Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 76 complaints with NHTSA about the 1995 Nissan 240SX, and it carries 1 recall. 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.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 17 | 22% |
| Fuel system | 14 | 18% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 8 | 11% |
| Electrical system | 5 | 7% |
| Service brakes | 4 | 5% |
| Visibility | 4 | 5% |
| Fuel system | 3 | 4% |
| Seat belts | 3 | 4% |
| Power train | 2 | 3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
THE VEHICLES FUEL TANK CRACKED AT MOUNTING STRAP AND STARTED LEAKING FUEL, THE TANK HAS A KNOW ISSUE AMONG OTHER OWNERS. THE TANK IS VERY SPECIFIC TO THE CHASSIS WITH NO AVAILABLE REPLACEMENT. THE ISSUE HAPPENS MOSTLY AT
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 NISSAN 240SX. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL TANK FRACTURED AND LEAKED FUEL OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE TROPHY WEST COVINA NISSAN LOCATED AT 205 N CITRUS ST, WEST COVINA, CA 91791,
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
HI, IT IS VERY COMMON ON ALL MODELS 1995-1998 240SX FOR THE GAS TANK TO LEAK. DUE TO THE 2 STRAPS THE HOLD THE TANK IN PLACE CAUSING PRESSURE AND RUBBING IT CRACKS ALL OUR GAS TANKS. THIS SHOULD BE FIXED BECAUSE IT IS A
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
DRIVING AND NOTICED SMELL OF GASOLINE. PARKED CAR AND INSPECTED. NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING FROM A STRESS CRACK NEAR THE FUEL TANK STRAP. FUEL LEAK IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD I STARTED SMELLING AN EXTREMELY LARGE GAS SMELL SO I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED UNDER MY CAR AND MY GAS TANK WAS LEAKING EVERYWHERE. IT HAS A STRESS CRACK. NO PUNCTURE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. TH
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
AS IS COMMON ON 95+ 240SX GASOLINE BEGAN LEAKING OUT OF MY TANK SUDDENLY. I HAD NO ISSUES UNTIL ONE DAY I NOTICED THE SMELL AND A CONSTANT DRIP ONTO MY DRIVEWAY. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
FILLED THE TANK ON MY WAY TO WORK AND BEGAN SMELLING GAS. UPON COMING OUT AT THE END OF THE DAY THERE WAS A LARGE PUDDLE OF GAS UNDER THE CAR. AT THIS POINT THE SMELL OF GASOLINE IN THE CAR WAS UNBEARABLE. GOT THE CAR HO
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 NISSAN 240SX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS IDLING AT A LIGHT WHEN NE NOTICED THE SMELL OF GASOLINE. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND THEN NOTICED THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE. TH
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1995 Nissan 240SX. 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.
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WILL NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL IN THE MASTER CYLINDER DROPS SUFFICIENTLY TO ACTIVATE THE LOW LEVEL SWITCH DUE TO AN IMPROPERLY WIRED DIODE, REQUIRED BY FMVSS NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS."
Risk: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THERE WOULD BE NO INDICATION TO THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS LOW. LOW BRAKE FLUID CAN BE CAUSED BY A LEAK IN THE SYSTEM WHICH MAY RESULT IN PARTIAL O
Fix: DEALERS WILL CORRECT THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT FOR THE BRAKE WARNING SYSTEM SO THAT THE WARNING LAMP WILL ILLUMINATE WHEN THE LOW LEVEL SWITCH IS ACTIVATED.
| Reliability raw | 64 | average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 70 | good |
| Maintenance | 85 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 55 | average |
| Performance | 54 | average |
| Efficiency | 39 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 76 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 17 of them (22%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 64/100 (average) 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.
AVOIR scores its longevity 70/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1995 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 65/100. 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.