Thinking about buying a used Nissan Sunny (1990–2006) in New Zealand? We've documented 9 known faults for this model spanning transmission, engine, suspension, and body & rust. Each researched and verified before it's published. The most serious issues here are rated critical. Two are set out in full below — the rest, with the symptoms, repair costs and checks for each, are free with an account.
9
Critical
$500–$1,400
6
The early RE0F06B CVT fitted to auto B15 Sunny models is failure-prone, with belt, pulley and control faults causing shudder, slip and complete failure. Parts and rebuild costs often exceed the car's value.
Symptoms to notice
What to check
Ask the seller
The rear drum brake self-adjusters on Sunny B13/B14/B15 are prone to seizing in NZ conditions due to moisture ingress and corrosion inside the drum. A seized adjuster prevents the shoes from self-adjusting as they wear, resulting in a progressively long handbrake travel and reduced rear braking efficiency. On vehicles that have sat unused, the shoes can also bond to the drum surface. This is a common finding on pre-WoF inspections and on vehicles with infrequent brake service.
Symptoms to notice
What to check
Ask the seller
Symptoms, what to check, where to look and what to ask the seller — for every fault above. Free with an account, no card needed. One account covers one vehicle, so make it the car you’re actually looking at.
This page covers the model. Enter the plate of the actual car you’re looking at and see its year, engine, safety rating and register flags — free, no account needed.
Like any used car, it depends on the specific example and its service history. Across the 9 documented faults for the Nissan Sunny, the recurring problem areas are transmission, engine, and suspension. A Nissan Sunny 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.
We've catalogued 9 known faults for the Nissan Sunny, covering transmission, engine, and suspension. Two are written out in full on this page. The rest — with the symptoms to notice, what to inspect, and typical repair costs for each — are free once you create an account.
Most single repairs on the Nissan Sunny fall between $500–$1,400 at NZ independent-workshop rates. Some of the 9 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.
Yes. A Nissan Sunny 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 $17.90 far less than the cost of missing one of the faults on this page.