AI Damage1996 Nissan 240SX: common problems
Owners of the 1996 Nissan 240SX filed 8 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel system and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 8
- involving a crash
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel system 25% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 25% of all complaints
- 3 Tires 25% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 13% of all complaints
- 5 Parking brake 13% of all complaints
- Fuel system: 2 complaints (25% of all).
- Service brakes: 2 complaints (25% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Tires: 2 complaints (25% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (13% of all).
- Parking brake: 1 complaints (13% 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 8 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 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Tires | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Parking brake | 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.
Tire tread separated on two instances. One did damage to rear of car. Almost had accident as result. (tiresize: 175/70/14)( dot number: tire size: 175/70/14 )
When applying the abs brakes, the pedal went to the floor and the brakes failed to stop the vehicle, causing an accident.
I was driving normally to school along with my brother and I noticed that there's a very strong smell of gas inside the car during driving. I stopped at a safe place to check and I notice that there's gas dripping slowly under the gas tank. It still leaks and it seems to be continuing to leak a little more.
The smell of gas was strong in the garage. This had been going on for about a week. The consumer noticed a spot on the driveway and suspected that it was gas. The consumer's husband had taken a piece of tissue and dipped it into the spot and determined it was gasoline on the spot where the vehicle was parked the day…
If the air condition was on when the vehicle came to a complete stop, the engine surged and the vehicle lurched forward.
Bridgestone turanza t size p20555r16, original tires on a nissan, 240sx, 1996. Vehicle was wobbling. Consumer took vehicle to dealer, and the dealer stated that driver's side rear tires tread had separated. Please provide any further information.
While the vehicle was turned off and parked on a incline and passengers getting into the rear seat, the emergency brake did not keep the vehicle secure, causing the vehicle to roll into the middle of the road.
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 11,896 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 32% most complained about).
On average one model year of the 240SX has 17 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 8, below average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Nissan 240SX?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel system, service brakes, tires. Total complaints: 8. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: brake failure (25%), fuel system, fuel smell (25%), A/C or heater (13%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1996 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 1996 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 1996 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.