Used Vehicle Review: Nissan Quest, 2004-2009

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July 15, 2010

2006 Nissan Quest; photo by Chris Chase. Click image to enlarge

Manufacturer’s web site
Nissan Canada

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By Chris Chase

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Not everyone is a fan of the most recent Nissan Quest minivan, but those who do like the Quest probably like it for its quirky looks. That’s why I like it: it stands out from the minivan crowd like nothing else in the segment right now. And there’s a possibility the Quest might become even less conventional in its next iteration, if teaser photos of the next-generation model are an indication.

But never mind predicting the future of the Quest; let’s look at how this latest version of Nissan’s minivan has fared since its introduction in 2004.
The Quest uses Nissan’s 3.5-litre V6 engine, matched with either a four- or five-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain generates 240 horsepower (235 in 2007, thanks to updated calculation methods), and gives the Quest all the guts it really needs. Other than that, the only major mid-cycle changes involved an improved interior and a mildly refreshed exterior for 2007.

Somewhat surprising is the fact that, according to Natural Resources Canada, a Quest with the five-speed automatic transmission uses more fuel than a four-speed version. With the four-speed, NRCan lists consumption as 12.4 L/100 km (city) and 8.3 L/100 km (highway). Choose the five-speed (it became standard in 2007) and the numbers increase to 13 and 8.5 L/100 km, city and highway respectively.

2006 Nissan Quest; photo by Chris Chase. Click image to enlarge

Still, that’s about average for the class. Note, too, that at least in some model years, premium fuel is recommended for optimum performance. Don’t worry, though: these vans will run just fine on regular, but power output might be slightly reduced. Fuel consumption might be slightly higher on regular, too.

Reliability has been less than perfect, with this van earning “worse than average”, or “much worse than average” used vehicle ratings from Consumer Reports for 2004 through 2008.

A bad ‘O’-ring is the cause of a common oil leak from the engine oil cooler. It’s an easy DIY fix, though, and the replacement part costs just a few dollars.

Vibrations at highway speeds are most likely caused by the Goodyear tires the Quest was fitted with at the factory. Some owners posting at QuestDriver.com say replacing the original tires with new ones of the same kind didn’t help, but other drivers who replaced the Goodyears with those from other brands eliminated the problem completely.

2007 Nissan Quest; photo courtesy Nissan. Click image to enlarge

A climate control system that doesn’t blow, or only blows at one speed, is likely caused either by a bad resistor in the motor or a faulty blower control module.

Noisy front suspension components are a common complaint, as are frequent dead batteries.

As with almost any minivan, the Quest’s available power sliding doors are trouble-prone, as is the optional power tailgate. This van is also plagued with squeaks and rattles and other body hardware problems, including a water leak from the headliner near the top of the windshield. According to posts at QuestDriver.com, this problem is linked to blocked drain passages that are designed to route water on the roof down through the body structure and out of the vehicle. In the cases of at least a few owners, the water leaks into the vehicle through the sunglasses holder in the headliner.

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