RoadVitals

1989 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.
9
Latest Aug 30, 2003
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.
22%
of 41 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.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

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 1989 Nissan Sentra submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 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 Aug 30, 2003

CAR DIES AT STOPS.EASILY STARTS UP AGAIN. OXYGEN SENSOR HAS BEEN CHANGED BUT DID NOT MAKE A CHANGE. THIS IS A REAL HAZARD AS TRAFFIC IS HEAVY. MECHANIC HAS CLEANED AND CHECKED BUT CAN NOT FIND PROBLEM. THIS STARTED ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO.*AK

NHTSA ID
10036904
Incident
Feb 1, 2003
Engine
Filed Jan 4, 1999
Crash reported1 death reported

WHENEVER VEHICLE MADE A STOP OR WAS WAITING AT A RED LIGHT THE VEHICLE WOULD CUT OFF. VEHICLE HAD TO BE PUT IN PARK IN ORDER TO START BACK UP. DRIVER WAS KILLED IN ACCIDENT BECAUSE VEHICLE STALLED COMING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

NHTSA ID
832978
Engine
Filed Oct 30, 1996

THE FREEZE PLUG CORRODED AND THE WATER RAN OUT OF THE ENGINE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP WHILE DRIVNG ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF THIS. *AK IGNITION WIRES AND PARTS WERE ALL MELTED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED FREEZE PLU HAD TO BE REPLACED.*JB

NHTSA ID
804269
Incident
Oct 5, 1996
EngineSeat beltsTires & wheels+1 more
Filed Oct 21, 1996

SEAT BELT FAILED RELEASE BUTTON FAILED.

NHTSA ID
510387
Incident
Oct 11, 1996
Engine
Filed Sep 20, 1996

PLASTIC CHAIN ON TIMING BELT BROKE WHILE DRIVING, RENDERING THE VEHICLE INOPERATIVE.*AK

NHTSA ID
802715
Incident
Sep 17, 1996
Engine
Filed Jun 26, 1996
Fire reported

ENGINE HEAD MELTED DUE TO DEFECTIVE FAN SENSOR. *SD

NHTSA ID
505956
Incident
Apr 1, 1996
Engine
Filed May 30, 1996

WHILE DRIVING THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND CAUSED THE CAR TO STALL IMMEDIATELY IN ITS TRACKS. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
985021
Incident
May 1, 1996
Engine
Filed May 20, 1996

PLASTIC GUIDE WHICH REGULATES TIMING CHAIN BROKE OFF/JAMMED, CAUSING IT TO JUMP OUT OF ALIGNMENT. *SD

NHTSA ID
504504
Incident
May 2, 1996
Engine
Filed Jun 20, 1995

SECONDARY ENGINE FAN MELTS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT WHEN A/C IS BEING USED. *AK

NHTSA ID
485917
Incident
Jun 1, 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 belts22

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .