1987 Nissan Stanza problems & reliability
21 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1987 Nissan Stanza. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
5 complaints report injuries (5 injured, 1 deaths reported).
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Seat Belts | 7 | 33% |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 | 29% |
| Structure | 4 | 19% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 14% |
| Electrical System | 2 | 10% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 10% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 5% |
| Seats | 1 | 5% |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 5% |
| Steering | 1 | 5% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“There is a severe odor of gas in the interior; venting in external air only increases odor. The phenomenon has steadily increased, but mechanics continue to fail in locating the source. No fuel leak has ever been found.”
Fuel System, Gasoline · filed Feb 13, 2002
“Fuel filler tube rusted out. Also, over a time there will be clogging in the filter, causing a safety hazard. Please provide any further details. *ak”
Fuel System, Gasoline · filed Jul 21, 1999
“When driving and getting into the vehicle the consumer can smell fumes getting into the vehicle. Also, when consumer is trying to start vehicle up, the vehicle isn't getting enough fluid, and the vehicle will cut off. There is some type of noise coming from the vehicle. *ak”
Engine and Engine Cooling · filed Mar 29, 1999
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
3 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 1987 Nissan Stanza.
Nissan: tire pressure monitoring system (tpms) warning light on/flashing. No models or model years listed. *pe updated on 08-11-2011. *kb
NTB-09-101 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 30, 2010
Nissan: vent control valve replacement. When replacing the evap canister vent control valve for reason: use the one listed on page 2; for vent control valve replacement procedure, refer to the appropriate section of the…
NTB-09-129 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 13, 2010
Nissan: the 12 volt battery is an important part of the vehicle electrical system and is required to stay connected when the engine is running. To prevent damage to vehicle electronic components follow the…
NTB-09-030 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 6, 2009
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
No NHTSA recall campaigns name the 1987 Nissan Stanza in our current data. Recalls may apply only to certain VIN ranges — always confirm with a VIN check.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 1987 Nissan Stanza?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.