Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 6 of 62 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Electrical System. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
8 crash reports15 fire reports5 injury reports
What owners actually said
62 reports
Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 1999
Structure
SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF WATER FOUND IN TRUNK. NO LEAKS ARE APPARENT. THERE ARE OPENINGS THAT THE REAR SEATBELTS GO THROUGH. THROUGH THESE OPENINGS A TRAIL OF WATER/DIRT ARE APPARENT. IT SEEMS THAT THE WATER IS GETTING IN THROUGH THIS AREA. WHETHER IT IS COMING DOWN THROUGH THE REAR WINDOW SEAL OR UP FROM BELOW IS INDETERMIN…
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SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF WATER FOUND IN TRUNK. NO LEAKS ARE APPARENT. THERE ARE OPENINGS THAT THE REAR SEATBELTS GO THROUGH. THROUGH THESE OPENINGS A TRAIL OF WATER/DIRT ARE APPARENT. IT SEEMS THAT THE WATER IS GETTING IN THROUGH THIS AREA. WHETHER IT IS COMING DOWN THROUGH THE REAR WINDOW SEAL OR UP FROM BELOW IS INDETERMINABLE BY ME. THE PLUGS HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUNK TO RELEASE THE WATER, BUT THIS IS NOT A CORRECTION OF THE PROBLEM ONLY A TEMPORARY SOLUTION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #703554
Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSeat Belts
BRAKES WHINE EVERY TIME PEDAL IS PRESSED. INTERIOR LIGHT STAYS ON IN AUTOMATIC MODE DUE TO DOOR BEING AJAR, LIGHT NOT TURNING OFF. SEAT BELTS IN BOTH FRONT SEATS AND ONE BACK SEATS DUE NOT STAY HOOKED. THEY COME UNDONE WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT ALWAYS LOCK. IT SLIDES WHEN SOMEONE SITS THERE AFTER THE SEAT HAS …
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BRAKES WHINE EVERY TIME PEDAL IS PRESSED. INTERIOR LIGHT STAYS ON IN AUTOMATIC MODE DUE TO DOOR BEING AJAR, LIGHT NOT TURNING OFF. SEAT BELTS IN BOTH FRONT SEATS AND ONE BACK SEATS DUE NOT STAY HOOKED. THEY COME UNDONE WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT ALWAYS LOCK. IT SLIDES WHEN SOMEONE SITS THERE AFTER THE SEAT HAS BEEN LOWERED TO ALLOW ACCESS TO BACK SEAT. SEAT BELT LIGHT DOES NOT ALWAYS TURN OFF, SOMETIMES TAKES A FEW MINUTES, SOMETIMES NEVER. ALSO, TRANS AXLE NOT IN ALL THE WAY, AND POWER STEERING RETURN LEAKS . MUFFLER BRACKETS STRETCHED,AND NOT SECURELY HOLDING MUFFLER (MUFFLER BROKE INTO TWO PIECES). CAR ONLY HAS APPX 54000 MILES ON IT, AND EVERYTHING SEEMS LIKE IT STARTING TO FALL APART. ANY HELP OR INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #703546
Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 1999
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING IN 5TH GEAR AT APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MPH,TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED. HIGH PITCHED WHINING OCCURRED. TRANSMISSION STARTED LEAKING FLUID. SEAL IS BROKEN. UNSURE IF TRANS HAS OTHER PROBLEMS. ONLY 53000 MILES ON CAR! ANY HELP?
NHTSA ODI #703544
Mileage unknown · Feb 19, 1999
Power Train
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED, VEHICLE LOST POWER. WHEN USING THE CLUTCH AND TRYING TO GO INTO ANOTHER GEAR, THE VEHICLE WON'T PICK UP SPEED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #835049
Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingCrashFireInjury
ON NOVEMBER 11, 1998 MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON INTERSTATE 57 BY ASKUM, IL. GOING 65 MPH. SHE CLAIMS THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND SHE HAD TO NAVIAGE THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID BEING REAR ENDED BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE CAR LOST ALL POWER AND WOULD NOT RESTART. SHE GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD. SH…
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ON NOVEMBER 11, 1998 MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON INTERSTATE 57 BY ASKUM, IL. GOING 65 MPH. SHE CLAIMS THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND SHE HAD TO NAVIAGE THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID BEING REAR ENDED BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE CAR LOST ALL POWER AND WOULD NOT RESTART. SHE GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD. SHE WAS CRYING AND CUT HERSELF LIFTING UP THE HOOD. SHE SAW LOTS OF GRAY SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND GOT BACK IN THE CAR AND PHONED ME ON A CELLULAR. I TOLD HER TO CALL 911 AND I ALSO CALLED THEM. THE ILLINIOS STATE POLICE ARRIVED QUICKLY AND ORDERED A TOW TRUCK. THE CAR NEVER STARTED AGAIN. IT IS STILL SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY AND OUR MECHANIC TOLD ME THIS MODEL HAS NO INDICATOR LIGHT TO SIGNAL THAT IT IS OVERHEATING .THIS CAUSES IT TO OVERHEAT ON THE HIGHWAY SINCE MOST PEOPLE ARE WATCHING THE ROAD AND NOT THE HOT/COLD GAUGE. I FEEL THIS MAJOR FLAW CAUSED MY DAUGHTER TO BE IN GRAVE DANGER AND THAT IT CONTRIBUTED TO THE CAR BEING EFFECTIVELY WORTHLESS AT THIS POINT. I ALSO NOTED IN THE "OWNER'S MANUAL ON PAGE 5-8 THAT THE MANUFACTURER ADDRESSES OPTIONS " IF YOU FEEL A LACK OF ENGINE POWER "OR YOUR CAR OVERHEATS. THIS WOULD INDICATE TO ME THAT THIS MODEL HAS A HISTORY OF LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND OVERHEATING. DESPITE THE CAR'S HISTORY THE MANUFACTURER NEVER PUT AN INDICATOR LIGHT TO DESIGNATE THAT THE CAR IS OVERHEATING PUTTING DRIVERS ON THE EXPRESSWAY IN GRAVE DANGER OF MAJOR ACCIDENTS.
NHTSA ODI #703211
Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 1999
Seat Belts
SHOULDER SEAT BELT IS WORKING BUT WON'T LOCK, CAUSING THE CONSUMER'S BODY TO ROCK TOWARD THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #833889
Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 1999
Electrical System
THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON MY NISSAN SENTRA NX 1600 COUPE HAS PROBLEMS AND DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY AND SAFELY. I HAVE NOTICED THAT MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER FOR VARIOUS AMOUNTS OF TIME, EVEN WHILE DRIVING, AND ON A FEW OCCASSIONS IT HAS STOPPED OPERATING WHILE DRIVING. IT ALWAYS HAPPENS IN COLD WEATHER: FIVE (5) TIMES …
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THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON MY NISSAN SENTRA NX 1600 COUPE HAS PROBLEMS AND DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY AND SAFELY. I HAVE NOTICED THAT MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER FOR VARIOUS AMOUNTS OF TIME, EVEN WHILE DRIVING, AND ON A FEW OCCASSIONS IT HAS STOPPED OPERATING WHILE DRIVING. IT ALWAYS HAPPENS IN COLD WEATHER: FIVE (5) TIMES THE CAR HAS JUST STOPPED WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND COULD NOT BE STARTED BY SHUTTING OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTING: VARIOUS TIMES THE CAR DIED WHILE AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS OR STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, AND I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND CONTINUE DRIVING; FIVE (5) TIMES I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO START THE CAR, (JUMPING THE BATTERY USED TO START THE CAR), AND VARIOUS TIMES THE CAR TAKES MULTIPLE TRYS BEFORE THE ENGINE TURNS OVER AND STARTS. I REPLACED THE BATTERY ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF A MECHANIC AND UNTIL LAST NIGHT I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT THAT SERIOUS AND SOMEWHAT RESOLVED. INTERMITTENLY THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF AND THEN A FEW MINUTES LATER COME BACK BUT AFTER LAST NIGHT I REALIZE THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THE CAR JUST STOPING IN TRAFFIC WERE VERY SERIOUS. MY CAR WAS RUNNING AND I WAS DRIVING AND THREE TIMES IT JUST STOPPED. MY LIGHTS WERE STILL ON AND AFTER JUMPING THE BATTERY THE CAR STARTED BUT WHILE DRIVING HOME, IT APPEARED THAT AS I SLOWED OR HIT THE BRAKES, THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT BUT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AND UPON ACCELERATION, THE DASH WOULD RELIGHT BUT THEN THE CAR JUST STOPPED UPON BRAKING AT A LIGHT AND COULD NOT BE STARTED. IT IS NOW NOT STARTING AT ALL AND I'M WORRIED THAT THERE ARE MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST NISSAN SENTRA THAT I HAVE HAD THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH, A 1982 NISSAN SENTRA THAT I HAD, PLAGUED ME WITH THIS SORT OF STARTING PROBLEMS AND AFTER REPLACING BATTERIES/ALTERNATORS/STARTERS AND A HOST OF OTHER COMPONENETS, AFTER BEING TOWED MULTIPLE TIMES TO BAY ROYAL NISSAN I PURCHASED THE 1992 SENTRA
NHTSA ODI #702061
Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 1999
Exterior Lighting
CHRONIC, REPEATED LEAKAGE AND/OR CONDENSATION IN BOTH HEADLIGHTS, OCCURRING UNDER ORDINARY WET CONDITIONS. TAKES A LONG TIME (DAYS/WEEKS) TO CLEAR UP, EVEN IN DRY CONDITIONS. POOR LIGHT OUTPUT AND FOCUS. POTENTIAL DAMAGE TO REFLECTOR.
NHTSA ODI #702030
Mileage unknown · Dec 3, 1998
Power Train
TRANSMISSION FAILED RESULTING IN STICKING IN THIRD GEAR.
NHTSA ODI #542845
Mileage unknown · Nov 2, 1998
Seat BeltsCrash
WHILE DRIVING A DEER JUMPED IN FRONT OF VEHICLE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HIT THE DEER. SEAT BELT DID LOCK NOR RETRACT. ALSO FRONT DRIVER SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER. WERE NOT NOTIFIED.
NHTSA ODI #829933
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
PE93101 · Stalling
Opened Nov 30, 1993 · Closed Mar 31, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
1992 Nissan Sentra Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year