2016 Nissan Quest — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $11,000–$17,000. There is 1 high-severity known issue you need to know before handing over a check.
Kestrel Take
The forgotten minivan — the Quest is comfortable and distinctive, with Nissan's strong 3.5L V6, but it's saddled with the family CVT, which is the whole risk. A well-maintained Quest with documented CVT service can be a comfortable, low-cost van; an unknown one is a transmission gamble. Rare and cheap, but test-drive the CVT carefully and price for the risk. Prefer one with fluid records.
Known Issues for the 2016 Nissan Quest
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.
The CVT behind the V6 can overheat and fail; feel for shudder/hesitation and listen for whine. Replacement is costly relative to the van's value.
Repair cost range: $3,500-$4,500
The Quest was discontinued and sold in small numbers; some body/trim parts are scarce.
Repair cost range: Varies
Power doors and tailgate are wear items; verify operation.
Repair cost range: $150-$800
Brakes, tires, suspension wear normally.
Repair cost range: $200-$700
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗CVT shudder, whine, or overheating
- ✗No CVT fluid records
- ✗Power doors that fault
- ✗Price too good to be true
Good Signs
- ✓Smooth CVT with documented fluid service
- ✓Working power doors
- ✓Clean, well-kept van
Found a specific Nissan Quest?
This page covers what goes wrong on the 2016 Nissan Quest in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.
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Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
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