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What 14 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Nissan Nv3500 Passenger Van

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (14)Brakes (4)Electrical system (2)Engine (2)Seat belts (1)Speed control (1)Visibility & wipers (1)Wheels (1)

Newest first · 14 complaints

Feb 26, 2026

While idling, the vehicle shutoff on it’s own and restarted. Then again while stopped at a red light and again while driving to a mechanic. No warnings or indications that this would happen. It put myself and children at risk because the roads are full of snow leaving us no place for us to pull over. Now the air pressure, windshield fluid and traction control lights are on, whereas they were not previously lit. I’m currently at an independent service center waiting for diagnosis. ***Update: The mechanic gave us the code which shows the crankshaft needs to be replaced.

NHTSA ODI 11720743

Jul 26, 2022WheelsBrakes

At speeds 60 miles or more and sudden braking all front end shaking violently.

NHTSA ODI 11475866

Mar 2, 2022Speed controlEngine

The contact owns a 2016 Nissan NV. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle failed to accelerate over 20 MPH. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the four catalytic convertors and fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 180,000.

NHTSA ODI 11454894

Dec 29, 2021Electrical systemBrakes

The contact owns a 2016 Nissan NV3500. The contact stated while operating the vehicle, the instrument malfunctioned. The check engine warning light, odometer, speedometer, and the braking system malfunctioned causing the brake pedal to extend to the floor while depressed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11445456

Dec 29, 2021Electrical systemBrakes

The contact owns a 2016 Nissan NV3500. The contact stated that while driving the brakes became inoperable. The speedometer and odometer became inoperable. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was too heavy for lift. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer; Glendale Nissan (727 S Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91204, (818) 696-9301) but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11445447

Jan 25, 2021

THE AC AIR FLOW IN THE BACK OF THE VAN IS COMPLETELY INSUFFICIENT. THE AIR COMING OUT OF THE VENTS IS COOL, HOWEVER THE FLOW OF AIR IS SO LIGHT/SLOW, THE PASSENGERS IN THE BACK CANNOT FEEL IT. SINCE THE BACK WINDOWS DO NOT OPEN IT BECOMES SWELTERINGLY HOT. WE WORRY ABOUT OUR CHILDREN PASSING OUT/OVER HEATING BACK THERE. IT'S A SAFETY CONCERN FOR US, AND MANY OTHERS. IT DOES NOT IMPROVE EVEN ONCE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR A WHILE, AND IT DOES NOT IMPROVE EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING.

NHTSA ODI 11389829

Dec 4, 2020Seat belts

THE SEAT BELTS IN THE BACK DO NOT ALWAYS REWIND WHEN PULLED ALL THE WAY OUT TO INSTALL CHILD SAFETY SEATS. SO WHEN YOU PULL THE BELT OUT ALL THE WAY TO FEED IT THROUGH THE SAFETY SEAT, THE BELTS DO NOT RETRACT. YOU HAVE TO GO BEHIND THE SEAT INTO THE MECHANISM AND MANUALLY ROLL THE BELT BACK UP. THIS IS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED.

NHTSA ODI 11377927

Sep 30, 2020Visibility & wipers

MY VAN WAS SITTING PARKED AT OUR HOUSE WHEN THE BIG WINDOW ON THE LEFT (BEHIND DRIVER) JUST EXPLODED INWARD. GLASS WAS EVERYWHERE AND ALL IN THE CAR SEATS.

NHTSA ODI 11361978

Jul 14, 2020

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, DIAGNOSED AS CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE. LOCAL DEALERSHIP ADVISED TO REPLACE BOTH CONVERTERS AT $2500. NISSAN WOULD NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY AS IT CLAIMS CONVERTERS ARE COVERED UNDER EXHAUST/EMISSIONS WARRANTY AT 50K MILES. THE VEHICLE IS JUST UNDER 100K MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11339285

Aug 7, 2018Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN NV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TOWN CENTER NISSAN (2310 BARRETT LAKES BLVD, KENNESAW, GA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. HOWEVER, THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAM SENSOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.

NHTSA ODI 11118253

Jul 30, 2018

REAR A/C HAS ZERO FLOW THEREFORE THE BACK GETS EXCEPTIONALLY HOT

NHTSA ODI 11114553

Jul 28, 2018

THE REAR AIR CONDITIONING EVAPORATOR FAN DESIGN HAS NO AIR FILTER SO THE EVAPORATOR VANES BECOME CLOGGED WITH DUST AND DEBRIDE WITHIN A SHORT TIME CAUSING FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM AND THOUSAND OF DOLLARS IN REPAIR BILLS. ON THE INTERNET THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF DISATISFIED OWNERS BUT NO UNIFIED VOICE TO NISSAN TO DO A RECALL ON THIS ENGINEERING FLAW TO REPAIR THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN MARCH AND HAD NO USE OF THE AIRCONDITIONER THEN BUT WHEN IT HEATED UP IN DENVER WE REALIZED THE REAR AIR CONDITIONER FANS WERE NOT BLOWING HARD ENOUGH TO EVEN BE FELT. ON FURTHER READING I DISCOVERED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11114345

Jul 19, 2018

AFTER PURCHASING THE 2016 NISSAN NV 3500 SL WE NOTICED AIR FLOW RESTRICTIONS IN THE BACK THREE ROWS, OUR FIRST WEEK OF OWNERSHIP. . THE FIRST ROW AIR CAN GET THEM BY DUE TO AIR IN THE FRONT BUT WITH HIGH TEMPS IN TEXAS IT'S NOT ENOUGH. OUR CHILDREN HAVE TO HAVE PORTABLE FANS IF WE GO ANYWHERE DURING THE DAY. IT GETS UP TO 100DEGREES IN THE BACK EVEN AFTER LETTING THE VAN "COOL" FOR THIRTY MINUTES. WE HAVE REACHED THE POINT WE ONLY USE OUR VAN EARLY MORNINGS AND LATE EVENINGS TO AVOID HEALTH CONCERNS WITH THE HEAT IN THE BACK THREE ROWS. THIS IS HAZARDOUS! NISSAN SHOULD DEFINITELY BE LOOKING INTO THIS. HEAT STROKE COULD HAPPEN WITH A CHILD. I HAVE ASKED MY DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY WONT EVEN GET IT IN THE SHOP UNLESS I PAY A DIAGNOSTIC FEE. I'VE BEEN ASKING SINCE WE PICKED UP OUR PLATES. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY ABSURD THAT EVEN UPON THE FIRST MONTH OF PURCHASING THEY WERE ALREADY HITTING US WITH UNFORTUNATELY ITS A DESIGN FLAW IF IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT THERE WILL BE A DIAGNOSTIC FEE. IF ONLY NISSAN WOULD HAVE SHARED THIS BEFORE PURCHASING WE NEVER WOULD HAVE BOUGHT OUR NV. HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE, HORRIBLE DESIGN. HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. WE ARE AT THE POINT THE BACK TWO ROWS HARDLY HAVE ANY PRESSURE AT ALL & WITH HIGH TEMPS RIGHT NOW CAN'T EVEN USE OUR FAMILY VEHICLE. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS FOR THE PRICE WE ARE PAYING. I RECENTLY JOINED A FACEBOOK PAGE OF NISSAN NV OWNERS FROM ACROSS THE NATION/WORLD AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A ISSUE FOR ALOT OF PEOPLE NOT JUST US. NISSAN ADDRESS THIS ISSUE! THE AIR RESTRICTION TO THE THREE REAR ROWS IS CONSTANT AND HAS NO REGARDS TO MOTION, IDLING, TURNING, CITY OR HIGHWAY. THE LONGER YOU HAVE THE VAN THE AIR PRESSURE BECOMES LESS AND LESS. AT EVERY SERVICE I QUESTIONED THIS AND THE ADVISORS ALWAYS BRUSHED IT OFF AS A DESIGN FLAW & SAID ITS FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY JUST BY FEELING THE AIR WITH THEIR HAND. NO.

NHTSA ODI 11112446

Feb 25, 2017Brakes

FEEL HAVE A BRAKING PROBLEM WITH NV 3500 2016. IN NORMAL BRAKING SEEMS TO WORK WELL. IN HARD STOPS AND PANIC BRAKING PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR OR END OF TRAVEL. FEEL I MUST PUMP BRAKES TO GET MAXIMUM BRAKING AND A RETURN OF PEDAL. DEALERSHIP AND NISSAN REP. SAY THIS IS A NORMAL BRAKING FOR THE VEHICLE. I FEEL IF I HAVE TO PUMP THE PEDAL TO RETURN BRAKING POWER, I MIGHT HAVE A POTENTIAL SERIOUS PROBLEM. SO FAR NISSAN HAS TOLD ME MY BRAKES ARE NORMAL, WHICH I QUESTION?

NHTSA ODI 10956989

Working with the data? Download all 14 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2016 Nissan Nv3500 Passenger Van verdict →