The Nissan 240SX is a compact car built from 1989 to 2001 over 3 generations. Most were assembled in Japan — 100% of those on record. Between 1989 and 1998 it grew 5 cm longer and gained 57 kg. Engines offered: 4-cyl. Worth buying? It depends heavily on which year you buy at 3.5/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the 240SX is
The Nissan 240SX is a compact car that Nissan built from 1989 to 2001 — 13 model years. Our measurements put it at 3 generations, the current one starting in 1998. It has been offered with 4-cyl power. Its closest sibling in the Nissan range: NX.
Where the 240SX is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 124 240SXs on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | JN1 | 1989-1998 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Nissan VIN decide which of these 3 lines your 240SX belongs to. What every character in a 240SX VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Nissan 240SX adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
240SX generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the 240SX's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the 240SX that gives 3 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989-1993 | 452 cm | 248 cm | 1213 kg | - | - |
| 1995-1997 | 450 cm | 253 cm | 1276 kg | -2 cm | +63 kg |
| 1998 | 457 cm | 253 cm | 1270 kg | +7 cm | -6 kg |
Between 1989 and 1998 the 240SX gained 5 cm in length (+1.1%) and 57 kg in weight (+4.7%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the 240SX that is 57 kg against 5 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Nissan 240SX tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment 240SX owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Nissan 240SX have? Power & range
The Nissan 240SX is offered with 1 powertrain — 2.4L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 1 for the Nissan 240SX, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-cyl | 2.4L · 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | RWD | Premium |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The 240SX by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Nissan 240SX. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | 240SX | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 6 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 180 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 3.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Used value | 44 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Nissan 240SX?
The 240SX is a compact car, built from 1989 to 2001 across 3 generations. Engines offered: 4-cyl.
Where is the Nissan 240SX made?
Across 124 cars in our records the split is: Japan (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the 240SX have?
3 by our measurements, the latest starting in 1998. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the 240SX grew 5 cm longer and gained 57 kg.
What is the Nissan 240SX warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the 240SX reliable?
It scores 3.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific 240SX?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
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