AI Damage1989 Nissan 240SX: common problems
Owners of the 1989 Nissan 240SX filed 36 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel system and seat belts. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 36
- involving a crash
- 2
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel system 31% of all complaints
- 2 Seat belts 19% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 17% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 11% of all complaints
- 5 Vehicle speed control 11% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
- 7 Steering 8% of all complaints
- 8 Visibility 8% of all complaints
- Fuel system: 11 complaints (31% of all).
- Seat belts: 7 complaints (19% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 6 complaints (17% of all).
- Electrical system: 4 complaints (11% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 4 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 36 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Child seat | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Sudden acceleration,resulting in loss of control/collision.
Front left wheel knuckle failed resulting in brake line cut and total loss of steering. Please describe details. Tt
When I was driving my car the electronic seat belt went forward, which basically means im unbuckled and it wont go back to the buckled position for some reason.
Automatic seat belt doesn't move when door is opened or closed.
The lower bolt that holds the back, left brake caliper has broken twice within 3 years.
Seat belt motor does not work, and the shoulder buckle does not lock in place, making the shoulder belt useless.
Seat beltretractor on the driver's side isn't working, and there is a fuel leakage within the fuel injectors.
While driving at any speed the vehicle is stalls and dies due to the timing chain failure.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 6,253 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 17% most complained about).
On average one model year of the 240SX has 17 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 36, above average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1989 Nissan 240SX?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel system, seat belts, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 36. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (17%), smoke, burning smell, fire (17%), unintended acceleration (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1989 Nissan 240SX?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1989 Nissan 240SX from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1989 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.