The Nissan PULSAR is a compact car built from 1981 to 1990 over 4 generations. Most were assembled in Japan — 100% of those on record. Between 1985 and 1990 it grew 10 cm longer and gained 253 kg. Engines offered: 4-cyl. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years at 4.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the PULSAR is
The Nissan PULSAR is a compact car that Nissan built from 1981 to 1990 — 10 model years. Our measurements put it at 4 generations, the current one starting in 1990. It has been offered with 4-cyl power. Its closest siblings in the Nissan range: GT-R, Sentra, 200SX.
Where the PULSAR is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 10 PULSARs on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | JN1 | 1984-1989 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Nissan VIN decide which of these 4 lines your PULSAR belongs to. What every character in a PULSAR VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Nissan PULSAR adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
PULSAR generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the PULSAR's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the PULSAR that gives 4 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985-1986 | 413 cm | 242 cm | 830 kg | - | - |
| 1987-1988 | 423 cm | 243 cm | 1075 kg | +10 cm | +245 kg |
| 1989 | 432 cm | 243 cm | 1083 kg | +9 cm | +8 kg |
| 1990 | 423 cm | 243 cm | 1083 kg | -9 cm | +0 kg |
Between 1985 and 1990 the PULSAR gained 10 cm in length (+2.4%) and 253 kg in weight (+30.5%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the PULSAR that is 253 kg against 10 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Nissan PULSAR tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment PULSAR owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Nissan PULSAR have? Power & range
The Nissan PULSAR is offered with 1 powertrain — 1.6L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 1 for the Nissan PULSAR, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-cyl | 1.6L · 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | FWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The PULSAR by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Nissan PULSAR. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | PULSAR | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 8 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 22 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Nissan PULSAR?
The PULSAR is a compact car, built from 1981 to 1990 across 4 generations. Engines offered: 4-cyl.
Where is the Nissan PULSAR made?
Across 10 cars in our records the split is: Japan (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the PULSAR have?
4 by our measurements, the latest starting in 1990. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the PULSAR grew 10 cm longer and gained 253 kg.
What is the Nissan PULSAR warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the PULSAR reliable?
It scores 4.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific PULSAR?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Nissan
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Rogue | 2008–2026 | 94 | 34 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Nissan GT-R | 2009–2026 | 9 | 19 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Nissan Altima | 1993–2026 | 146 | 34 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Nissan Frontier | 1998–2026 | 142 | 22 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Nissan Pathfinder | 1986–2026 | 149 | 26 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Nissan Sentra | 1982–2026 | 158 | 41 mpg | 4.0/5 |
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.