The Lemon Index
Nissan's 2.0-liter inline-4, turbo. This page covers the versions we have sourced so far: the Nissan Silvia, model years 1999–2002. The engine is used in other cars too; those aren't covered here yet.
Middle of the pack: YouTube owner tone None/100, #97 of 165 engines with a YouTube study (in the middle third); no engine-related recall on record, 4 known issues listed below.
Known issues on record
- Camshaft wear from skipped oil changes (Outlet report). Auto Express says the SR20DET can wear its camshafts fast when oil changes have been skipped. CarsGuide says to look under the oil filler cap for sludge, and to check that the oil on the dipstick is clean.
- Rattle on start-up (Outlet report). Auto Express says a rattle on start-up can mean the variable valve timing system is worn. It wrote this about the S14 200SX, which used the same SR20DET.
- Turbo gasket and exhaust manifold leaks (Outlet report). Auto Express says blown turbo gaskets are common and make the car very noisy at idle, and that exhaust manifolds are a weak point that can leak.
- Turbo burning oil (Outlet report). Retro Rides says white exhaust smoke means the turbo is burning oil. Auto Express adds that many of these turbos are now old, and CarsGuide warns that owners often fit bigger turbos and new electronics, so take care with modified cars.
What YouTube owners say Tone 0-100, higher = more praise than trouble.
Average owner tone 47/100 across 14 model years, from 152 videos about this engine and its cars (#97 of 165 engines with a YouTube study).
Most-watched videos
- Rebuilding an Abandoned Nissan S15 Silvia in 24 Hours! 2,866,993 views
- Figuring Out Why My Skyline-Powered S14 Won't Start 2,466,082 views
- Nissan’s Most Important Car - The S13 Silvia - BIGTIME 1,556,890 views
- Blksmiith - SR20DET 1,402,403 views
- Building a S15 Silvia 1,387,334 views
Counted from video titles and captions: praise words against trouble words, weighted by views. Videos only count when the title names this engine or a car that had only this engine in those years.
Owner complaints and recalls
The cars on this page were never sold new in the US, so NHTSA has no owner complaints or recalls for them.
| Car | Years | Owner complaints | Recall campaigns | NHTSA files it as |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S15 Silvia | 1999–2002 | – | – | Never sold new in the US |
Specs by generation
Nissan SR20DET: S15 Silvia, 1999–2002
- Layout: Inline-4, DOHC 16-valve, aluminum block with steel sleeves, aluminum head, timing chain
- Output: 250 PS (247 hp) at 6,400 rpm, 275 Nm (203 lb-ft) at 4,800 rpm in the S15 Spec-R
- Bore x stroke: 86 x 86 mm, 1,998 cc
- Turbo: One turbo; the S15 got a ball-bearing unit, which lifted output to 250 PS
- Compression: 8.5:1 in the S15 Spec-R
- Used in: Silvia from the S13 in 1991 to the S15 in 2002
What we don't have yet
- The engine's other cars: only the versions above are sourced so far.
Quick answers
What cars have the Nissan SR20DET engine?
On this site so far: the Nissan Silvia, model years 1999–2002. It is used in other cars we haven't covered yet.
Is the Nissan SR20DET reliable?
Mostly, with known issues to check. YouTube owner tone None/100, #97 of 165 engines with a YouTube study (in the middle third); no engine-related recall on record, 4 known issues listed below. Owner complaints are filed by car, not engine, and cover the whole car, so none of these numbers is an engine failure rate.
How much horsepower does the Nissan SR20DET make?
247 hp in the versions on this page (factory figures).
Sources: Wikipedia: Nissan SR engine · Wikipedia: Nissan Silvia · Gulliver (221616.com) new-car catalog: Nissan Silvia Spec R, S15 (Jan 1999), maker specifications · Auto Express: Nissan 200SX/Silvia S14 buying guide and review, 1995-2000 (Auto Express team, Nov 2018) · CarsGuide: Used Nissan 200SX review: 1996-2003 (Graham Smith, Jan 2009) · Retro Rides: Top tips for buying a used Nissan Silvia S13-S15, 1988-2002 (Cliff Chambers, Aug 2025). Complaints and recalls: NHTSA (api.nhtsa.gov).