The 2016 NV200 uses Nissan's MR20DE 2.0L four-cylinder with a CVT transmission. While generally reliable for commercial duty, this generation suffers from catastrophic CVT failures and a serious engine defect tied to pre-ignition that can destroy internals without warning.
CVT Transmission Failure (Jatco JF015E)
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Shuddering or juddering during acceleration, especially 15-40 mph, Whining or grinding noise from transmission, Sudden loss of forward gears or slipping under load, Overheating warnings or limp mode, CVT fluid contamination with metal particles
Fix: Replacement or rebuild required; external cooler upgrade strongly recommended. Expect 8-12 labor hours for R&R. Nissan extended warranty to 10yr/120k on some units but coverage is inconsistent.
Symptoms: Loud knocking or rattling noise on cold start that may disappear when warm, Sudden catastrophic knocking under acceleration, Metal shavings in oil, Check engine light with misfire codes, Complete loss of power / engine seizure in severe cases
Fix: Pre-ignition detonation cracks piston ring lands and destroys bearings. Requires complete short block or engine rebuild—pistons, rings, bearings, machine work. 18-25 labor hours. Some owners report issue even with regular maintenance; appears to be design flaw.
Estimated cost: $4,500-7,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Corrosion
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: CVT fluid leak near radiator area, Pink or red fluid puddle under front of vehicle, Transmission overheating, Low CVT fluid warnings
Fix: Steel cooler lines rust through where they connect to radiator, especially in salt-belt states. Replace lines and often the external cooler assembly. 2-3 labor hours. Must flush CVT system if contaminated.
Estimated cost: $400-800
Transmission Mount Failure
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 60,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive vibration at idle, Clunking when shifting into drive or reverse, Visible sagging of engine/trans assembly, Increased cabin noise
Fix: Rubber mounts deteriorate quickly under commercial-use loads. Replace all engine/trans mounts as a set for best results. 2-3 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $350-650
Fuel Pump Control Module Failure
Occasional · high severity
Symptoms: No-start condition, cranks but won't fire, Intermittent stalling while driving, Engine cuts out then restarts on its own, Check engine light with fuel system codes (P0230, P0627)
Fix: Subject to recall (NHTSA 20V-382) but many units still fail. Module located under vehicle near fuel tank. 1.5-2 labor hours. Dealer should cover under recall if VIN is affected.
Estimated cost: $300-600
Sliding Door Roller and Track Wear
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 50,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Sliding door becomes hard to open/close, Grinding or popping noises during door operation, Door falls off track or jams partially open, Visible wear or cracking of plastic rollers
Fix: Commercial duty accelerates wear on door hardware. Replace rollers, adjust track alignment, lubricate. 2-3 labor hours per side if both doors affected.
Estimated cost: $250-500
Owner tips
Change CVT fluid every 30,000 miles (not 'lifetime' per Nissan spec) and use only genuine NS-3 fluid—aftermarket fluids accelerate failure
Install aftermarket transmission cooler if using vehicle for heavy loads or delivery work
Monitor engine oil consumption closely; top off as needed and use quality synthetic to minimize pre-ignition risk
Check fuel pump control module recall status by VIN before purchase
Avoid unless priced well below market to account for CVT replacement—the engine pre-ignition defect makes even low-mileage examples a gamble.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
Fitment notes: Battery located under hood on passenger side
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Every control module on the 2012-2017 Nissan NV200 — where it lives, replacement time, and what it takes to program a replacement. Modules marked dealer / factory tool won't work after a part swap alone — budget for programming.
Electric Power Steering Control Unit (EPS)2.0 hr R&Rdealer / factory tool +0.5 hr▸ programming details
📍 Behind instrument panel, attached to steering column
⚠️ Mileage programming required; VIN must match vehicle
Sonar Control Unit (SONAR)0.8 hr R&Rrelearn only +0.2 hr▸ programming details
📍 Behind rear bumper, center mounted
🔧 CONSULT-III or aftermarket scan tool
⚠️ Optional equipment; sensor calibration recommended after replacement
Audio Visual Control Unit (AV)0.6 hr R&Rno coding
📍 Center instrument panel, dash mounted
⚠️ Radio code may be required on some models; plug-and-play on most
Aftermarket tool coverage varies by software version and vehicle build — treat "aftermarket tool" rows as "usually possible" and verify against your tool maker's coverage list before promising a customer. Spot a wrong location or hour? Tell us — corrections ship fast here.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2021 NV200 Van, 2014-2017, 2019 NV200 Taxi, and 2015-2018 Chevrolet City Express vehicles. The Fuel Tank Temperature (FTT) sensor harness may have been incorrectly routed, damaging wires and causing a short circuit in the fuel pump fuse.
Consequence: A blown fuel pump fuse can cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and reroute the FTT sensor harness or replace the fuel pump assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan's number for this recall is PMA56. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov October 10, 2025.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION · 16V244000
2016-04-26 · EA15004
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.
Consequence: If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
Fuel economy (EPA)
City
24mpg
Highway
26mpg
Combined
25mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
Capability & size
EPA class
Special Purpose Vehicle 2WD
Wiper blades
Compact cargo van with rear swing doors typically equipped with rear wiper. Some cargo variants without rear glass may not have rear wiper.
Size-standard part numbers — verify your connector type before buying. Rear blades are model-specific; check the package's vehicle list.
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2016 Nissan NV200 2.0L I4 and can vary by trim.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.