The Nissan NX spans 1991–1993 with 2 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 3.5/5 ForCar reliability score. The years to approach with caution are 1992, 1991, 1993 (most owner complaints); the cleanest are 1993, 1991, 1992. It delivers up to 28 mpg combined and NHTSA-rated safety.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The Nissan NX is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 1991 to 1993 across multiple generations.
How to read a Nissan NX VIN — every digit explained
Every Nissan NX carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit means.
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Nissan and the country it was built in (real Nissan codes below).
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled this NX.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
- USA1N4 · 1N6 · 5BZ · 5N1
- Mexico3N1 · 3N6 · 3N8 · 3PC
- JapanJN1 · JN6 · JN8
- UKSJK
Digits 4–17 — the engine code (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard, identical on every car. For the full year-code table (2001–2026), country codes and where the VIN is stamped on your NX, see the complete guide to reading a VIN.
How many recalls does the Nissan NX have?
The Nissan NX has 2 recorded NHTSA recalls across 1991–1993. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
1992 Nissan NX recalls 1
Seat Belts:rear/other
What's wrong. THE RELEASE BUTTON USED IN THE REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLES WERE NOT MADE ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS. IN HOT WEATHER, THE PLASTIC WELDS SECURING THE RELEASE BUTTON TO THE SPRING CAN FAIL RESULTING IN PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT OF THE SEAT BELT TONGUE IN THE BUCKLE OR NOT BEING ABLE TO LATCH THE SEAT BELT.
Risk. IF A PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT OCCURS, THIS CAN CAUSE THE SEAT BELT TONGUE TO COME OUT OF THE BUCKLE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH OR HARD BRAKING OF THE VEHICLE.
Fix. DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLES WITH NEW SEAT BELT BUCKLES.
1991 Nissan NX recalls 1
Seat Belts:rear/other
What's wrong. THE RELEASE BUTTON USED IN THE REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLES WERE NOT MADE ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS. IN HOT WEATHER, THE PLASTIC WELDS SECURING THE RELEASE BUTTON TO THE SPRING CAN FAIL RESULTING IN PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT OF THE SEAT BELT TONGUE IN THE BUCKLE OR NOT BEING ABLE TO LATCH THE SEAT BELT.
Risk. IF A PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT OCCURS, THIS CAN CAUSE THE SEAT BELT TONGUE TO COME OUT OF THE BUCKLE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH OR HARD BRAKING OF THE VEHICLE.
Fix. DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLES WITH NEW SEAT BELT BUCKLES.
Best and worst years for the Nissan NX
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint volume across 3 tracked years, the worst years are 1992, 1991, 1993 and the best (fewest complaints) are 1993, 1991, 1992.
ForCar aggregate — our own analysis of complaint volume, not published by NHTSA.
| Year | Owner complaints | Top issue | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 NX | Seat Belts | Avoid | |
| 1992 NX | Seat Belts | Avoid | |
| 1993 NX | — | Avoid |
What are the most common Nissan NX problems?
The most-reported Nissan NX problems are Air Bags (2 reports), Gasoline (1 reports) and Structure (1 reports) — out of 15 owner complaints NHTSA holds for the model. Here's how they break down:
Most-reported components — tap a category to read what owners actually experienced:
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Nissan NX specifications & dimensions
The 1991–1993 Nissan NX measures 163″ long on a 95″ wheelbase, with a curb weight near 2,350 lb. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN. For the original factory build — MSRP, trim and standard equipment — rebuild the Nissan NX window sticker.
| Years | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Curb weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991–1993 | 163″ | 66″ | 52″ | 95″ | 2,350 lb |
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Nissan NX cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the NX holds — passengers and cargo. EPA measures its interior at 56 cu ft of passenger volume and 16 cu ft of cargo. Seating capacity and legroom vary by trim.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim — the original factory equipment & options list shows what each trim included.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Nissan NX tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment 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 MPG does the Nissan NX get?
The Nissan NX returns up to 28 combined MPG (EPA), which works out to roughly $2,200/yr in fuel. Pick an engine to see MPG, annual running cost and CO₂ by year:
The 1993 Nissan NX (1.6L 4-cyl) gets 28 mpg combined and costs about $2,200/yr to fuel, emitting 317 g/mi CO₂.
| Year | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel/yr | CO₂ g/mi | Smog | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 NX | 24 | 34 | $2,200 | 317 | — | 1.6L 4-cyl | |
| 1992 NX | 24 | 35 | $2,200 | 317 | — | 1.6L 4-cyl | |
| 1991 NX | 24 | 35 | $2,200 | 317 | — | 1.6L 4-cyl |
Source: EPA fuel-economy database (ForCar-hosted, 1986–2027) — best combined rating per engine & year, with EPA annual fuel cost and tailpipe CO₂. Trim & drivetrain vary slightly; decode your VIN for the exact figure.
See how the NX stacks up against the most fuel-efficient sedans, or calculate this NX's real yearly fuel cost.
What engines does the Nissan NX have? Power & range
The Nissan NX is offered with 1 powertrain — 1.6L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-cyl | 1.6L · 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | FWD | Regular |
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.
How much does a Nissan NX cost to own?
A Nissan NX tends to depreciate faster than average. A typical example keeps roughly 37% of its value after five years — losing about 63% to depreciation. Check what a used NX is worth today or browse current used-market prices before you buy or sell. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 75% | $22,500 | −$7,500 |
| Year 2 | 63% | $18,900 | −$11,100 |
| Year 3 | 53% | $15,900 | −$14,100 |
| Year 4 | 44% | $13,200 | −$16,800 |
| Year 5 | 37% | $11,100 | −$18,900 |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this NX loses about 63% of its value over five years. See the full depreciation curve by age.
- Fuel — ≈ $11,000 over five years at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the NX ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
Is the Nissan NX safe?
NHTSA crash-test ratings aren't published for the NX yet — see the top-rated safest cars instead.
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How many miles does a Nissan NX last?
A well-maintained Nissan NX typically lasts 200,000–250,000 miles. With regular oil, transmission and timing service, most examples comfortably pass the 200,000-mile mark. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 3.5/5.
Check your Nissan NX’s VIN — history, recalls & specs
Title records, open recalls, build details and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Check this NX’s VIN free →All Nissan NX model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Nissan NX — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 NX | 0 | — | |
| 1992 NX | 1 recall | — | |
| 1991 NX | 1 recall | — |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the NX?
By owner-complaint volume, 1992, 1991, 1993 drew the most reports. 1993, 1991, 1992 have the cleanest records.
How many recalls does the NX have?
2 recorded NHTSA recalls across 1991–1993. Always check open recalls by your VIN. See all Nissan recalls and reliability across every model.
What MPG does the NX get?
Up to 28 combined MPG (EPA), depending on engine — from the base 4-cylinder to the hybrid.
How many miles does a NX last?
A well-maintained NX typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the NX reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the NX is 3.5/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Nissan NX warranty?
New Nissan models carry a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 5 years / 60,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Nissan dealer.
Where is the Nissan NX made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your NX's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; Nissan may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much does a NX weigh?
The NX's curb weight is around 2,350 lb. Its GVWR — the maximum loaded weight — decodes from the VIN.
How much ground clearance does the NX have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.