IllustrationDESIGN OF SPARE TIRE IS COMPACT FOR THE PICK UP, TOO SMALL FOR THE SIZE OF VEHICLE.
1996 Nissan D21
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 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
Limited mileage data: 7 of 44 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.
- Air Bags. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
44 reportsAIR BAG: WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30MPH AND FELL ASLEEP ,WENT OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, HIT A PARKED VEHICLE AND HIS AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *JB
FRONT END OUT OF ALIGNMENT.
DASH BOARD LIGHT (AAC VALVE) FAILED.
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ABOUT 40 MPH NOTICED SUDDEN VIBRATION. CONSUMER THEN STATED THAT DRIVING THE VEHICLE ABOUT 65 MPH THE VIBRATION IS VERY NOTICEABLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT'S NORMAL FOR A SMALL TRUCK TO DO THAT, AND IT WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER …
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ABOUT 40 MPH NOTICED SUDDEN VIBRATION. CONSUMER THEN STATED THAT DRIVING THE VEHICLE ABOUT 65 MPH THE VIBRATION IS VERY NOTICEABLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT'S NORMAL FOR A SMALL TRUCK TO DO THAT, AND IT WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, FELL ASLEEP AND RAN OFF THE ROAD HITTING 5 TREES FRONTAL IMPACT AND SIDE WHICH DIDNOT TRIGGER THE AIRBAG SENSOR AND THE DRIVER AIRBAGD DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANT IN THIS ACCIDENT. *SLC
DRIVER FOOT HITS BRAKE/ACCELERATIOR PEDAL SIMULTANEOUSLY.
SUPENSION FAILURE, WHEN DRIVING FRONT END VIBRATION, CAUSING UNEVEN WEAR OF TIRES. *AK
FIRESTONE TIRE BLEW OUT.
WHEN CLIMBING ON AN INCLINE VEHICLE WILL NOT MAINTAIN SPEED, LOSS OF SPEED, ALSO FAULTY TRANSMISSION. *AK
Official recalls
198V234000 · Exterior Lighting:tail Lights
Sep 21, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS. A REAR LAMP WILL NOT ILLUMINATE BECAUSE THE METAL BARREL IN THE LIGHT BULB SOCKET MOVES OR SEPARATES FROM THE PLASTIC SOCKET HOUSING DUE TO INADEQUATE HEAT RESISTANCE OF THE PLASTIC AT THE LAMP OPERATING TEMPERATURE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE STOP/TAIL COMBINATION LAMP OR THE TURN SIGNAL LAMP WILL NOT FUNCTION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BULB SOCKETS IN THE REAR COMBINATION LAMPS.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.