AI Damage1991 Nissan 240SX: common problems
Owners of the 1991 Nissan 240SX filed 9 complaints with NHTSA, most often about seat belts and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 9
What fails most often
- 1 Seat belts 44% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 22% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 22% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel system 11% of all complaints
- Seat belts: 4 complaints (44% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (22% of all).
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (22% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (11% of all).
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 9 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 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.
The contact stated that the seat belt was inoperable. He contacted a local dealer and the manufacturer and they both diagnosed that the control module would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 190,000.
The lap belt unbuckles when pressure is applied such as hard braking where there is stress placed on the coupling.
Need all injectors to be replaced...was informed that leaky injectors may cause fire.
The automatic transmission unexpectedly stopped working while I was driving the vehicle. No accidents or injuries resulted, but this could easily have occurred under different circmstances.
Transmission was washed and now transmission will not shift out of 1st. Vehicle has sat for over a week and still will not shift out of low when it is in drive.
Both seat belts in the front will not retract. Upon putting the belt on the belt, it will not retract around the front passenger or driver.
Warped flywheel caused release bearings/clutch to fail prematurely.
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 11,366 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 31% most complained about).
On average one model year of the 240SX has 17 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 9, below average.
What to check before buying
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1991 Nissan 240SX?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: seat belts, engine and cooling, powertrain. Total complaints: 9. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (22%), smoke, burning smell, fire (22%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1991 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 1991 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 1991 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.