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:

• 

  Horrible - 2009 Nissan Rogue
  By evangelista09 - October 20 - 2:53 am

  Initially I was excited about this vehicle. After 4 months I was in the shop to get the car fixed and tuned up more than any other vehicle Ive owned in my life. then I get a recall notice from the govt. The car is at risk for losing control and crashing. I cant believe the money I spend for this vehicle. Gladly trading it in tomorrow! ]

• 

  WORST CAR IVE EVER HAD - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By Worst car ever - August 30 - 2:00 am

  This is the worst car ever. 4 recalls so far. Uncomfortable, small, cramped, weak engine, slow, unreliable. Broke down 4 times. In process of filing complaint with BBB. And Nissan doesnt want to help at all. Hopefully this will help some poor fool to not make the same mistake as me. STAY AWAY!!!

• 

  It is a joke. Not juke - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By divejunkie33 - August 21 - 4:26 am

  Poor, poor gas milage not like advertised...It is false advertisement. I tried my best to get better gas milage however can not get over 26.1 on highway. My 2000 Buick Century with 3.1 engine gets better gas milage(like 28). Not a joke. Seats are too stiff I drove 4 hrs today I barely got out of the car, my back was hurting. Not a joke. Look interior what you see? plastic, plastic and more plastic It is a good looking car if you hang out at Starbucks Coffee, it fits in parking spot perfect. That is joke...

• 

  Disappointed & Regretful - 2016 Nissan Altima
  By RPorter - August 19 - 2:07 pm

  My fault for being talked into buying this car. I dont like it. The price is too high for the features -- or lack of. I am currently on a road trip visiting family in another state and found out there are NO REAR SPEAKERS in my car! I couldnt understand why they werent playing and when I arrived, my brother and I looked in the trunk and he said theres no wiring and we could see air space where the speakers are supposed to be. I dont know if theres supposed to be rear speakers or not (what car wouldnt??) but will definitely find out when I return home after the holiday! I have been disappointed from the start and horribly regret signing the contract! Note: I love Altimas. I just do not like the base model not the price they charge for it. Please look and consider all models til your feet fall off before you sign any papers!

• 

  Do Not buy a Nissan Maxima - 2016 Nissan Maxima
  By Mike - July 18 - 10:35 pm

  After much hype, we purchase the 2016 Nissan Maxima. We purchase it in the end of October. We have had it in the shop 6 times for electrical issues and rattles. We have escalated the issue to Nissan with no resolution. They have the worst customer service. This is a very very bad car. Do not purchase one. Buyer beware! I wont by another Nissan the way I have been treated.

• 

  Not-a-full-size-sedan. - 2015 Nissan Altima
  By Richard/B - July 7 - 1:46 am

  I dont have enough use of this car to comment on how good it is. Never attempt to drive over a speed bump! In the few months I have owned it, I have encountered speed bumps in strip center parking lots, and on interconnecting streets on large hospital grounds between its buildings. The first instance, even with usual slow approach, resulted in it high-centering until I could roll off it. The next was on the hospital grounds, and with the usual caution, was unable to overcome the high-centering, so had to back off and find another route. At the dealers shop, lifted on the car lift, scrapes were noted by the technicians along the bottom. No telling how bad, should someone drive it, not expecting the problem. Just what would happen on high water, deep snow, dry weeds/grass in fields, and two-rut roads with high center media? The front body-finished metal, extends so low, that often at curbs and parking stop blocks it gets concrete scrapes (and sounds), and who knows how much reshapeing is done?

• 

  Wow. I made a mistake. - 2016 Nissan Sentra
  By Samantha - June 21 - 6:28 pm

  This is the 4th Nissan Ive owned. I stuck with them because I have loved my Nissans, and I am all about brand loyalty. My last (2013) Sentra was pretty great, so I decided to go the same route with this one. unfortunately, not only did the dealership stop being helpful once I signed that paper, (and at times were actually detrimental to the process, verging on rude and ignoring my requests to get my contract and financial paperwork (Which I dont have 45 days later), leading me to miss my first payment) but this car is awful. The navigation system turns off about 500 feet before my destination, leaving me to guess or impede traffic to try and see house/building numbers. The USB has to reload my USB drive (where I listen to all my music) every time the car starts, and skips the music as it "index"es 1-3% at a time (and sometimes doesnt at all). Most of the time I reach my destination before I can actually enjoy any of my own music. The dashboard is half pointless, as it took me almost an hour to figure out how to scroll through the settings list. The center console is half the size of my last one, but theres a huge space between that and my cup holders- what a pointless design. The buttons on the steering wheel are tiny, leading me to question how those with large hands or fingers are able to hit one. EVERY TIME the temperature is under 40 degrees F, I get an Alert saying there are cold temperatures outside--underneath the temperature that is stationary. So if the winter temperatures affect the performance in my car so much that I get a warning about it...I LIVE IN NEW YORK, and am extremely disappointed. The acceleration makes my car sound like it wants to die and is working twice as hard as it should be (I am not a slam on the pedal type of person). The windshield wipers dont lift up due to a design mistake- again- living in new York with ice and snow, this is a MAJOR flaw. Driving over 20 mph, my passengers side whistles and I feel like a dog listening to a high-pitched sound (I dont know if it is the window? mirror? Having the window doesnt change it or alter the noise, and I have to turn on music to be able to drive long distances without going crazy from the whistle. The blind spot notifications and back up cam are great- there was a big improvement over the 2013, and I love the pockets on the front of the seats. However Im not joking when I say if I could turn it in now, I would. I hate this car, and I will never purchase another Nissan thanks to this experience, car, and the (and the previous for same attempt of purchase) dealership I worked with this year. After 11 years of owning Nissans (and another 3 in the future of leasing this POS), Im upset about every single interaction that has taken place, on top of the car. If the car were great and the dealership sucked, whatever. This car is awful. I absolutely do not recommend it, and if you HAVE to get a Nissan, go for at least the Altima.

• 

  Tranny, brakes, bearings...whats next? - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By Mike Alumbaugh - June 18 - 10:17 pm

  Congratulations Nissan you built a car with the reliability of a Fiat. In less than three years and just over 36,000 miles we have serviced the transmission 3-4 times (Ive lost count), had it brought in for brake noise (screeching) at least 4 times, and just this week the bearings in both rear wheels had to be replaced. The brakes still squeal but they wont do anything about it because it isnt "that bad." They reconditioned the surface of the rotors, re-shimmed the pads and replaced the pads 9 months ago. I warned them then that I knew this was only a temporary fix and that I was concerned that they would get noisy again once the warranty expires and that is exactly what has happened. A few months before that they shimmed the pads which made it better temporarily. The disk brakes on every other car Ive owned have not been anywhere close to this noisy! Unless I change the pads and turn the rotors to sell it it will easily affect the value of the car and then I am only passing this problem along to the next owner. The tranny has the shakes. It has been reprogrammed, the alternator was replaced because supposedly the voltage was affecting the timing of the tranny, and most recently a vale body was replaced. The oscillation problem is better for now but my wife had it buck again last week just not as bad. Now we have a vibration at about 72-73 MPH that is reportedly "engine harmonics" that resonates through the body of the vehicle. None of my other cars (including the Fiat) have ever had "engine harmonics" ring throughout the car. Their claim that this is acceptable is ridiculous. Their competitors do not have this problem. I am highly concerned that I have more bearing issues in the future. Being the Director of Operations for a manufacturer I know what a rogue lot is. Unless the front bearings are different than the rear the odds are that the front wheels are exposed too. We bought this car because of it and Nissans reputation as being a good product and company which may be true, but that hasnt been our experience. IF YOU DO HAVE PROBLEMS expect nothing but pushback from Nissan. Update: 7/3/16 sold the Nissan Altman, bought a Honda Accord, problem solved.

• 

  Brake failure - 2013 Nissan Versa
  By anadeau2 - May 22 - 1:06 pm

  I was driving at 30 miles an hour and my new versa with 7000 miles. All of the sudden my computer went off and i could not use the brakes. I was lucky to avoid an accident. I said I do not feel safe in this car to Nissan and Lokey of Clearwater and they said they will just repair the car. At first they didnt know what was wrong and then they fixed the ABS chip and recalibrated the computer. I drove the car and one week later I was going 50 mph and the brakes were all the way in and they were barely stopping. Luckily I avoided the accident. I called Nissan and they ignored me and said that there is nothing they can do for me. So now they fixed the master cylinder. I feel very unsafe driving.

• 

  never buy it again - 2017 Nissan Rogue
  By AZ - May 21 - 3:15 am

  I had problem with the roof rack peeling on my 2014 rouge. Since I use the vehicle for work I am past the mileage that is covered under the warranty. First asked the dealer and then filed a compliant with the consumer affair of Nissan USA. Of course they denied the claim to get it fixed since it out of warranty. This should not happen on 2.5 year old vehicle. This will be my first and last Nissan that I will own.👎👎👎 Also this is know problem with other customers. [non-permissible content removed]