The Nissan Quest is a van built from 1993 to 2017 over 4 generations. Most were assembled in the United States — 88% of those on record. Between 1993 and 2016 it grew 28 cm longer and gained 294 kg. Engines offered: V6. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years at 4.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Quest is
The Nissan Quest is a van that Nissan built from 1993 to 2017 — 25 model years. Our measurements put it at 4 generations, the current one starting in 2011. It has been offered with V6 power. Its closest siblings in the Nissan range: Rogue, GT-R, Altima.
Where the Quest 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 1,660 Quests on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 4N2, 5N1 | 1993-2009 | |
| Japan | JN8 | 2011-2017 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Nissan VIN decide which of these 4 lines your Quest belongs to. What every character in a Quest VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Nissan Quest adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Quest generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Quest'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 Quest that gives 4 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993-1998 | 482 cm | 285 cm | 1716 kg | - | - |
| 1999-2001 | 495 cm | 285 cm | 1767 kg | +13 cm | +51 kg |
| 2004-2009 | 519 cm | 315 cm | 1852 kg | +24 cm | +85 kg |
| 2011-2016 | 510 cm | 300 cm | 2010 kg | -9 cm | +158 kg |
Between 1993 and 2016 the Quest gained 28 cm in length (+5.8%) and 294 kg in weight (+17.1%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Quest that is 294 kg against 28 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Nissan Quest tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Quest 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 Quest have? Power & range
The Nissan Quest is offered with 1 powertrain — 3.5L 6-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 1 for the Nissan Quest, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 3.5L · 6-cyl | CVT | 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.
Can a Nissan Quest tow? Towing & payload
As a van, the Nissan Quest is built to tow and haul. The exact maximum towing capacity and payload depend on the engine, drivetrain and whether it has the factory tow package.
What sets your Quest's tow & payload rating:
- Engine — a larger or turbocharged engine tows more than the base unit.
- Drivetrain & axle — 4WD/AWD and the axle ratio shift the rating.
- Tow package — the factory towing package (hitch, wiring, transmission cooler) raises the max.
- Payload & GVWR — GVWR caps the combined load; more passengers and cargo lower how much you can tow.
Exact towing capacity, payload and GVWR are added per engine, drivetrain and trim — decode your VIN above, or check the driver's door-jamb and hitch labels. Curb weight from vehicle specifications.
The Quest by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Nissan Quest. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Quest | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 43 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 2,260 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Insurance | $1,481/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 383 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Nissan Quest?
The Quest is a van, built from 1993 to 2017 across 4 generations. Engines offered: V6.
Where is the Nissan Quest made?
Across 1,660 cars in our records the split is: the United States (88%), Japan (12%). 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 Quest have?
4 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2011. 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 Quest grew 28 cm longer and gained 294 kg.
What is the Nissan Quest 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 Quest reliable?
It scores 4.0/5 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 Quest?
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.
More in Nissan
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Rogue | 2008–2026 | 94 | 34 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Nissan GT-R | 2009–2026 | 9 | 19 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Nissan Altima | 1993–2026 | 146 | 34 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Nissan Frontier | 1998–2026 | 142 | 22 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Nissan Pathfinder | 1986–2026 | 149 | 26 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Nissan Sentra | 1982–2026 | 158 | 41 mpg | 4.0/5 |
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