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Nissan1988–2002 Critical issues documented

Nissan Silvia: common faults & what to check

Thinking about buying a used Nissan Silvia (1988–2002) in New Zealand? We've documented 10 known faults for this model spanning engine, body & rust, transmission, and suspension. Each researched and verified before it's published. The most serious issues here are rated critical. Every one is listed below with its symptoms and repair cost, and each has its own page with where to look and what to ask the seller. Free, no account needed.

Check this exact Nissan Silvia

  • Odometer history
  • Money owing
  • Reported stolen
  • Ownership history
  • Official NZ vehicle register data
  • NZ owned and operated

Type the plate for the free basics. The full record is a paid check from $13.49, one car at a time, no subscription.

No NZ plate yet, or buying in Australia? Pick the generation and engine and start a free check below. New to KickTyres? How the check works →

10

Documented faults

Critical

Most serious

$800–$3,500

Typical repair

4

Systems covered

Which Nissan Silvia are you looking at?

5 generation variants documented. Pick the shape you recognise: the faults, the servicing and the timeline below all narrow to it. Free, no account needed.

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? These cover every year of this model.

2.0L petrol (SR20-DET)· 2.0 litre petrol

Start your free check on this Nissan Silvia

No plate needed. You get the risk score, the buyer's checklist and the guided inspection for the exact car you picked above — not the whole nameplate.

Nissan Silvia

Free. The paid plate check is separate, and stays optional.

Can't confirm for this car

Nissan Silvia

Nothing has been narrowed yet, so nothing below is a claim about a particular car. Pick a year and an engine to see which faults apply.

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

matched on no vehicle context

What to look out for

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

  • Serious issue

    Insist on a compression and leak-down test before purchase and confirm even cylinder figures.

    See why

    Tired or blown SR20DET from boost/tuning abuse and past overheating

    The SR20DET turbo four is mechanically strong and will pass 200,000 km when looked after, but the Silvia/200SX is an enthusiast drift car and the large majority of surviving imports have been boosted, tuned, tracked or drifted. The stock head gasket is a known weak point above roughly 1.2 bar on the standard fuel system, and a lean tune or a single overheating event in traffic can crack the head or warp the block - frequently an engine-ending failure. Buyers should treat any modified or hard-driven example as guilty until proven innocent: check for coil-pack misfire and lean knock under boost, cold-start timing-chain rattle from a worn tensioner (neglect indicator), low hot-idle oil pressure suggesting bearing wear, and blue smoke or coolant loss. A compression and leak-down test is the single best protection, and a boost/oil-pressure gauge with an aftermarket ECU is a sign the car has been pushed.

    What you would notice

    • Blue smoke on start-up or under boost, or visible coolant loss / mayo in the oil cap
    • Misfire, stumble or audible knock when the turbo comes on boost
    • Rattle from the timing chain on cold start
    • Low or fluctuating oil pressure at hot idle
    • Uneven or low readings on a compression / leak-down test

    Typically $3,500–$12,000 to put right.

  • Serious issue

    Ask what oil is used and how often, and ask for invoices rather than a stamped book — this fault is almost entirely about oil discipline.

    See why

    CA18DET turbo oil feed line — the S13 turbo's one real weakness

    The CA18DET is a tough engine when it is left standard and serviced, and its known weak point is the factory turbo oil feed line rather than anything in the block. The line runs close to heat, and it silts up or restricts with age and with oil that has been left in too long. Starve the turbo bearing of oil and the turbo goes, usually announcing itself with blue smoke on start-up or under load and a whine that was not there before. On a car this age the line is a cheap part; the turbo it protects is not, and neither is the engine if debris travels. Any S13 with a service history that skips oil changes should be assumed to have a tired feed line.

    What you would notice

    • Blue-grey smoke on start-up or under boost
    • A whistle or siren from the turbo that is new or getting louder
    • Oil level dropping with no external leak
    • Dark, thick or clearly overdue oil on the dipstick

    Typically $1,200–$3,500 to put right.

  • Costly issue

    Press firmly along both sills behind the front wheel and ahead of the rear wheel; soft or crunching areas indicate rust perforation.

    See why

    Rear Wheel Arch and Sill Rust

    The S13, S14, and S15 Silvia are well documented for rust initiation at the rear wheel arch lips, lower sills, and boot floor seams. NZ coastal and high-humidity conditions accelerate this significantly on Japanese imports that had no underbody treatment when new. Rust can be hidden by filler, paint, or arch liner. Structurally compromised sills may cause WOF refusal.

    What you would notice

    • Bubbling or blistering paint at rear wheel arch lips
    • Soft spots or flex in the sill when pressed
    • Rust-coloured water staining inside boot
    • Visible holes or perforation at lower rear quarter panels

    Typically $800–$3,500 to put right.

  • Costly issue

    Rock each front wheel at the 12 and 6 o'clock positions for play.

    See why

    Front Wheel Bearing Failure

    Front wheel bearings on the S13, S14, and S15 Silvia wear from age, hard driving, and wider aftermarket tyres. Failure is very common past 120 000 km. Cars that have been lowered on coilovers with increased camber accelerate bearing wear significantly. Replacement requires hub removal and pressing.

    What you would notice

    • Rumbling or droning noise from front that increases with speed
    • Noise changes when steering input is applied left or right
    • Vibration through steering wheel at 80–110 km/h
    • Roughness felt when spinning hub by hand with car on a hoist

    Typically $350–$750 to put right.

  • Costly issue

    Scan for ECU fault codes — NVCS-related codes point directly to this fault.

    See why

    SR20DET NVCS Oil Control Valve Blockage

    S14 and S15 SR20DET engines use Nissan Variable Cam System (NVCS) to advance the intake camshaft at higher RPM. The oil control solenoid (OCV) that actuates this system blocks with sludge when oil maintenance is poor, causing rough idle, flat mid-range power, and persistent check engine lights. Cleaning or replacing the solenoid restores function; blocked units are common on engines with irregular oil changes.

    What you would notice

    • Rough or lumpy idle, particularly when warm
    • Flat spot in mid-range acceleration
    • Check engine light — cam position sensor or NVCS circuit codes
    • Engine hunting at idle

    Typically $200–$600 to put right.

See all 10 documented issuesEverything researched for the Nissan Silvia, including 4 rated critical.
Depends on which engine this Nissan Silvia has — 10Each of these is documented for one particular engine. Pick the year and engine above to see which of them apply.
Engine, transmission & cooling6

01Tired or blown SR20DET from boost/tuning abuse and past overheating

Insist on a compression and leak-down test before purchase and confirm even cylinder figures.petrol1993–2002EngineRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

02SR20DET rod bearing wear — tight clearances that do not forgive neglected oil or added boost

The SR20DET runs deliberately tight bearing clearances, which is part of why it feels so tight when healthy and why it is unforgiving when it is not.petrol1991–2002EngineRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

03CA18DET turbo oil feed line — the S13 turbo's one real weakness

Ask what oil is used and how often, and ask for invoices rather than a stamped book — this fault is almost entirely about oil discipline.petrol1988–1993EngineRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

04S15 6-speed gearbox circlip/layshaft failure and clutch worn by drifting

petrol1999–2002TransmissionRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

05SR20 camshaft oil spray bar blockage — the top end quietly stops being oiled

petrol1991–2002EngineRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

06SR20DET NVCS Oil Control Valve Blockage

Scan for ECU fault codes — NVCS-related codes point directly to this fault.petrol1991–2002EngineRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller
Body, brakes, suspension & interior4

01Modified, drifted or repaired — check the car is the car it says it is

More Silvias have been modified, drifted or crashed than not, and that history decides value more than kilometres do.1988–2002Body & RustRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

02Structural rust and hidden crash/drift repair in the S-body shell

Rust is the single biggest threat to a Silvia and kills more of them than anything mechanical.petrol1993–2002Body & RustRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

03Rear Wheel Arch and Sill Rust

Press firmly along both sills behind the front wheel and ahead of the rear wheel; soft or crunching areas indicate rust perforation.petrol1988–2002Body & Rust
CommonBody & Rust $800–$3,500 to fix

Can't confirm for this car

The S13, S14, and S15 Silvia are well documented for rust initiation at the rear wheel arch lips, lower sills, and boot floor seams. NZ coastal and high-humidity conditions accelerate this significantly on Japanese imports that had no underbody treatment when new. Rust can be hidden by filler, paint, or arch liner. Structurally compromised sills may cause WOF refusal.

Symptoms to notice

  • Bubbling or blistering paint at rear wheel arch lips
  • Soft spots or flex in the sill when pressed
  • Rust-coloured water staining inside boot
  • Visible holes or perforation at lower rear quarter panels

What to check

  1. Press firmly along both sills behind the front wheel and ahead of the rear wheel; soft or crunching areas indicate rust perforation.
  2. Lift the boot carpet and floor mat to inspect the spare wheel well and boot floor seams.
  3. Remove arch liners where possible to inspect arch lips.
  4. Use a torch to look up inside the sill from underneath.

Where to look: Rear wheel arch lips, lower sills both sides, boot floor seams and spare wheel well

Parts involved: Body corrosion.

Ask the seller

  • “Has any panel work or rust repair been carried out on the rear quarters or sills?”
  • “Has the car spent time near the coast or in a high-humidity environment?”
  • “Has underbody treatment or rust proofing been applied?”

04Front Wheel Bearing Failure

Rock each front wheel at the 12 and 6 o'clock positions for play.petrol1988–2002Suspension
CommonSuspension $350–$750 to fix

Can't confirm for this car

Front wheel bearings on the S13, S14, and S15 Silvia wear from age, hard driving, and wider aftermarket tyres. Failure is very common past 120 000 km. Cars that have been lowered on coilovers with increased camber accelerate bearing wear significantly. Replacement requires hub removal and pressing.

Symptoms to notice

  • Rumbling or droning noise from front that increases with speed
  • Noise changes when steering input is applied left or right
  • Vibration through steering wheel at 80–110 km/h
  • Roughness felt when spinning hub by hand with car on a hoist

What to check

Rock each front wheel at the 12 and 6 o'clock positions for play. During test drive, listen for a speed-proportional rumble that changes when you shift weight left or right. If a workshop inspection is possible: On a hoist, spin each front hub by hand and feel for roughness or grinding.

Where to look: Front wheel hub assemblies, both sides

Parts involved: Wheel bearing.

Ask the seller

  • “Have the front wheel bearings been replaced and when?”
  • “Has the car been lowered or run with significant negative camber?”

Nissan Silvia faults in detail

Each of these has its own page: the symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller and what the repair costs. Free, no account needed.

CA18DET turbo oil feed line — the S13 turbo's one real weaknessCritical · EngineModified, drifted or repaired — check the car is the car it says it isCritical · Body & RustS15 6-speed gearbox circlip/layshaft failure and clutch worn by driftingMajor · TransmissionSR20 camshaft oil spray bar blockage — the top end quietly stops being oiledMajor · EngineSR20DET NVCS Oil Control Valve BlockageMajor · EngineSR20DET rod bearing wear — tight clearances that do not forgive neglected oil or added boostCritical · EngineStructural rust and hidden crash/drift repair in the S-body shellMajor · Body & RustTired or blown SR20DET from boost/tuning abuse and past overheatingCritical · Engine

What these repairs cost on other cars

Some of the Nissan Silvia’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 faultsNissan Navara45 documented faultsNissan X-Trail45 documented faultsNissan Caravan9 documented faultsNissan Cedric9 documented faultsNissan Sentra9 documented faults

Nissan Silvia buyer questions

Is the Nissan Silvia reliable?

Like any used car, it depends on the specific example and its service history. Across the 10 documented faults for the Nissan Silvia, the recurring problem areas are engine, body & rust, and transmission. A Nissan Silvia 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 Silvia?

We've catalogued 10 known faults for the Nissan Silvia, covering engine, body & rust, and transmission. All 10 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 Silvia?

Most single repairs on the Nissan Silvia fall between $800–$3,500 at NZ independent-workshop rates. Some of the 10 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 Silvia?

Yes. A Nissan Silvia 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.