Free Buyer’s Guide
2016 Nissan Pulsar
A simple guide for buyers with no car knowledge. Do most of the work from home, on the phone. Only go and see the car if you like what you hear. The decision is always yours.
The free guide is below. The full guide is made for this car after you pay.
Most complete
Want the full step-by-step plan for this 2016 Nissan Pulsar?
The full guide is made for this exact car. It runs to up to 40 pages, with drawings, so you know where to look and what each answer means.
- Drawings of the car, the engine bay and where oil and coolant leaks show up
- A step-by-step walk around, start-up and test drive, with a Yes or No for every check
- A colour on every No that says how serious it is, and a rough repair budget at the end
- Your name, odometer reading and VIN printed on it, if you give them
What we could not confirm
- We found only a few well documented costly repairs for this car, so the list is short. The checks in this guide still apply.
Which 2016 Pulsar is it?
Check the engine bay label, the logbook and the compliance plate. They should all match.
Ask the seller: "Is it the 1.8 or the 1.6 turbo SSS, and is it a manual or a CVT?"
1.8L petrol MRA8DE
Engine code MRA8DE · 6-speed manual or CVT automatic
- Found in the ST, ST-L and Ti
- 96 kW power and 174 Nm pulling force
- Runs on petrol
1.6L turbo petrol MR16DDT
Engine code MR16DDT · 6-speed manual or CVT automatic
- Found in the Pulsar SSS
- 140 kW power and 240 Nm pulling force
- Turbo, with petrol sprayed straight into the engine. Premium unleaded petrol.
Safety rating
- Hatch (C12)5 stars (Score not confirmed)
As published by ANCAP. Older ratings, tested to easier standards than today’s.
The big-money items
You can’t see inside these parts, but you can ask about them.
CVT automatic gearbox BOTH ENGINES, WHEN FITTED WITH THE CVT AUTOMATIC
$$$ (over $2,000)Nissan's automatic gearbox with no fixed gears. Nissan calls it Xtronic. Some owners report CVT failures.
Ask: "Has the CVT fluid ever been changed, and has the gearbox ever been repaired or replaced?"
Timing chain 1.6L TURBO (MR16DDT), SSS ONLY
$$ ($500 to $2,000)A chain inside the engine that keeps the valves in time. One parts site says chains have stretched before 100,000 km.
Ask: "What is the turbo and timing chain history on this SSS?"
Want to check these yourself?
The full guide shows where each of these parts is on this car and how to check it safely, with a Yes or No for every check.
Get the full guide · $29Regular maintenance
Look for these on the service invoices.
- Engine oil
Keeps the moving parts inside the engine slippery
As shown in the logbook
- Spark plugs
Small parts that light the petrol inside the engine
As shown in the logbook
- Brake fluid
The liquid that carries your foot push to the brakes
Every 2 years (our guide)
- Coolant
The liquid that keeps the engine from getting too hot
As shown in the logbook
- Gearbox oil
On a CVT this is CVT fluid. It is the oil inside the automatic gearbox. Ask for proof of changes.
As shown in the logbook
- Air filter
Cleans the air before it goes into the engine
As shown in the logbook
- Tyres
The only part of the car that touches the road
Replace at 6 years old, even with good tread (our guide). Alignment every 10,000 to 15,000 km (our guide)
- Battery
Gives the power to start the car
Most last about 3 to 5 years
Questions to ask on this Pulsar
These are for this model. The full list of questions, with tick boxes, is in the PDF.
Has the CVT fluid ever been changed, and where is the paperwork?
Good answer: Yes, and the seller can show dated service papers.
Why: CVT trouble is the main complaint found for this model, and fluid changes are recommended.
Has the gearbox ever been repaired or replaced, or shuddered when pulling away?
Good answer: No repairs, and it pulls away smoothly.
Why: Shudder when pulling away is the sign owners describe with the CVT.
Is it the 1.8 or the 1.6 turbo, and is the logbook complete?
Good answer: The seller names the engine and has a full logbook.
Why: The two engines have different things to watch for.
Words you might see on an invoice
- Xtronic / CVT
- Nissan's automatic gearbox with no fixed gears.
- CVT fluid service
- A gearbox oil change.
- C-VTC
- Changes when the engine's valves open. Valves are small doors for air in and exhaust out. Found on the 1.8 engine.
- DIG-T / direct injection
- The 1.6 turbo's fuel system. It stands for Direct Injection Gasoline Turbo-charged.
- VDC
- Vehicle Dynamic Control. It is Nissan's stability control.
- Timing chain
- The chain that keeps the engine's valves in time. Confirmed for the 1.6 turbo.
Two quick checks at home
All you need is the VIN.
- Recalls: nissan.com.au/owners/recalls/recalls-service-campaigns.html
- Recalls: vehiclerecalls.gov.au
- Money owing: ppsr.gov.au (small fee; check again on the day you pay)
- Use the VIN to check money owing, write-offs and theft. Recalls also depend on the VIN.
Good to know
- A law firm, Bannister Law Class Actions, is looking into CVT issues in some Nissan models, including the Pulsar from 2013 to 2015. The issues listed are juddering or shuddering when accelerating. This is an investigation, not a court case.
Free guide or the full guide?
Both are for the exact car you are looking at. Here is what each one holds.
| What it holds | Free guide | Full guide · $29 |
|---|---|---|
| Length | About 12 pages | Up to 40 pages |
| The engines sold that year, with their codes | Yes | Yes |
| The big-money items, with the question to ask | Yes | Yes, and where each part is and how to check it safely |
| Questions to ask the seller on the phone | Yes | Yes |
| Service history | What to look for on the invoices | A table for the odometer reading, with the jobs that should be done by now |
| Drawings of the car, the engine bay and the leaks | No | Yes |
| Step-by-step walk around, start-up and test drive | No | Yes, with a Yes or No for every check |
| How serious each problem is | A simple scorecard | A colour on every No, and a rough repair budget |
| Your name, odometer reading and VIN printed on it | No | Yes, if you give them |
| A PDF to print or open on your phone | Yes | Yes |
A look inside the full guide
Four real pages from a full guide for a 2015 Toyota HiLux. We blur most of each page on purpose, so it cannot be copied. Your own guide is clear, and made for your car.
Your car drawn see-through, with the key parts marked
The engine bay, with numbered pins
A Yes or No for every check, with a colour on each No
A rough repair budget from what you tick
General information only, not an inspection of any vehicle. “Our guide” means our recommendation, not a legal rule. Costs are a rough guide. Information current at October 2026: always check the VIN yourself.