Total Complaints
5 filings
NISSAN PULSAR · model year
1989 NISSAN PULSAR
5 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1989NISSANPULSAR carries 5 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1989 PULSAR is service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components with 1 filings, followed by power train:driveline:constant velocity joint (1) and electrical system:wiring:fuses and circuit breakers (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 54 investigation files overlapping the 1989 PULSAR, and 5 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
5
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20020509EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
I WAS FAILED DUE TO A SMALL CRACK IN THE TAIL LIGHT COVER. UNFORTUNATELY THE COVER IS PART OF A LARGE PANEL THAT WRAPS AROUND THE SIDE. THE PART COSTS $140 TO REPLACE. WHEN THE LIGHTS GO ON YOU CAN TELL NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CRACKED ONE AND THE GOOD ONE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. NO WATER GETS IN AND THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO SAFETY ISSUES WITH IT. I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO SPEND $140 TO FIX THIS WHEN THERE IS NO REAL NEED TO. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO TO GET MY CAR A STICKER?
19951027LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE'S HOOD FLEW OPEN, THE SECONDARY LATCH FAILED. TT FAILURE CAUSED DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. *SLC
19951005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
SHORT IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSES AIR CONDITIONING FUSES TO SHORT/BLOW OUT, CAUSING AIR CONDITIONER TO FAIL. *SKD
19950302SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHILE DRIVING, EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE, WHEN PEDAL GOES DOWN LOW AND HEARS GRINDING NOISE, HAS REPLACED COMPLETE BRAKE SYSTEM AND CV JOINT BOOTS.
19950302POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT
WHILE DRIVING, EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE, WHEN PEDAL GOES DOWN LOW AND HEARS GRINDING NOISE, HAS REPLACED COMPLETE BRAKE SYSTEM AND CV JOINT BOOTS.
Compare 1989NISSANPULSAR to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 5 Open
PE25005Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Driver Airbag Inflator Rupture
PE24020Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Inner Tie Rod Failures
PE24017Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Side curtain air bags may deploy inadvertently
PE24007Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Reduced Power After Engine Stall
PE23020Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of motive power due to broken crankshaft with no ability to restart.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1989 NISSAN PULSAR have?▼
The 1989 NISSAN PULSAR has 5 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 NISSAN PULSAR?▼
The most-complained component for the 1989 NISSAN PULSAR is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS.
Is the 1989 NISSAN PULSAR safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.