Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1986 Nissan Sentra, most frequently naming the seat belts, electrical and engine categories. 2 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1995 | 1 | 1 |
| Feb 1995 | 1 | 2 |
| Mar 1998 | 1 | 3 |
| Feb 1999 | 1 | 4 |
| Feb 2000 | 1 | 5 |
| Apr 2000 | 1 | 6 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
CRACKS ON INNER SIDE OF CHANNEL ON PASSENGER'S SIDE, WHERE FRAME GOES OVER WHEEL, CAUSING PULLING TO THE RIGHT DURING ACCELERATION, AND SERVERE TURNING WHILE MAKING TURNS. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
WHEN CAR GOES ABOUT 30 MILES CAR WILL START TO SPIT, AND CHOKE LIKE ITS OUT OF GAS. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS BAD COIL, AND THEY REPLACED IT. BUT PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. TOOK TO ANOTHER DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS A FUEL PUMP PROBLEM. REPLACED FUEL PUMP AND STILL HAD SAME PROBLEM. TOOK TO ANOTHER MECHANIC, AND HE SAID IT WAS A DISTRIBUTOR. *AK
TRANSMISSION LEAKS FLUID.
SHOULDER BELT FAILED TO LOCK DURING CRASH.
PASSENGER SIDE LAP/SHOULDER SEAT BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT LATCH. TT
OWNER NOTICED PLAY IN STEERING. 4 BOLT MOUNTS THAT HOLD RACK AND PINION STEERING/MAIN GEAR BOX WERE UNSCREWED 3/8 OF AN INCH.
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
NISSAN: TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) WARNING LIGHT ON/FLASHING. NO MODELS OR MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE UPDATED ON 08-11-2011. *KB
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
NISSAN: THE 12 VOLT BATTERY IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND IS REQUIRED TO STAY CONNECTED WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO VEHICLE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS/CAUTIONS. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 50.8 |
| 2025 | 26 | 4 | 0 | 64.4 |
| 2024 | 34 | 3 | 0 | 62.2 |
| 2023 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 49.9 |
| 2022 | 80 | 2 | 0 | 51.9 |
| 2021 | 129 | 3 | 0 | 59.6 |
| 2020 | 204 | 4 | 0 | 51.6 |
| 2019 | 221 | 2 | 0 | 52.3 |
| 2018 | 184 | 2 | 0 | 52.5 |
| 2017 | 230 | 3 | 0 | 60.0 |
| 2016 | 267 | 6 | 0 | 55.0 |
| 2015 | 350 | 3 | 0 | 53.0 |
| 2014 | 380 | 5 | 3 | 61.6 |
| 2013 | 638 | 6 | 3 | 59.1 |
| 2012 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 36.8 |
| 2011 | 142 | 2 | 0 | 52.2 |
| 2010 | 144 | 3 | 0 | 52.2 |
| 2009 | 55 | 1 | 0 | 44.5 |
| 2008 | 167 | 3 | 1 | 57.1 |
| 2007 | 154 | 1 | 1 | 51.6 |
| 2006 | 116 | 6 | 3 | 63.9 |
| 2005 | 170 | 6 | 3 | 61.1 |
| 2004 | 197 | 5 | 3 | 62.9 |
| 2003 | 180 | 10 | 2 | 59.9 |
| 2002 | 318 | 14 | 1 | 59.4 |
| 2001 | 236 | 8 | 0 | 53.9 |
| 2000 | 171 | 7 | 0 | 55.6 |
| 1999 | 59 | 3 | 0 | 55.7 |
| 1998 | 58 | 5 | 0 | 61.0 |
| 1997 | 108 | 7 | 0 | 59.2 |
| 1996 | 141 | 7 | 1 | 65.9 |
| 1995 | 117 | 7 | 1 | 64.1 |
| 1994 | 99 | 0 | 1 | 49.0 |
| 1993 | 58 | 0 | 1 | 45.3 |
| 1992 | 62 | 0 | 1 | 52.4 |
| 1991 | 63 | 2 | 2 | 64.0 |
| 1990 | 39 | 2 | 1 | 60.4 |
| 1989 | 41 | 1 | 1 | 54.5 |
| 1988 | 37 | 1 | 1 | 58.0 |
| 1987 | 36 | 1 | 1 | 51.4 |
| 1986Viewing | 6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 6 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1984 | 3 | 0 | 2 | — |
| 1983 | 1 | 1 | 3 | — |
| 1982 | 1 | 1 | 3 | — |
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.