GOING STRAIGHT, THE VEHICLE WAS STARTING TO LOSE POWER FIRST. CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BOTTLE OUT OF CONTROL NEARLY CRASHING, LUCKILY REGAINING THE CAR'S CONTROL, AS THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN BUT STILL HAD MOMENTUM, TO PARK AT A EMPTY LOT. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO JUMP START THE CAR (IMAGINING THE BATTERY SIMPLY DIED) THE ENGINE WAS NOT RECEIVING GAS (EVEN AT LITTLE OVER HALF TANK) AND WHEN IN MOVEMENT IT WOULD SEEM FINE AT REST BUT PRESSING THE GAS THE CAR WOULD MOVE FOR 5 FEET FINE BUT START TO THRUST ITSELF CAUSING THE CAR TO JOLT FORWARD SEVERAL TIME BEFORE GOING TO A COMPLETE SHUT DOWN. NO PUSH START NOR JUMP START WAS SUCCESSFUL AT TRYING TO GET MY FAMILY BACK HOME SAFELY. WHEN THIS WASN'T ENOUGH AN ELECTRICAL WIRE SHORT OUT NEARLY CATCHING THE CAR ON FIRE. THUS ENDING THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WITH PUSHING THE CAR TO A HOME DEPOT (LUCKILY A COUNTY OFFICER HELP PUSH THE VEHICLE THE REST OF THE WAY). RECAP: AXLES ARE BAD ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE FUEL LINES ARE BAD ELECTRICAL WIRING ARE AT A HIGHLY DANGEROUS THE DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK AS THEY PLEASE (ALL THIS WAS DISCOVERED IN 4 HOURS AS THE VEHICLE DID NOT LAST LONG, THE DRIVER ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR LESS THAN 30 DAYS. AND WE WHERE NOT AWARE THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS IN POOR SHAPE AS THE SELLER SAID IT WAS IN GOOD CONDITION.) THIS VEHICLE IS A DEATH TRAP. THANK GOODNESS NO ONE DIED.
1992 Nissan Sentra
Owners filed 62 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine and engine cooling › engine › gasoline. No safety recall has been issued.
| Component | Reports | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Electrical System › Wiring › Front Underhood | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Power Train › Manual Transmission | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Power Train › Automatic Transmission | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Seat Belts › Front › Retractor | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Exterior Lighting › Headlights | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Electrical System › Ignition | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
What owners reported
Newest filingsI WAS COMING BACK FROM TAKING MY WIFE TO WORK AND I WAS GETTING READY TO GO THROUGH THE GREEN LIGHT WHEN A CAR RAN THE RED LIGHT WHICH MADE ME T-BONE HIM. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND MY WHOLE FRONT END GOT PUSHED ALMOST TO THE WINDSHIELD. I HAD A CARDIAC ARREST AND WHEN THE AMBULANCE GOT THERE THEY HAD TO BRING ME BACK TO LIFE. I HAVE A LOT OF BRUISING ON MY CHEST WHERE I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY KNEE. I'VE GOT A LOT OF CONTUSIONS INSIDE MY BODY. I HAVE A BRUISE WHERE MY SEATBELT CAUGHT ME. I WAS IN HOSPITAL FROM FEBRUARY 12 2015 TO FEBRUARY 16 2015. *TR
AFTER PARKING THE CAR FOLLOWING A BRIEF ERRAND, THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. ALTHOUGH IT WAS 20 YEARS OLD, IT WAS IN GOOD CONDITION. THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE CAR BURNED, IT WAS TOTALED. IT TOOK THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ABOUT HALF AN HOUR FOR THE FIRE TO BE EXTINGUISHED.
I BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR MY 17-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER FOR HER FIRST CAR. IT WAS IN MINT SHAPE WITH ONLY 81,000 MILES AT PURCHASE. ON THE DATE STATED SHE WENT TO START THE CAR TO GO TO WORK. UPON STARTING THE CAR SMOKE IMMEDIATELY CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE FIREWALL. SHE SHUT THE CAR OFF AND OPENED THE HOOD. THERE WAS A FIRE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND REAR FIREWALL WITH FLAMES AND SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. SHE SHUT THE HOOD AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED THE CAR WAS STILL ON FIRE AND HAD CONSUMED MOST OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND HAD SPREAD THROUGH THE FIREWALL AND INTO THE DASH. THE CAR WAS COLD AND HAD NOT BEEN RUN SINCE THE PREVIOUS DAY. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH AFTER THE FIRE ESPECIALLY WITH REPORTS FROM THE NHTSA THERE MUST BE A DEFECT WITH THE WIRING HARNESS WITH THE SENTRAS. HAS THE NHTSA INVESTIGATED THESE CLAIMS BY OTHER PEOPLE OF SENTRA'S OF THE SAME YEAR SAME COMPONENT CATCHING FIRE? WHILE NO ONE WAS HURT IN THIS FIRE I CAN SEE HOW THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DEVASTATING. THE CAR WAS PARKED VERY CLOSE TO MY HOUSE AND COULD EASILY HAVE SPREAD TO A STRUCTURE FIRE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS COMPLAINT AS WELL AS ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THIS MODEL CAR FROM OTHER OWNERS. THERE IS DEFIANTLY SOME SORT OF DEFECT WITH THE WIRING HARNESS ON THE SENTRAS OF THIS YEAR MODEL AND A RECALL SHOULD HAVE' ALREADY BEEN CALLED AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS TO THE NHTSA. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE EMITTED AN ODOR THAT MADE HIM DIZZY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT A DOCTOR CONFIRMED THAT CARBON MONOXIDE WAS INHALED DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
PARKED CAR, SMOKE EMERGED FROM HOOD NEAR WIND SCREEN, THEN PAINT BUBBLED IN MIDDLE OF HOOD. SECONDS LATE, ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES, AND CAR WAS INCINERATED. PRIOR TO THIS, CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED, HOUSED IN GARAGE, AND HAD JUST PASSED ITS TOUGH NYC ANNUAL INSPECTION. THERE WAS NO SMELL OF GASOLINE PRIOR TO BLAZE, AND NO APPARENT PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED, AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS UNABLE TO SAY WHAT CAUSED FIRE. *AK
BRAKES LOCK IN EMERGENCY AND NORMAL BRAKING, CAUSING SKIDS, 3 NEAR-MISSES OVER THE LAST WEEK. *LA
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE STALLS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, BUT CAN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
#1: I HAVE A NISSAN SENTRA 92 MODEL WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHEN I FIRST START TO DRIVE IT WHEN ITS COLD, THE TRANSMISSION RUNS JUST FINE. IT UPSHIFTS NORMALLY AS IT SHOULD ALL THE WAY UP TO OVERDRIVE (4TH GEAR) FOR NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED. HOWEVER, AFTER IVE DRIVEN IT FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES IN STOP-&-GO TRAFFIC OR WHEN IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (40-65 MPH) & MADE SEVERAL STOPS IN TRAFFIC (I.E.: IT HAS WARMED-UP) THE TRANSMISSION WOULD FAIL TO UPSHIFT ABOVE THE 3RD & 4TH GEAR (OVERDRIVE). I WOULD HAVE TO REV THE ENGINE RPM UP TO AROUND 4,000 RPM TO ACCELERATE THE CAR TO ABOUT 40 MPH AND CONTINUE TO REV IT UP TO 5,000-6,000 RPM TO ACCELERATE IT FURTHER TO 45-60 MPH. I KNOW THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR THIS CAR BECAUSE THE ENGINE HAS NEVER RUN THAT HIGH BEFORE TO REACH THOSE SPEEDS. I'VE ALWAYS DRIVEN THIS CAR WITH OVERDRIVE ENGAGED & I'VE NEVER TOWED ANYTHING WITH IT EVER. #2:  FRONT PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW PLASTIC ASSEMBLY WHERE THE CABLE ATTACHES TO THE REGULATOR BROKE. *AK
ANTILOCK BRAKES ON 1992 SENTRA SER WITH ORIGINAL DUNLOP TIRES COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHEN APPLIED IN EVEN WET CONDITIONS. BRAKES WILL NOT RE-ENGAGE EVEN WHEN TRANSITIONING ONTO DRY PAVEMENT UNLESS THEN ARE TOTALLY RELEASED AND REAPPLIED. THERE IS NO BRAKING ACTION WHEN THESE DEFECTIVE ANTILOCK BRAKES ENGAGE!
ON 6/12/2000, WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 1992 NISSAN SENTRA OUT OF HER COMPANY'S PARKING LOT, AT 5 MPH, AN ODOR STARTED COMING INTO THE CAR THROUGH ITS AIR VENT. ONE MINUTE LATER, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HOOD. WITHIN 3 MINUTES, SHE VERY QUICKLY DROVE BACK TO HER OFFICE, RAISED THE CAR'S HOOD, AND FOUND THE IGNITION WIRING ON FIRE. SHE DUMPED WATER ON THE FIRE AND PUT IT OUT. SHE THEN CALLED THE FIRE DEPT. TO COME AND MAKE SURE THE FIRE WAS OUT. THE FIRE DEPT. AND POLICE BOTH SHOWED UP. THEY INSTRUCTED HER TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO OUR AUTO REPAIR SHOP, AND NOT TO TURN ON THE IGNITION SWITCH. WE DID AS THEY INSTRUCTED. I CAME TO HER OFFICE AND WAITED FOR THE TOW TRUCK TO ARRIVE. OUR MECHANIC SAID THAT THERE WAS NO OUTSIDE CAUSE FOR THE WIRING TO CATCH FIRE. NOTHING WAS TOUCHING THE WIRING, NO WIRES WERE EXPOSED, THE WIRING BUNDLE WAS NOT RUBBING UP AGAINST ANYTHING, AND THE WIRING WAS IN ITS ORIGINAL WRAPPED, BUNDLED LOOM. HE SAID THAT THERE WAS NO OTHER CAUSE FOR THIS FIRE EXCEPT THE IGNITION RESISTOR CAPACITOR WAS DEFECTIVE FROM THE FACTORY, AND THAT IT FAILED, GOT HOT, AND BURST INTO FLAMES. HE TOLD ME TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT TO NHTSA AS A DEFECT IN THIS CAR'S WIRING SYSTEM. (I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW, HAVE NEVER HAD ANY WORK DONE ON ANY WIRING, NOR THE IGNITION SYSTEM, EXCEPT TUNE-UPS. THE LAST TUNE-UP WAS DONE ON 12/15/1999, AND THE ONLY THING DONE WAS NEW SPARK PLUGS, NEW DISTRIBUTOR CAP & ROTOR, AND NEW PCV VALVE INSTALLED. THE WIRING HAS NEVE
INITIALLY, I THOUGHT THIS WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. BUT EVER SINCE THE INVESTIGATION INTO BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE BEGAN, I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT WHAT *COULD* HAVE HAPPENED TO MY WIFE. SHE WAS DRIVING THE CAR THE DAY THE TIRE SEPARATED, AND FORTUNATELY, IT WAS NOT ON THE FRONT AXLE. MY BELIEF NOW, IN LIGHT OF THIS RECENT DEVELOPMENT, IS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN HIDING INFORMATION FOR QUITE A LONG TIME.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 17570R13 )
ON 6/12/2000, WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 1992 NISSAN SENTRA OUT OF HER COMPANY'S PARKING LOT, AT 5 MPH, AN ODOR STARTED COMING INTO THE CAR THROUGH ITS AIR VENT. ONE MINUTE LATER, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HOOD. WITHIN 3 MINUTES, SHE VERY QUICKLY DROVE BACK TO HER OFFICE, RAISED THE CAR'S HOOD, AND FOUND THE IGNITION WIRING ON FIRE. SHE DUMPED WATER ON THE FIRE AND PUT IT OUT. SHE THEN CALLED THE FIRE DEPT. TO COME AND MAKE SURE THE FIRE WAS OUT. THE FIRE DEPT. AND POLICE BOTH SHOWED UP. THEY INSTRUCTED HER TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO OUR AUTO REPAIR SHOP, AND NOT TO TURN ON THE IGNITION SWITCH. WE DID AS THEY INSTRUCTED. I CAME TO HER OFFICE AND WAITED FOR THE TOW TRUCK TO ARRIVE. OUR MECHANIC SAID THAT THERE WAS NO OUTSIDE CAUSE FOR THE WIRING TO CATCH FIRE. NOTHING WAS TOUCHING THE WIRING, NO WIRES WERE EXPOSED, THE WIRING BUNDLE WAS NOT RUBBING UP AGAINST ANYTHING, AND THE WIRING WAS IN ITS ORIGINAL WRAPPED, BUNDLED LOOM. HE SAID THAT THERE WAS NO OTHER CAUSE FOR THIS FIRE EXCEPT THE IGNITION RESISTOR CAPACITOR WAS DEFECTIVE FROM THE FACTORY, AND THAT IT FAILED, GOT HOT, AND BURST INTO FLAMES. HE TOLD ME TO REPORT THIS CAR FIRE TO NHTSA AS A DEFECT IN THIS CAR'S WIRING SYSTEM. (I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW, HAVE NEVER HAD ANY WORK DONE ON ANY WIRING, NOR THE IGNITION SYSTEM, EXCEPT TUNE-UPS. THE LAST TUNE-UP WAS DONE ON 12/15/1999, AND THE ONLY THING DONE WAS NEW SPARK PLUGS, NEW DISTRIBUTOR CAP & ROTOR, AND NEW PCV VALVE INSTALLED. THE WIRING HAS NEVE
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH & ANOTHER CUT THE CONSUMER OFF. CONSUMER RAN ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE EMBANKMENT & RAND HEAD-ON INTO A TREE. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. CONSUMER IS TRYING TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER.*AK
PAINT IS FADING,WAS INFORMED THAT THE MANUFAUTER USED BAD PRIMER, THE PROBLEM IS CALLED DELAMINATION. WAS ALSO INFORMED THE GM HAS REPAINTED CARS BUT NISSAN ISSUED NO SUCH RECALL. AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, I HAVE NO TRADE IN VALUE FOR MY CAR WHICH SHOULD. NO SAFETY DEFECT INDICATED IN SUMMARY. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ON ROAD AND MAKING A SHARP TURN OR SLOWING DOWN, VEHICLE WILL JUST CUT OFF, OR MAKE A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING, THEN SOUND STOPS. IF SITTING AT A RED LIGHT OR AT STOP SIGN, IT VIBRATES VERY BADLY. TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. . DEALER WAS TOLD THAT VEHICLE HAS A BAD INJECTOR INSIDE THE THIRD CYLINDER. *AK
WITHOUT WARNING THE 5TH GEAR "POPS"OUT OF GEAR AND INTO NEUTRAL, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO REV. THIS FIRST HAPPENED TO ME WHEN I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMTELY 60 M.P.H., WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. *AK
THIS WIRING HARNESS APPEARED FAULTY FROM THE FACTORY, AND IT TOOK 44000 MILES FOR IT TO RUB THROUGH AND SHORT OUT THE WIRING, CAUSING THE FIRE AND ENGINE STOPPAGE. *AK
THE TRANSMISSION WON'T UPSHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND.
WHEN WARMING UP IN THE MORNING IT CUTS OUT AND I WOULD HAVE TO PUMP IT SEVERAL TIMES TO GET IT RUNNING. I WAS AT A BUSY INTERSECTION AND I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR AND IT DIED ALMOST IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. THIS HAPPEN TO MY WIFE ALSO.*AK
20 of 62 complaints, reproduced as filed.
Across model years
Worst on record: 2013| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Deaths | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Routine |
| 2025 | 30 | 4 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2024 | 38 | 3 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2023 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2022 | 81 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2021 | 131 | 3 | 1 | 0 | Routine |
| 2020 | 204 | 4 | 0 | 0 | Above average |
| 2019 | 222 | 2 | 1 | 0 | Above average |
| 2018 | 185 | 2 | 3 | 1 | Fatalities reported |
| 2017 | 230 | 3 | 6 | 0 | Above average |
| 2016 | 270 | 6 | 2 | 0 | Above average |
| 2015 | 351 | 3 | 3 | 0 | Above average |
| 2014 | 380 | 5 | 6 | 0 | Above average |
| 2013 | 638 | 6 | 4 | 1 | Fatalities reported |
| 2012 | 180 | 0 | 4 | 0 | Routine |
| 2011 | 142 | 2 | 6 | 0 | Routine |
| 2010 | 144 | 3 | 4 | 0 | Routine |
| 2009 | 55 | 1 | 0 | 1 | Fatalities reported |
| 2008 | 167 | 3 | 3 | 0 | Routine |
| 2007 | 154 | 1 | 10 | 2 | Fatalities reported |
| 2006 | 116 | 6 | 1 | 0 | Do not drive |
| 2005 | 170 | 6 | 4 | 0 | Do not drive |
| 2004 | 197 | 5 | 0 | 1 | Do not drive |
| 2003 | 180 | 10 | 1 | 0 | Do not drive |
| 2002 | 318 | 14 | 8 | 0 | Do not drive |
| 2001 | 236 | 8 | 2 | 0 | Above average |
| 2000 | 171 | 7 | 4 | 0 | Routine |
| 1999 | 59 | 3 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 1998 | 58 | 5 | 2 | 1 | Fatalities reported |
| 1997 | 108 | 7 | 1 | 2 | Fatalities reported |
| 1996 | 141 | 7 | 1 | 0 | Routine |
| 1995 | 117 | 7 | 3 | 2 | Fatalities reported |
| 1994 | 99 | 0 | 5 | 0 | Routine |
| 1993 | 58 | 0 | 2 | 0 | Routine |
| 1992 — this page | 62 | 0 | 15 | 0 | Routine |
| 1991 | 63 | 2 | 10 | 1 | Fatalities reported |
| 1990 | 39 | 2 | 3 | 1 | Fatalities reported |
Reading this record
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.