Nissan1986–2002 Critical issues documented

Nissan Bluebird U13: common faults & what to check

The U13 is the Nissan Bluebird built 1991–1996. It was sold here with the 1.8 petrol and 2.0 petrol. Of the 8 faults documented for the Bluebird, 4 apply to this generation, each with its symptoms, what to inspect and a typical repair cost. Free, no account needed.

Check this exact Nissan Bluebird

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Documented faults

Critical

Most serious

$420–$1,680

Typical repair

Systems covered

You're looking at the U13

2 engine variants are documented for this generation. Pick yours to narrow further, or keep reading for the generation as a whole.

1991–1996U13 Selected1991–1996U131.8 petrolPetrolDocumented issues1 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: XVR 7785 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

1991–1996U13 Selected1991–1996U132.0 petrolPetrolDocumented issues2 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: XVR 7785 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Choose a different generation

Now narrow it to the engine

A 1.8 and a 2.4 of the same car do not fail the same way, so the faults below narrow to the engine as well as the year. Free, no account needed.

Which engine is in it?

1.8 petrol· 1.8 litre petrol 2.0 petrol· 2.0 litre petrol

A 1991 Nissan Bluebird is the U13 generation (1991 to 1996).

Start your free check on this Nissan Bluebird

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Nissan Bluebird U13Engine not picked yet

Pick the engine above first: the Bluebird came with 2, and without it the report has to show all of their faults. Pick the engine

Can't confirm for this car

Nissan Bluebird · 1991

Narrowed to the year. No engine is recorded for this vehicle. Pick an engine to see which faults apply.

Tell us the engine, or check the engine code on the car, before relying on this.

No engine is recorded for this vehicle.

matched on year only

What to look out for

The checks worth doing on a Nissan Bluebird before you hand over any money. Every documented fault is listed below, each with its own page.

Costly issue
Check all bushes and ball joints for play.
See why
U13 Rear Subframe Bushing Deterioration
The rear suspension subframe-to-body bushings on the U13 crack and collapse over time, allowing the rear axle geometry to shift under cornering loads. Symptoms are vague rear-end handling, wandering on motorway, and tyre wear on the inside edge. Replacement requires subframe removal. NZ/AU humidity accelerates rubber degradation.
What you would notice
- Abnormal tyre wear pattern
- Vehicle pulls to one side
Typically $420–$840 to put right.

See all 4 issues for this oneDocumented for the exact year and engine you picked.

Body, brakes, suspension & interior1

01U13 Rear Subframe Bushing Deterioration

Check all bushes and ball joints for play.diesel1991–1998Suspension$420–$840

CommonSuspension $420–$840 to fix

The rear suspension subframe-to-body bushings on the U13 crack and collapse over time, allowing the rear axle geometry to shift under cornering loads. Symptoms are vague rear-end handling, wandering on motorway, and tyre wear on the inside edge. Replacement requires subframe removal. NZ/AU humidity accelerates rubber degradation.

Symptoms to notice

Abnormal tyre wear pattern
Vehicle pulls to one side

What to check

Check all bushes and ball joints for play.
Look for oil leaks on shock absorbers.
Measure tyre wear pattern across the tread.

Depends on the exact engine — 3 moreDocumented for a specific engine we could not confirm from what you picked. Check the engine code on the car.

Engine, transmission & cooling3

01CA18DE Head Gasket Failure

Check for oil leaks around valve covers, sump and gaskets.petrol1986–1992EngineCan't confirm for this car$1,120–$2,240

CommonEngine $1,120–$2,240 to fix

Can't confirm for this car

The CA18DE aluminium head is prone to head gasket failure, particularly after any overheating event. Symptoms include white exhaust smoke, coolant consumption without visible external leak, and bubbles in the coolant reservoir. The block deck and head must be checked for warping before reassembly. Cooling system neglect (old coolant, blocked thermostat) is the primary trigger.

Symptoms to notice

Engine overheating under load
Blue or white smoke from exhaust
Coolant loss or steam from engine bay

What to check

Check for oil leaks around valve covers, sump and gaskets.
Inspect coolant condition and level.

Parts involved: Head gasket.

02SR20DE Timing Chain Tensioner Wear

Check for oil leaks around valve covers, sump and gaskets.petrol1991–2002EngineCan't confirm for this car$840–$1,680

CommonEngine $840–$1,680 to fix

Can't confirm for this car

The hydraulic chain tensioner loses pressure on aged engines, producing a cold-start rattle that disappears once oil pressure builds. Prolonged neglect allows the chain to jump a tooth, causing rough running, misfires, and potential valve/piston contact. Common on high-kilometre examples where oil changes were extended. Tensioner, guides, and chain should be replaced as a set.

Symptoms to notice

Metallic rattle or knock from engine
Engine misfire or rough idle
Low oil pressure warning light
Difficult cold start or unstable idle

What to check

Check for oil leaks around valve covers, sump and gaskets.
Inspect coolant condition and level.

Parts involved: Timing chain.

03SR20DE Distributor O-Ring Oil Leak

Check for oil leaks around valve covers, sump and gaskets.petrol1991–2002EngineCan't confirm for this car$126–$252

CommonEngine $126–$252 to fix

Can't confirm for this car

The distributor drive O-ring hardens with age and allows engine oil to seep down the distributor bore and pool on top of the camshaft cover. Often misdiagnosed as a rocker cover leak. The distributor must be removed and a new O-ring seated. If oil has reached the distributor cap internals, ignition misfires may follow.

Symptoms to notice

Oil leaks visible beneath engine
Engine misfire or rough idle

What to check

Check for oil leaks around valve covers, sump and gaskets.
Inspect coolant condition and level.

Parts involved: Rocker / valve cover.

Other Nissan Bluebird engines and years4 documented issues that do not apply to the one you picked.

Engine, transmission & cooling2

01Early Nissan Hyper-CVT shudder and failure

On a test drive from cold, feel for shudder pulling away and any hesitation or flaring of revs under gentle acceleration.petrol1996–2001TransmissionDoes not apply$2,500–$5,000Read the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

02Timing chain rattle and worn chain guides (SR20DE / QG18DE)

Listen at cold start for a distinct chain rattle from the timing (right-hand) end of the engine, and again at idle once warm.petrol1996–2001EngineDoes not apply$900–$2,200

OccasionalEngine $900–$2,200 to fix

Does not apply

The SR20DE and QG18DE engines used in the U14 Bluebird are chain-driven, and on high-kilometre, poorly-maintained examples the plastic chain guides and tensioner wear, allowing the chain to slap. This shows up as a rattle on start-up or at idle. If neglected the chain can stretch or jump timing, causing rough running or misfires. Regular oil changes greatly slow the wear; sludged engines suffer first.

Symptoms to notice

Rattle or chain slap on cold start-up
Metallic rattle at idle that quietens with revs
Rough running or misfire if timing has jumped
Check-engine light for cam/crank correlation

What to check

Listen at cold start for a distinct chain rattle from the timing (right-hand) end of the engine, and again at idle once warm.
Check service history for regular oil changes and inspect the oil filler for sludge.
A persistent rattle points to worn guides or tensioner and a chain job.

Where to look: Timing cover, right-hand end of engine

Parts involved: Timing chain.

Ask the seller

“Is there any rattle when the engine first starts?”
“How regularly has the oil been changed?”
“Has the timing chain or tensioner ever been replaced?”

Body, brakes, suspension & interior1

01Age-related corrosion on ex-Japan imports

Check lower doors, sills, wheel arch lips and the boot/spare-wheel well for bubbling or flaking rust.1996–2001Body & RustDoes not apply$300–$2,500

OccasionalBody & Rust $300–$2,500 to fix

Does not apply

As 25-plus-year-old Japanese used imports, U14 Bluebirds in NZ can carry corrosion in the usual sedan trouble spots - lower doors, sills, wheel arches, boot floor and around the front strut towers and subframe mounts. Cars used near the coast or on salted roads are worse. Structural rust in strut towers or sills is a WoF failure and can be uneconomic to repair on a low-value car.

Symptoms to notice

Bubbling paint on arches, sills and lower doors
Surface or flaking rust in the boot floor
Corrosion around front strut tops or subframe mounts
WoF failure for structural rust

What to check

Check lower doors, sills, wheel arch lips and the boot/spare-wheel well for bubbling or flaking rust. In the engine bay inspect the strut tower tops, and underneath look at subframe mounting points and floor pans. Soft or perforated metal near suspension mounts is a serious, potentially uneconomic repair.

Where to look: Sills, wheel arches, boot floor, strut towers and subframe mounts

Parts involved: Body corrosion.

Ask the seller

“Has the car had any rust repairs or panel work?”
“Does it have a current WoF and when was rust last assessed?”
“Has it spent its life near the coast?”

Fluid leaks1

01SR20DE distributor O-ring and oil pressure switch oil leaks

With the engine off, inspect around the distributor (end of the cylinder head) and the oil pressure switch for wet oil and staining.petrol1996–2001Fluid LeaksDoes not apply$150–$500

CommonFluid Leaks $150–$500 to fix

Does not apply

The SR20DE engine has a camshaft-driven distributor sealed by an O-ring, plus an oil pressure switch, both of which harden with age and weep engine oil. Leaking oil around the distributor can also foul the cap and contacts, causing misfires, while the pressure-switch leak drips down the block. Both are cheap parts but often ignored on older Bluebirds and can be mistaken for bigger leaks.

Symptoms to notice

Oil weeping around the distributor body
Oil drip down the rear or side of the block
Occasional misfire if oil reaches distributor cap
Oily film and smell after driving

What to check

With the engine off, inspect around the distributor (end of the cylinder head) and the oil pressure switch for wet oil and staining. Check the distributor cap internals for oil contamination. Distinguish a minor O-ring weep from a more serious rocker-cover or main-seal leak.

Where to look: Distributor and oil pressure switch, cylinder head / block

Ask the seller

“Are there any known oil leaks?”
“Has the distributor O-ring or oil pressure switch been replaced?”
“Does the engine ever misfire when hot?”

What these repairs cost on other cars

Some of the Nissan Bluebird’s documented faults are repairs other models share. Each page lists the documented NZ cost for every model it affects.

Other Nissan models

Nissan Patrol48 documented faults Nissan Navara45 documented faults Nissan X-Trail45 documented faults Nissan Gloria8 documented faults Nissan Primera8 documented faults Nissan Caravan E267 documented faults

Nissan Bluebird buyer questions

Is the Nissan Bluebird reliable?

Like any used car, it depends on the specific example and its service history. Across the 8 documented faults for the Nissan Bluebird, the recurring problem areas are transmission, body & rust, and engine. A Nissan Bluebird with a full service history and no signs of the issues listed on this page can be a sound buy but each one needs to be checked individually before you commit.

What are the most common problems with a used Nissan Bluebird?

We've catalogued 8 known faults for the Nissan Bluebird, covering transmission, body & rust, and engine. All 8 are written out in full on this page, with the symptoms to notice, what to inspect, and typical repair costs for each. Free to read, no account needed.

How much do repairs cost on a Nissan Bluebird?

Most single repairs on the Nissan Bluebird fall between $420–$1,680 at NZ independent-workshop rates. Some of the 8 documented faults cost less and a few cost considerably more, and no one car needs them all. Knowing which ones to look for before you view is what lets you negotiate the price down or walk away.

Should I get a pre-purchase inspection on a Nissan Bluebird?

Yes. A Nissan Bluebird inspection focused on its known weak points is the single best way to avoid an expensive mistake. KickTyres gives you a guided, model-specific inspection plus a market valuation and negotiation figure for $24.90 far less than the cost of missing one of the faults on this page.