Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0 | 0 |
| 1989 | 4 | 0 |
| 1988 Pulsar | 6 | 1 |
| 1987 | 3 | 1 |
| 1986 | 2 | 0 |
| 1985 | 2 | 0 |
| 1984 | 1 | 2 |
| 1983 Pulsar | 1 | 1 |
| 1982 | 0 | 0 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Fuel system, gasoline4
- Engine and engine cooling4
- Suspension3
- Steering2
- Service brakes, hydraulic2
- Power train2
- Wheels1
- Seat belts1
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
In New Zealand
9,260 Pulsar cars are on the New Zealand register; 29% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2017 | 161 | 161 | 0 |
| 2016 | 840 | 824 | 6 |
| 2015 | 609 | 598 | 7 |
| 2014 | 546 | 527 | 9 |
| 2013 | 546 | 523 | 21 |
| 2006 | 277 | 267 | 0 |
| 2005 | 643 | 617 | 5 |
| 2004 | 680 | 661 | 3 |
| 2003 | 489 | 475 | 3 |
| 2002 | 411 | 405 | 2 |
| 2001 | 371 | 364 | 2 |
| 2000 | 470 | 359 | 99 |
| 1999 | 559 | 361 | 184 |
| 1998 | 479 | 118 | 346 |
| 1997 | 447 | 0 | 432 |
| 1996 | 451 | 0 | 435 |
| 1995 | 420 | 0 | 402 |
| 1994 | 87 | 0 | 82 |
| 1993 | 108 | 0 | 99 |
| 1992 | 178 | 1 | 163 |
| 1991 | 220 | 0 | 195 |
| 1990 | 171 | 1 | 150 |
| 1989 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1988 | 10 | 1 | 7 |
| 1987 | 11 | 3 | 8 |
| 1986 | 14 | 8 | 6 |
| 1985 | 14 | 11 | 2 |
| 1984 | 21 | 18 | 3 |
| 1983 | 14 | 7 | 5 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
In the Netherlands
3,714 Pulsar cars are on Dutch roads; 25% arrived later as imports, and 10 still have a recall open. Open a year for APK defects, odometer checks and colours.
| First registered | On the road | Median list price |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 34 | €26,456 |
| 2018 | 432 | €26,456 |
| 2017 | 816 | €25,906 |
| 2016 | 799 | €25,106 |
| 2015 | 1,413 | €24,539 |
| 2014 | 220 | €24,080 |
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles (CC0) · list price is the manufacturer's catalogue price when new
In Finland
1,960 Pulsar cars were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026: 94% petrol, 6% diesel. Mileage is the odometer reading at the last inspection.
| First registered | In use | Average mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 157 | 93,000 km |
| 2017 | 413 | 102,000 km |
| 2016 | 566 | 117,000 km |
| 2015 | 723 | 135,000 km |
| 2014 | 101 | 153,000 km |
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use, 30 Jun 2026 · CC BY 4.0
Road collisions in Great Britain
From 2021 to 2025, 282 Pulsar cars were involved in road collisions in Great Britain that injured someone and were reported to the police. 4 of those collisions were fatal and 58 caused serious injuries. As with any count, models with more cars on British roads appear more often.
| Year | Cars in injury collisions | Fatal | Serious |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 60 | 1 | 13 |
| 2024 | 58 | 1 | 12 |
| 2023 | 55 | 1 | 13 |
| 2022 | 62 | 1 | 12 |
| 2021 | 47 | 0 | 8 |
Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data 2021–2025 · Open Government Licence v3.0 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
20,534 Pulsar cars were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, by year of manufacture.
| Built | Licensed | Off the road (SORN) |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1,952 | 21 |
| 2017 | 4,037 | 55 |
| 2016 | 6,032 | 89 |
| 2015 | 7,233 | 160 |
| 2014 | 1,273 | 35 |
| 1994 | 2 | 4 |
| 1993 | 1 | 12 |
| 1992 | 2 | 12 |
| 1991 | 0 | 11 |
| 1990 | 2 | 1 |
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
21,341 Pulsar cars took their annual MOT test in 2023; 76% passed first time, against 78% for all cars of the same ages. Older cars fail more often, so compare a year with the same year of other cars.
| First registered | Tests | Passed first time |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2,023 | 87% |
| 2017 | 4,151 | 83% |
| 2016 | 6,228 | 77% |
| 2015 | 7,603 | 70% |
| 2014 | 1,336 | 65% |
Why they fail
Share of all first tests that ended in a fail because of each part of the car (one test can fail on several).
| Area | Pulsar | All cars, same ages |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 9.3% | 5.0% |
| Tyres | 6.4% | 6.2% |
| Brakes | 6.2% | 4.4% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 4.5% | 6.4% |
| Steering | 2.6% | 0.9% |
| Visibility | 2.0% | 3.7% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 1.4% | 1.8% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 0.5% | 1.4% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests of cars only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
New registrations in Europe
123,665 new Nissan Pulsar cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2014 and 2019, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2019 the largest markets were France (141), Greece (133), Ireland (128).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 610 | 111 (NEDC) |
| 2018 | 16,692 | 153 (WLTP) |
| 2017 | 24,830 | 113 (NEDC) |
| 2016 | 31,187 | — |
| 2015 | 42,565 | — |
| 2014 | 7,781 | — |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
EU safety alerts
Safety Gate, the European Union's rapid alert system, names the Pulsar in 4 alerts. European versions can differ from the North American car.
The child lock on the rear doors could be defective.As a result, it might be possible to open the door even when the child lock is activated, increasing the risk of an accident.
The chemical composition in the gas generator of the curtain (head-protection) airbag may not be correct. It is therefore possible that, in the event of a side-on collision, the curtain airbag may not be deployed, and passengers in the vehicle may be injured.
The sensor of the rear oxygen sensor might fail and does not set a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) in case of inappropriate content of the exhaust gases. In such cases, the user is not warned through the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on the dashboard.
The IPDM (Intelligent Power Distribution Module) software data file calculating the headlamp aiming position does not correctly adjust the height of headlamp aim when the rear of the vehicle is heavily laden. Other car drivers could be dazzled by the incorrect…
Safety Gate (European Commission) · CC0
Recalls
3 campaigns cover the Pulsar.
THE SOLDERED JOINT WHERE INLET PIPE ATTACHES TO THE FUEL TANK MAY BE CRACKED.
IMPURE LUBRICATING GREASE USED IN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCHES COULD CONTAMINATE ONE OR MORE CONTACT POINTS. OPERATION OF THE HEADLIGHTS COULD BE DELAYED OR NOT LIGHT WHEN THE SWITCH IS TURNED ON OR WHEN THE DIMMER SWITCH IS OPERATED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: LOSS OF HEAD LIGHTS WHILE DRIVING COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
DUE TO IMPROPER OPERATION OF THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH BY OWNERS USING EXCESSIVE FORCE ON THE LEVER, THE HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY MAY BECOME DAMAGED, RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF THE SECONDARY LATCH FROM THE LATCH ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA recalls