Half of all complaints arrive by 4 years of age, so 71.1% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Unknown Or Other, with 13 complaints, typically at 4.3 years.
Nissan NV years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 4 | 4 | yes | |
| 2018 | 5 | 4 | yes | |
| 2017 | 5 | 4 | yes | |
| 2016 | 11 | 10 | yes | |
| 2015 | 3 | 3 | yes | |
| 2014 | 4 | 4 | yes | |
| 2013 | 6 | 6 | yes |
Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2017 NV asks a median $10,900, against $13,900 for a 2018, the next model year: about 22% less, so sellers do price some of the trouble in.
Among the 7 Nissan NV years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2017, 2018, 2016; the three worth hunting are 2019, 2015, 2014.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 7.9% | covered | |
| 1 year | 10.5% | covered | |
| 2 years | 28.9% | covered | |
| 3 years | 31.6% | you pay | |
| 4 years | 50% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 57.9% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 81.6% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 86.8% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 92.1% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 97.4% | you pay | |
| 10 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 28.9% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 71.1% 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 16% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the Nissan NV, the early trouble is Steering and Structure — reported at around 3 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Unknown Or Other at 4.3 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 4.3 yrs | — | — | |
| Engine | 5.8 yrs | — | — | |
| Electrical System | 6.4 yrs | — | 1 | |
| Steering | 3 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Structure | 3 yrs | — | — | |
| Service Brakes | 6 yrs | — | — | |
| Air Bags | 7 yrs | — | — | |
| Visibility/wiper | 3 yrs | — | — |
What else in this class
6 models share the NV's vehicle class. Per production run, the Ford Transit draws 1.28, the Dodge Caravan 2.65 and the Ford Transit Connect 1.52, against 1.09 for the NV. That is the fewest complaints of the group.
| Same class as the NV | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Transit | 193 | 2015–2026 | |
| Dodge Caravan | 208 | 1984–2008 | |
| Ford Transit Connect | 80 | 2010–2026 | |
| Nissan NV200 | 18 | 2013–2026 | |
| Mercedes-Benz Metris | 13 | 2016–2026 | |
| Dodge Ramcharger | 15 | 1981–1997 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Nissan NV reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1.09 against 3.73 for the average car, and fewer than each of the 3 class rivals we compared.
Which NV years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 2017, 2018, 2016. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2019, 2015, 2014. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do NV problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 4 years of age. The most reported system is Unknown Or Other, typically at 4.3 years, followed by Engine.
Will the warranty cover NV problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 28.9% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 16% of the complaints here.
Is the NV more reliable than the Ford Transit?
Yes: 1.09 complaints per production run for the NV against 1.28 for the Ford Transit.
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