Nissan Quest E52
Weaknesses, engine ratings and buying advice
## Nissan Quest E52 (2011–2017)
The fourth-generation Quest is Nissan's minivan for the US market — a family van with sliding doors on both sides, three rows of seats, and a focus on comfort over sportiness. The quirky, boxy styling divided opinion, but the second row is generous and the under-floor storage behind the third row is genuinely useful. As a family hauler it offers a lot of space at a comparatively low price, though it always remained an underdog against the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna.
It's powered by the proven VQ35DE, a 3.5-liter V6 making 264 horsepower — far more engine than the Versa models carry. The VQ is strong and fundamentally durable, but it's prone to timing chain rattle on cold start, pointing to stretched chains or worn tensioners. Regular oil changes matter here.
The Jatco CVT is the costliest weakness on the E52. A V6 minivan loads the continuously variable transmission far harder than a small car does, and failures are correspondingly expensive. Shudder, overheating, and total breakdown are the typical progression — a serious risk in a heavy family vehicle.
As is common with vans, the power sliding doors are a weak spot: the sliding-door motor fails, so the door no longer opens or closes automatically, and the latch doesn't engage reliably. On top of that, the brake rotors warp prematurely, and the HVAC blend door can fail — especially annoying across three rows.
Buying advice: The CVT test is especially important on the heavy Quest — warm it up, watch for shudder and slip, and take any overheat warning seriously; a Jatco settlement claim can be checked by VIN. Open and close both sliding doors electrically several times and confirm they latch cleanly. Listen for timing chain rattle on cold start and check the brakes for shimmy.
Bottom line: A roomy, comfortable family van with a strong V6 at a low price. The engine is capable, but the CVT carries the heaviest load here — and the most expensive repair. With working sliding doors and a documented transmission history, it's a sensible family vehicle; without that paperwork, it's a substantial cost risk.
Engine Overview
The Nissan Quest E52 is available with one engine variant at 264 hp.
3.5L naturally aspirated V6 with an unmistakable sound — a throaty, sonorous roar that Nissan tuned, according to Calsonic engineers, with Ferrari as a reference. Revs smoothly to 7,000 rpm and really comes alive above 5,000 rpm. Plastic timing chain guides are the well-known Achilles heel from 130,000 km. Oil consumption and synchro wear in the manual gearbox are worth monitoring.
- !! Severe oil consumption from defective piston rings from 25,000 km
Certain production batches (2006 models) have defective piston rings fitted. Consumption can reach 1.5–4.5 l/1,000 km. Nissan replaced complete engines under warranty in such cases.
Symptoms: Heavy blue exhaust smoke under acceleration, significant oil level drop after a few hundred km, oily exhaust smell - !! Con rod bearing wear from oil starvation from 120,000 km
Sustained oil starvation from the piston ring issue can cause connecting rod bearing damage. Engine repair including cylinder head replacement costs around €4,000; a replacement engine is €2,500–3,000.
Symptoms: Metallic clattering and knocking from engine, severe power loss, oil pressure warning - !! Plastic timing chain guides fracture from 160,000 km
The plastic guide rails for the primary timing chain are too thin and brittle by design. From around 130,000–200,000 km they break off and fall into the oil, risking metal contamination and engine damage.
Symptoms: Cold-start rattle that disappears after a few seconds, increasingly loud chain noise, engine warning light at advanced wear
+ 11 more engine weaknesses + vehicle weaknesses
Vehicle Weaknesses
| Weakness | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| CVT failure — most expensive repair on the E52 Quest The E52 Quest CVT most commonly fails between 80,000–100,000 miles. At up to $7,500 in repair costs, this is the single most expensive repair on this vehicle. In documented cases a replacement CVT failed again after only 11,000 miles. Symptoms: Jerking and slippage on take-off; transmission fails to respond to throttle; complete loss of drive on the highway; CVT overheating with dashboard warning from 90,000 km | High |
Alternatives
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Known Problems and Issues +
A total of 20 weaknesses have been documented for the Nissan Quest E52 (2011–2017) — 14 engine-related and 6 vehicle-related. One problem engine: VQ35DE (3.5L). Typical issues affect Gearbox, Body, Brakes, HVAC.
Quest (VQ35DE, 2011–2017) — Stay Away!: Severe oil consumption from defective piston rings, Con rod bearing wear from oil starvation, Plastic timing chain guides fracture. Power: 264 PS.
What to watch out for with the Nissan Quest? See the detailed listing of all engine and vehicle weaknesses in the sections above.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Last updated: February 2026 · All information without guarantee