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:

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  7 times to the dealership to get 2 items repaired - 2012 Nissan Altima
  By nissansucks12 - June 28 - 2:38 pm

  I have had serveral new cars in my life time, but never a Nissan, thought I would give them a shot, bad bad bad bad move, a simple replacement of the 2 rear speakers turned into 5 trips to the dealership for one reason or another, simple tire rotation, left one of my lug nuts in the rim. These are simple items to repair or replace and it seems like this dealership cant get it right, but my car has only 5000 in 7 months, these items should not have been broken to begin with, horrible horrilbe car, buy a Ford, never had an issue with any of them, stay away from NISSAN! I also have 2 friends that work at the plant there, again stay away!!!!!

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  Never purchase a Nissan Murano again!!! - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By lrwilliams7 - June 8 - 8:03 pm

  Transmission was slipping around 113,000 miles. Took it to Nissan they said it just needed to be reset. At 129,000 miles the transmission went completely out. Still paying on a car monthly thats sitting in my driveway. Already paid for the radiator, catalyst converter, and exhaust pipe. Cannot afford another thing. Trying to replace the car or voluntary repo. So sad!!

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  alemon - 2017 Nissan Titan
  By heather Belanger - May 20 - 6:20 am

  2/24/ 17 we purchased a 2017 nissan titan SV what we believed to be a tough work truck with extras. Well within one week we started having issues with the parking sensors and sonar warning light staying on. off the dealership with this truck for repair. a day later they state it was repaired and ready to pick up. on the way home the sonar warning came on and the parking sensor error back on. back to the dealership again, this time they said it needed a right frony sensor, it came in a few days later so the truck was left there for repairs, we received a phone call the truck was ready to pick up. we get to the dealership and upon going out to the truck and starting it the same issues appeared the sonar warning and parking sensor errors again, went right back in the dealership and again the truck was left at the dealership, then service calls us and tells us the truck needs to have the sonar module replaced. so we wait and a couple days later we receive a phone call that the truck is all done and ready to pick up, so back to the dealership only to arrive at the dealership to find out that they have the truck back in the shop again for the same issues/problems and we are being told by the service advisor that once again the truck needs more parts replaced with this tome being a pin for a wire harness/connector. what a blow to us. especially when since the first time this vehicle was taken in the service advisor stated that he checked all connectors and all appeared to be in great shape. so now the truck is still at the dealership waiting parts and repair. We contacted Nissan usa consumer affairs division to file for a lemon and a replacement truck, this is pending and takes weeks. the dealership will only do a trade towards another truck which cost us several thousand dollar loss on the trade, NO WAY! apparently this dealership service has been in contact with Nissan tech dept. and being told try this and that which so far nothing has worked to fix the issues. Now we are very skeptical of these trucks especially since this is a new truck with very little miles on it. what next?

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  Please Save yourself a big headache - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By Anthony valencia - March 31 - 4:01 am

  I have 18k miles in my 2013 altima sv. And is been tge worse nightmare to have this car. Specially NMAC nissan corporation does not help you at all once you start having problems with your car. I started having problems with it since 2 thousand miles and nissan corp. keep saying everything is normal. I had plenty of new cars. And NISSAN is the worse car ive ever drove. WORSE CUSTOMER SERVICE and they never want to help once you start having problems. AGAIN. IM ONLY AT 18k miles. And is been in the dealer repair department 3-4 times already.

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  I wouldnt let my enemies drive a Murano - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By glastonbury - March 30 - 2:18 pm

  I dont work for any competitor of Nissan. I did own a Infinity that was a great car. The Nissan Murano is the worst vehicle in terms of reliability I have owned ever (I have owned quite a few). Over 17k in repairs over 9 years (3 to 4 times what I would spend on either the infinity or Hondas I have owned - yes, I adjusted for inflation). Do not buy a Murano or you will be very sorry.

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  Piece of junk - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By rebert - March 28 - 2:52 pm

  Took for a short test drive and bought it. Big mistake. Shouldve taken it for a much longer drive. This car is JUNK! Slight wind and the car is all over the road. Pulls to left or right constantly. Engine skips under slight load. CVT is awful. Two wheels were out of round. Terrible ride and very noisey slight bumps and car soulds like its going to fall apart. Driver seat is comfortable, but upholstery is cheap and wrinkles easily. Cant take it much longer so will trade soon.

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  Worst car ever - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By gary spivack - March 7 - 6:52 pm

  Broken down 3 times within 65,000 miles. 2 transmissions. Air conditioning , leaking shocks, door handle broke, two recalls. Very nice service managers but worst car I have ever had in 52 years of driving. Got rid of it and tried suing Nissan but was unsuccessful. Went back to Toyota and am very happy.

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  Check Consumer Reports before Buying! - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By Disappointed - February 23 - 8:41 am

  I purchase a "certified used" 2013 Altima ten months ago, without a warranty. Being a little old school teacher, Ive only driven it 6,000 miles in that time. It has been in the shop five separate times for repairs: Alternator replacement, serpentine belt replacement, radiator replaced, A/C condensor just went out, and two vehicle recalls. Being the former owner of a 2008 Altima, which did not have a single problem, I placed my faith in the reliability of the product without checking Consumer Reports for the 2013 version. Check the report; the 2013-newer Altimas consumer rating are inferior to older versions. I absolutely love the style and comfort of this car, but it looks like Nissan has lost me as a customer with its poor dependability and expensive repairs.

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  Stuck with a Lemon - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By joeloeb - February 17 - 5:30 pm

  My brand new Altima, less than 1K miles started making a loud noise, coming from the engine. Took it back to the dealer, they said it was the alternator. They had to order a new one. 4 weeks later still no part and the car is undriveable. I have received little satisfaction dealing with the dealership and even less dealing with Nissan USA. They dont know when the part will be in, meanwhile I have a car with 1,000 mile on it, that I am paying for and cant drive. They refuse to take the part out of one of the cars on their lot. Shows you where there allegiance lies, definitely not with the their purchasing customers.

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  Nissan and theyre great tire wear scam - 2015 Nissan NV200
  By Matt - February 1 - 6:16 am

  Watch out when you buy an nv200 cargo van my van and numerous other reviews on the internet State the same thing ear regular tire wear tread cross pattern issues Tire cupping dealer and manufacturer blaming it on consumer knowing that there is a issue with suspension I myself have had the tire pressure sensor system worked on at least twice was supposed to have had a tire rotation by the dealer in January of 2017 I have had bearing and Axle work on the front end have been trying to get the vehicle into dealer for over four to five months and now that it is in the dealer the dealer is trying to hit me with a lot of vehicle cost of repairs when the vehicle is under 5 year 100,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and tires are under the manufacturer warranty tires have been rotated tire pressure sensor System since the dealer recalibrated it and January of 2017 the indicator has never went off on the dash to advise me that the tires were low but somehow when I took it into the dealer theyre blaming the ear regular tire wear on low pressure which is the same diagnosis that is all over the internet from other customers writing negative reviews I am getting treated the same way from Nissan Nissan is trying to cover it up the dealer is trying to cover up their poor repairs and at this point the vehicle has been left at the dealership and I am investigating lemon law in the state of Ohio.