RoadVitals

1992 Nissan Stanza Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Oct 20, 2000
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
27%
of 33 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1992 Nissan Stanza submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Oct 20, 2000

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 REIMBURSING ANY OF THE EXPENSE DUE TO A TENSIONER DESIGN DEFECT, SINCE THE AUTO WAS OUT OF WARRANTEE. SINCE INTERNAL TIMING CHAINS USUALLY LAST THE USEFUL LIFE OF AN ENGINE, ABOUT 120-140K MILES, THIS WAS VERY PREMATURE. WHILE, THE INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE THE AUTO WAS STATIONARY, IT COULD VERY WELL HAVE HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH. THE ENGINE WOULD POSSIBLY SEIZE, WITH AN INSTANT DECELERATION WITH A MANUAL SHIFT CAR.

NHTSA ID
734785
Incident
Aug 30, 1999
EngineFuel system
Filed Sep 30, 2000

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'S EXPENSE. SAME FOR REAR ENGINE MOUNT. *AK

NHTSA ID
732981
Incident
Sep 29, 2000
Engine
Filed Oct 7, 1998

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER/STALL. *AK

NHTSA ID
780962
Incident
Aug 27, 1998
Engine
Filed Aug 27, 1998

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAME OFF ON THE HIGHWAY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CUT OFF. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. THE DEALER TOOK OFF THE OTHER PART OF THE CONVERTER. ALSO THREE OTHER PARTS, INCLUDING THE PARTS FROM THE HEAT SHIELD WERE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
827271
Incident
Aug 3, 1998
Engine
Filed Aug 27, 1998

CHAIN ASSEMBLY FAILED.

NHTSA ID
540510
Incident
Mar 1, 1997
Engine
Filed Jul 29, 1998

TIMING CHAIN BRACKET BROKE AND THE VALVES WERE RUINED. DEALER AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND STATED THE BRACKET WAS REDESIGNED. NO TSB, NO INDICATION OR WARNING OF INCIDENT WHEN DRIVING. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
826016
Incident
Jul 23, 1998
Engine
Filed Jul 5, 1998

TECHNICAL BULLETIN #NTB95-027, ADVISED MECHANICS TO REPLACE PLASTIC SIDE TIMING CHAIN GUIDE WITH A STEEL-BACKED GUIDE AFTER THE PLASTIC ONE BREAKS. FOR THIS VEHICLE THE GUIDE BROKE AND CAUSED THE TIMING CHAIN TO STRIKE THE ENGINE COMPONENTS, RUINING THE ENGINE. THIS RESULTED IN ENGINE SUDDENLY WOULD NOT START, WITH NO PRIOR PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID
537746
Incident
Jun 20, 1998
ElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 15, 1996

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN AND HAD TO BE STARTED AGAIN. PLEASE DESCRIBE.*AK

NHTSA ID
800893
Incident
Jul 29, 1996
Engine
Filed Aug 15, 1995

TIMING CHAIN FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL/STARTING PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ID
483313
Incident
Aug 2, 1995

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Fuel system13

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .