1998 Nissan 200sx recalls & complaints
Source: NHTSA, updated daily. Last checked 2026-10-19. Recalls apply to specific VINs — run your VIN to confirm.
2 safety recalls, most serious first
1. Lights
What's wrong, in plain English: Headlights, tail lights or turn signals may not work, making the car hard to see. CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
What could happen: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The fix: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1998 200SX.
- Book a repair at any authorized Nissan dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 06E049000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-909-610-7211.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Summary: CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
Notes: THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE LAMP MODEL NUMBERS, CLICK ON DOCUMENT SEARCH AND VIEW DOCUMENT TITLED "LAMP MODEL NUMBERS." CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.
2. Visibility (wipers / glass)
What's wrong, in plain English: You may not be able to see the road clearly. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. WATER CAN ENTER AND DISPLACE THE GREASE IN THE WIPER ARM LINKAGE BALL JOINT WHERE THE WIPER LINKAGE ATTACHES TO THE WIPER MOTOR LINKAGE.
What could happen: THIS CAN RESULT IN GRADUAL WEAR OVER A PERIOD OF TIME INSIDE THE JOINT THAT COULD LEAD TO THE SEPARATION OF THE WIPER LINKAGE ASSEMBLY FROM THE WIPER MOTOR LINKAGE AT THE BALL JOINT. A LOSS OF WINDSHIELD WIPER FUNCTION CAN RESULT IN THIS SEPARATION OCCURS.
The fix: TO PREVENT GREASE FROM BEING WASHED OUT OF THE JOINT, THE DEALERS WILL MODIFY BY ADDING A WATER DIVERSION SEAL THAT WILL PREVENT WATER FROM ENTERING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE BALL JOINT AREA.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1998 200SX.
- Book a repair at any authorized Nissan dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 98V093000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
Summary: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. WATER CAN ENTER AND DISPLACE THE GREASE IN THE WIPER ARM LINKAGE BALL JOINT WHERE THE WIPER LINKAGE ATTACHES TO THE WIPER MOTOR LINKAGE.
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN GRADUAL WEAR OVER A PERIOD OF TIME INSIDE THE JOINT THAT COULD LEAD TO THE SEPARATION OF THE WIPER LINKAGE ASSEMBLY FROM THE WIPER MOTOR LINKAGE AT THE BALL JOINT. A LOSS OF WINDSHIELD WIPER FUNCTION CAN RESULT IN THIS SEPARATION OCCURS.
Remedy: TO PREVENT GREASE FROM BEING WASHED OUT OF THE JOINT, THE DEALERS WILL MODIFY BY ADDING A WATER DIVERSION SEAL THAT WILL PREVENT WATER FROM ENTERING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE BALL JOINT AREA.
Notes: OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN AUGUST 14, 1998. DUE TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF VEHICLES INVOLVED, THE OWNER MAILING WILL BE PHASED AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 1998. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
Useful for owners
- OBD2 code reader — see what the car's computer is reporting
- Compact car fire extinguisher
- 1998 Nissan 200sx owner's manual
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Most complained-about parts: Engine (4), Equipment (4), Transmission / drivetrain (4), Electrical system (3), Visibility (wipers / glass) (3).
Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.
Read recent complaints (8)
12/10/2018 · Electrical system
CAR WONT CRANK, REPLACED THE STARTER, BATTERY, IGNITION SWITCH AND NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM EVEN THE DEALERSHIP WONT HELP UNLESS YOU HAVE OVER $1,000. ITS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE DASH LIGHTS COMES ONE BUT NOTHING ELSE. I REPLACED EVERYTHING. WHEN YOU SHUT THE ENGINE OFF YOU HAVE TO WAIT SOMETIMES FOR 3 TO 4 HOURS OR LONGER AND THAT IS IN PUB…
02/25/2012 · Electrical system
ALL INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES QUIT WORKING ODOMETER, GAS. RPM. TEMP, ALL QUIT WORKING. *TR
04/27/2009 · Visibility (wipers / glass)
RECENTLY MY WIPER FAILED DUE TO LINKAGE ISSUES, UPON INVESTIGATION MY MAKE MODEL AND YEAR OF CAR HAD A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. WHEN TRYING TO GET IT REPAIRED I WAS TOLD MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT AMONG THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR REPAIR DUE TO RECALL. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS CONSIDERING I AM ACTUALLY HAVING THE SPECIFIC FAILURE ON MY VEHICLE THERE OBVIOUSLY HAS BEEN…
01/24/2005 · Visibility (wipers / glass)
WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF ON THEIR OWN. THE DEALER WAS AWARE THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
03/31/2003 · Engine
NAR 04/01/2003. THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE HER VEHICLE TOWED TWICE BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT START. WHEN EVER THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE SERVICE NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND REGARDING THE VEHICLE NOT STARTING. ON ONE OCCASION THE DEALER LOCATED A CRACKED BELT. THE STUD/NUT WAS REPLACED ON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. *JB
01/17/2002 · Engine
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. *YH
01/17/2002 · Engine
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. *YH
04/17/2001 · Suspension
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH VEHICLE WILL START PULLING TO SIDES. HAD BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THEN, PROBLEM RETURNED WITH VIBRATION ON STEERING WHEEL. *AK