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Nissan1988–2002 Critical issues documented

Nissan Silvia S13: common faults & what to check

The S13 is the Nissan Silvia built 1988–1993. Of the 10 faults documented for the Silvia, 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 Silvia

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

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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

You're looking at the S13

Everything below is narrowed to this variant. Pick a different one to change it.

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? These cover every year of this model.

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

A 1988 Nissan Silvia is the S13 generation (1988 to 1993).

We cannot narrow the engine list to this year, so every engine this model was sold with is offered.

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 S13

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Can't confirm for this car

Nissan Silvia · 1988

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

See all 4 issues for this oneDocumented for the exact year and engine you picked, including 2 rated critical.
Body, brakes, suspension & interior1 critical1

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
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 & cooling1

01CA18DET 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
Body, brakes, suspension & interior2

01Rear 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?”

02Front 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?”
Other Nissan Silvia engines and years6 documented issues that do not apply to the one you picked.
Engine, transmission & cooling5

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

03S15 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

04SR20 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

05SR20DET 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 & interior1

01Structural 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

Nissan Silvia faults in detail

Narrowed to the Nissan Silvia · 1988. 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 & Rust

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.