While Nissan has various minivans including the Elgrand and Serena models in its portfolio, the only MPV (Multi-Purpose Vehicle) available in the US is the Quest.
The now discontinued Nissan minivan has been great in terms of practicality and comfort, ideal for families, and so it is disappointing to see Nissan phase it out. Following the 2018 model year, the Quest is available on the used market only, where it is still relatively popular. Nonetheless, there are certain model years that are better to avoid, specifically the third generation pre-facelift models due to numerous reliability issues and the first and second generation of the Quest for its age and safety concerns.
3rd Generation Nissan Quest (2004 – 2009)
The third generation of the Quest has brought around significant changes to the model. Finally, modernized and with a vast range of comfort features, the new Quest was much improved over the previous iteration. It was also more practical, with a wheelbase extended by almost 12 inches, which gave the passengers more than enough space.
The 3rd generation of this Nissan minivan thus seemed like a perfect choice, at least at the first glance. Retrospectively, this generation of the Quest is by far the most notoriously unreliable, and one cannot simply recommend buying it.
Jerky Transmission as a Sign of an Expensive Repair Bill
The far most common issue with the 3rd generation Nissan Quest, and also the most serious one, is the automatic transmission. In regular conditions, this Nissan minivan offers a smooth ride and decent comfort, which is partly ensured by the smooth shifting gearbox in combination with a quiet 3.5L V6 engine.
However, at the start of the production, and particularly in 2007, Nissan received an exceptionally high number of complaints regarding the behavior of the transmission. Customers experienced situations where the vehicle would have trouble shifting gears, or the car would be shaking and jerking while under acceleration. The severity of the issue differed from one Nissan minivan to another. While some transmissions would just hesitate to shift a gear or run low on transmission fluid, others would not shift at all, driving the engine to high RPMs.
Most commonly, the transmission had to be replaced, and the repair costs can get well above $3,000 in parts and labor. The issue has occurred in all model years throughout the pre-facelift third generation. Therefore, avoid the 2004-2007 years and look for a newer model instead.
Timing chain issues across the Nissan lineup
Another serious and quite common issue is regarding the timing chain of this Nissan minivan but also other models including the Xterra, Altima, Frontier, and others. The affected models suffered from loose timing chains, which could result in a total engine failure.
Over time, the timing chain tensioners would stop working properly, leading to a loss of timing chain tension and a number of issues associated with it. In the best-case scenario, the engine would just make slight rattling noises, and when fixed in time, there would be no other complications. However, ignoring the issue can result in problems during acceleration and eventually lead to the pistons and valves shaking hands as this is an interference engine.
The timing chains on affected Nissan models wore off at low mileages, far sooner than expected. This led to a number of lawsuits across the US, claiming that the Nissan minivan and other models have been equipped with faulty tensioners, timing chain guides, tensioner shoes, and other parts.
Nissan has lost the case, and customers were eligible for partial reimbursements. Even so, the main cause of the issue has not been resolved. At the end of the day, it is better to just avoid the affected altogether. For this reason, carefully examine all Nissan Quests made between 2004 and 2009 for this issue.
Rust and shattered sunroofs
The most interesting is Nissan’s issue with cracking sunroofs. It is another notorious issue of the Quest and another one that has been brought to court.
Because of an incorrect tempering process, and using a thinner glass, the sunroof can shatter randomly with no prior warning signs. Besides this, the sunroof can leak and rattle, but that is an issue common on all vehicles without proper maintenance and cannot be assigned to the third generation of this Nissan minivan specifically.
Potential buyers of the 2004 – 2007 Nissan Quest should also be wary of possible rusting of the body and frame of the vehicle. Like other Nissan models from this period, the Quest is known for severe rusting due to poor protection and coating of the surfaces.
1st and 2nd Generation Nissan Quest (pre-2002 models)
Back when these were new, they were considered acceptable vehicles for use as a family hauler. Since then, the automotive world has changed significantly and the pre-2002 Quests are simply no longer cutting it, especially if you have a larger family. While the fact that older vehicles are not filled with tech ensures better reliability, it certainly hinders comfort and safety.
The largest concern is the crash test results of the old Quests, especially when using the vehicle to transport children. The results have not been great back then, and by today’s standards, they are miserable. The old Nissan minivans also lack precise handling due to the aged suspension design, making them feel insecure and wobbly in the corners. Most of them have worn steering systems, which you can’t really fix by replacing the tie rod ends, or entire tie rods. Some of these minivans are simply too old at this point.
The interior quality is not remotely close to what today’s world offers. Not only that, but the Quest did not excel in this regard back at the time either. Overall, the build quality has been relatively poor. The old Quests are simply too dated.
4th Generation Nissan Quest (2011 – 2012)
Based on the numerous issues above, you might get the impression that you should just avoid all Nissan Quests, but it is not all that bad. The introduction of the fourth generation has improved the car in most areas. Its reliability finally got on par with the competition, and besides poor results in the small overlap crash test, the last generation Nissan Quest does well in most aspects.
Therefore, the best years to consider when looking for a used Quest are 2013 – 2016. The last generation has already been available starting 2011, but as with a number of other models, it is good to avoid ones from the start of production. Only later models already have all the quirks and issues fixed.
For example, the Nissan minivans manufactured between the second half of 2010 and 2012 have been recalled for a software issue that resulted in the engine stalling. At slow speeds or with the engine on idle, the ECU might deliver less fuel to the engine than needed, resulting in the engine shutting off. Although it is an issue that is relatively simple to fix, it is still better to be cautious when you stumble upon a 2012 Nissan Quest.
The fourth generation Quests can sometimes be found with even low mileages and in great condition, meaning that major repairs and maintenance shouldn’t be on the menu for a while. That said, in the case of the last generation Nissan Quest, it is certainly better to choose model years 2013 and up, and pay more upfront than to face excessive repair costs by going with some of the old iterations.
The Latest Model is the Best One to Have
Based on the reported issues, the third generation of the Nissan Quest has been almost a disaster. On the other hand, the first and second generations of this minivan are quite reliable but as they are now more than 20 years old, making it hard to recommend them to anyone with a family.
They lack basic comfort features, and their safety is not great, which is a major concern for a minivan, which is intended to be used as a family hauler. For this reason, the last generation comes off as the winner, and the only recommendable model.
While the fourth generation has not excelled in reliability either, it has other advantages that make up for it, and after all, with the vast range of features today’s cars are equipped with, there is no perfectly reliable vehicle. All in all, it is true that newer tends to be better, especially so when talking about the last U.S. Nissan minivan, the Quest.
