Model year guide

1985 Nissan Stanza

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1985 Nissan Stanza is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 3 on record.

1985 Nissan Stanza — representative photo
Representative photo

1985 Nissan Stanza at a glance

Safety recallsNone
Owner complaints7
Combined22–26 mpg

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1985 Nissan Stanza recalls 0

No NHTSA safety-recall campaigns are on record for the 1985 Nissan Stanza.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1985 Nissan Stanza common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 7 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Fuel System
Sniff for fuel odor, check for leaks, hard starts or stalling, and confirm the fuel gauge reads correctly.
Gasoline
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Seat Belts
Check that every belt latches, retracts and locks under a sharp tug, and that none are frayed.
Seats
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Structure
Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.
Exterior Lighting
Confirm all headlights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights work, with no moisture inside the housings.

1985 Nissan Stanza MPG & running costs

Combined22–26 mpg
City22 mpg
Highway28 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,788
EPA size classCompact Cars
TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd or Manual 5-spd
Passenger volume88 cu ft
Cargo volume19 cu ft
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$1,938 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 4 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1985 Nissan Stanza costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$13,940
Fuel only$13,940
Per mile$0.19

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Dimensions & weight

Length
173.6 in
Width
65.7 in
Height
54.7 in
Wheelbase
97.2 in
Curb weight
2,326 lb

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1985 Nissan Stanza — ranges cover the 2 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

NHTSA defect investigations 2

STEERING MALFUNCTION Closed

NHTSA #PE88025 · Steering · opened Feb 1988 · closed May 1988

FIREWALL SEAM SPLIT Closed

FIREWALL SEAM SPLIT

NHTSA #DP88001 · Engine And Engine Cooling · opened Sep 1987 · closed Feb 1988

An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.

Manufacturer service bulletins 3

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered.

NISSAN: TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) WARNING LIGHT ON/FLASHING. NO MODELS OR MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE UPDATED ON 08-11-2011. *KB

Bulletin NTB-09-101 · Tires · Sep 2010

NISSAN: VENT CONTROL VALVE REPLACEMENT. WHEN REPLACING THE EVAP CANISTER VENT CONTROL VALVE FOR REASON: USE THE ONE LISTED ON PAGE 2; FOR VENT CONTROL VALVE REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE, REFER TO THE APPROPRIATE SECTION OF THE ELECTRONIC SERVICE MANUALS (ESM; WHEN IN…

Bulletin NTB-09-129 · Equipment · Sep 2010

NISSAN: THE 12 VOLT BATTERY IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND IS REQUIRED TO STAY CONNECTED WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO VEHICLE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS/CAUTIONS. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE

Bulletin NTB-09-030 · Electrical System · Apr 2009

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the STANZA. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

About the Nissan Stanza

The Nissan Violet is a compact car that was first released in Japan in 1973 and produced until 1992. It was initially exclusive to Nissan's Japanese Nissan Cherry Store dealerships, as a larger companion to the Nissan Cherry.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

1985 Nissan Stanza vehicles on record

1985 Nissan Stanza 1985 Nissan StanzaJN10FPT11U0470780 1985 Nissan Stanza 1985 Nissan StanzaJN10FST11U0400057 1985 Nissan Stanza 1985 Nissan StanzaJN100FT11U0404493

Other Nissan Stanza model years

1992 1990 1986 1984 1983

1985 Nissan Stanza — frequently asked questions

Does the 1985 Nissan Stanza have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists no safety-recall campaigns for the 1985 Nissan Stanza. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 1985 Nissan Stanza?

Across all 7 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are fuel system, gasoline, seat belts.

What gas mileage does the 1985 Nissan Stanza get?

The 1985 Nissan Stanza has U.S. EPA estimates of 22–26 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (4 versions).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.