Electrical: Alternator failed twice at 65,000 and 101,000 miles.
Brakes: Rear wheel cylinder failed (leakage) at 97,000 miles.
No frills pickup; it does not possess a lot of creature comforts as a regular cab- basic truck for basic use.
Poor gas mileage for a four cylinder. As a 4x4, it yields 17 MPG city and ~19MPG highway (as indicated on the sales ticker when purchased)
Very reliable. The truck has always performed where/when required and is as reliable as my Timex watch.
Engine noise: The four cylinder engine offering (only engine offered in Nissan's line of pickups for 1997), the KA24E, is not known for being quiet. Even when it was new, the timing chain will rattle & slap for about 2 seconds until oil pressure builds up. I have heard from Nissan service mechanics that this is a chracteristivc of this particular engine.
Pour on the torque!: The KA24E motor is perhaps one of the most torque-blessed motors I have ever encountered in a four cylinder. It likes to run at no more than 4500 RPM, and will accelerate sufficiently at RPMs well below this in taller gears.
Alignment lover: Even though this is a 4x4 that is as stock as the day I bought it (same wheels, suspension, etc.), the truck seems to not hold alignments after moderate road encounters. 4 alignments in seven years, and I don't even take this truck off-road.
Other: As a 4x4 XE standard cab, the running gear (i.e.: powertrain) is fairly solid. No frills, manual hubs, bench seat. Transmission is starting to wear; shift pattern is somewhat finicky.
Alignments are scheduled every 12,000 miles. Four in 100k miles isn't bad.
I bought my ’97 in ’99 with 30K.
It now has 112K on it and it runs great.
I tow a half-ton trailer and buzz along the freeways in Phoenix at 70MPH with the A/C on with no problems.
The best pickup I ever had.
I have one Nissan D21 2.7 turbo diesel 4x4, which I bought 12 years ago, and have still got it. It's now at 60.000 miles.
I never had any problems whatsoever.
It's the 4 door version.
I live in Jersey, UK, and have drove it a few times from France to Portugal, a 2000 mile journey. And never let me down...
Say no more...
I love my 97 Nissan XE 2wd small cab pickup. Bought it in 98 with 30+ miles on it. Now it has 140K.
I had to replace the clutch at around 90K. Otherwise nothing major.
Great gas mileage... approx 28 country miles. BUT, just today, I learned about timing belts and have never had that brought to my attention. I am wondering and trying to find info about when the timing belt needs replaced and what are the symptoms? I do not hear any sort of rattling noise. But I wonder if the timing belt fails, whether it is sudden and the truck would need to be towed, or whether it is a gradual thing?
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