1994 Nissan Quest

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

72/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 182 complaints with NHTSA about the 1994 Nissan Quest, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Engine and engine cooling	50	27%
Structure	19	10%
Fuel system	17	9%
Service brakes	16	9%
Exterior lighting	11	6%
Air bags	9	5%
Visibility	9	5%
Latches/locks/linkages	7	4%
Seat belts	6	3%
Power train	5	3%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

I'M BRAZILIAN AND I NEED HELP, HERE IN BRAZIL THERE'S NO ONE WHO CAN HELP ME...... CAR WITH A BACKSPRING WITHOUT STRENGTH AND SKIDDING WITHOUT L
NHTSA complaint: Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 NISSAN QUEST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS STOPPED WORKING. THE SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE SEAT BELT WAS BUCKLED MANUALLY. THE V
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts

STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE INSIDE VAN...I CONTACTED PREVIOUS OWNER,HE HAD SAME ISSUE,TOLD ME HE HAD IT CHECKED OUT AT A GARAGE,THEY SAID NO LEAKS IN FUEL SYSTEM,& TOLD HIM THE WIND BLOWS THE SMELL INTO THE CAB OF VAN.......
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system

BRAKE LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS FAIL TO COME ON AND DASH LIGHTS HAVE ALSO FAILED,DEALER STATES VEHICLE NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 96V253004 . SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINS ABOUT THIS FROM DIFFERENT MANUFACTURING DATES AND VIN#. SEE
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 NISSAN QUEST. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 80 MPH WHEN THE HOOD LATCH FAILED FLEW OPEN, FRACTURING THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT HAD TO TIE DOWN THE HOOD TO KEEP IT FROM FLYING OPEN. THE VEHI
NHTSA complaint: Latches/locks/linkages

DRIVING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. WAS PULLING OFF THE HIGHWAY WHEN VEHICLE DIED. OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW FLAMES COMING FROM PASSENGER SIDE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FIRE DEPT PUT OUT FIRE. THE DIS
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS BECAUSE I TOOK IT TO MIDAS AND HE SAID THAT HE HAS BEING THESE VAN WITH THIS PROBLEM WHERE THE BOLTS BROKEN INTO THE MANIFOLD EXHAUST. I WANT DO THIS SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN AND DO TH
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

CLUNK NOISE WHILE MAKING LEFT (SLOW) TURN. 3 LEFT TURNS LATER, RT WHEEL SEPARATED FROM SUSPENSION, AND CAR SKIDDED TO STOP. LOWER RT BALL JOINT HAD BROKEN AND INNER CV JOINT HAD SEPARATED. DAMAGE TO RT FENDER WHEN TIRE H
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1994 Nissan Quest. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Fuel system 00V419001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS. THE FUEL TANK VENT HOSE ALLOWS AIR TO VENT FROM THE FUEL TANK DURING REFUELING. CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED IN THE VENT HOSE. IF (1) THE FUEL TANK IS OVERFILLED, NOT ALLOWING EXCESS FUEL IN THE VENT HOSE TO FLOW BACK INTO THE TANK, (2) THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ONLY A SHORT

Risk: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE VENT HOSE.

Exterior lighting:tail lights 96V253004

THE REAR LAMP SOCKET MAY NOT ILLUMINATE BECAUSE THE METAL CAN IN THE LAMP SOCKET MOVES OR SEPARATES FROM THE PLASTIC SOCKET HOUSING.

Risk: THIS CAN RESULT IN MALFUNCTION OF THE STOP OR REAR RUNNING LAMPS. CENTER HIGH MOUNT STOP LAMP FUNCTION IS UNAFFECTED. REAR LAMP MALFUNCTION CAN RESULT IN FOLLOWING DRIVERS NOT BEING ALERTED TO THE S

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED REAR LAMP SOCKET AND WIRING ASSEMBLIES.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	80	excellent
Longevity est.	77	good
Maintenance	71	good
Depreciation	87	excellent
Performance	54	average
Efficiency	35	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 28% of other
Longevity: better than 32% of other
Running costs: better than 46% of other
Value retention: better than 98% of other

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 80: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 77: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1994 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 71: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1994 Nissan Quest?

Owners have filed 182 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 50 of them (27%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1994 Nissan Quest reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 80/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 1994 Nissan Quest last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 77/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1994 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1994 Nissan Quest?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 72/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.