Why some Nissan engines score below 68/100
Nissan's cost-cutting under the Renault-Nissan alliance shows clearly in its engine reliability data. CVT gearbox issues amplify engine problems, and certain diesel and petrol units have well-documented failure patterns.
The pattern
Nissan's reliability issues track with the Renault-Nissan cost-cutting era. Shared platforms and reduced development budgets show in specific diesel and CVT-paired petrol units. The older, pre-alliance engines (SR20, KA24, VQ) remain legendary. For modern Nissan, check the engine code — not the badge.
V9X — 58/100 (CAUTION)
V9X 3.0 dCi V6
Found in: Navara, Pathfinder
Known problems
| Issue | Severity | Typical cost | Onset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Injector failure (6 injectors) | high | €3.000 | 100.000 km |
YD22DDTi — 62/100 (CAUTION)
YD22 2.2 Diesel I4
Found in: Almera, Almera Tino, Primera, X-Trail
Known problems
| Issue | Severity | Typical cost | Onset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass airflow sensor + turbo failure | high | €1.500 | 60.000 km |
Full YD22DDTi reliability report →
YD25DDTi — 65/100 (CAUTION)
YD25 2.5 dCi
Found in: Murano, Navara, Pathfinder
Known problems
| Issue | Severity | Typical cost | Onset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timing chain stretch (simplex) | high | €2.000 | 100.000 km |
| Exhaust manifold cracking | moderate | €800 | 80.000 km |
Full YD25DDTi reliability report →
HR12DDR — 65/100 (CAUTION)
1.2L DIG-S I3
Found in: Juke, Micra 1.0 IG-T, Micra 1.2 DIG-S, Note 1.2 DIG-S, Pulsar, Qashqai, Qashqai 1.2 DIG-T
Full HR12DDR reliability report →
What to buy instead
Not all Nissan engines are problematic. These score well:
- VQ37VHR — 82/100 (BUY)
- HR16DE — 80/100 (BUY)
- VR38DETT — 78/100 (BUY)
- 1.5 dCi (K9K) — 78/100 (BUY)
Generated from EngineScope's reliability database. Reviewed by the editorial team. Methodology →