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 74 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Nissan Quest, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 10 | 14% |
| Electrical system | 5 | 7% |
| Air bags | 4 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 4 | 5% |
| Structure | 3 | 4% |
| Unknown or other | 3 | 4% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 4% |
| Engine | 2 | 3% |
| Visibility | 2 | 3% |
| Tires | 2 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
CRANK POSITION SENSOR WON'T START AFTER SITTING STATIONARY AFTER IT RAN AND STOPPED ITS INTERMEDIATE.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR NO LONGER FUNCTIONS PROPERLY. NO LONGER LATCHES. SEEN SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE ON YOUTUBE.
NHTSA complaint: Structure
WHEN YOU START DRIVING THE VEHICLE FROM A COLD START IT DRIVES AND SHIFTS PERFECT. AS SOON AS IT REACHES OPERATING TEMPERATURE IT WILL SLAM WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. AFTER 5 MINUTES OR SO IT WILL NOT MOVE. SHUT THE VEHICLE O
NHTSA complaint: Power train
WHILE VAN WAS PARKED, TURNED OFF, AND NO KEY IN IGNITION, THE LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING AND WIPERS STARTED GOING. STARTED TO SMOKE. A WITNESS CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT AND IT WAS IN FLAMES BEFORE THEY GOT THERE. APPARENTLY EL
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I PURCHASE A USED NISSAN QUEST IN JUNE 2016 COUPLE WEEKS LATER THE AIR BAG LIGHT STARTS FLASHING. ANOTHER THING IS THE CLUSTER THAT READS OVER HEARING AND MILES FLASHES AND TWITCHES. MY VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE HA
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TRANSMISSION FAILURE IS CAUSING VAN TO STALL. CAN HAPPEN JUST TRAVELING DOWN HIGHWAY. HAPPENS AS YOU TRY TO PULL INTO TRAFFIC. SO SLUGGISH YOU ARE AFRAID YOU WILL NOT MAKE IT THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. CAN HAPPEN JUST T
NHTSA complaint: Power train
THE THREE LINEAR SOLENOIDS IN THE TRANSMISSION FAIL, CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE SHIFTING. SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE ONCE ENGINE IS WARM WILL CAUSE A CLUNK IN TRANSMISSION. ALSO, DOWNSHIFT CREATES TRANSMISSION SURG
NHTSA complaint: Power train
THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM (TCS) OF THE VEHICLE HAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN AND THEN SHUT DOWN. THE VEHICLE DRAGGED AND SLIPPED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE PROBLEM IS UNIQUE T
NHTSA complaint: Electronic stability control (esc)
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2006 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.
ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, THERE IS A SEAT ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM THAT CONTAINS EXPOSED MOVING COMPONENTS LOCATED AT THE REAR INSIDE EDGE OF THE SECOND ROW SEAT.
Risk: WHEN THE OPERATOR ATTEMPTS SEAT ADJUSTMENT, A FINGER MAY BE PINCHED IN THE MOVING SEAT ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM WHICH COULD CAUSE AN INJURY.
Fix: ON EARLIER MODEL VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH JUNE 28, 2004, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE INBOARD SECOND ROW SEAT ADJUSTMENT HANDLE, RIVET A PLASTIC REINFORCEMENT TO BACKSIDE OF THE EXISTING SEAT BACK COVER CAR
| Reliability raw | 71 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 73 | good |
| Maintenance | 71 | good |
| Depreciation | 87 | excellent |
| Performance | 57 | average |
| Efficiency | 36 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other minivans & vans in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 74 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 10 of them (14%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 71/100 (good) 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 73/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2006 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 69/100. 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.