The Nissan NV200 Years To Avoid
Nissan NV200 by M 93 - CC-BY-SA-4.0
At CoPilot, we’re excited to share a unique vehicle perfect for small businesses and urban delivery services: the Nissan NV200. This compact cargo van is designed to be versatile, efficient, and affordable, making it a popular choice in the commercial vehicle sector. Whether you need to transport goods or equipment, the Nissan NV200 is undoubtedly worth checking out.
As you can see, it’s not a vehicle you’ll buy for head-turning looks and exhilarating performance. The NV200’s target market primarily consists of small to medium-sized businesses that require a reliable and economical vehicle for their operations. This includes delivery services, tradespeople, and businesses that need to transport goods or equipment regularly. The compact size of the NV200 makes it particularly suitable for urban environments where space is at a premium.
If you want to buy a used Nissan NV200, you probably want to know more about its long-term reliability. In that case, we are once again here to help. Today, we highlight the Nissan NV200 years to avoid if you’re buying used and offer insights into why they should be avoided. Let’s take a look.
Which Nissan NV200 Years To Avoid?
Below are the NV200 years you should approach with caution due to potential reliability issues and a higher number of owner complaints than other model years.
- 2013 Nissan NV200
- 2014 Nissan NV200
- 2015 Nissan NV200
- 2018 Nissan NV200
NOT JUST FOR CAR SHOPPING
The CoPilot app isn’t just for buying a car - our new CoPilot for Owning tool will help you keep track of recalls and gives you advice on which scheduled maintenance tasks are most important.
2013 Nissan NV200
Sage’s advice is to avoid the first production years since they have issues or “bugs” that the manufacturer hasn’t yet had the chance to address. These can range from minor inconveniences to significant mechanical problems. While there are plenty of exceptions, the 2013 NV200 isn’t exactly one of them.
CarComplaints has documented 48 complaints and four recalls for the 2013 NV200. Based on the number of complaints, it seems that the 2013 NV200 has struggled with problematic tires – from cupping to premature wear. One user reported that the tires on their NV200 wore out prematurely at just 26,000 miles. They had to replace the tires, which was an unexpected expense.
Another user experienced similar issues, with their tires wearing out at 25,000 miles. They mentioned that the tires were rotated every 5,000 miles, but the problem persisted.
In addition, this model year also struggled with cupped tires, as demonstrated by multiple owner complaints. This is likely due to a suspension issue with the NV200. One user reported an inherent suspension problem in the NV200 design, which they believe Nissan should address. This was reported at 22,000 miles. Another user reported that the rear tires wore out on the insides and cupping. They noticed that the tires were leaning way in at the top, indicating an alignment issue.
Overall, the 2013 model is one of the worst Nissan NV200 model years to avoid due to various tire and alignment problems.
2014 Nissan NV200
The 2014 Nissan NV200 is much less problematic than the previous year, but unfortunately, it still struggled with tire issues. CarComplaints has logged 34 complaints and one recall for this model, with premature tire wear as its main reliability woe.
THE MOST RELIABLE YEAR FOR THE NISSAN NV200
This Japanese car has fans among group commuters and small business owners thanks to its flexibility. If you’re in the market for one of these used cars, you’ll want to know about the most reliable Nissan NV200 year so you don’t waste your money.
A complaint filed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) suggests that the NV200 model year is highly susceptible to premature tire wear. One owner reported severe front tire wear on their newly purchased NV200 van. Despite rotating the tires at 5,000 miles, the front and rear tires showed significant wear by 17,000 miles, requiring replacement after only three months. This issue persisted despite maintaining normal tire pressure and temperatures.
Additionally, numerous owners have reported issues with the transmission system of the van. One owner stated that their automatic transmission required replacement after only 55,000 miles. Although they knew of the Nissan CVT transmission recall due to a class action lawsuit, their vehicle’s VIN did not appear on the list of those needing replacement.
Another user reported that the transmission was not changing gear when cold. They had to go to the gas station thrice a week even though they only drove 250 miles. They still had issues after warming up the car for 15 minutes with their remote starter timer. A Nissan technician told them that they must warm it up for 50 minutes, which is nothing short of ridiculous.
FEEL SECURE IN THE CAR YOU CHOOSE
You don’t want to buy a car - you want to get the best deal on the car you’re looking for. The CoPilot app will notify you if there’s a similar vehicle in your area at a better price, so you’re always certain you got the best deal available.
2015 Nissan NV200
Another year, another model of the NV200 with premature tire wear. Unfortunately, the 2015 NV200 also had the earlier models’ dreaded premature tire wear.
Tire wear is a prevalent issue in larger vehicles like commercial vans, often due to camber misalignment that results in a slanted tire appearance. The 2014 Nissan NV200 has received numerous complaints about premature tire wear, but this issue isn’t exclusive to this model.
As such, owners must inspect tire tread patterns during maintenance, as they can reveal suspension problems. For instance, scalloped or cupped tires might indicate faulty struts or loose ball joints. A damaged tire can disrupt smooth driving and may necessitate a replacement if it’s irreparable.
CVT transmission issues were also present in this model year. One report detailed a loud clattering noise from the transmission of their Nissan NV200 at 21,000 miles, likened to a card flapping against bicycle spokes but worse. They also noted an unusual feel to the continuously variable transmission (CVT) before the noise became noticeable.
IS GAP INSURANCE WORTH IT?
Gap insurance can prevent you from making payments on an already-totalled car, but is gap insurance worth it? We break down what gap insurance is, if it’s worth it, and more - simply and with plenty of examples.
2018 Nissan NV200
The 2018 Nissan NV200 is perhaps the most reliable model year in this list, but some of its reliability issues may deter used car buyers.
One of the top problems of the 2018 NV200 is the door locks. One user reported that their NV200’s rear and passenger sliding doors would not always unlock. They had to crawl through the vehicle to open the door from the inside manually. Despite trying various methods such as starting the car, turning it off, locking and unlocking from both the passenger and driver’s side, and using the remote, the doors would not open without manual intervention from the inside.
This is obviously a significant safety issue in emergencies where you have to get out of the vehicle quickly.
Get a Curated List of the Best Used Cars Near You
The CoPilot car shopping app is the easiest way to buy a car. Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll search the inventories of every dealership in your area to make you a personalized list of the best car listings in your area.
Only looking for newer models? CoPilot Compare is the search engine for nearly-new cars. Only see cars five years or newer with low mileage — CoPilot Compare is the best way to find off-lease, early trade-in, and CPO cars.
The best part? CoPilot is built using the same technology that dealerships use to buy and sell their inventories, so we have more info on each vehicle than competitors. CoPilot doesn’t work with dealerships, so there are no sponsored posts or other shady practices — just the most info on the best cars. Check out our About Us page to see how CoPilot works.
