DTC P0456 CAUSED BY EVAP LEAK AT VENT CONTROL VALVE O-RING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2011 Nissan Quest fuel system problems
moderate 18 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,200 · see fuel system across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,200
When does it fail?
Of the 18 fuel system complaints filed for the 2011 Nissan Quest, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 5 model years of Nissan Quest in our records for fuel system problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Fuel system accounts for 28% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 4 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering fuel system on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
NISSAN; FUEL TANK IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO FILL This bulletin applies to Titan XD vehicles with a gas engine. The update below was sent out to Regions and Dealers in August of this year. We are re-circulating this update to make regional and dealer personnel aware that we are re-notifying customers at this time.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗NISSAN; FUEL TANK IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO FILL This bulletin applies to Titan XD vehicles with a gas engine. This bulletin has been amended. Changes have been made throughout. It is necessary for you to read this revised procedure to properly perform this action. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗NISSAN; FUEL TANK IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO FILL This bulletin applies to Titan XD vehicles with a gas engine. This bulletin has been amended. Changes have been made throughout. It is necessary for you to read this revised procedure to properly perform this action. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗NISSAN; FUEL TANK IS SLOW OR DIFFICULT TO FILL IF YOU CONFIRM The fuel tank is slow or difficult to fill (filling nozzle shuts off before tank is full). IMPORTANT: Make sure this incident has been duplicated at a gas station by dealer service staff. ACTION Perform the Service Procedure in this bulletin, starting on the next page.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2011 Nissan Quest's fuel system exhibits a critical pattern: the engine stalls without warning when the vehicle is driven downhill or parked on a slope with 1/4 tank or less of fuel. Owners report stalls occurring at highway speeds, in intersections, and in driveways—often with no warning lights and while the fuel gauge still displays fuel present. The vehicle frequently cannot be restarted until fuel is added or it is pushed to level ground.
Multiple owners state the fuel gauge and distance-to-empty display are inaccurate; owners calculate that their vehicles stall with 5–6+ gallons remaining in the tank, yet displays show 40–100+ miles to empty. When refueled after stalling, tanks take 14–15 gallons—far less than the reported 20-gallon capacity—confirming actual fuel on board contradicts the gauge reading.
Dealerships have attempted fuel tank replacement, fuel pump and sensor replacement, and moisture removal—none resolving the stalls. Nissan issued two Technical Service Bulletins addressing the distance-to-empty gauge and fuel system components, but owners report repairs failed and dealerships offered no remedy beyond advising drivers to maintain at least 1/4 to 1/2 tank at all times. One arbitration case noted the VIN did not qualify for the second TSB despite the same failure pattern. Nissan has resisted recalling the vehicle, with representatives stating they await a "safety concern" to justify action.
Failure modes owners describe
Engine stalls on downhill slopes with low fuel
The engine stalls without warning when the vehicle is driven downhill or parked on a decline with 1/4 tank or less of fuel. The vehicle frequently cannot be restarted until fuel is added or the vehicle is moved to level ground. Occurs even when the fuel gauge and distance-to-empty display indicate fuel is present.
When: Typically when fuel gauge shows 1/4 tank or less; some reports with up to 1/2 tank. Incidents from 1,100 miles to 159,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Complete engine stall without warning on downhill slopes; No warning lights illuminate before stall; Vehicle will not restart until fuel is added or moved to flat surface; Fuel gauge shows fuel present at time of stall; Distance-to-empty gauge shows 40–100+ miles remaining
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel tank replacement attempted in multiple cases but did not resolve stalling. Owners report replacing fuel tank, gaskets, chamber, pumps, and sensors—problem persisted. One dealership advised owner to maintain at least 1/4 or 1/2 tank at all times as a workaround.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Two Technical Service Bulletins (TSB) mentioned: first TSB involved replacing the distance-to-empty gauge; second TSB applied when VIN matched issue dates. Some owners report Nissan stated 'they are working on fixing the problem' but offered no repair solution. Nissan declined to recall until a 'safety concern' occurs. Campaign 12V076000 referenced in some reports (Electrical System, Fuel System, Gasoline) but some VINs not included.
Fuel starvation when parked on decline with inadequate fuel supply
Vehicle cannot draw fuel from tank when parked on a downhill slope with less than 1/4 tank. The fuel pump or pickup tube does not access fuel due to tank design, preventing engine start. Vehicle may start after being rolled to flat ground or fuel is added.
When: Occurs in own driveway and other parked situations on slopes; can happen at very low mileage (1,100 miles reported).
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not start when parked on decline with low fuel; Vehicle starts immediately when pushed to flat surface; Fuel gauge may show fuel present; No warning lights before failure to start
Repairs/costs cited: No successful repairs documented. Fuel tank replacement did not resolve issue in one case.
Inaccurate fuel gauge and distance-to-empty display
Fuel gauge and distance-to-empty reading do not match actual fuel in tank. Vehicle stalls with reported fuel remaining; when refueled, tank takes significantly less than expected capacity, indicating gauge showed false low but did not indicate actual fuel state. Owners calculate discrepancy: gauge shows ~50–90 miles to empty, but stall occurs with 5–6+ gallons remaining in what is reported as a 20-gallon tank.
When: Throughout ownership; multiple incidents per owner within weeks or months.
Symptoms owners cite: Fuel gauge reads empty or near-empty before stall; Distance-to-empty shows 40–100+ miles when stall occurs; After stall and refueling, tank capacity is less than expected (e.g., 14–15 gallons added to '20-gallon tank'); Disconnect between gauge reading and actual fuel level
Repairs/costs cited: Distance-to-empty gauge replacement performed under first TSB in at least one case but did not resolve stalling. One dealer diagnosed 'unwanted moisture entering fuel tank' and repaired; problem continued.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: First TSB addressed distance-to-empty gauge replacement; second TSB applied selectively based on VIN. One dealership claimed gauge issue but owner dispute based on tank capacity math.
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
First incident: vehicle's low fuel warning light came on and computer indicated 55 miles to empty. Approximately 8 miles later, while idling in a parking lot on a subtle downhill slope, the engine stalled. Pushing start button caused an attempt to crank, but engine wouldn't start. Accessory power still worked. We put 1 1/2 gallons of gas in the van and it still would not start (just cranked and…
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Nissan quest. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the fuel light illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was maneuvered to the shoulder and the contact was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer and was not repaired. The failure and the current mileages were 4,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Quest. The contact stated while attempting to park the vehicle, the vehicle stalled without warning. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic but was not diagnosed or repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V076000 (Electrical System, Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the…
Had fuel system trouble with your 2011 Nissan Quest?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the fuel system problem on the 2011 Nissan Quest?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 18 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,200 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the fuel system typically fail?
Across the 15 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most fuel system failures cluster between 3,750 and 11,000 miles, with the median around 6,200. A quarter of owners report trouble before 3,750; a quarter make it past 11,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,200 for fuel system repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to fuel system?
No active recalls currently cover fuel system issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Nissan/Quest.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.