Nissan1985–1999 Critical issues documented

Nissan Vanette S21: common faults & what to check

The S21 is the Nissan Vanette built 1994–1999. Of the 5 faults documented for the Vanette, 5 apply to this generation, each with its symptoms, what to inspect and a typical repair cost. Free, no account needed.

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Documented faults

Critical

Most serious

$800–$2,800

Typical repair

Systems covered

You're looking at the S21

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

1994–1999S21 Selected1994–1999S21Engine not documented for this generationEngine not documentedDocumented issues5 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: TTTNIS via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.

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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.

A 1995 Nissan Vanette is the S21 generation (1994 to 1999).

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Nissan Vanette S21

Can't confirm for this car

Nissan Vanette · 1995

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 Vanette before you hand over any money. Every documented fault is listed below, each with its own page.

Serious issue
Open the coolant header tank with the engine stone cold and look at what is in it: it should be clean and coloured, not brown, oily-filmed or rusty.
See why
LD20 head gasket failure and a warped head — overheating that costs the engine
Head gasket failure is the LD20's best-known way of ending, and on a van it is made likelier by where the engine sits: buried under the cab with far less airflow than a car engine gets. Once the gasket goes, coolant and oil mix, compression drops away and the head itself usually warps from the heat, so the repair becomes a machining job rather than a gasket. Owners often meet it as a van that has been slowly using coolant with no visible leak for months. On a thirty-year-old van the bill can easily exceed what the vehicle is worth, so this is the check that decides whether to buy at all.
What you would notice
- Coolant level dropping with no puddle underneath
- Creamy or brown sludge on the underside of the oil filler cap
- White smoke from the exhaust that does not clear once warm
- Temperature gauge climbing on a hill or in traffic
- Bubbling in the header tank with the engine running
- Heater blowing cold when the engine is hot
Typically $1,500–$4,500 to put right.

See all 5 issues for this oneDocumented for the exact year and engine you picked, including 2 rated critical.

Engine, transmission & cooling1 critical2

01LD20 head gasket failure and a warped head — overheating that costs the engine

Open the coolant header tank with the engine stone cold and look at what is in it: it should be clean and coloured, not brown, oily-filmed or rusty.diesel1985–1999Engine$1,500–$4,500Read the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

02Hardened valve stem seals — blue smoke on start-up and oil disappearing between services

diesel1985–1999Engine$700–$2,200Read the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

Body, brakes, suspension & interior1 critical1

03Rust in the sliding door step, door seams and rear arches on a working van

These have spent their lives as working vans, and the rust follows the work.1985–1999Body & Rust$800–$6,000Read the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

Depends on the exact engine — 2 moreDocumented for a specific engine we could not confirm from what you picked. Check the engine code on the car.

Engine, transmission & cooling1

01LD20 injection pump wear and hot-restart failure

Arrange the viewing so the van has not been warmed up, and hear the first cold start yourself.diesel1985–1999EngineCan't confirm for this car$900–$2,800Read the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

Electrical1

01Glow plugs and glow plug relay — a diesel that will not start on a cold morning

Failed glow plugs, or the relay that feeds them, are one of the most common LD20 complaints and the reason a lot of these vans get sold.diesel1985–1999ElectricalCan't confirm for this car$180–$700Read the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

Nissan Vanette faults in detail

Narrowed to the Nissan Vanette · 1995. 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.

Glow plugs and glow plug relay — a diesel that will not start on a cold morningMajor · Electrical Hardened valve stem seals — blue smoke on start-up and oil disappearing between servicesMajor · Engine LD20 head gasket failure and a warped head — overheating that costs the engineCritical · Engine LD20 injection pump wear and hot-restart failureMajor · Engine Rust in the sliding door step, door seams and rear arches on a working vanCritical · Body & Rust

What these repairs cost on other cars

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

Head Gasket Repair Cost

Other Nissan models

Nissan Patrol48 documented faults Nissan Navara45 documented faults Nissan X-Trail45 documented faults Nissan Skyline41 documented faults Nissan Pathfinder36 documented faults Nissan Note31 documented faults

Nissan Vanette buyer questions

Is the Nissan Vanette reliable?

Like any used car, it depends on the specific example and its service history. Across the 5 documented faults for the Nissan Vanette, the recurring problem areas are body & rust, engine, and electrical. A Nissan Vanette 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 Vanette?

We've catalogued 5 known faults for the Nissan Vanette, covering body & rust, engine, and electrical. All 5 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 Vanette?

Most single repairs on the Nissan Vanette fall between $800–$2,800 at NZ independent-workshop rates. Some of the 5 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 Vanette?

Yes. A Nissan Vanette 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.