AI Damage1989 Nissan Pulsar: common problems
Owners of the 1989 Nissan Pulsar filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and exterior lighting. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 25% of all complaints
- 2 Exterior lighting 25% of all complaints
- 3 Latches, locks, linkages 25% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 25% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 25% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Latches, locks, linkages: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (25% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.6 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 1.8 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 3-speed
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 4 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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.
While driving, the vehicle's hood flew open, the secondary latch failed. Tt failure caused damage to vehicle.
Short in electrical system causes air conditioning fuses to short/blow out, causing air conditioner to fail.
While driving, experienced intermittent brake failure, when pedal goes down low and hears grinding noise, has replaced complete brake system and cv joint boots.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 15,521 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 42% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Pulsar has 3 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 4, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Latches, locks, linkages. Door, hood and tailgate latches, especially near the impact.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1989 Nissan Pulsar?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, exterior lighting, latches, locks, linkages. Total complaints: 4. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: brake failure (25%), A/C or heater (25%), headlights and tail lights (25%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1989 Nissan Pulsar?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1989 Nissan Pulsar from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1989 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.