1985 Nissan STANZA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
6 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.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting:Headlights is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 6 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 1 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 1 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 1 |
Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 1; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 1; Structure:Frame And Members: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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. 6 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 3 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 1997 | 2 |
1995: 3; 1996: 1; 1997: 2
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting:Headlights leads the component reports. 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 480840 · 1995-01-30 (January 30, 1995)
FRACTURE IN FIREWALL, CAUSED CLUTCH CABLE TO FAIL. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480840 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 489125 · 1995-04-11 (April 11, 1995)
REAR PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED, PREVENTING BELT FROM PULLING OUT AND BUCKLING. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 489125 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 501590 · 1996-02-14 (February 14, 1996)
FUEL INJECTORS BROKE, LEAKING FUEL ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 501590 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 518277 · 1997-06-08 (June 8, 1997)
CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT SEAT BELT LOOPS AROUND SEAT LATCH, CAUSING THE SEAT TO UNEXPECTEDLY COLLAPSE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 518277 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 808044 · 1997-03-18 (March 18, 1997)
WIFE TAKEN DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL, SMELLED STRONG ODOR OF GAS, DAUGHTER OUT OF VEHICLE, WIFE STILL IN VEHICLE WHEN IT BURST INTO FLAMES. WIFE OUT OF VEHICLE SAFELY. FIRE DEPT ARRIVED & PUT FLAMES OUT. VEHICLE TOWED HOME. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 808044 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 958307 · 1995-01-05 (January 5, 1995)
FUNGUS GROWING ON THE REFLECTER HEADLIGHT UNIT CAUSING DIMMING. CAN NOT DIVE AT NIGHT. PLEASE DESCRIBBE FURTHER. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 958307 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.
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
6 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
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 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 116.7%ODI 501590FUEL INJECTORS BROKE, LEAKING FUEL ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. *SD | 212.5%ODI 765808INJECTOR FUEL LEAK CAUSED UNDER-HOOD FIRE AFTER VEHICLE WAS PARKED, TOTALLING VEHICLE. (SAN FRANCISCO FIRE DEPT. INCIDENT #18501). *AK | 14.8% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 330.0%ODI 518500TWO FUEL INJECTORS LEAKED FUEL ONTO INTAKE MANIFOLD WHEN ENGINE RUNNING , CAUSING STRONG SMELL OF GAS WITHIN ENGIEN COMPARTMENT. *AK | 925.0% | 824.2%ODI 100162001991 NISSAN STANZA FUEL INJECTOR LEAKAGE, TIMING BELT GUIDE BREAKAGE, CV JOINT FAILURE. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR A RECALL ON THESE LEAKING FUEL INJECTORS, SOMEONE'S DEATH? THIS CAR IS A PIECE OF JUNK!!! MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER HAS BEEN DRIVING THE CAR AND I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE (NO RECALL). *JB | 618.2%ODI 717478WHILE DRIVING THE SMELL OF GAS IS NOTICED THROUGHOUT THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. TOOK IT IN TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE 2 FUEL INJECTORS ARE LEAKING, AND THAT NISSAN HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ITS FUEL INJECTORS IN THE STANZA AND MAXIMA MODELS. I DO NOT SEE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT SEEMS LIKE IT'S AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR NISSAN. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE PROBLEM TO FIX AND IF NOT FIXED RENDERS THE CAR DANGEROUS AND FIRE-PRONE. *AK | 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 | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 717343MY 300 Z NISSAN WAS RECALLED FOR SAME PROBLEM AND REPAIRED BY NISSAN. NISSAN SAYS THEY HAVE RECORD OF OTHER FAILURES BUT NOT ENOUGH TO RECALL. THIS CAN BE VERY SERIOUS LEADING TO FIRE. UNFORTUNATELY FOR NISSAN, THEY MAKE RELIABLE CARS THAT LAST ALONG TIME, AND NO ONE REALIZED THE PROBLEMS ETHANOL COULD CAUSE WHEN IT WAS USED IN GAS. THANKS FOR YOU ASSISTANCE. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 14.8% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 719.4%ODI 514140FUEL INJECTOR REGULATOR FAILED CAUSING FUMES TO ENTER VEHICLE. | 412.1%ODI 701427SEVERAL WEEKS AGO MY MECHANIC ASKED IF I SMELLED GAS AT ANY TIME, HE LOOKED AND SAW THAT MY FUEL INJECTORS WERE LEAKING. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST IS $600.00. I WENT LOOKING ON THE INTERNET TO GET INFORMATION ON FUEL INJECTORS TO SEE IF YOU CAN REPAIR THEM RATHER THAN REPLACE THEM. WELL I CAME ACROSS A RECALL NOTICE ABOUT SOME NISSAN MODELS THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I AM HAVING WITH MY VEHICLE. I CONTACTED NISSAN AND THE SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE MY VEHICLE WAS NOT APART OF THEIR CAMPAIGN. THEY SUGGESTED THAT I CONT… | 618.2%ODI 7036462 INJECTORS HAVE FAILED, O-RINGS REPLACED AND STILL SMELL GAS IN THE VEHICLE | 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. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 0UnavailableNo 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. | 16.3%ODI 10263881 · 138,000 miTL*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… | 29.5% | 116.7% | 110.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 13.0% | 618.2%ODI 483313TIMING CHAIN FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL/STARTING PROBLEMS. *AK | 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. |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 116.7%ODI 489125REAR PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED, PREVENTING BELT FROM PULLING OUT AND BUCKLING. *SKD | 318.8% | 523.8%ODI 500616SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK IN PLACE DURING AN ACCIDENT, CAUSING DRIVER TO GO FORWARD STRIKING WINDSHIELD WITH HEAD, RESULTING IN AN INJURY. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 110.0%ODI 965737CENTER REAR SEATBELT RED BUTTON CHIPPED OFF AND FELL DOWN IN THE MECHANISM, INOPERATIVE. TT | 25.6%ODI 964733DRIVER'S LAP BELT JAMMED INTO BUCKLE; OCCUPANT CANNOT PULL BELT OUT OF RETRACTOR; RESTRAINED ONLY BY SHOULDER BELT. TT | 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. |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 116.7%ODI 808044WIFE TAKEN DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL, SMELLED STRONG ODOR OF GAS, DAUGHTER OUT OF VEHICLE, WIFE STILL IN VEHICLE WHEN IT BURST INTO FLAMES. WIFE OUT OF VEHICLE SAFELY. FIRE DEPT ARRIVED & PUT FLAMES OUT. VEHICLE TOWED HOME. *AK | 16.3% | 314.3%ODI 10187641 · 125,000 miHOOD RELEASE CABLES, TRUNK RELEASE, GAS RELEASE, AND SEAT RECLINE CABLES ARE ALL INOPERABLE.*AK | 116.7%ODI 973568TURNED ON IGNITION, WOULD NOT START;NOTICED BIG FUEL PUDDLE/HOOD SCORCHED; LIFTED HOOD, ENGINE PARTS WERE BURNT; FIRE MUST HAVE OCCURRED WHILE PARKED 2 DAYS. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 38.3%ODI 10054986 · 125,000 miA VERY BAD GAS ODOR/FUMES IN THE VEHICLE, GAS IS LEAKING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALSO GAS LEAKING FROM GAS FILLER TUBE. *JB | 13.0%ODI 8019274CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIIVING THERE WAS A GAS ODOR, HAD VEHICLE SERVICED. THEIR IS A LEAK FROM WHERE THE FUEL LINE RUNS FROM THE TANK TO THE ENGINE.*JB | 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. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 0UnavailableNo 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. | 14.8% | 116.7% | 110.0%ODI 986903THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK *SLC | 12.8%ODI 716266THE 1ST TIME WAS @ 65000 MILES, NOW AGAIN - PIECE OF JUNK! NO SAFETY DEFECT (S) MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK | 26.1% | 26.1%ODI 734785WITH NO WARNING, THE TIMING CHAIN SKIPPED SPROCKETS ON STARTUP, CAUSING VALVE, CYLINDER, AND CRANKSHAFT DAMAGE. THIS NECCESSITATED REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE AT A TOTAL COST OF $3902.21. NISSAN WOULD DO NOTHING ABOUT REIMBURSING ANY OF THE EXPENSE DUE TO A TENSIONER DESIGN DEFECT, SINCE THE AUTO WAS OUT OF WARRANTEE. SINCE INTERNAL TIMING CHAINS USUALLY LAST THE USEFUL LIFE OF AN ENGINE, ABOUT 120-140K MILES, THIS WAS VERY PREMATURE. WHILE, THE INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE THE AUTO WAS STATIONARY, IT COULD VERY WELL HAVE HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY WHILE T… | 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. |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 212.5%ODI 8013537CONSUMER 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 | 14.8% | 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. | 13.0%ODI 800893WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN AND HAD TO BE STARTED AGAIN. PLEASE DESCRIBE.*AK | 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:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap | 0UnavailableNo 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. | 14.8%ODI 842829FUEL 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 | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 12.8%ODI 855880THE FUEL FILLER TUBE HAS CORRODED, RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE;,HOWEVER,THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK | 39.1%ODI 10007007I AM CURRENTLY HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY FUEL TANK LEAKING. I LOOKED ON LINE AND NOTICED THE CARS IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE U.S. WERE RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY ALL CARS WERE NOT RECALLED AND IF IT CAN STILL BE REPLACED. THANK-YOU. NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*734297 | 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. |
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 | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | 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.
1995: 1 complaints · 1996: 1 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1996 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
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 | Exterior Lighting:Headlights | Fuel System, Gasoline | Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors | Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | Structure:Frame And Members |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1ODI 489125REAR PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED, PREVENTING BELT FROM PULLING OUT AND BUCKLING. *SKD | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1ODI 489125REAR PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED, PREVENTING BELT FROM PULLING OUT AND BUCKLING. *SKD | — | 0 | 0 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
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.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.