RoadVitals

1988 Nissan Sentra Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest May 16, 2000
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
27%
of 37 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1988 Nissan Sentra submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed May 16, 2000

ENGINE IS COSTING TOO MUCH TO FIX. THE HEAD WAS REPLACED, BUT STIL NOT WORKING.*AK

NHTSA ID
722741
EngineFuel system
Filed Feb 22, 2000

FUEL AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE WORKS ONCE A MONTH, THEN FAILS. *ET

NHTSA ID
784525
Incident
Jan 2, 2000
Engine
Filed May 14, 1999
Fire reported

A FAILURE IN EITHER OF THE TWO RUBBER OR NEOPRENE HOSES IN THE AIR INJECTION SYSTEM WILL ALLOW EXHAUST GASES TO BACKFLOW AND CAUSE A FIRE. IF THE LOWER HOSE BREAKS THE DISTRIBUTER AND WIRING WILL IGNITE. A FAILURE AT THE AIR INTAKE REED SYSTEM COULD POSSIBLY IGNITE IT AS IT IS NON- METAL. ADDITIONALLY IF THE VEHICLE IS BEING WORKED ON WITHOUT THE AIR CLEANER ASSEMBLY ON THE CAR EXHAUST WILL BACKFLOW OUT OF THE AIR INJECTION TUBE AND IGNITE THE NON METALLIC PORTIONS OF THE HOSE.

NHTSA ID
706501
Incident
May 9, 1999
Engine
Filed Sep 9, 1998
Fire reported

CHECKED OIL AND FILLED UP THE OIL HOLDER, 200 MILE IN THE TRIP A LOUD CLANKING SOUND WAS HEARD UNDER THE HOOD, LOST POWER, NO RESTART, AFTER OPENING THE HOOD SMOKE WAS EVERYWHERE, TECHNICIAN REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE SIMPLY BURST FOR LACK OF OIL, NO INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON.

NHTSA ID
540685
Incident
Sep 4, 1998
Engine
Filed Jul 21, 1998
Fire reported

ENGINE FIRE.

NHTSA ID
538013
Incident
Jun 7, 1998
Engine
Filed Sep 19, 1996

CRANKSHAFT PENETRATED ENGINE, CAUSING FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
508949
Engine
Filed Sep 17, 1996

PURCHASED CAR USED, THERE IS CRACK IN THE ENGINE . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK

NHTSA ID
802502
EngineFuel system
Filed Feb 27, 1996

FUEL GUAGE WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. *DSH

NHTSA ID
502179
Incident
Oct 1, 1993
Engine
Filed Dec 12, 1995

VEHICLE'S ROCKER ARM SHAFT HAS BROKEN TWICE. TT

NHTSA ID
976454
Incident
Dec 12, 1995
Engine
Filed May 12, 1995

RADIATOR DRAIN VALVE BREAKS OFF, RESULTING IN LOSS 0F COOLANT. TT

NHTSA ID
965245
Incident
Apr 21, 1995

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Seat belts15

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .