1997 Nissan 200Sx

Routine

Owners filed 16 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the visibility › windshield wiper/washer › linkages. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Linkages4
000
Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator2
000
Air Bags › Frontal2
102
Air Bags2
000
Vehicle Speed Control1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components1
000
Exterior Lighting › Headlights1
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline1
000
Electrical System1
000
Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module1
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting06E049000
Filed May 24, 200627,176 vehiclesCk Motorsport, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Linkages98V093000
Filed May 5, 1998512,387 vehiclesNissan North America, Inc.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed Apr 13, 2015150,000 milesNJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NISSAN 200SX. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT HAVING THE BATTERY RECHARGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FORMALLY DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Air Bags
Filed Oct 2, 2012142,653 milesTX

AFTER MAKING A RIGHT TURN, ABOUT 20 FEET AFTER TURN BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. I WAS STRUCK IN THE FACE, CHIN, THROAT AND CHEST. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, NO POT HOLES IN THE ROAD, NO OTHER CAR EVEN ON THE ROAD. I CANNOT FIND ONE REASON WHY THE AIR BAGS WOULD DEPLOY. IT HAS BEEN 48 HOURS AND I AM STILL SORE INCLUDING MY NECK AND BRUISING ON MY NECK AND CHEST. *TR

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Linkages
Filed Oct 5, 2009156,000 milesMN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NISSAN 200SX. WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF A RAIN STORM, HER WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE TOWED SINCE SHE HAD NO VISIBILITY. THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE WIPER LINKAGE SEPARATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED IN REFERENCE TO RECALL 98V093000; HOWEVER, THEY CONFIRMED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 156,036 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 156,000.

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Jan 24, 2005135,000 milesFL

HEADLIGHT LENSES PRODUCED A THICK FOG OVER THEM. AS A RESULT, THE LIGHTS WERE NOT AS BRIGHT AT NIGHT. *AK THE HEADLIGHT LENSES WERE DAMAGED DUE TO THE SUNS ULTRA-VIOLET RAYS. *SC

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Linkages
Filed Apr 19, 200479,001 milesNJ

I HAD TO PAY $235 FOR A REPAIR THAT WAS PART OF A RECALL IN 1998. I WAS NEVER SENT RECALL INFO. REGARDING MY VEHICLE. I HAPPENED UPON THE NISSAN WEBSITE LOOKING FOR OTHER INFORMATION. FIRST NISSAN REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THE REPAIR HAD TAKEN PLACE IN SEPTEMBER OF 1998 AT THE DEALERSHIP, WHEN I PROVED THAT TO BE WRONG I WAS THEN TOLD THAT MY VIN # WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. NISSAN WEBSITE CLEARLY SHOWS A RANGE OF VIN'S AND MINE FELL WITHIN THAT RANGE, NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN I WAS TOLD THE RANGE IS NOT SPECIFIC. IF THAT IS THE CASE THEN I SHOULD BE ABLE TO KNOW WHAT VIN'S ARE INCLUDED.*AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Linkages
Filed Feb 26, 2004GA

THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPERS IN MY 1997 NISSAN 200SX JUST STOPPED WORKING WHILE IN USE. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR GOING TO MY MOTHER'S HOME FROM WORK AND THE WIPER JUST STOPPED. IT WAS VERY SCARY AND I COULD HARDLY SEE BECAUSE IT WAS RAINING SO HARD. I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN IN A TERRIBLE WRECK. I QUICKLY PUT ON MY BLINKERS AND WITH ONLY VIEW OF MY REAR VIEW MIRROR MOVED TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF I-75. *AK

Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Filed Sep 4, 2003WI

ELECTRICAL PROBLEM: ALTERNATOR IN 2000 THERE WAS A BULLETIN IN MY LOCAL NEWSPAPER OF A DEFECTIVE ALTERNATOR IN A 1997 NISSAN 200 SX. I REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR PRIOR TO THIS PRESS RELEASE. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED AND NEVER RECEIVED THIS RECALL OR REPAIR NOTICE I WASN'T SURE IF THIS WAS COVERED SEEING IT WAS A USED VEHICLE. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION FROM NISSAN OR THE DEALERSHIP SO I GAVE UP UNTIL I SEEN YOUR ORGANIZATION ON LOCAL TV. IS THERE ANY FORM OF REIMBURSEMENT I CAN RECEIVE? *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Feb 15, 2002PA

IN 03/01 THE ENGINE WENT AT 69,000 MILES, THEN 2 WEEKS AFTER THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AXLE WENT, 06/01 THE FRONT CRANK SEAL WENT, 02/02 THE TRANSMISSION AND THE CLUTCH WENT ALONG WITH THE EGR SYSTEM CODE HOSE NOT BEING ATTACHED TO THE DASH.

Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Filed Mar 23, 2001CA

ALTERNATOR KEEPS OVERHEATING, CAUSING IT TO DRAIN. ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE, BUT IT HAS DRAINED AGAIN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Linkages
Filed May 25, 2000FL

CONSUMER MADE APPOINTMENT TO HAVE RECALL 998-093 SERVICE PERFORMED AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD ONLY TAKE AN HOUR, UPON RETURNING TO PICK IT UP CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN SERVICED. NLM

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Jan 24, 2000NC

DRIVING DOWN ROAD AND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED CAUSING DRIVER TO STEER INTO CURB. ONLY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE WAS DEEP SCRAPES ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE RIM AND MINOR SCRAPES ON REAR PASSENGER SIDE RIM. NO OTHER BODY OR SHEET METAL DAMAGE. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES DID ANYTHING HAPPEN WHICH WOULD HAVE OR SHOULD HAVE CAUSE THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. WINDSHIELD BROKE AS A RESULT OF PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jun 23, 1999WY

1) TAPPED ON BRAKE TO TAKE OUT OF GEAR AND STOP. CAME OUT OF GEAR, BUT CRUISE REMAINED ON AND ACCELERATOR STUCK. HAD TO STEP ON BRAKE HARD TO GET CRUISE OFF. 2) YESTERDAY, MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED, EXCEPT THIS TIME TACHOMETER WENT UP TO AROUND 6. WAS VERY FRIGHTENING FOR HER. IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME A FEW TIMES SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT AROUND 6-1-99. IT HAS NOT HAPPENED WHEN WE HAVE BEEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAYS, ONLY IN TOWN. THE FAILED COMPONENT/PART SECTION INDICATES THAT THERE WAS 22,000 INJURIES, THE SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED ON 6-1-99 AND THAT THERE WERE 35 FATALITIES. THIS IS NOT TRUE. I ENTERED THE INFORMATION CORRECTLY TWICE AND IT STILL KEEPS COMING UP INCORRECT IN THE CONFIRMATION AREA.

Air Bags
Filed Sep 1, 1998AZ

AIR BAGS DID NOT INFLATE DURING COLLISION.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Aug 6, 1998TX

WHEN BRAKES GET WET THEY WILL LOCK UP, AND THE VEHICLE WILL SLIDE ALL ACROSS THE ROAD. *AK

Air Bags › Frontal1 injured
Filed May 26, 1998TX

WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN INTO A PARKING LOT, HIT CURB AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN DUAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING 2 BROKEN FINGERS AND BRUISES. CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE HAND SURGERY DUE TO INJURY.

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed Nov 6, 1997CO

THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND THIS IS THIS SECOND TIME THAT THE LIGHT CAME ON IN THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS MEANS THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. *AK

16 of 16 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1995
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20012000Routine
19990100Routine
199818210Routine
1997 — this page16200Routine
199637210Routine
199551310Routine
19911000Routine

Compare every 200Sx year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: May 24, 2006. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.