Used Nissan Quest Buying Guide: 2004-2009 vs 2011-2017, Recalls and Crash Ratings

If you're set on a used Nissan Quest, aim for a 2011-2016 fourth-generation van: a 260-hp 3.5 V6, a CVT, seven seats, and a cabin Consumer Reports calls exceptionally spacious and quiet. Go in knowing two weak spots. It seats seven at most, and IIHS rated it Poor in the driver-side small overlap crash test, a rating that applies to every 2011-17 Quest. The 2004-2009 vans are cheaper and roomy, but they're older and carry a longer recall list.

I ran each Quest model year from 2004 through 2017 through NHTSA's recall API on Sunday, October 18, 2026. Nothing came back for 2010, which makes sense because Nissan skipped that year, and nothing came back for 2013 through 2017, which I'd verify by VIN rather than trust. I also used Consumer Guide's reviews of the 2011-14 Quest and 2004-09 Quest, plus Consumer Reports' Quest page.

The two generations you'll find

The 2004 redesign, per Consumer Guide, gave the Quest the longest wheelbase and overall length of any minivan at the time, a 240-hp 3.5-liter V6, and a four- or five-speed automatic depending on trim. The optional Skyview roof put glass panels overhead. For 2007 the gauges moved from the middle of the dash to in front of the driver, the third-row bench was redesigned, and Nissan added sound insulation. Consumer Guide's testers saw 17.9 to 18.4 mpg.

After a one-year break, the 2011 Quest came back with styling borrowed from the Murano, a 260-hp V6 and a CVT in S, SV, SL and LE trims. For 2013 the LE got an around-view camera, for 2015 the LE became the Platinum and the CVT got "D-Step Shift" programming that mimics a regular automatic, and Consumer Guide warned that 2017 availability might be limited. Consumer Reports likes the plush ride and windows that lower in the sliding doors, but notes that both rear rows fold flat and seating stops at seven.

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Field guides, red flags, and the occasional discount.

Crash ratings for the 2011-2017 van

The IIHS ratings page shows Poor for the driver-side small overlap test, based on a 2014 Quest SL and applied to 2011-17 models. Moderate overlap is Good, and side is Good for 2016-17 after Nissan made side modifications. Roof strength is Acceptable, head restraints Good. So the newer van is far from a crash-test star, and if you're comparing it with a Sienna or Odyssey, put that rating on the list next to price.

Recalls to clear by VIN

12V076, 2011-2012 built July 29, 2010 to February 21, 2012: at low speed or idling downhill with a quarter tank or less, the engine can stall from fuel starvation. Dealers reprogram the fuel pump control module.
23V067, 2008-2009: the resin emblem on the driver air bag cover can crack and fly off when the bag deploys. Owner letters went out December 8, 2023, so this is a recent one.
10V072, 2008-2009: the brake pedal pivot pin may not have been formed right, letting the pedal partly disengage.
04V186, 2004: below roughly 40 degrees F, the power sliding door actuator can bind so the latch doesn't engage, and the door could open on hard acceleration.
Other early campaigns: second-row seat pinch points (05V474, 2004-2006), third-row striker welds (05V480, 2004-2005), passenger air bag seat sensor calibration (04V103, 2004), a front suspension bolt (07V248, 2007) and manual seat tracks (08V187, 2008).

Check the NHTSA recalls API and then a Nissan dealer. Our Nissan recall check by VIN guide covers that, and the Nissan VIN decoder post confirms year and trim before you argue about the Platinum price.

Trouble spots, by generation

On 2011-2012 vans, Consumer Guide lists sunroof leaks that needed a seal and drain tube, so look at the headliner for stains. A 2012 left sliding door can quit if the extended storage switch, really a fuse, is engaged, which is an easy fix once you know. On 2004-2006 vans, a starter that won't work after a short trip in severe cold pointed to the intelligent power distribution module, and 2004-2005 A/C could leak where the stabilizer bar rubs the refrigerant lines. Neither review lists a CVT trouble spot for the newer van, but a CVT with no fluid service record at this age is still a risk to price in.

Quest vs the other minivans

Consumer Guide's own advice on the newer Quest was to also look at the Odyssey and the Chrysler and Dodge vans. Read our used Honda Odyssey guide, used Toyota Sienna guide and used Kia Sedona guide before you settle.

Accident history and report pricing

Minivans live hard lives, and a reported side hit on a van with power sliding doors deserves a close look at how those doors open, close and latch. Check the door gaps, then pull a report rather than trusting the one on the dealer's clipboard. Search NMVTIS for title brands too. We're a licensed reseller of CARFAX and AutoCheck reports with no affiliation to CARFAX, AutoCheck, Experian or Nissan. In mid October 2026, guests pay about $5.50 a report, members about $4.50, and the two-report bundle is about $6.75, against roughly $39.99 to $44.99 retail. What checkout shows is what you pay, so look there before you buy.