Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1983 Pulsar.
The 1983 Nissan Pulsar, a compact model in Nissan's lineup, requires 3.5 quarts of engine oil with acceptable viscosities ranging from 20W-40 to 5W-30 depending on operating conditions, specifications that reflect its straightforward mechanical design of the era. In terms of reliability, this model year recorded just one owner complaint overall—centered on the suspension system—alongside a single recall, positioning it as a relatively problem-free iteration within the Pulsar's production run. For researchers examining the model's long-term ownership experience, this 1983 example demonstrates that mechanical durability was not a primary concern, with issues arising infrequently and being largely confined to suspension components rather than powertrain or electrical systems.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Pulsar of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | NX Coupe 1.6L I-4 | 14.90 sec | 19.50 sec | 69 hp | FWD |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 3.5 qt of 20W-40 / 20W-50 / 5W-30 engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.
| Brake Fluid | DOT 3 |
| Engine Oil | 20W-40 · 20W-50 · 5W-30 · 10W-30 · 10W-40 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 3.5 qt |
| Power Steering Fluid | ATF |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Owner complaints about the 1983 Nissan Pulsar dominate in one area — the suspension, 1 of 1 reports (100%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 1 recall campaigns target the suspension, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the suspension pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.
All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
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. Remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY WITH ONE THAT WILL REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF ABUSE OR IMPROPER OPERATION, FREE OF CHARGE.
Showing 3 of 3 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| NTB-09-101 | 2010-09-30 | Tires | NISSAN: TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) WARNING LIGHT ON/FLASHING. NO MODELS OR… |
| NTB-09-129 | 2010-09-13 | Equipment | NISSAN: VENT CONTROL VALVE REPLACEMENT. WHEN REPLACING THE EVAP CANISTER VENT CONTROL… |
| NTB-09-030 | 2009-04-06 | Electrical System | NISSAN: THE 12 VOLT BATTERY IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND IS… |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
3.5 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.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.