1987 Nissan Sentra Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1987 Nissan Sentra, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Seat belts1535.7%
- Engine511.9%
- Transmission49.5%
- Fuel system49.5%
- Body & structure37.1%
- Interior & seats37.1%
- Electrical24.8%
- Driver assistance24.8%
- Powertrain (other)24.8%
- Exterior lighting12.4%
- Brakes12.4%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
RELEASE BUTTON NEED TO BE REPLACE UNDER RECALL, DEALER SAID THAT THE ORANGE BUCKLE WERE NOT INCLUDED, SEATBELT NO LONGER WORKS AT ALL.
ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO PARTS AND THAT THEY WERE GOING TO CONTACT HIM WHEN THE PARTS CAME IN, THE CONSUMER HAS NOT RECEIVED A CALL. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE AT CRUISE, THE ENGINE STARTED TO STALL. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL TO A SIDE OF FREEWAY, ENGINE CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER, FIRE ERRUPTED; ALSO REPLACED ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. *AK
REPLACE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE TRANSMISSION WOULD STALL FOR NO REASON. HAD VEHICLE TOWED. HAPPENED 3 YEARS LATER. WAS INFORMED THAT TORQUE CONVERTOR WAS PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING FLUID. *AK
BOLT THAT HOLDS TRANSMISSION AND GEAR BOX TO STAY TOGETHER BROKE, CAUSING THEM TO SEPERATE AND DROP TO GROUND. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
ENGINE IDLE IS HIGH AFTER STARTING AND REMAINS HIGH AFTER ENGINE WARMS UP. IDLE IS ROUGH AT LOW RPM AND HESITANT UNDER A LOAD. CONSUMES MORE GAS THAN NORMAL, ABOUT 80 MILES A TANK LESS RANGE. MOLDING IS FALLING OFF ON BODY.
FUEL INJECTORS FAILED, RESULTING IN STALLING/RACING OF ENGINE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
REAR PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE INOPERATIVE.
THE DRIVERS SIDE HANDLE KEEPS BREAKING AND CAUSES DRIVER NOT TO BE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR*AK EXTERIOR DRIVER'S SIDE HANDLE BREAKS SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING, THE DEFECTIVE/FAULTY PIECE IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND SHOULD BE MADE OF METAL, MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND READILY STOCKS THE HANDLE AT THEIR PARTS DEPARTMENT.*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
AT TIMES THE DOORS WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK, THERE ARE TIMES THAT THE DOORS WILL FREEZE UP AND THE DOORS CANNOT BE SHUT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
THE REAR DOOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE, THE REAR DOOR ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE ONLY OPENS FROM THE INSIDE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE AT CRUISE, THE ENGINE STARTED TO STALL. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL TO A SIDE OF FREEWAY, ENGINE CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER, FIRE ERRUPTED; ALSO REPLACED ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. *AK
INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WHEN PUTTING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, SOMETIMES WILL START AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
ENGINE IDLE IS HIGH AFTER STARTING AND REMAINS HIGH AFTER ENGINE WARMS UP. IDLE IS ROUGH AT LOW RPM AND HESITANT UNDER A LOAD. CONSUMES MORE GAS THAN NORMAL, ABOUT 80 MILES A TANK LESS RANGE. MOLDING IS FALLING OFF ON BODY.
AFTER STARTING THE CAR PUT INTO DRIVE AND REVERSE CAR ACCELERATE PURCHASE CAR NEW HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE . TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
SPEEDOMETER INOPERATIVE.
LOST CONTROL FACING TRAFFIC DRIVE AXLE CAME APART. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
REPLACE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN THERE'S A LOT OF WEIGHT IN THE CAR , THE BRAKES GET REAL HOT AND THE BRAKES TAKE A LONG DISTANCE TO STOP. PLEASE DESCRBIE IN DETAIL. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .