Nissan Cube Reliability — Best and Worst Years by the Data

Quick answer

The 2009 draws 5.93 complaints per run and the 2012 1.78, a 3.3-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 6 years of age, so 87.3% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Electrical System, with 48 complaints, typically at 6.2 years.

Nissan Cube years to avoid — and the best ones

FIG.01·Nissan Cube — complaint rate by model year
Model year	Per run	Complaints	Runs	Enough history?
2014	1.67	5	3	yes
2012	1.78	16	9	yes
2011	2.44	22	9	yes
2010	3	48	16	yes
2009	5.93	89	15	yes

ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaints, grouped by VIN production run

Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2009 Cube asks a median $4,300, against $3,650 for a 2010, the next model year: 18% more, so the price shows no discount for its complaint record.

Among the 4 Nissan Cube years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2009, 2010, 2011; the three worth hunting are 2012, 2011, 2010.

When it starts to break

FIG.02·Nissan Cube — age at failure
Age at failure	Complaints	Running total	Warranty
0 years	8	4.6%	covered
1 year	7	8.7%	covered
2 years	7	12.7%	covered
3 years	12	19.7%	you pay
4 years	17	29.5%	you pay
5 years	23	42.8%	you pay
6 years	27	58.4%	you pay
7 years	22	71.1%	you pay
8 years	13	78.6%	you pay
9 years	14	86.7%	you pay
10 years	7	90.8%	you pay
11 years	4	93.1%	you pay
12 years	5	96%	you pay
13 years	3	97.7%	you pay
14 years	3	99.4%	you pay
15 years	1	100%	you pay

ROWS 16·SOURCE NHTSA complaints with incident dates

Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 12.7% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 87.3% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 30% of the complaints here.

What actually fails — and at what age

What waits further out is Electrical System at 6.2 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.

FIG.03·Nissan Cube — what fails and when
System	Complaints	Typical age	Crash	Fire
Electrical System	48	6.2 yrs	1	1
Steering	40	6.2 yrs	—	—
Power Train	37	6.2 yrs	—	—
Air Bags	21	5.1 yrs	6	—
Engine	17	6.9 yrs	—	1
Unknown Or Other	16	7.6 yrs	—	1
Fuel/propulsion System	13	9.3 yrs	—	2
Structure	11	5.3 yrs	—	3

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaints

What else in this class

6 models share the Cube's vehicle class. Per production run, the Kia Soul draws 11.34, the Subaru Impreza 1.61 and the Honda Fit 3.24, against 3.43 for the Cube.

FIG.05·Nissan Cube — rivals in the same class
Same class as the Cube	Complaints on record	Recall campaigns	Years built
Kia Soul	5,584	39	2010–2026
Subaru Impreza	2,763	183	1993–2026
Honda Fit	2,196	94	2007–2020
Honda HR-V	1,836	37	2016–2026
Buick Envista	90	5	2024–2026
Kia Niro	111	29	2017–2026

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns

The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.

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Everything on the Nissan Cube

Recalls11 campaigns Fuel economy29 mpg best Common problems217 complaints Check a VINAgainst this exact build DimensionsSize, weight, generations Cargo space11 cu ft Used prices276 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car2009–2014

Frequently asked questions

Is the Nissan Cube reliable?

By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 3.43 against 3.73 for the average car, and in the middle of its class rivals.

Which Cube years should you avoid?

By complaints per production run, 2009, 2010, 2011. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2012, 2011, 2010. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.

When do Cube problems usually start?

Half of all complaints arrive by 6 years of age. The most reported system is Electrical System, typically at 6.2 years, followed by Steering.

Will the warranty cover Cube problems?

Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 12.7% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 30% of the complaints here.

Is the Cube more reliable than the Kia Soul?

Yes: 3.43 complaints per production run for the Cube against 11.34 for the Kia Soul.

Complaint records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Rates, age-at-failure and warranty coverage computed by ForCar. Model years newer than 6 years are excluded from rankings — complaints accumulate for a decade (how we measure). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

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