NissanStanza1987Overview/nissan/stanza/1987/base/

1987 Nissan Stanza

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1987 Stanza.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1987 Nissan Stanza is a compact sedan paired here with a 4-speed automatic transmission and EPA fuel economy ratings of 18 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined — modest but typical figures for a Japanese compact of its era. Owner reliability data is relatively thin for this model year, with 26 total complaints on record, a single recall, and seat belts standing out as the most frequently cited problem area. When placed against the broader Stanza complaint history spanning 1990–1996 — which peaks at 42 complaints in 1990 and drops to just 1 by 1994 — the 1987's complaint volume suggests the model was in a reasonably stable phase before issues ramped up in the early 1990s, meaning researchers should view this year as comparatively unremarkable but not trouble-free.

Model year199219911990198919881987198619851984

Quick specs

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

EPA fuel economy18/24/21 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length178 in
Overall width66.5 in
Overall height55.1 in
Wheelbase100.4 in
Curb weight2835 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)63/37

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined18 / 24 / 21 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume89 cu ft
Cargo volume12 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

11.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 11.80 sec — 1987 GXE Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1987GXE Sedan 2.0L I-411.80 sec18.00 sec97 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
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; 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) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
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) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 60,000 miSteering System (inspect) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect)

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 provided federal record lacks data for the years immediately before and after 1987, beginning instead in 1990, but it reveals a generational arc where complaints dropped from 42 in 1990 to just 1 in 1996 and recalls ceased after 1992. Because the 1987 model predates this recorded decline, it sits at the beginning of the generation's lifecycle before later-year refinements likely addressed early issues. For the 1987 Stanza specifically, seat belts (7 complaints) and the gasoline fuel system (6 complaints) are the top concern areas, alongside 4 crash and 2 fire complaints, though the data does not specify root causes. Given that this model year precedes the significant drop in federal complaints and carries unresolved safety and fuel flags, it represents a riskier purchase than later iterations. Consequently, this is not a recommended model year to buy; consumers should opt for a 1993 or newer Stanza where the data confirms zero recalls and dramatically fewer complaints.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
3
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
26
Owner complaints
4 involved a crash · 2 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 26 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Seat Belts7
Fuel System, Gasoline6
Structure4
Engine & Engine Cooling3
Fuel System, Gasoline,Structure,Latches/Locks/Linkages,Seats1
Engine & Engine Cooling,Electrical System1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic,Vehicle Speed Control1
Vehicle Speed Control1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

90V072000Equipment:Other:LabelsReported 17/04/1990

INCORRECT TIRE INFLATION PRESSURES WERE PRINTED ON CERTIFICATION LABELS. Remedy: INSTALL CORRECTED TIRE INFORMATION LABEL ON DOORPOST CERTIFICATION LABEL.

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 Stanza. 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.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

Does the 1987 Stanza have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Stanza get?

EPA figures are 18 city / 24 highway / 21 combined mpg.