PlainCars

NISSAN STANZA · model year

1986 NISSAN STANZA

18 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1986NISSANSTANZA carries 18 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 6 fires, 2 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 1986 STANZA is seat belts:front:buckle assembly with 3 filings, followed by electrical system:ignition (2) and steering:hydraulic power assist system (2). 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 1986 STANZA, 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.

18
Complaints
3
Crashes
6
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

18 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION2
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS2
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY1
EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:LPG SYSTEMS:TANK VALVE/GAUGE1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1

Recent Complaints

20090401FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1986 NISSAN STANZA. AS THE CONTACT PARKED HER VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY, SHE NOTICED SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, BUT DID NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND BADLY BURNED. THE NISSAN MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD. FIVE YEARS AGO, THE CONTACT'S 1987 NISSAN STANZA WAGON CAUGHT FIRE IN THE SAME MANNER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

Mileage: 138,000

20040428LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OR IN MOTION DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE DOORS WOULD UNEXPECTEDLY OPEN ON THEIR OWN. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

20021101EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:LPG SYSTEMS:TANK VALVE/GAUGE

VEHICLE FUEL GAUGE IS RECEIVING FALSE READING FROM THE SENDING UNIT WHILE DRIVING. CONDITION CAUSES VEHICLE TO STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. MR

20020821FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS

INJECTOR FUEL LEAK CAUSED UNDER-HOOD FIRE AFTER VEHICLE WAS PARKED, TOTALLING VEHICLE. (SAN FRANCISCO FIRE DEPT. INCIDENT #18501). *AK

20020709FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE CAUSED TOTAL LOSS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

20020206FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

PIPES CONNECTED TO ENIGNE WHICH CARRY FUEL HAD LEAKED, AND THERE WAS A FIRE IN ENGINE. *AK

20010524FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS

ALL 4 FUEL INJECTORS ARE LEAKING FUEL. COULD CAUSE A FIRE HAZARD. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER; BUT, THEY REFUSED TO HELP CONSUMER. NISSAN REFERENCE NUMBER FOR COMPLAINT#3431540. *AK MANUFACTURERTOLD CONSUMER THAT FUEL INJECTORS USUALLY LEAK AND CONSUMER IS RESPONSIBILE FOR REPLACING THEM.*JB

19960725CrashPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHEN LEAVING A PARKING SPACE THE CAR SLIPPED INTO REVERSE AND ACCLERATED ON ITS ON AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP.AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.PLEASE DESCCRIBE. *AK

19960725CrashPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHEN LEAVING A PARKING SPACE THE CAR SLIPPED INTO REVERSE AND ACCLERATED ON ITS ON AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP.AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.PLEASE DESCCRIBE. *AK

19960310SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL. *SKD

19960222FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

VEHICLE FIRE, RESULTING FROM A COLD START. *AK

19960222FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

VEHICLE FIRE, RESULTING FROM A COLD START. *AK

19960123CrashSTEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

POWER STEERING PROBLEMS. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

19960119SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

RECALL ON SEAT BELTS IN CAR AND DEALER DOES NOT HAVE PARTS TO FIX. HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR AT LEAST A YEAR FOR LETTER TO BE SERVICED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

19950810STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

THE CAR IS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID. THIS CAUSING THE POWER STEERING TO GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

19950721STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

THE REAR SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE HAS RUSTED AWAY. TT

19950418SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

BOTH REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELTS NO LONGER WORK, THEY WILL NOT FASTEN BECAUSE OF BROKEN PEICES THAT HAVE FALLEN INTO LOCKING SPACE. TT

19950411ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

PURCHASE CAR USED WHEN DRIVING CAR CUT OFF . TT

Compare 1986NISSANSTANZA to Similar Vehicles

STANZA vs FORDF-150 → STANZA vs FORDEXPLORER → STANZA vs JEEPGRAND CHEROKEE → STANZA vs FORDESCAPE →

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.

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1986 NISSAN STANZA have?▼
The 1986 NISSAN STANZA has 18 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 6 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1986 NISSAN STANZA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1986 NISSAN STANZA is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION and STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM.
Is the 1986 NISSAN STANZA 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

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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.