1988 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 1988 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 belts1539.5%
- Engine1026.3%
- Fuel system410.5%
- Electrical25.3%
- Interior & seats25.3%
- Transmission12.6%
- Powertrain (other)12.6%
- Steering12.6%
- Suspension12.6%
- Driver assistance12.6%
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
VEHICLE WAS AT REST, HIT FROM REAR, DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN DRIVER. DRIVER'S HEAD HIT WINDSHIELD.
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE DEFECTIVE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT TIGHTENED AND THEN BROKE IN HALF AT THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT CONNECTION, CAUSING INJURIES TO HEAD, NECK AND BODY. *AK
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
ENGINE IS COSTING TOO MUCH TO FIX. THE HEAD WAS REPLACED, BUT STIL NOT WORKING.*AK
FUEL AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE WORKS ONCE A MONTH, THEN FAILS. *ET
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
FUEL AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE WORKS ONCE A MONTH, THEN FAILS. *ET
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH FUEL TANK. FUEL TANK LEAKS FUEL. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *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
FUSIBLE LINK SHORTED OUT, CAUSING BRAKE LIGHTS TO FAIL.
EXPERIENCED UNDERHOOD FIRE, NO UNUSUAL PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. INSURANCE ADJUSTER CLAIMED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. KT
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
WHILE IN AN ACCIDENT DRIVER'S SEAT CALLAPSED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO HOLD ON TO STEERING WHEEL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
DRIVER BENCH BACK COLLAPSED WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. BACK INJURIES. NO ACCIDENT. TT
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
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK
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
RIGHT CV JOINT BROKE OFF/WENT INTO TRANSMISSION, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE'S RACK AND PINION STEERING HAS TO BE REPLACED, BALL JOINTS ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE EXECUTING A LOW SPEED LEFT HAND TURN, THE LEFT CONTROL ARM BROKE RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND EXPENSIVE FRONT SUSPENSION REPAIRS. THE LEFT WHEEL TURNED PERPENDICULAR TO THE CAR AND THE CAR SKIDDED TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. WITH THE FRONT TIRES POINTING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE. TOWED IN FOR REPAIRS. THE CV JOINT, STRUT AND STEERING RACK WERE ALL DAMAGED DUE TO THE CONTROL ARM FAILURE. THE CONTROL ARM BROKE JUST IN FRONT OF THE BALL JOINT. *TR
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
ACCELERATOR STUCK.
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 .