1997 Nissan Quest Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report doors that lock or unlock on their own, gasoline odors, airbag warning lights and non-deployment, and occasional stalling. Many complaints come from vehicles past 50,000 miles, with several involving older vans that owners had recently bought used.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Doors lock or unlock on their own; sliding door pops open

   • 18 complaints (20%)
   • median 82,750 mi at 10.0 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2010

   Owners report power door locks that lock or unlock without any button being pressed, sometimes relocking immediately after being unlocked, and at times trapping occupants or locking children inside. Several describe the passenger sliding door unlatching by itself while driving, with the dashboard warning light coming on. Complaints mention repeated actuator and lock-switch replacements at the dealer without a lasting fix, and some say the dealer could not reproduce the problem. Reported across a wide mileage range, from around 40,000 miles upward, and often described as intermittent over years of ownership.

   What to check: Test every door lock and unlock cycle several times, including with the remote, and check whether the sliding door stays latched over bumps. Ask whether any door actuators or the lock switch have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I just wanted to state that I have identified with most of the failure problems that are listed on the complaint page. The right rear seat belt has failed, it will not pullout or retract, and no one cause this problem, it is a malfunction of the saet belt. There is a significant fuel odor in the van from time to time, no particular time noted. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10075439, filed 2004-06, 68,500 miles

   “Door locks lock and unlock by themselves. When I walk to the otherside to remove my children, the doors will automatically lock under my hand. I have had my children locked in the van due to this malfunction, but fortunately was at my home. I have had it in for repair 3 times. First the dealership said they could not get the card to repeat the malfunction. I continued to complain and then the sliding door actuator was replaced with no resolution of problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #753200, filed 2001-10
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Intermittent stalling and idle surging

   • 12 complaints (13%)
   • median 53,220 mi at 6.5 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2005

   Owners describe the engine stalling at speed, at lights, or on the highway without warning, sometimes restarting after a wait and sometimes not restarting for hours. Several report intermittent loss of power with the RPM dipping and surging back, and one family of complaints describes idle racing when the air conditioning compressor engages, hard enough that the brake would not hold the vehicle. Complaints frequently state the dealer found no cause or could not reproduce the problem. Reported from roughly 38,000 to 58,000 miles, and several owners describe the behavior recurring over multiple years.

   What to check: Drive the van with the air conditioning on and off, including at idle, and ask whether the stalling has been diagnosed or repaired. Check for stored engine codes and any prior repair invoices.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Purchased used 56k w/in 30days engine light air conditioner workedat first, then sometimes not air conditioner never cooled the car like others we use. When driving more than 60 miles or so. I have had the car stop/stalled. All panel lights come on/eng light. I was stalled twice on the fastrak,91/55. And twice on a long trip on 5/101 frwy. I am scared to drive this car it is unpredictable. Please advise”

   NHTSA complaint #10069355, filed 2004-01

   “Car stalls/dies.. When driving long distance.dealer says nothing wrong. Cannot find problem. Twice stalled on highway. Twice stalled on fastrak/carpool. Towed. Purchased car 3/02 w/56k service. Had l service warranty work done. Air conditioner (A/C) never really worked great as like other cars. Some days it works someday not.”

   NHTSA complaint #10032784, filed 2003-08, 56,700 miles
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Gasoline smell in cabin; fuel tank vent hose and overfill

   • 9 complaints (10%)
   • median 118,000 mi at 10.9 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2008

   Complaints describe a strong gasoline odor in the passenger compartment that intensifies when the heater is on, sometimes with no visible leak. Some owners report fuel spraying or draining after a fill-up, and one complaint describes a fire that the owner later connected to a vent-hose recall notice. Dealers in several cases said the vehicle was not covered by an open recall or could not confirm prior recall repairs. Mostly reported on vehicles over 100,000 miles, and several complaints tie the odor to refueling or to heater use.

   Recall 00V419001

   What to check: Ask for written proof that recall 00V419001 (fuel tank vent hose) was completed, and check for a fuel smell around the filler and tank after refueling.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I bought this Nissan Quest 1997 two years ago and I was told there is a faulty gas tank that can cause a fire. I contacted dealers in my area and was told the repair was done in one of the dealers but they never wanted to provided anything in writing that shows the repair. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10136003, filed 2005-09

   “Whenever tank is full of fuel there is a big thumping sound. Consumer drove vehicle about 3 blocks, and got out of vehicle and noticed fuel spraying out, like a shower. Consumer has yet to contact dealer. Please pr0vide any further information.”

   NHTSA complaint #892867, filed 2001-07
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light on and airbags not deploying

   • 10 complaints (11%)
   • median 70,380 mi at 7.0 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2011

   Owners report the airbag warning light flashing or staying on with no collision, and in some cases dealers replaced the airbag sensor or control module at the owner's expense. Other complaints describe frontal collisions in which neither airbag deployed, and one describes both front airbags deploying unexpectedly while parking. Complaints note that a dealer or manufacturer inspection did not always identify a cause. Sensor failures were reported from under 40,000 to about 70,000 miles; deployment complaints span vehicles from 35 to 105,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Confirm the airbag warning light goes out after the self-test at start-up and ask whether the airbag sensor or control module has been replaced. The service bulletins listed concern safe handling of the airbag system during service rather than a repair procedure for this symptom.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Electronic sensor/ control module for airbags has totally failed (airbag warning light flashing) after just over 6 years and less than 38750 miles of usage of the 1997 Nissan Quest gxe which was bought in march 1997. It cost about $640.00 in replacing the module from the Nissan dealer.”

   NHTSA complaint #10041216, filed 2003-10, 38,720 miles

   “Front collision at 50 MPH, neither airbag deployed, consumer suffered severe whiplash. Damage to vehicle was $ 4300.00. On 27 april 2002, front collision at 40 MPH, neither airbag deployed, no injuries. Damage to vehicle was $ 4500.00.”

   NHTSA complaint #8009103, filed 2002-05
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Battery corrosion and electrical faults

   • 13 complaints (15%)
   • median 85,600 mi at 6.3 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2004

   Complaints describe battery post corrosion and acid leakage, one owner reporting a battery that burst while starting the van, and dealers noting charging system problems. Others report electrical faults such as random instrument panel lights, dash illumination failing, and a wiring short in the engine loom that produced smoke under the hood. Reported from around 50,000 to 112,000 miles; the battery concern applies to batteries from the supplier named in the recall.

   Recall 97V1840022 related service bulletins

   What to check: Inspect the battery posts and cables for corrosion or acid residue, ask whether recall 97V184002 (battery negative post) applies and was performed, and check that all dash and interior lights work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have had multiple issues with the electrical system in this van. Various lights will come on when I turn on the operating lights at night, but some will randomly not work. For example, the lights on the heater will sometimes come on if I push buttons up and down the panel, or turn the fan off and on. Sometimes I can get the lights on the am/fm cassette to come on if I push various buttons for the radio stations. The lights on the dashboard have gone out completely by degrees. I currently have a dark dashboard. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10093194, filed 2004-09, 50,000 miles

   “The vehicle was being operated with the A/C on, car charger plugged in and the radio on. While driving 80 MPH in the passing lane. When the consumer put a cd into the cd changer the vehicle lost all power. The consumer parked the vehicle on the shoulder of the highway. Two hours later the vehicle could be restarted.”

   NHTSA complaint #10034179, filed 2003-10, 112,800 miles

Buying note. Check door lock behavior, airbag warning light, and fuel smell carefully on a test drive, and ask for written confirmation that the fuel tank vent hose and battery recalls were completed. Service records showing how prior stalling and electrical faults were addressed are worth requesting.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.