Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 35 complaints with NHTSA about the 1992 Nissan Stanza, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 12 | 34% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 7 | 20% |
| Seat belts | 5 | 14% |
| Structure | 1 | 3% |
| Steering | 1 | 3% |
| Tires | 1 | 3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 3% |
| Steering | 1 | 3% |
| Suspension | 1 | 3% |
| Steering | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
DT: CONSUMER REPORTS: THE TRUNK OF HER CAR FALLS DOWN ON HER HEAD. THERE ISN'T ANYTHING THERE TO SECURE IT; WHEN THE WIND BLOWS OR IF SHE IS PUTTING SOMETHING IN THE TRUNK, IT WILL FALL DOWN . *JB
NHTSA complaint: Structure
INDEX AND MIDDLE FINGERS BENT AND TWISTED TOWARDS THE BABY FINGERS. SEE PHOTOS AT: HTTP://PHOTOS.YAHOO.COM/MIKETOMICH THIS INFORMATION BEING SUBMITTED ON BEHALF OF JOHN REED BY MIKE TOMICH 989, 665-2311 DT
NHTSA complaint: Steering
FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT AUTOMATIC SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT INTO LOCKING POSITION, CAUSING CONSUMER NOT TO HAVE A SEATBELT ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
CONSUMER COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. CONSUMER WAS PURCHASING MORE GAS, BUT NOT GETTING MILEAGE. TOOK TO DEALER ,AND THEY SAID IT WAS FUEL INJECTORS. THEY WERE LEAKING GAS ON ENGINE.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
WITH 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 REIM
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
TREAD SEPARATIONS ON THREE OUT OF FOUR TIRES (TIRESIZE: 195-65R14)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 195-65R14 )
NHTSA complaint: Tires
VEHICLE BROUGHT TO STAR NISSAN FOR 9/29/00 INSPECTION OF GAS SMELL. MR. JOHN CHOE GAVE WRITTEN REPAIR ESTIMATE. INFORMED BY MR. CHOE THAT GAS LEAK WAS DANGEROUS, AND ALL (4) INJECTORS AND SEALS MUST BE REPLACED AT OWNER'
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
THE MOTORBELT FAILED ON BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE. *MJS
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1992 Nissan Stanza. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A MIXTURE OF MUD AND SALT TO GET TRAPPED BETWEEN THE FUEL FILLER TUBE AND WHEEL HOUSING. THE TRAPPED MUD AND SALT CAN RESULT IN CORROSION OF THE FUEL FILLER TUBE AND THE WHEEL HOUSING.
Risk: SIGNIFICANT CORROSION OF THE FUEL FILLER TUBE MAY RESULT IN FUEL LEAKS WHICH IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. IN ADDITION, THE LEFT REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR IS MOUNTED TO
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES AND CORRECTIVE ACTION WILL BE TAKEN DEPENDING UPON THE EXTENT OF THE CORROSION.
| Reliability raw | 86 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 80 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 88 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 55 | average |
| Performance | 49 | below average |
| Efficiency | 40 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 35 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and fuel system is the most reported area with 12 of them (34%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 86/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 80/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1992 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 72/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.