Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1983 Stanza.
The 1983 Nissan Stanza, a compact model that carries a 3.7‑quart oil capacity and accepts the common 20W‑40, 20W‑50 or 5W‑30 viscosities, is framed by an essentially trouble‑free power‑train record—its owner‑complaint tally stands at a single report with no recalls issued. While the broader Stanza line saw its most pronounced complaint spike in 1990 (42 reports) and its quietest year in 1994 (one report), the 1983 iteration sits at the low‑end of that spectrum, indicating a reliability footing that researchers can regard as solid for its era.
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 Stanza 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 | XE Sedan 2.0L I-4 | 11.30 sec | 18.20 sec | 88 hp | FWD |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 3.7 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 | 3.7 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.
The 1983 Nissan Stanza's federal record shows a single complaint area, Power Train, with only one reported issue, and zero crash or fire complaints. Examining the year-by-year data for this generation, complaints surged to a peak of 42 in 1990, then declined steadily to just 1 by 1994, while recalls and investigations were concentrated in the 1990–1992 window. The 1983 model year predates this high-complaint arc, indicating it largely avoided the problems that drove later owner reports. The data does not specify the root cause of the lone power train complaint, but the minimal activity suggests a robust early build. This is a good year to buy for a used 1983 Stanza, as it sits at the favorable start of the generation's reliability trend.
All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.
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.
3.7 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 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.