Total Complaints
32 filings
NISSAN STANZA · model year
1987 NISSAN STANZA
32 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1987NISSANSTANZA carries 32 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 2 fires, 6 injuries, and 1 fatality. 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 1987 STANZA is seat belts:front:buckle assembly with 5 filings, followed by fuel system, gasoline (3) and structure:body:door (3). 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 1987 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.
32
Complaints
5
Crashes
2
Fires
6
Injuries
1
Deaths
Crashes Reported
5 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 |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 5 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 3 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| STEERING:RACK AND PINION | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20070412STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
HOOD RELEASE CABLES, TRUNK RELEASE, GAS RELEASE, AND SEAT RECLINE CABLES ARE ALL INOPERABLE.*AK
Mileage: 125,000
20070412FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
HOOD RELEASE CABLES, TRUNK RELEASE, GAS RELEASE, AND SEAT RECLINE CABLES ARE ALL INOPERABLE.*AK
Mileage: 125,000
20070412SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
HOOD RELEASE CABLES, TRUNK RELEASE, GAS RELEASE, AND SEAT RECLINE CABLES ARE ALL INOPERABLE.*AK
Mileage: 125,000
20070412LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
HOOD RELEASE CABLES, TRUNK RELEASE, GAS RELEASE, AND SEAT RECLINE CABLES ARE ALL INOPERABLE.*AK
Mileage: 125,000
20020213FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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.
19990902ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR AND WATER PUMP WENT OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. *AK
19990902ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
ALTERNATOR AND WATER PUMP WENT OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. *AK
19990721FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
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
19990329ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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
19990329ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
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
19970602CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DRIVING AT SPEED OF 30MPH, VEHICLE WENT INTO OPEN THROTTLE POSITION, IMPACT 12:00 POSITION RPMS UNKNOWN, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, APPLIED BRAKES AND COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE. *AK
19970602CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
DRIVING AT SPEED OF 30MPH, VEHICLE WENT INTO OPEN THROTTLE POSITION, IMPACT 12:00 POSITION RPMS UNKNOWN, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, APPLIED BRAKES AND COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE. *AK
19970318STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
WHEN PUTTING BAG IN THE TRUCK THE TENSION LOADED TRUNK BARS THAT HOLD THE TRUNK, FELL OUT AND HIT CONSUMER IN THE FACE. *AK
19970306CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
PARKED IN DRIVE, WENT THROUGH LANE OF A HAMBURGER STAND, PUT CAR FROM PARK IN DRIVE; FOOT ON BRAKE AND CAR JUST PROPELLED FORWARD. ACCLERATOR WAS STUCK AND WHEN COMING TO A STREET COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH FOOT WAS ON BRAKE. RAN INTO BRICK WALL AND TOTALED CAR. *AK
19961202ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DISTRIBUTOR CAP LOOSENED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK
19961017CrashFatalSTRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DURING A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT THE DOORS FLEW OPEN UPON SLIGHTEST IMPACT TO FRONT CORNER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, RESULTING IN A FATALITY AND INJURY. *AK
19960404ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE. *SD
19960404FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
FUEL INJECTORS REPLACED. *SD
19960404FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
DISTRIBUTOR CAP REPLACED 2 TIMES. *SD
19960404ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
INTERMITTENT STALLING. *SD
Compare 1987NISSANSTANZA 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 1987 NISSAN STANZA have?▼
The 1987 NISSAN STANZA has 32 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 2 fires, 6 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1987 NISSAN STANZA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1987 NISSAN STANZA is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE and STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR.
Is the 1987 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
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.