While many may like Nissan products, the company has a checkered past when it comes to reliability. Most of this stems from concerns regarding the brand’s love for the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), and the fact that many owners have had issues with it over the past 15 years. While anyone’s transmission grading shouldn’t be taken lightly, it’s important to understand that the experiences of the few may not represent the experiences of the many, and according to most metrics, Nissan is average to above average when it comes to reliability.
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Unfortunately, not all models are created equal, and we wanted to make your next trip to the dealer easier, so we’ve compiled all the Nissan trucks and cars currently on sale in 2024 into a list and ranked them in terms of reliability according to their J.D. Power Quality and Reliability rating. This means none of the upcoming 2025 models have been included, and models that are bowing out at the end of the year are still being factored in. The result is the most comprehensive Nissan reliability list we could devise, though the winner may not surprise you.
The data on this list has been compiled from a variety of reputable sources, including J.D. Power’s Quality & Reliability rating, NHTSA recalls and complaints, and manufacturer-supplied sales figures. New vehicles may be ranked lower on this list by virtue of not having a Quality & Reliability score. Recall, complaint, and sales figure data are accurate as of the date of publication but are subject to change.
8 Nissan Leaf
- J.D. Power Quality and Reliability Rating: 73
- Number of Recalls: 6
- NHTSA Complaints per 1,000 Vehicles: 1.97
Coming in at last place on the list is the Nissan Leaf, which probably isn’t a surprise to most people. This isn’t because the Leaf is a bad car. It offers decent range and has a low starting price despite being much older than most competitors. No, the real issue is that it was a test bed for Nissan’s EV technology for years, and the company has quite a few kinks to work out with it before it could move its resources to its newest crop of hybrid and EV vehicles.
7 Nissan Titan/Titan XD
- J.D. Power Quality and Reliability Rating: 77
- Number of Recalls: 7
- NHTSA Complaints per 1,000 Vehicles: 1.31
The Titan’s story is an unfortunate one, because despite always playing second fiddle to its US and home country competitors, it’s really not that bad of a vehicle, just not good enough. Nissan really tried giving it a chance, with two generations, and some interesting engine options along the way, like the Cummins Diesel on the XD, but it never resonated with customers the way the Frontier did. The Titan will soon be gone, but it won’t be forgotten (until all the inventory sells at least.)
6 Nissan Sentra
- J.D. Power Quality and Reliability Rating: 81
- Number of Recalls: 4
- NHTSA Complaints per 1,000 Vehicles: 1.17
The world is in serious need of more affordable transportation, and to Nissan’s credit, this is one area it kicks some butt. The Sentra is an excellent example of a safe, comfortable, and cheap means of getting around that will serve 90% of drivers just fine. Is it going to get your blood pumping? With 149 horsepower and a CVT under the hood, we think not, but it will get great gas mileage and play the newest Taylor Swift album without breaking a sweat, so does it really matter?
5 Nissan Altima
- J.D. Power Quality and Reliability Rating: 81
- Number of Recalls: 6
- NHTSA Complaints per 1,000 Vehicles: 0.42
Have you ever wondered why the Nissan Altima has become a sort of joke in recent years? It’s because, for better or worse, the car is pretty competent, and a solid deal, so Nissan just sells a ton of them. The company sells well over 100,000 of the models in the US every year, and the number used to be much higher before crossovers really took over. The newest generation is attractive, and the available turbocharged engine gives it enough power to inspire confidence. There’s a lot to like. Just make sure you Altima responsibly.
4 Nissan Versa
- J.D. Power Quality and Reliability Rating: 82
- Number of Recalls: 4
- NHTSA Complaints per 1,000 Vehicles: 0.75
The Nissan Versa frustrates us. Not because it’s a bad vehicle, we actually found it to be a brilliant bargain, but because the company is reportedly axing it in the next year or so as it focuses more on electrification (and most likely profits.) This is a travesty, because with it gone and the Mitsubishi Mirage also on the way out, there will be no sedan for sale in the US with a sub-$20,000 price tag. This is a problem if you ask us, and hopefully, Nissan comes to its senses.
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3 Nissan Frontier
- J.D. Power Quality and Reliability Rating: 83
- Number of Recalls: 2
- NHTSA Complaints per 1,000 Vehicles: 0.50
There’s a lot to like about the Nissan Frontier. First, keeping with the tradition of Frontier trucks, it has an old-school feel that most of its competitors just don’t have anymore. A big part of this is its powertrain, which continues to be a naturally aspirated V6. This tried and true unit boasts a healthy 310 horsepower, and its simplicity helps with reliability. Otherwise, the truck just looks plain good from the exterior and seems like the perfect pickup for someone wanting something different from the usual suspects.
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2 Nissan Z
- J.D. Power Quality and Reliability Rating: 85
- Number of Recalls: 1
- NHTSA Complaints per 1,000 Vehicles: 0
The Nissan Z is old and new at the same time, which is why it makes sense it would rate so highly on this list. Even though its bones go back decades, the company has done an incredible job of making the vehicle feel new, without needing to reinvent the wheel. Reliability is up because of it, but at the same time, because it’s so new complaints haven’t had time to build up. It’s impressive, and we look forward to seeing if Nissan can keep up the good work for longer.
1 Nissan GT-R
- J.D. Power Quality and Reliability Rating: 91
- Number of Recalls: 3
- NHTSA Complaints per 1,000 Vehicles: 1.38
We’re not sure whether the winner is a surprise or not, but like we said with the Z before, age certainly helps when it comes to reliability. Godzilla has been a hallmark of the sports car scene for what feels like a lifetime now, and it’s impossible to ignore the influence it’s had on car culture and Nissan in that period. When all else failed, you could always look to the GT-R to know Nissan had its head in the right place, but with the monster’s tenure finally coming to an end, hopefully, the successor can live up to its reputation.
Sources:
J.D. Power’s Quality & Reliability Ratings
and
NHTSA