/problems-with-nissan-cars/). Some drivers even reported extreme (and thankfully rare) cases of the “infamous snapping that can leave the connection completely severed”. To keep on top of any potential rust issues, do regular checks across the whole vehicle and have any and all potential patches fixed by a qualified mechanic as soon as you see them.

Faulty Hood Latch

While a faulty latch on the hood of your car might not be a huge issue while stationary, it can present as a much more serious problem while you’re on the move. If your hood pops open while you’re on the road, this could not only block your view while driving and pose a serious risk of an accident but could damage your windscreen if it swings back hard enough. NissanProblems reported that the 2013-2018 Altima “is in constant danger of the hood suddenly flying open while driving.” and recalls were released across a number of years to solve this problem, including November 2014, March 2015, January 2016 and June 2020. (http://www.nissanproblems.com/altima-hood-latch/, 2021)

Sunroof Damage

Any vehicle with a sunroof, regardless of the manufacturer, is always at risk of ‘exploding’. A slight chip or too much direct heat can cause the glass of the sunroof to shatter or explode, risking injury to those within the car or to other drivers on the road passing over the broken glass. Also reported by MotorAndWheels, Nissan vehicles with panoramic sunroofs, such as Maxima, Rogue, Pathfinder, Murano, Infiniti and QX60 have a sunroof that “can shatter and cause injuries” and “can cause drivers to become disoriented while driving.” (https://motorandwheels.com/problems-with-nissan-cars/). If you are unsure about your sunroof or have seen any cracks or chips, get in touch with our team as soon as possible.

For more information about Nissan vehicles and how you can make sure your car is ready and raring to go safely, book your car in with our mechanics for a service or repairs, today.