Nissan200SX1986Overview/nissan/200sx/1986/base/

1986 Nissan 200SX

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1986 200SX.

The 1986 Nissan 200SX is defined by a 3.8‑qt engine oil capacity and a choice of 20W‑40, 20W‑50 or 5W‑30 viscosity, specifications that highlight its modest powerplant. Although the model records only 14 total owner complaints and no recalls, it precedes a complaint history that later peaked at 58 issues in 1995 and dipped to a single complaint in 1991, showing that the 1986 version emerged during a relatively stable reliability phase. The sole focus of early complaints, seat belts, appears only in later years, underscoring that the 1986 model sits at the low‑end of the reliability spectrum for the nameplate.

Model year198819871986198519841983198219811980

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity3.8 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type20W-40 / 20W-50 / 5W-30OEM · verified

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the 200SX of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

10.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 10.00 sec — 1987 SE 3-door Hatchback
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1987SE 3-door Hatchback 3.0L V610.00 sec17.50 sec160 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 3.8 qt of 20W-40 / 20W-50 / 5W-30 engine oil, GL-5 · 80W-90 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilGL-5 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.8 Pints
Engine Oil20W-40 · 20W-50 · 5W-30 · 10W-30 · 10W-40
Engine Oil Capacity3.8 qt
Engine Oil20W-40 · 20W-50 · 5W-30 · 10W-30 · 10W-40
Engine Oil Capacity3.8 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 7,500 miEngine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 15,000 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Oxygen Sensor (inspect)
Every 60,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1986 Nissan 200SX sits at the beginning of the generation that shows a gradual decline in federal complaints after a sharp spike in 1995. In 1991 the year before the data set starts, there was only one complaint and no recalls, but by 1995 complaints jumped to 58 with three recalls, then fell to 39 complaints in 1996 and 24 in 1997, indicating a high‑point followed by a steady downward trend. The 1998–1999 period saw further reductions (22 and 0 complaints, respectively) and the 2001 model had only two complaints. Although the 1986 model is not directly represented in the data, it would fall at the very start of this arc, before the spike, implying a lower baseline of reported issues. The available top complaint areas for 1986—seat belts, engine cooling, tires, and fuel system—suggest typical maintenance concerns rather than systemic defects. In short, given the historical trend and the lack of recalls or safety investigations for the 1986 year, it appears to be a solid choice for a used buyer.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
3
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
14
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 14 complaints on record, top 6 components.

Seat Belts5
Engine & Engine Cooling3
Tires2
Fuel System, Gasoline2
Latches/Locks/Linkages1
Exterior Lighting1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 3 of 3 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
NTB-09-1012010-09-30TiresNISSAN: TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) WARNING LIGHT ON/FLASHING. NO MODELS OR…
NTB-09-1292010-09-13EquipmentNISSAN: VENT CONTROL VALVE REPLACEMENT. WHEN REPLACING THE EVAP CANISTER VENT CONTROL…
NTB-09-0302009-04-06Electrical SystemNISSAN: THE 12 VOLT BATTERY IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND IS…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific 200SX. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1986 200SX take?

3.8 qt of ABOVE 50 degrees F: 20W-40 OR 20W-50, BELOW 60 degrees F: 5W-30 OR 10W-30, ABOVE 0 degrees F: 10W-30 OR 10W-40, per the factory manual.

Does the 1986 200SX have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.