1994 NISSAN EX 4X4 PICKUP TRUCK BAD FRAME ROT. THE TRUCK WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION. *TR
1994 Nissan D21
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1994 Nissan D21 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 23.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all D21 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
21 reports with mileage · 44 unknown
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.
- Structure. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
65 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 PICK UP. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR SERVICE. THE TECHNICIAN INSPECTED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED SEVERE FRAME DAMAGE. THE FRAME EXHIBITED HOLES AND EXCESSIVE RUST CORROSION FROM THE INSIDE TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE CAB. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE F…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 PICK UP. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR SERVICE. THE TECHNICIAN INSPECTED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED SEVERE FRAME DAMAGE. THE FRAME EXHIBITED HOLES AND EXCESSIVE RUST CORROSION FROM THE INSIDE TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE CAB. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000. UPDATED 1/6/09 *CN UPDATED 01/14/09. *JB
I HAVE A 1994 NISSAN TRUCK, WHICH I BOUGHT NEW. TRUCK RUNS GREAT HARDLEY AND RUST ON BODY. I WAS DRIVING TRUCK ON 11-19-2008 AND HEARD A LOUD BANG. TRUCK DARTED TO THE RIGHT AND JUST ABOUT WRECKED. I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED UNDER MY TRUCK. MY FRONT A-ARM STRUT MOUNT RUSTED AND BROKE FROM MY FRAME. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS KILLE…
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I HAVE A 1994 NISSAN TRUCK, WHICH I BOUGHT NEW. TRUCK RUNS GREAT HARDLEY AND RUST ON BODY. I WAS DRIVING TRUCK ON 11-19-2008 AND HEARD A LOUD BANG. TRUCK DARTED TO THE RIGHT AND JUST ABOUT WRECKED. I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED UNDER MY TRUCK. MY FRONT A-ARM STRUT MOUNT RUSTED AND BROKE FROM MY FRAME. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS KILLED OR INJURED. I LOOKED AT MY FRAME AND THE ENTIRE FRAME IS RUSTED COMPLETELY. NOT JUST A SPOT HERE OR THERE BUT ENTIRE FRAME IS LITERALLY FALLING OFF THE TRUCK. I AM TO AFRAID TO DRIVE TRUCK AND NOONE WILL REPAIR DUE TO CONDITION OF THE FRAME. THE TRUCK HAD BEEN WELL CARED FOR AND SHOULD NOT BE RUSTED. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. IT APPEARS THAT TOYOTA HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND PURCHASED THEIR FAULTY TRUCKS BACK. NISSAN SHOULD DO THE SAME BEFORE MORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED OR INJURED FROM THEIR FAULTY PRODUCT. *TR
I AM AN OWNER OF A 1994 NISSAN PICK UP WITH SERIOUS FRAME PROBLEMS. THE FRAME IS RUSTED IN MANY PLACES AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM IT SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH NISSAN PICK UPS AND PATHFINDERS. *TR
DANGEROUS RUST ON THE FRAME. ONLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. SOON TRUCK WILL BE UNABLE TO PASS INSPECTION. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 NISSAN PICKUP. SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, PORTIONS OF THE UNDERBODY FRAME RUSTED. THE FRAME HAD BEEN WELDED PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE BEING PURCHASED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND CURRENT MILE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 NISSAN PICKUP. SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, PORTIONS OF THE UNDERBODY FRAME RUSTED. THE FRAME HAD BEEN WELDED PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE BEING PURCHASED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
I TOOK MY 1994 NISSAN 4X4 PICKUP TRUCK IN FOR A WATER PUMP AND EXHAUST SYSTEM TO A NISSAN DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE TRUCK BECAUSE THE FRAME IS SO RUSTED THAT IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE TRUCK. THIS VEHICLE HAS 118,000 MILES AND WAS NOT USED FOR ANYTHING OTHER THEN DAILY TRANSPORTATION TO WORK AND BACK HOM…
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I TOOK MY 1994 NISSAN 4X4 PICKUP TRUCK IN FOR A WATER PUMP AND EXHAUST SYSTEM TO A NISSAN DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE TRUCK BECAUSE THE FRAME IS SO RUSTED THAT IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE TRUCK. THIS VEHICLE HAS 118,000 MILES AND WAS NOT USED FOR ANYTHING OTHER THEN DAILY TRANSPORTATION TO WORK AND BACK HOME. *TR
I HAVE A 1994 NISSAN 4X4 PICKUP XE WITH 118,000 MILES ON IT. I TOOK IT IN TO A NISSAN DEALER BECAUSE I NEEDED A WATER PUMP AND EXHAUST SYSTEM REPAIRED. I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THEY WOULD NOT MAKE THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TRUCK AND THE TRUCK IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HOW CAN TH…
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I HAVE A 1994 NISSAN 4X4 PICKUP XE WITH 118,000 MILES ON IT. I TOOK IT IN TO A NISSAN DEALER BECAUSE I NEEDED A WATER PUMP AND EXHAUST SYSTEM REPAIRED. I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THEY WOULD NOT MAKE THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TRUCK AND THE TRUCK IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HOW CAN THIS BE POSSIBLE, THIS IS NOT A TRUCK THAT IS USED OFF ROAD OR FOR ANY 4X4 ACTIVITIES. I PURCHASED A NISSAN BECAUSE I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT A NISSAN WILL BASICALLY LAST FOREVER. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND FEEL THAT NISSAN SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING IN MY LIFE THAT THE FRAME IS RUSTED AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 NISSAN PICKUP. ON AUGUST 15, 2007, THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED ON A LIFT TO REPLACE THE WHEELS WHEN THE VEHICLE'S FRAME FAILED BY THE REAR WHEELS. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES. THE POWER TRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 105,000.
FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE RIGHT TAILLIGHT ON MY 1994 NISSAN PICKUP. I'VE TRIED TO HAVE IT REPAIRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THUS FAR IT HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. I AM NOT ABLE TO GET MY TRUCK PAST STATE INSPECTION BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. IN LOOKING UP RECALLS ONLINE, I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR …
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FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE RIGHT TAILLIGHT ON MY 1994 NISSAN PICKUP. I'VE TRIED TO HAVE IT REPAIRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THUS FAR IT HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. I AM NOT ABLE TO GET MY TRUCK PAST STATE INSPECTION BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. IN LOOKING UP RECALLS ONLINE, I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR TAILLIGHT FAILURE FROM 1995 FORWARD AND WANTED TO KNOW IF 1994 WAS ALSO IMPACTED. *NM
Official recalls
202V125000 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
May 2, 2002
ON CERTAIN LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS, THE LATCH PLATE USED IN THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WAS NOT MANUFACTURED ACCORDING TO DESIGN DIMENSIONS. IF THE SEAT BELT TONGUE IS INSERTED SLOWLY AT AN ANGLE INTO THE BUCKLE, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE SEAT BELT TONGUE TO COME OUT OF THE BUCKLE IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION OR HARD BRAKING OF THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT OF THE SEAT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BUCKLE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW BUCKLE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 22, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
96V170001 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
Sep 10, 1996
THE LATCH PLATE USED IN THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WAS NOT MANUFACTURED ACCORDING TO DESIGN DIMENSIONS. IF THE SEAT BELT TONGUE IS INSERTED SLOWLY AT AN ANGLE INTO THE BUCKLE, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE SEAT BELT TONGUE TO COME OUT OF THE BUCKLE IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION OR HARD BRAKING OF THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT OF THE SEAT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BUCKLE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW BUCKLE.
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
2RQ02009 · Seat Belt Latch Failures
Opened Apr 11, 2002 · Closed Dec 17, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts; Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
TAKATA/NISSAN/ISUZU HAVE DETERMINED THAT DURING THE INITIAL RECALL CAMPAIGN (96V-170), SOME VEHICLES THAT CONTAIN DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT BUCKLES WERE INADVERTENTLY OMITTED FROM THE CAMPAIGN. NISSAN WILL RECALL 92,500 MY1994 PATHFINDER AND D21 PICKUP TRUCKS (02V-125).ISUZU WILL RECALL 13,831 MY1994/1995 RODEO, AMIGO, TF AND PICKUP TRUCKS (02V-281) .ISUZU IS ALSO RECALLING 618 MY 1994 HONDA PASSPORT VEHICLES UNDER RECALL 02V-281 (THE HONDA PASSPORT IS MANUFACTURED BY ISUZU FOR HONDA AND IS SIMILAR TO THE ISUZU RODEO VEHICLE). THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
Additional source detail variants (4)
Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
TAKATA/NISSAN/ISUZU HAVE DETERMINED THAT DURING THE INITIAL RECALL CAMPAIGN (96V-170), SOME VEHICLES THAT CONTAIN DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT BUCKLES WERE INADVERTENTLY OMITTED FROM THE CAMPAIGN. NISSAN WILL RECALL 92,500 MY1994 PATHFINDER AND D21 PICKUP TRUCKS (02V-125).ISUZU WILL RECALL 13,831 MY1994/1995 RODEO, AMIGO, TF AND PICKUP TRUCKS (02V-281) .ISUZU IS ALSO RECALLING 618 MY 1994 HONDA PASSPORT VEHICLES UNDER RECALL 02V-281 (THE HONDA PASSPORT IS MANUFACTURED BY ISUZU FOR HONDA AND IS SIMILAR TO THE ISUZU RODEO VEHICLE). THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
TAKATA/NISSAN/ISUZU HAVE DETERMINED THAT DURING THE INITIAL RECALL CAMPAIGN (96V-170), SOME VEHICLES THAT CONTAIN DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT BUCKLES WERE INADVERTENTLY OMITTED FROM THE CAMPAIGN. NISSAN WILL RECALL 92,500 MY1994 PATHFINDER AND D21 PICKUP TRUCKS (02V-125).ISUZU WILL RECALL 13,831 MY1994/1995 RODEO, AMIGO, TF AND PICKUP TRUCKS (02V-281) .ISUZU IS ALSO RECALLING 618 MY 1994 HONDA PASSPORT VEHICLES UNDER RECALL 02V-281 (THE HONDA PASSPORT IS MANUFACTURED BY ISUZU FOR HONDA AND IS SIMILAR TO THE ISUZU RODEO VEHICLE). THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
Seat Belts
TAKATA/NISSAN/ISUZU HAVE DETERMINED THAT DURING THE INITIAL RECALL CAMPAIGN (96V-170), SOME VEHICLES THAT CONTAIN DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT BUCKLES WERE INADVERTENTLY OMITTED FROM THE CAMPAIGN. NISSAN WILL RECALL 92,500 MY1994 PATHFINDER AND D21 PICKUP TRUCKS (02V-125).ISUZU WILL RECALL 13,831 MY1994/1995 RODEO, AMIGO, TF AND PICKUP TRUCKS (02V-281) .ISUZU IS ALSO RECALLING 618 MY 1994 HONDA PASSPORT VEHICLES UNDER RECALL 02V-281 (THE HONDA PASSPORT IS MANUFACTURED BY ISUZU FOR HONDA AND IS SIMILAR TO THE ISUZU RODEO VEHICLE). THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
Seat Belts
TAKATA/NISSAN/ISUZU HAVE DETERMINED THAT DURING THE INITIAL RECALL CAMPAIGN (96V-170), SOME VEHICLES THAT CONTAIN DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT BUCKLES WERE INADVERTENTLY OMITTED FROM THE CAMPAIGN. NISSAN WILL RECALL 92,500 MY1994 PATHFINDER AND D21 PICKUP TRUCKS (02V-125).ISUZU WILL RECALL 13,831 MY1994/1995 RODEO, AMIGO, TF AND PICKUP TRUCKS (02V-281) .ISUZU IS ALSO RECALLING 618 MY 1994 HONDA PASSPORT VEHICLES UNDER RECALL 02V-281 (THE HONDA PASSPORT IS MANUFACTURED BY ISUZU FOR HONDA AND IS SIMILAR TO THE ISUZU RODEO VEHICLE). THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
PE95024 · Inadvertent Release Of Parking Brake
Opened Apr 12, 1995 · Closed Jul 27, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
Illustration