1997 Nissan 200SX Problems
- Complaints
- 16filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 142,653miles, 5 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1997 Nissan 200SX (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 16 consumer complaints for the 1997 Nissan 200SX. The part named most often is air bags, with 5 complaints (31% of the total), followed by visibility (4) and electrical system (3). 5 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 142,653 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 24 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Visibility complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the linkages and 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Air bags5 31%
- Electrical system3 19%
- Brakes1 6.3%
- Engine cooling1 6.3%
- Exterior lighting1 6.3%
- Vehicle speed control1 6.3%
Example complaints
Air bags: “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.”
NHTSA complaint #10478382, filed 2012-10, 142,653 milesVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “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.”
NHTSA complaint #10066472, filed 2004-04, 79,001 milesElectrical system: “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.”
NHTSA complaint #10705397, filed 2015-04, 150,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
0% of the 5 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 135,000 and 150,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1997 Nissan 200SX. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200SX · coupe | not rated | 5 / 4 | — | — | — |
Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Recalls and investigations
- 98V093000May 5, 1998Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › LinkagesCovers: Nissan 200SX 1995–1998, Sentra 1995–1998
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.
Recall details for the 1997 Nissan 200SX → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 24 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 10243708Sep 21, 2023Steering. DIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT) AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF-CENTER This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
- 10239062Jun 16, 2023Electrical system. SILICONE-BASED LUBRICANT OR GREASE CAN DAMAGE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SERVICE INFORMATION Do not apply Silicone-based lubricants or grease to, or around, any interior electrical components. To avoid…
- 10239060Jun 16, 2023Electrical system. 12 VOLT BATTERY TESTING FOR IN-SERVICE VEHICLES SERVICE INFORMATION The following Service Information lists NNA procedural recommendations for establishing good connections while performing 12V…
- 10235707Apr 27, 2023Electrical system. VEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
- 10235710Apr 17, 2023Electrical system. INTELLIGENT KEY REPLACEMENT OR SWAPPING BETWEEN VEHICLES This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Discard all previous versions of this bulletin.
- 10232658Feb 27, 2023Body and structure, Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors). REMOVING FOREIGN MATERIAL FROM THE WINDOW GLASS This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
- 10232656Feb 27, 2023Body and structure, Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors). WINDSHIELD CRACKING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
- 10232657Feb 22, 2023Wheels. WHEEL BEARING COLLISION DAMAGE This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
- 10232652Feb 22, 2023Steering. DIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT) AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF-CENTER This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
- 10206391Dec 7, 2021Suspension. STRUT AND SHOCK ABSORBER REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Other model years of the Nissan 200SX
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 18 | 120,198 | 1 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1997 | 16 | 142,653 | 1 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1996 | 37 | 104,250 | 1 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 51 | 100,100 | 2 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1988 | 8 | 100,000 | 1 | — | 22 | — | Not enough data |
| 1987 | 13 | 151,151 | 1 | — | 21 | — | Not enough data |
| 1986 | 11 | — | 0 | — | 21 | — | Not enough data |
| 1985 | 6 | — | 0 | — | 21 | — | Not enough data |
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1997 Nissan 200SX have?
NHTSA recorded 16 consumer complaints for the 1997 Nissan 200SX as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1997 Nissan 200SX is reported most often?
Air bags is named most often, in 5 complaints (31% of the total), followed by visibility with 4.
Has the 1997 Nissan 200SX been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 1997 Nissan 200SX reported?
Among the 5 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 142,653 miles and the middle half falls between 135,000 and 150,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.