Overview & Reviews

Nissan was born in Japan, and like other marques from its homeland, the brand is known for crafting vehicles that place an emphasis on quality and reliability. The company's roster of products is broad, and includes sporty coupes, family sedans, minivans, trucks and SUVs.

The automaker got its start in 1933 as the Jidosha Seico Co., Ltd. The following year, this outfit merged with another Japanese manufacturer, and the new company was christened Nissan Motor Company, Ltd. Nissan initially marketed its vehicles under the Datsun brand, with the first Datsuns being built in 1934. Postwar, the brand made its presence felt worldwide, building a partnership with the U.K.-based Austin Motor Co. and establishing a presence in the United States. The first Datsuns hit American shores in 1958. Vehicles like the Datsun 1000 were based on Austin platforms.

The '60s witnessed Nissan's merger with Prince Motor Company, a union that helped the Asian manufacturer create more luxury-focused vehicles. In the U.S. it began offering its first vehicle styled for the U.S. market, the Datsun 510 sedan. By the end of the decade, Datsun had exported more than 1 million vehicles. Datsun rose to prominence in the 1970s on the popularity of its 240Z sports car. Powered by an inline six-cylinder engine, the car was coveted for its blend of style, performance and affordability. By the time the '70s drew to a close, the automaker's cumulative vehicle exports had surpassed the 10 million mark.

In 1981, Nissan shelved the Datsun name and began selling vehicles worldwide under the Nissan moniker. The '80s also saw Nissan's launch of a tuning division called Nismo for the development of performance-oriented vehicles and accessories. Nissan also brought its production to American shores, with the construction of a Georgia-based plant.

The early '90s saw Nissan's fortunes rise in the U.S. thanks to fun-to-drive cars like the 300ZX, Maxima and Sentra. But this trend didn't last long and by the late '90s Nissan's offerings consisted of anonymous vehicles. The company's future was uncertain.

After the turn of the new century Nissan bounced back, helped by a 1999 alliance with Renault that boosted the company's finances. Its redesigned Sentra and Altima boosted sales and consumer interest, as did new models like the 350Z sports car, Armada SUV and Titan pickup. Today the manufacturer is known for offering a wide range of well-regarded vehicles, including the popular Murano SUV, the incredible GT-R supercar and the all-electric Leaf.

User Reviews:

• 

  MANY DEFECTS, RECALLS!! - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By Heidi Hatfield - February 9 - 12:57 am

  Had to have new brakes and rotors before 35,000, driver window fixed came off track, new grill and rims replaced due to peeling, 2 new hood latches, new strut (popping in front), alternator replaced, passenger airbag replaced, heated steering wheel recall and replaced,recently quit while driving and left me STRANDED and has been missing. Gas mileage sucks, average 24-25 highway and city. Shifter is worn, driver seat worn after 25,000 miles. Seat belt light stays on even when buckled up. Heated seat button in BAD LOCATION, always turning on when you sit something down on console. Fob multiple batteries..(Total of 5 recalls, working on the 6th possibly since broke down this week) I work home health and have for 10 year, and have never been so DISAPPOINTED in a car and so DISGUSTED. I have wasted so much of my time taking it to the garage, and then having to take it back because they cant figure out whats wrong with it. Kinda sad you pay for a nice car and get a LEMON. Please do not buy and waist your money and or time!

• 

  terrible!!!! - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By happygirlbrum - January 27 - 10:00 am

  We brought a brand new Exterra last year. It was defective . We have taken it back to be fixed over 10 times. The customer service is terrible and they are not willing to work with us. I do not recommend this vehicle to anyone!!

• 

  Transmission Failure! - 2011 Nissan Maxima
  By Jerry W. Van Allen - January 14 - 2:25 pm

  I have a 2011 Nissan Maxima, and the CVT transmission has failed on the vehicle. I researched the web, to see if there were any other concerns with this type of transmission, and I found that from 2003 - 2010, a large range of Nissan vehicles had their warranty extended from Nissan, due to the CVT transmissions failing on the vehicles. Being that my vehicle is a 2011, their corporate office is saying that they will not assist me with repairing my vehicle, due to the vehicle being ONLY ONE (1) YEAR OUTSIDE OF THEIR WARRANTY EXTENSION ON SO MANY OTHER VEHICLES. Funny, there is an article listed on edmunds.com, on a 2011 Nissan Maxima CVT transmission failing him just after his warranty expiring (A 2011 MODEL). I am in the automotive industry and have a large influence in the Memphis area, so I am informing everyone that I know, to not ever buy a Nissan product, due to them not wanting to own up to their engine concerns and problems.

• 

  DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY! - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By Lee - January 1 - 12:25 am

  You can be like me and not heed other peoples warnings thinking, oh none of those things will ever happen to my truck or the one I buy!!! Trust me do not buy a nissan titan they are junk period!!! And not IF but WHEN something breaks have fun dealing with nissan to fix it!!!

• 

  Bad Transmissions - Terrible customer service - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By Huzefa Mamoola - December 29 - 12:31 pm

  No Nissans for me again! Rogue CVT Transmission failed at 119K, got it fixed under warranty from the dealer. The car failed in Savannah, GA, 640 Miles from my home. After 1280+ miles of driving to and from Savannah to collect the vehicle, the Nissan 1 rep kept saying that they dont have any policy to at least reimburse me for the rental car for the trip nor even gave me vouchers for future repairs in the vehicle, nor was willing to commit to increasing the warranty period on the new transmission. They stuck to their policy throughout the conversation about not reimbursing anything. No goodwill towards the customer and no regard of what the customer has been through with a transmission failure in a car that I hoped will go at least to 200K miles without major issues. Everything was a No, not in our policy. Nissan, you lost a customer today forever. Adios.

• 

  Horrible Experience - 2013 Nissan Xterra
  By kevin170 - December 26 - 12:31 am

  A month after I bought an Xterra, I took it through the car wash and water came through the roof. I took it in to get serviced and it ended up needing a major repair to the roof. Nissan ended up offering to repurchase the vehicle per the terms of the CO lemon law. They subtracted $945 for usage which I thought was a lot for 2 months of driving. They also refused to refund a few items on the purchase agreement saying they were “non Nissan” items. The arbitrations woman, Denise C., claimed that Nissan and the dealership were different entities and was very rude and difficult throughout the process of me trying to recoup my money.

• 

  4th Nissan n never again - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By Mo - October 26 - 12:00 am

  3 years 50000 miles, has had a new transmission, fuel system put in already. Gets 20 mpg and doesnt always start. Biggest mistake ever. So much for the great new Altima that gets 3mpg. I should have kept my 05 altima with 120,000 miles it was better than this pos

• 

  worthless junk - 2016 Nissan Murano
  By Victoria Jesse - September 11 - 8:05 am

  Be very careful because the transmission will let you down in 2 to 3 years and Nissan will refuse to make it good it is a very unreliable car with the dealerships not willing to fix for under 4 to 5 thousand dollars

• 

  Bad Engines - 2015 Nissan Versa
  By lyotchik@gmail.com - September 6 - 9:54 am

  These cars have engine problems. Just google piston slap nissan versa. My versa developed it, and dealership says the noise is normal. Save yourself the trouble dont buy a versa.

• 

  Nissan VIBRATOR! - 2016 Nissan Rogue
  By CN - August 31 - 1:57 am

  Rouge SV - Vibrates significantly. Stay away from this car! The price and interiors are nice; but whats the point if the car vibrates and makes the commute unbearable?? It seems Nissan knows about this issue but the company and its dealers are trying to push it under the rug. NOT A GOOD WAY TO BUILD A BRAND. Carlos Ghosn - Are you listening? This is extremely disappointing under your watch.