Thinking about buying a used Nissan Pulsar (1990–2017) in New Zealand? We've documented 15 known faults for this model spanning transmission, electrical, engine, and suspension. Each researched and verified before it's published. The most serious issues here are rated critical. Two are set out in full below — the rest, with the symptoms, repair costs and checks for each, are free with an account.
15
Documented faults
Critical
Most serious
$350–$1,960
Typical repair
4
Systems covered
Known Nissan Pulsar faults
Every fault below is documented specifically for this model — researched and verified before it’s published.
01CVT shudder, belt slip and failure (B17 sedan / C12 hatch)
CriticalVery commonTransmission $3,500–$6,500 to fix
The dominant fault on 2013-2017 Pulsars is the Jatco CVT: shaking and violent jerking on acceleration, clunks at low speed, rattling from early belt/pulley wear, and outright failure - frequently around 100,000 km, just out of warranty. Nissan's own TSB attributed symptoms to the steel belt slipping and wearing, and Nissan Australia ran a May 2013 service campaign covering 9,272 B17 1.8 CVT sedans. Replacement costs run to several thousand dollars; manual versions avoid the issue entirely.
Symptoms to notice
Shudder or jerking when accelerating
Clunk when slowing down or taking off
Rattling from the transmission without fluid leaks
Delay or flare in power delivery
Complete loss of drive
What to check
Test drive from cold through stop-start traffic: feel for shudder taking off, clunks at low speed, and rev flare on the motorway on-ramp. Ask for CVT fluid change history and whether the transmission or valve body has ever been replaced. A pre-purchase CVT scan is strongly recommended.
Where to look: CVT transaxle in the engine bay
Ask the seller
“Has the CVT ever been replaced, rebuilt or had the valve body done?”
“When was the CVT fluid last changed?”
“Was the May 2013 Nissan service campaign performed (1.8 sedans)?”
02Dirty throttle body / idle air control valve - rough idle (N16)
MinorCommonEngine $150–$600 to fix
N16 Pulsars commonly develop shuddering, hunting or stalling idle from carbon buildup in the throttle body and idle air control valve. It is a cheap clean-up job, but sellers often trade the car on instead of fixing it, and an untreated case can stall in traffic. After cleaning, the idle needs a relearn procedure to settle. Combined with an ageing crank angle sensor, this makes 'idles rough and sometimes stalls' the standard tired-N16 complaint.
Symptoms to notice
Idle hunting up and down
Shudder or vibration at idle
Stalling when coming to a stop with A/C on
High idle that won't settle
What to check
Let the car idle for five minutes with A/C on - watch the tacho for hunting and feel for shudder. Blip the throttle and check the idle returns cleanly to ~700 rpm without dipping or stalling.
Where to look: Throttle body and idle air control valve on the intake manifold
Ask the seller
“Has the throttle body/IACV ever been cleaned?”
“Does it ever stall at idle?”
ElectricalCritical
TransmissionMajor
EngineMajor
EngineMajor
EngineMajor
EngineMajor
EngineMajor
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SuspensionMajor
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EngineMinor
13 more documented faults on the Nissan Pulsar
Symptoms, what to check, where to look and what to ask the seller — for every fault above. Free with an account, no card needed. One account covers one vehicle, so make it the car you’re actually looking at.
This page covers the model. Enter the plate of the actual car you’re looking at and see its year, engine, safety rating and register flags — free, no account needed.
Like any used car, it depends on the specific example and its service history. Across the 15 documented faults for the Nissan Pulsar, the recurring problem areas are transmission, electrical, and engine. A Nissan Pulsar with a full service history and no signs of the issues listed on this page can be a sound buy but each one needs to be checked individually before you commit.
What are the most common problems with a used Nissan Pulsar?
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We've catalogued 15 known faults for the Nissan Pulsar, covering transmission, electrical, and engine. Two are written out in full on this page. The rest — with the symptoms to notice, what to inspect, and typical repair costs for each — are free once you create an account.
How much do repairs cost on a Nissan Pulsar?
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Most single repairs on the Nissan Pulsar fall between $350–$1,960 at NZ independent-workshop rates. Some of the 15 documented faults cost less and a few cost considerably more, and no one car needs them all. Knowing which ones to look for before you view is what lets you negotiate the price down or walk away.
Should I get a pre-purchase inspection on a Nissan Pulsar?
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Yes. A Nissan Pulsar inspection focused on its known weak points is the single best way to avoid an expensive mistake. KickTyres gives you a guided, model-specific inspection plus a market valuation and negotiation figure for $17.90 far less than the cost of missing one of the faults on this page.