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Nissan 200SX VIN Check

NHTSA holds 118 owner complaints on the Nissan 200SX from 81 production runs; the worst run has 5, the typical one 1.5.

NHTSA complaint records · 118 complaints · 81 runs · 1983–1998 · Updated Nov 4, 2026
Quick answer

The most-reported 200SX run is 1N4AB42D5SC (1995 builds) with 5 complaints, 3.3× the typical run. Air bags problems make up 24% of reports; 1995 is the worst model year at 2 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for 200SX model years 1987–1998.

Which build runs owners report most

A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Nissan 200SX has 81 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 15% of every 200SX complaint on file.

FIG.01·Nissan 200SX — complaints by production run
Production run (VIN 1–11)YearComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
1N4AB42D5SC••••••199553—
1N4AB42D2SC••••••19954——
1N4AB42D1SC••••••19953——
1N4AB42D0TC••••••19963——
1N4BB42D7TC••••••19963——
1N4AB42D1TC••••••1996311
1N4AB42DXSC••••••19953——
1N4AB42D6SC••••••19953——
1N4AB42D4TC••••••19963——
JN1PS24S7FW••••••19852——
1N4AB42D0SC••••••199522—
1N4AB42D9SC••••••199522—
ROWS 12·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records, grouped by VIN prefix

Each of the other 69 200SX runs has 2 complaints or fewer.

Which model years to check twice

Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Nissan 200SX the gap between build years is 2×: a 1995 car draws 2 complaints per run, a 1986 one 1.

FIG.02·Nissan 200SX — complaint rate by model year
YearPer runComplaintsRunsCrashes
19981.61381
19971.212101
19961.628183
1995234179
19881.276—
19871.11211—
1986177—
ROWS 7·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Heaviest year here is 1995 at 2 complaints per run; lightest is 1986 at 1.

What to inspect on this car

One system accounts for 24% of everything Nissan 200SX owners report: Air Bags, 28 of 118 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.

FIG.03·Nissan 200SX — most-reported systems
SystemComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
Air Bags2811—
Fuel System19—4
Gasoline19—4
Visibility14——
Engine And Engine Cooling11—2
Power Train8——
Service Brakes82—
Hydraulic82—
ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Recalls to check against your VIN

NHTSA has 5 recall campaigns on the Nissan 200SX; the 5 below cover build years 1987 to 1998. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.

FIG.04·Nissan 200SX — recall campaigns
CampaignComponentModel years
06E049000Exterior Lighting1995–1998
98V093000Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:linkages1995–1998
95I006000Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System1987–1988
95V103002Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly1987–1988
95V028000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip1995
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA recall campaigns

The 200SX against its rivals

The 200SX draws 1.5 complaints per production run; the Toyota Tercel 1.4. That is the highest rate of the 2.

FIG.05·Nissan 200SX VIN check vs rivals
ModelComplaintsRunsPer runInvolved a crash
Nissan 200SX118811.511.9%
Toyota Tercel2051501.425.9%
ROWS 2·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

How serious were they

Of the 118 reports on the Nissan 200SX, 11.9% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, above the norm.

FIG.06·Nissan 200SX — complaint severity
OutcomeNissan 200SXAll vehicles
Complaints filed1181,116,631
Involved a crash14 (11.9%)64,221 (5.8%)
Involved a fire7 (5.9%)26,977 (2.4%)
Injuries reported1658,047
Deaths reported02,728
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Crash-related reports run 105% above the all-vehicle rate.

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How this check works

The file behind this page holds 1,116,631 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 299,142 production runs. The Nissan 200SX share of that is 118 complaints over 81 runs, 0.01% of everything on record.

Everything on the Nissan 200SX
Recalls17 campaignsFuel economy29 mpg bestReliability3.5/5Common problems187 complaintsDimensionsSize, weight, generationsCargo space17 cu ftWindow stickerOriginal Monroney labelDecode a VINWhat each character meansAbout this car1981–1998

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a Nissan 200SX VIN for free?

Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 118 NHTSA complaints from 81 200SX runs and 5 recall campaigns. No account, no card.

Which 200SX production run has the most complaints?

1N4AB42D5SC, a 1995 build, with 5 complaints, 3 of them after a crash. The typical 200SX run has 1.5.

Which 200SX years have the most complaints?

Per production run, 1995 is heaviest at 2 complaints per run and 1986 lightest at 1.

Does the 200SX get more complaints than the Toyota Tercel?

Yes: 1.5 complaints per production run for the 200SX against 1.4 for the Toyota Tercel.

How many 200SX complaints involve a crash?

11.9% of 118 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 7 involved a fire.

Complaint and recall records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Per-run rates computed by ForCar. Federal data covers safety only — title, odometer and insurance history are not included. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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