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1999 Nissan Quest Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 1999 Nissan Quest has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Sticking accelerator pedal and throttle body deposits.” Nissan owner's manuals split service into Schedule 1 (severe) and Schedule 2 (normal). Most US drivers fall under Schedule 1. The biggest preventable failure on Nissan vehicles is CVT transmission damage from extended fluid intervals — owners of Altima, Rogue, Sentra, Pathfinder, and Murano with CVT should not skip it.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 1999 Nissan Quest.

Reported to NHTSA

Sticking accelerator pedal and throttle body deposits

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

36 NHTSA complaints · 2000-06 → 2011-03

“EVERY 2-3 YEARS THIS VEHICLE DEVELOPS EXCESSIVE CARBONOUS DEPOSITS IN THE PART OF THE ENGINE CALLED THE THROTTLE-BODY ASSEMBLY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10200751
“THE THROTTLE REQUIRES EXCESS PRESSURE TO OVERCOME ITS STICKING. THEN, WHEN IT UNSTICKS, THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD FASTER THAN EXPECTED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10052364
“THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND THE DRIVER HAD TO PRESS HARD ON THE PEDAL TO RELEASE IT, THEN THE VEHICLE JUMPED FORWARD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10012051

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Premature front brake pad and rotor wear

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

10 NHTSA complaints · 1999-12 → 2003-12

“EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE PADS AND ROTORS. DEALER HAS REPLACED PADS AND ROTORS THREE TIMES, AND PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #868288
“BRAKES WERE REPLACED AT 22,000 MILES, AND AGAIN AT 43,000 MILES WHICH SEEMS PREMATURE WEARING OF THE BRAKES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #742653
“PREMATURE WEAR OUT ON FRONT DISC BRAKE PADS. REQUIRE REPLACEMENT AT 22K MI./12 MO. IN SERVICE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #716130

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Steering wheel and front-end vibration at speed

SUSPENSION

5 NHTSA complaints · 2000-04 → 2004-04

“THIS VEHICLES VIBRATES AT 58-63 MPH AND THE SEATS JUST RATTLES AND IS VERY NOISY WHILE DRIVING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #759728
“WHEN VEHICLE GETS UP TO SPEED OF 58 TO 63 THERE IS A VERY BAD VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #8006303
“VEHICLE SHAKES AND VIBRATES WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #860857

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Exterior mirror vibration

VISIBILITY

3 NHTSA complaints · 1999-09 → 2000-10

“EXTERIOR MIRROR ON DRIVER'S SIDE VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY, CREATING AN ILLUSION OF VEHICLE BEHIND/BESIDES YOU”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #874239
“LEFT AND RIGHT REAR VIEW MIRROR VIBRATED SO BAD AT SPEEDS OF 55+ THAT CONSUMER CANNOT SEE OUT OF THEM”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #784669
“BOTH OUTSIDE MIRRORS VIBRATE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE. HAPPENS AT ALMOST ANY SPEED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #712010

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Tire tread separation and blowout

TIRES

4 NHTSA complaints · 2001-09 → 2008-06

“GENERAL AMERI GS 60 TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE TRAVELING AT THE RECOMMEND SPEEDS OF 70 MILES AN HOUR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10018491
“ON DECEMBER 23, 2007, THE TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10216623
“BOTH REAR TIRES FAILED THE FIRST WAS THE R REAR AND 3 HOURS LATER THE LEFT REAR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #752165

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Headlight socket and wiring harness failure

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

5 NHTSA complaints · 2000-12 → 2013-02

“BOTH HEADLAMP SOCKETS HAVE MELTED SEVERAL TIMES CAUSING ONE AND SOMETIMES BOTH HEADLAMPS TO FAIL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10114334
“MY 1999 NISSAN QUEST, CONTINUES TO HAVE WIRING PROBLEMS THAT HAVE CAUSED THE HEAD LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS TO QUIT OPERATING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10010337
“DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. NO PATTERN, JUST ON AND OFF”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #737147

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 5,000 mi

Replace synthetic-blend or full-synthetic oil every 5,000 miles under Schedule 1. Schedule 2: 7,500 miles. VR30DDTT (3.0L twin-turbo): full synthetic only.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 5,000 mi

Rotate tires every 5,000 miles. Front-wheel-drive Nissans (Altima, Sentra, Versa) wear front tires fast — don't skip rotations.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

CVT Fluid (NS-3)

Every 60,000 mi

Nissan officially calls CVT fluid 'lifetime,' but independent technicians and Nissan TSBs recommend replacement every 60,000 miles to prevent CVT failure. Use Nissan NS-3 fluid only — substitutes destroy the belt-and-pulley system.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$360–$500

Shop

~$255–$355

DIY

~$80–$180

CVT fluid is manufacturer-specific and pricey — do NOT substitute conventional ATF.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake every 7,500 miles. Rogue and Pathfinder front pads typically last 35,000-50,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 2 years. Dark or amber fluid indicates moisture contamination.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles, sooner if driving on dusty unpaved roads.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Spark Plugs

Every 105,000 mi

Iridium-tipped spark plugs are rated 105,000 miles on QR25, MR20, and VQ35 engines. VR30DDTT: 60,000 miles due to higher cylinder pressures.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Long-Life Coolant

Every 75,000 mi

Nissan Long-Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue/green): first change at 105,000 miles, then every 75,000. Do not mix with other coolant chemistries.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Transfer Case / Rear Diff (AWD models)

Every 60,000 mi

On AWD and 4WD models, replace transfer case fluid and rear differential fluid every 60,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. Located behind the glove box on Altima, Rogue, and Sentra.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

40 crashes 1990–2024

How the 40 occupant deaths break down

15

driver deaths

25

passenger deaths

40

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2001 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

4

complaints mentioning a crash

2

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 1999 Nissan Quest reflects Nissan's published service intervals and the Maintenance Reminder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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