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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  To much - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By Johnny_blaze0024 - March 8 - 2:00 am

  I traded this car in before i had a chance to kick myself in the but later. It cost to much had no special features and was to small inside. I expected a little more cargo room not much but at least more room then they gave me i would not recommend this car unless you are balding and having a midlife crisis!

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  STAY AWAY!!!! - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By abradach - March 8 - 12:23 am

  Do not buy this car, i got mine a year ago from a nissan dealership and now i have the problem everybody else has with this car: the radiator coolant leaking into the transmission. now the radiator has to be replace along with the transmission. (thousands of dollars). they extended the warranty up to 80,000 miles, but this problem usually happens around 85,000 like mine. this was figured out only after spending about $1000 on useless repairs the nissan mechanics kept guessing at. This car has drained me and i will NEVER buy anything from Nissan again!!!

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  Dont buy this car - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By jfriar52 - March 7 - 10:00 am

  Seats are uncomfortable to sit in for over ten minutes, poor paint quality cause more chips than I can count, poor quality glass scratches and chips easy, interior materials scratch easily, two recalls already and only had the car 6 months, service is terrible (takes twice as long to perform service as they say, no dealer will schedule recall service on weekend because they dont want to lose money (inconvenience for those who have jobs), engine is strong but at times the engine and transmission tend to buck, terrible aerodynamics(at highway speeds any wind gusts make the car lift and make it difficult to control) Save your money and buy something else.

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  Front passenger airbag problem - 2007 Nissan Maxima
  By BZL - March 4 - 4:33 pm

  The front passenger air bag off indicator comes on and off while driving. My girlfriend weighs 98 lbs. The dealer and Nissan are unable to solve the issue. On four other Mazimas that we test drove we found that in only my car the airbag off indicator comes on and off. On other cars it is always off meaning the airbag will deploy in case of an accident. In my car the airbag may or may not deploy in case of an accident. This is a passenger safety issue. Nissan tells me that my girlfriend is too light and needs to sit properly on the front seat.They have asked me to have her ride in the back seat on my car.I am having a hard time getting this safety issue resolved with Nissan.

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  Nissan Engines design to require timing chain replaced after 100k miles - 2007 Nissan Quest
  By ctylr12 - February 27 - 4:47 am

  I have been a Nissan fan and loyal customer for 20 years. The 2007 Nissan Quest was a huge disappointment when it came to reliability. When I had the major service done at 105k miles, three Nissan dealers informed me that I needed a new timing chain kit and would cost $3,200. The purpose of a timing chain is to be maintenance free unlike timing belts. Nissan told me that this is a normal wear and tear item and is normal to replace every 100k + miles. My 2000 Infinity has 235k miles and never had a problem. Several independent mechanics have told me that all Nissan and Infinity vehicles after 2006 have poor engine design. Its a metal chain riding on plastic guiders. Purposely set up to fail

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  Poor Quality - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Nancy A - February 26 - 10:00 am

  Buying this car has been a huge disappointment. In the first month the car has been back to dealer multiple times for tire rotation, tire replacement, and lowering air pressure in tires. Car continues to have front end vibration on freeway. I am told that is how Nissan cars are. Glove box not flush when closed. Part on order to repair. This is the first and last Nissan I will ever own. Drive the car over 60 mph before you buy.

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  Beware: Tire feathering! - 2005 Nissan 350Z
  By Lothario - February 25 - 10:40 pm

  I would hold off on buying this car for now. My tires only had 13k miles and it was seriously wearing on the inner walls. An alignment didnt fix it. Also, the tires roared loudly. Nissan service wouldnt replace the entire cost of tire. This shouldve been a re-call. Until they fix this issue, i repeat HOLD OFF ON BUYING IT! The car is fun to drive with handling and exceleration. Again, just wait until they fix this issue of tire feathering before you buy it. It was a pain dealing with Nissan.

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  2006 NIssan Altims - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By fohne - February 22 - 2:06 pm

  Immediate recall on engine. Replaced within first month. Never was truly happy with car, paint job went bad after 5 yars. 9 years later head cracked, no indicator lights or any prior warning.

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  Transmission - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By foreigncars433 - February 13 - 2:13 am

  These cars run great for their first 100k. I bought one brand new and had no problems with it until about 105, when the transmission went. Costed me 2900, and the problems did not stop there. The car was great while it lasted, but did not last very long.

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  Dont buy! - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Rice - February 5 - 10:00 am

  This car drives well until you start having problems. The build quality on this vehicle and reliability are not good. We have had issues with this car. If you are in the market I would stay away from Nissan.