What are the most common Nissan Skyline problems?
According to Au7o's research across NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports, the 1989-2002 Nissan Skyline has 8 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: RB26DETT Oil Pump Drive Collar Failure (Narrow Crank Snout), Structural Rust: Strut Towers, Rear Arches, Sills and Boot Floor, Ceramic Turbocharger Exhaust Wheel Failure. Of these, 4 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
Is the Nissan Skyline reliable?
The 1989-2002 Nissan Skyline has 8 known issues compiled from NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports. 4 issues are rated critical: RB26DETT Oil Pump Drive Collar Failure (Narrow Crank Snout) and Structural Rust: Strut Towers, Rear Arches, Sills and Boot Floor and Ceramic Turbocharger Exhaust Wheel Failure and R34 GT-R Getrag V160 6-Speed Synchro Wear and Gear Grind. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
How much does it cost to fix common Nissan Skyline problems?
Repair costs for known Nissan Skyline issues range from $150 to $20,000, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, RB26DETT Oil Pump Drive Collar Failure (Narrow Crank Snout), typically costs $2,500-$20,000 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
What year Nissan Skyline is the most reliable?
Reliability varies across model years of the Nissan Skyline. Based on documented issues, problems are most commonly reported in earlier model years. Au7o recommends checking the specific known issues for your target year before purchasing, and having a pre-purchase inspection performed by a qualified mechanic. Our known issues database covers the 1989-2002 Nissan Skyline with 8 documented issues compiled from NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports.
What is the 1989-1992 Nissan Skyline RB26DETT Oil Pump Drive Collar Failure (Narrow Crank Snout)?
Early R32 GT-R crankshafts (built from 1989 until the design was revised in late 1992/early 1993) have a narrow oil pump drive collar with excessive clearance to the pump's inner gear. At sustained high RPM or when bouncing off the rev limiter, harmonic vibration hammers the driv… Repairs typically run $2,500-$20,000. Severity: high.
What is the 1989-2002 Nissan Skyline Structural Rust: Strut Towers, Rear Arches, Sills and Boot Floor?
All three Skyline generations are now 24-37 years old and were built with minimal rustproofing, so corrosion in the front strut tower seams, rear wheel arches, sills, boot floor and chassis rails is the single biggest body concern on imports. Water gets past aging boot seals and… Repairs typically run $800-$6,000. Severity: high.
What is the 1989-2002 Nissan Skyline Ceramic Turbocharger Exhaust Wheel Failure?
Factory twin turbos on the GT-R (and the single turbos on RB20DET/RB25DET GTS-T models) use lightweight ceramic exhaust wheels for fast spool, but the brittle ceramic shears off the shaft with age, heat cycles, detonation, rev-limiter hits, or boost much above the stock ~0.9-1.1… Repairs typically run $1,500-$6,000. Severity: high.
What is the 1999-2002 Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R Getrag V160 6-Speed Synchro Wear and Gear Grind?
The R34 GT-R's Getrag V160 6-speed has strong hard parts but notoriously weak synchros, with 3rd gear (and then 2nd) typically grinding first, eventually refusing clean engagement; AWD traction puts extra shock load through the box and accelerates the wear. Nissan officially trea… Repairs typically run $3,500-$15,000. Severity: high.
What is the 1989-2002 Nissan Skyline Super HICAS Rear-Steer System Aging: Leaks, Solenoid Faults and Worn Ball Joints?
All performance Skylines of this era carry HICAS/Super HICAS four-wheel steering (hydraulic on R32, electric rack on R33/R34), and with age the rear rack seals leak, solenoids and the rear-toe control hardware fail, and the system's rear ball joints wear and introduce vague, wand… Repairs typically run $300-$1,800. Severity: medium.
What is the 1989-2002 Nissan Skyline Crank Angle Sensor (CAS) Failure: Hot Stalling and No-Start?
The optical crank angle sensor driven off the exhaust camshaft on RB20/RB25/RB26 engines degrades with age and heat, causing intermittent loss of timing signal. The classic pattern is an engine that runs fine cold, then cuts out, backfires or stalls as it heats up and refuses to… Repairs typically run $150-$500. Severity: medium.
What is the 1989-2002 Nissan Skyline ATTESA E-TS Hydraulic Pump and Nitrogen Accumulator Failure?
The GT-R's (and GTS-4's) ATTESA E-TS all-wheel-drive system uses an electric hydraulic pump and a nitrogen-charged accumulator mounted near the fuel tank to pressurize the front-drive transfer clutch. With age the accumulator loses its nitrogen pre-charge and the pump and pressur… Repairs typically run $300-$2,500. Severity: medium.
What is the 1989-2002 Nissan Skyline Ignition Coil Pack and Engine-Valley Harness Degradation (Misfire Under Boost)?
The six individual coil packs and their harness sit in the hot valley between the cam covers on RB20/RB25/RB26 engines, where decades of heat cycles crack coil boots, embrittle the harness insulation and corrode crimped terminals. The classic result is a misfire that appears only… Repairs typically run $250-$900. Severity: medium.
