Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 2 of 18 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Equipment. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
18 reports
162,000 miles · Dec 10, 2018
Electrical System
CAR WONT CRANK, REPLACED THE STARTER, BATTERY, IGNITION SWITCH AND NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM EVEN THE DEALERSHIP WONT HELP UNLESS YOU HAVE OVER $1,000. ITS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE DASH LIGHTS COMES ONE BUT NOTHING ELSE. I REPLACED EVERYTHING. WHEN YOU SHUT THE ENGINE OFF YOU HAVE TO WAIT SOMETIMES FOR 3 TO 4 HOURS…
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CAR WONT CRANK, REPLACED THE STARTER, BATTERY, IGNITION SWITCH AND NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM EVEN THE DEALERSHIP WONT HELP UNLESS YOU HAVE OVER $1,000. ITS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE DASH LIGHTS COMES ONE BUT NOTHING ELSE. I REPLACED EVERYTHING. WHEN YOU SHUT THE ENGINE OFF YOU HAVE TO WAIT SOMETIMES FOR 3 TO 4 HOURS OR LONGER AND THAT IS IN PUBLIC PARKING LOTS.
NHTSA ODI #11157211
78,395 miles · Feb 25, 2012
Electrical System
ALL INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES QUIT WORKING ODOMETER, GAS. RPM. TEMP, ALL QUIT WORKING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10449320
Mileage unknown · Apr 27, 2009
Visibility
RECENTLY MY WIPER FAILED DUE TO LINKAGE ISSUES, UPON INVESTIGATION MY MAKE MODEL AND YEAR OF CAR HAD A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. WHEN TRYING TO GET IT REPAIRED I WAS TOLD MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT AMONG THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR REPAIR DUE TO RECALL. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS CONSIDERING I AM ACTUALLY HAVING THE SPECIFIC FAILURE ON MY VEHI…
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RECENTLY MY WIPER FAILED DUE TO LINKAGE ISSUES, UPON INVESTIGATION MY MAKE MODEL AND YEAR OF CAR HAD A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. WHEN TRYING TO GET IT REPAIRED I WAS TOLD MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT AMONG THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR REPAIR DUE TO RECALL. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS CONSIDERING I AM ACTUALLY HAVING THE SPECIFIC FAILURE ON MY VEHICLE THERE OBVIOUSLY HAS BEEN A MISTAKE AND THIS SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY THE MANUFACTURER SEEING AS MY VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION WITH THIS DEFECT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10266813
Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2005
Visibility
WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF ON THEIR OWN. THE DEALER WAS AWARE THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10108745
Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingWheels
NAR 04/01/2003. THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE HER VEHICLE TOWED TWICE BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT START. WHEN EVER THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE SERVICE NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND REGARDING THE VEHICLE NOT STARTING. ON ONE OCCASION THE DEALER LOCATED A CRACKED BELT. THE STUD/NUT WAS REPLACED ON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. *…
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NAR 04/01/2003. THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE HER VEHICLE TOWED TWICE BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT START. WHEN EVER THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE SERVICE NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND REGARDING THE VEHICLE NOT STARTING. ON ONE OCCASION THE DEALER LOCATED A CRACKED BELT. THE STUD/NUT WAS REPLACED ON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10015028
Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. *YH
NHTSA ODI #564021
Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 2001
Suspension
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH VEHICLE WILL START PULLING TO SIDES. HAD BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THEN, PROBLEM RETURNED WITH VIBRATION ON STEERING WHEEL. *AK
NHTSA ODI #886152
Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2001
Equipment
WHEN THE CAR WAS ASSEMBLED AT THE MANUFACTURER, THE AIR COMPROSSER WAS BOLTED DOWN TO TIGHTLY. WE HAD PURCHASED THE CAR IN NOV. 1998 AND WHEN SUMMER OF 1999 ROLLED AROUND THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULD NOT COOL. THE DEALER FILLED THE UNIT WITH FREON AND IT HELD FOR THE SUMMER BY SUMMER OF 2000 THE FREON HAD LEAKED OUT AGAIN. THIS …
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WHEN THE CAR WAS ASSEMBLED AT THE MANUFACTURER, THE AIR COMPROSSER WAS BOLTED DOWN TO TIGHTLY. WE HAD PURCHASED THE CAR IN NOV. 1998 AND WHEN SUMMER OF 1999 ROLLED AROUND THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULD NOT COOL. THE DEALER FILLED THE UNIT WITH FREON AND IT HELD FOR THE SUMMER BY SUMMER OF 2000 THE FREON HAD LEAKED OUT AGAIN. THIS TIME THEY CHARGED US TO REFILL THE UNIT BUT PUT A DIE TO SEE ABOUT A LEAK, WHAT THEY FOUND WAS WHEN IT WAS BUILT, THE SCREW AT THE TOP WAS TIGHTENED DOWN TOO TIGHT AND THERE WAS A SMALL LEAK ALLOWING THE FREON TO ESCAPE. NOW INSTEAD OF STANDING BEHIND THE PART AND THE LABOR THEY ONLY ARE WILLING TO PROVIDE THE PART. IT WAS THE MANUFACTURER LABOR THAT MADE THE PART DEFECTIVE. PLEASE HELP. *AK
NHTSA ODI #743767
Mileage unknown · Jun 18, 2000
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS FULLY DEPRESSED, IT GOES LOWER THAN THE GAS PEDAL. IF THE RIGHT FOOT/SHOE IS NOT FULLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FOOT/SHOE WILL ALSO PUSH DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE WHILE YOU ARE TRYING TO BRAKE. SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW. I'VE CHECKED OUT 1 OTHER 200SX AND THE …
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WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS FULLY DEPRESSED, IT GOES LOWER THAN THE GAS PEDAL. IF THE RIGHT FOOT/SHOE IS NOT FULLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FOOT/SHOE WILL ALSO PUSH DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE WHILE YOU ARE TRYING TO BRAKE. SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW. I'VE CHECKED OUT 1 OTHER 200SX AND THE SAME THING HAPPENS. ALTHOUGH MY WIFE IS NOW AWARE OF IT, IT HAPPENED TO HER TWICE IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, BUT THOSE DID NOT RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT, UNLIKE THE 10/10/98 INCIDENT INVOLVING MY DAUGHTER..*AK
NHTSA ODI #724153
Mileage unknown · May 21, 2000
EquipmentPower TrainSteering
1. WHEN I DROVE @ THE SPEED OF 55, THE WHEEL STILL SHIFT TO THE RIGHT. 2. ELLIS BROOKS(DEALER) REPLACED THE NEW CABLE ON 01/2000, TWO WEEKS LATER I WANT ON VACATION FOR 5 WEEKS, THE CAR HAVEN'T DRIVE THEN. ABOUT 2 WEEKS AFTER I CAME BACK FROM VACATION, I START TO FEEL THE CLUTCH LOOSE AGAIN. THEN ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER THE CLUTCH …
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1. WHEN I DROVE @ THE SPEED OF 55, THE WHEEL STILL SHIFT TO THE RIGHT. 2. ELLIS BROOKS(DEALER) REPLACED THE NEW CABLE ON 01/2000, TWO WEEKS LATER I WANT ON VACATION FOR 5 WEEKS, THE CAR HAVEN'T DRIVE THEN. ABOUT 2 WEEKS AFTER I CAME BACK FROM VACATION, I START TO FEEL THE CLUTCH LOOSE AGAIN. THEN ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER THE CLUTCH CABLE HAD BROKEN AGAIN. FROM THERE I CHANGED NEW CLUTCH(DEALER SUGGEST TO REPLACE CLUTCH), BUT NOW THE CAR STILL IN THE DEALER GARAGE WAITING FOR THE CABLE, IT IS BEEN 3 WEEKS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURE CLAIM CAN'T FIND THE NEW CLUTCH CABLE YET. AND THEY DON'T WANT TO PROVIDE CAR RENTAL.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. WATER CAN ENTER AND DISPLACE THE GREASE IN THE WIPER ARM LINKAGE BALL JOINT WHERE THE WIPER LINKAGE ATTACHES TO THE WIPER MOTOR LINKAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN GRADUAL WEAR OVER A PERIOD OF TIME INSIDE THE JOINT THAT COULD LEAD TO THE SEPARATION OF THE WIPER LINKAGE ASSEMBLY FROM THE WIPER MOTOR LINKAGE AT THE BALL JOINT. A LOSS OF WINDSHIELD WIPER FUNCTION CAN RESULT IN THIS SEPARATION OCCURS.
Remedy: TO PREVENT GREASE FROM BEING WASHED OUT OF THE JOINT, THE DEALERS WILL MODIFY BY ADDING A WATER DIVERSION SEAL THAT WILL PREVENT WATER FROM ENTERING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE BALL JOINT AREA.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1998 Nissan 200SX Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year