YearToAvoid

2016 Nissan Quest Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

17/100

#6 most-complained of 7 Quest years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2016 Nissan Quest ranks 6th out of 7 model years, with a Complaint Index of 17 and a "Best" verdict relative to other Quest years. It has 13 complaints, zero recalls, zero crashes, and zero injuries. Transmission & Powertrain issues make up 46% of complaints.

Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
22
20 city / 27 hwy

Top 2016 Nissan Quest problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain6 (46%)
  2. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (23%)
  3. Brakes2 (15%)
  4. Electrical System2 (15%)
  5. Airbags1 (8%)
  6. Other1 (8%)
  7. Structure & Body1 (8%)

What owners report

  • Owners describe the CVT transmission shaking or vibrating heavily when manually shifted into low gear at highway speed.
  • Some report the transmission judders or shudders during acceleration between 0 and 40 mph, with a diagnostic code pointing to a CVT fault.
  • Others say the transmission suddenly refused to engage drive, though reverse still worked.
  • Control arm failures reportedly caused loss of steering control and unexpected jerking to one side.
  • Tire pressure sensors were described as repeatedly triggering false warnings even after dealership service.
  • The brake switch reportedly failed intermittently, causing brake lights and push-start function to stop working.
2016 Nissan Quest complaints: complaints filed per month3Jun 2016Oct 2017Jun 2018Dec 2019Mar 2021Aug 2023
16 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2016 to Apr 2024; peak Mar 2018 (3).

2016 Nissan Quest recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2016 Nissan Quest fuel economy and fuel cost

City
20 MPG
Highway
27 MPG
Combined
22 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,950
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2016 compared with other Quest years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002011201220132014201520162017
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2014Caution6718021
2015Good3312022
2016Best1713022
2017Best06022

All Nissan Quest years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Nissan Quest reliable?
Relative to other Quest model years, the 2016 ranks well, with a Complaint Index of 17 and a "Best" verdict. It ranks 6th worst out of 7 years, meaning most other years had more reported problems.
What are the main problems with the 2016 Nissan Quest?
NHTSA complaints show Transmission & Powertrain issues are the top concern, accounting for 46% of complaints, followed by Suspension, Wheels & Tires at 23%.
Does the 2016 Nissan Quest have any recalls?
NHTSA lists zero recalls for the 2016 Nissan Quest.
At what mileage do 2016 Quest problems usually occur?
The median mileage at failure across all complaints is 56,000 miles, with transmission complaints specifically showing a median of 73,000 miles.
How does the 2016 Quest compare to other Quest years?
The 2016 Quest has a Complaint Index of 17, far lower than the 2012 model's 100 and the 2011 model's 83, both marked "Avoid." Only the 2017 model, at a Complaint Index of 0, ranks better.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.