Auto Recall Watch
U.S. public vehicle records

1985 Nissan PULSAR: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

2 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

Not available median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1985 model year. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train:Manual Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 2 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting150.0%
Steering behavior150.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Power Train:Manual Transmission
1
Steering
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Power Train:Manual Transmission1
Steering1

Power Train:Manual Transmission: 1; Steering: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

No usable failure mileage is recorded. 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1996
1
2000
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
19961
20001

1996: 1; 2000: 1

Pattern summary

Power Train:Manual Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 511858 · 1996-11-27 (November 27, 1996)

DEFECT IN 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION, CAUSING IT TO JUMP OUT OF GEAR.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 511858 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 736505 · 2000-11-18 (November 18, 2000)

STEERING JERKS TO LEFT WHEN IN MIDDLE OFF ON LEFT CURVE OR HITTING A BUMP. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 736505 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

2 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

0.0%Usable mileage0 / 2 records
50.0%Valid incident date1 / 2 records
100.0%Valid filing date2 / 2 records
50.0%Ordered incident and filing dates1 / 2 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

Component complaint heatmap
Component1983198419851986198719881989
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

133.3%
ODI 814194

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE THERMOSTAT NEEDLE HAND WENT COMPLETELY UP. THEN STATED THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING AND THEY PULLED OVER. CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD AND A FIRE BROKE OUT, CAUSING INJURIES TO HER BACK AND HAIR, CONSUMER STATED THAT THE CAR WAS TOTALLY DAMAGED. *AK

Look up ODI 814194 at NHTSA ↗

233.3%
ODI 706286

AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT I WAS UNAWARE OF ANYONE WHOME COULD HELP ME. I HAVE PAPERS PROVING THAT IN 1988 NISSAN PULSARS , AFTER 30,000 MILES, PLATINUM PARKS PLUGS ARE TO BE USED DURING A TUNE UP. IN THE BOSH MANUAL FOR SPARK PLUGS IT STATES THAT THIS IS UNNECCESARY. NISSAN AGREES THAT IS IS, HOWEVER, FAILES TO DO ANYTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH BOSH. BOSH ALSO REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. OR TO CHANGE THEIR MANUAL. THE DAMAGE DONE TO MY VEHICLE DUE TO NON PLATINUM SPARK PLUGS BEING USED WAS FOR MY COILS TO BURN UP. …

Look up ODI 706286 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

133.3%
ODI 881550

WHEN PUMPING GAS IN TANK GAS LEAKS OUT FROM UNDER CAR WHEN ALMOST FULL. GAS BURNS FAST. *AK

Look up ODI 881550 at NHTSA ↗

116.7%
ODI 981167

EXPERIENCING FUEL LEAK IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, RECALL THAT RELATES, BUT NOT INLCUDED (87V-191). *AK

Look up ODI 981167 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

116.7%
ODI 883287

BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. PRIVATE MECHANIC LOOKED AT VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DETERMINE A REASON FOR FAILURE. CONSUMER DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN SHE REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER AT A STOP LIGHT. BRAKES WERE FUNCTIONAL 2 MONTHS AFTER ACCIDENT, THEN FAILED AGAIN. ERRATIC OPERATION WITH BRAKE FAILURE 3 TIMES. *AK

Look up ODI 883287 at NHTSA ↗

125.0%
ODI 960951

WHILE DRIVING, EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE, WHEN PEDAL GOES DOWN LOW AND HEARS GRINDING NOISE, HAS REPLACED COMPLETE BRAKE SYSTEM AND CV JOINT BOOTS.

Look up ODI 960951 at NHTSA ↗

Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

125.0%
ODI 489835

SHORT IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSES AIR CONDITIONING FUSES TO SHORT/BLOW OUT, CAUSING AIR CONDITIONER TO FAIL. *SKD

Look up ODI 489835 at NHTSA ↗

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

116.7%
ODI 503535

RIGHT AXLE FAILED.

Look up ODI 503535 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

125.0%
ODI 761669

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?

Look up ODI 761669 at NHTSA ↗

Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

1100.0%
ODI 537085

OWNER NEVER NOTIFIED OF RECALL NOTICE #TS84-083, FOR FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT. IS NISSAN RESPONSIBLE TO REPLACE WITH UPDATED FUEL PUMP?

Look up ODI 537085 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

116.7%
ODI 705810

FUEL INJECTORS LEAK SIMILARLY TO 300ZX,200SX,AND MAXIMA THAT WERE VOLUNTARILY REPAIRED BY NISSAN. THERE IS A GREAT FIRE DANGER AND MILEAGE AND DRIVABILITY PROBLEM. NISSAN REFUSES TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, STATING THAT THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF A DEFECT IN THE INJECTORS OF THE '88 PULSAR WITH MULTI-PORT INJECTION EVENTHOUGH IT IS THE SAME MANUFACTURER AS THE REPLACED '88 300 ET AL, AND HAS THE SAME EXACT SAFETY PROBLEM. *AK

Look up ODI 705810 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
ComponentMileage range (25th–75th percentile)MedianUsable recordsExamples
No usable records for this analysis.

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

1 reports2024-112026-10

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
MonthComplaintsCampaigns announcedExamples
2024-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2024-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-100None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-10 (partial)0None

No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Age 0Age 1Age 21 reports

1988: 0 complaints · 1989: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model yearThrough age 0Through age 1Through age 2
1988000
1989000
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
YearIncident dates usedFiling date fallbacksExcluded dates
1988420
1989220

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
ComponentPower Train:Manual TransmissionSteering
Power Train:Manual Transmission—0
Steering0—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

1 patterns with matching reports.

Hard or delayed shifting

1 mentions · 50.0% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 736505

STEERING JERKS TO LEFT WHEN IN MIDDLE OFF ON LEFT CURVE OR HITTING A BUMP. *AK

Look up ODI 736505 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule\b(hard shift\w*|rough shift\w*|delay\w* shift\w*|shift\w* hard|jerk\w*|lurch\w*)\b