1993 Nissan Sentra

Routine

Owners filed 58 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train › manual transmission. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train › Manual Transmission5
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components4
202
Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs3
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline3
000
Air Bags › Frontal3
303
Vehicle Speed Control2
200
Unknown or Other2
000
Tires › Sidewall2
000
Structure › Frame and Members2
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor2
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed Sep 3, 2013110,439 milesFL

I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS THAT IS COSTING ME LOTS OF MONEY NOW TO FIX. FIVE YEARS AGO, MY DISTRIBUTOR CAP CRACKED, REASON UNKNOWN. DRIVEN BY OLD LADY. BECAUSE IT CRACKED, IT CAUSED WATER TO BE ABLE TO SEEP IN, CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL OUT. DON'T KNOW WHY IT WOULD HAVE CRACKED. ANOTHER PROBLEM IT HAS IS WHEN I WENT TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL, SPRINGS FLEW OUT OF IT. I HAD NEVER USED IT BEFORE. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THE AXLES, CV JOINTS AND STEERING KIT. EVERYTHING WENT OUT ON MY CAR. ONE LEAD TO THE NEXT. I CAN'T REALIGN MY CAR BECAUSE MY STEERING KIT AND TIE RODS ARE SHOT ALONG WITH MY AXLES AND CV JOINTS. BECAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY TIRES TWICE FROM THEM WEARING DOWN. I WOULD FIX IT BUT WHEN I GOT IT ALL PRICED, IT WAS ALMOST $2000. I CAN'T AFFORD THAT. *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Floor Shift
Filed Apr 28, 201024,500 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO PARK AND THE SHIFTER MOVED TO NEUTRAL. SHE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO SHIFT INTO PARK AFTER ANOTHER ATTEMPT. THE SHIFTER WOULD NOT LOCK WHEN IN THE DRIVE POSITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED DAILY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 24,500. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000.

Structure
Filed Apr 27, 201067,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE CUP HOLDER IS OCCUPIED; THE CUP WOULD REST AGAINST THE HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH CAUSING THE DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS TO MALFUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT DID NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,540.

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Dec 12, 200863,000 milesOH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A MASSIVE FUEL LEAK COMING FROM THE FUEL LINE. WHENEVER HE FILLS UP THE FUEL TANK, GASOLINE WOULD LEAK FROM THE FILLER TUBE CONNECTION TANK. THE OVERFLOW TUBE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED TO CORRECT THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE FUEL CONTINUED TO LEAK. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE INDICATOR MADE A SERIES OF FOUR BEEPING SOUNDS AND REMAIN LIT FOR 15 MINUTES WHILE CONTINUING TO BEEP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Feb 27, 2007152,508 milesNY

MANUAL FIVE SPEED TRANSMISSION; FIFTH GEAR (SHIFTER STICK) CONTINUOUSLY POPS-OUT. FIFTH GEAR INOPERABLE. THIS SITUATION IS ALL TOO COMMON WITH THIS VEHICLE AND NISSAN CORPORATION SHOULD FINALLY TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS COMMON DEFECT. *JB

Tires › Sidewall
Filed Jul 11, 2004FL

UNIROYAL TIGER PAW TOURING TR TIRE 185/60/14. THE TIRE IS STARTING TO DEVELOP SPLITS 1 1/2 INCHES BELOW THE TOP OFF THE TIRE ON THE SIDEWALL.THERE ARE SPLITS 6 INCHES IN LENGTH. I BOUGHT THESE TIRES IN JANUARY 2003. CURRENTLY THERE IS 24,000 MILES ON THE TIRES. I BELIEVE IF THE TIRE ISNT REPLACED SOON IT WAS CAUSE A DANGEROUS BLOWOUT. I DONT KNOW HOW LONG THE TIRE HAS BEEN LIKE THIS,I NOTICED WHEN I WAS CHECKING AIR PRESSURE. THIS ISNT A ROAD HAZARD ISSUE. I HAVE NEVER HIT ANYTHING TO CAUSE THE TIRE TO DO THIS. I ALSO BELIEVE THE TREAD WILL SEPERATE FROM THE CASING. *AK

Tires › Sidewall
Filed Jul 6, 2004100,000 milesFL

WHILE DRIVING ON THE TURNPIKE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE TIRE BLEW OUT. PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY, AND DISCOVERED THAT TIRE TREAD PEELED DOWN TO THE WHEEL. THE METAL ON THE WHEEL WAS VISIBLE. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ON THE METAL TO SAM'S CLUB, WHERE THE TIRE WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED. DAMAGE WAS CAUSED TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE PASSENGER TIRE. SAM'S PERSONNEL ADVISED CONSUMER TO CALL B.F.GOODRICH SINCE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE TIRE. CONSUMER PAID FOR TWO NEW FRONT TIRES, CALLED MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD TO SEND THE TIRE RECEIPT ALONG WITH TWO ESTIMATES. A DECISION WILL BE MADE FOR REIMBURSEMENT. THE TIRE WILL BE SENT BACK TO CONSUMER. *AK

Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs
Filed Mar 26, 2004120,000 milesNY

RT. FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE. I THOUGHT IT WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR UNTIL I READ, ON THIS WEBSITE, THAT IT HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS.*AK

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Aug 7, 2003AZ

CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE DIDN'T HAVE A BUCKLE TO THE SEAT BELT. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *PH

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Nov 26, 2001FL

PURCHASED VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 70,000 MILES ON IT ,SECOND OWNER ,VEHICLE WAS GARAGE KEPT BY ORIGINAL OWNER, THE CROSSMEMBER DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE RADIATOR IS COMPLETELY RUSTING AWAY, WHICH IS WHERE A MOTOR MOUNT IS ATTACHED .I CONTACTED NISSAN'S CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD OF THE HARSH WINTERS AND ROAD CHEMICALS IN PENNSYLVANIA WAS THE REASON.NISSAN'S RESOLUTION WAS SENDING ME A QUESTIONNAIRE TO FILL OUT.ALSO UNUSUAL RUST HOLES AROUND THE DOOR HINGES. THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE IS RUST FREE. MY CONCERN IS SOME TYPE OF STRUCTURE FAILURE IN THE FUTURE. *AK

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Aug 23, 2001IL

ON THREE OCCASIONS WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD SUDDENLY, RESULTING IN A MINOR COLLISION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs
Filed Jul 16, 2001MI

RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE INTO TWO PIECES DURING NORMAL USE. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System › Injectors
Filed Apr 17, 2001NE

CONSUMER STATES FUEL INJECTOR FAILED. *JB

Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs
Filed Feb 28, 2001CT

FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE WHILE DRIVING . DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK *SLC

Tires › Tread/Belt1 injured
Filed Dec 29, 2000AZ

THE FRONT RIGHT FIRESTONE AFFINITY TOURING T TIRE P18560R14, EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AND CAUSING DRIVER TO SUSTAIN INJURIES, FIRESTONE STATED THAT IT WOULD TAKE 6-8 WEEKS BEFORE THEY WOULD EVEN LOOK INTO THE MATTER. *SLC

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Nov 2, 2000FL

ONGOING PROBLEM FOR A FEW YEARS,WITH NUMEROUS VISITS TO DEALER AND CAUSE OF PROBLEM CANNOT BE FOUND. WHEN DRIVING THE CAR WILL STOP ACCELERATING, JERK AND SHUDDER A COUPLE TIMES AS IF THE CAR IS RUNNING OUT OF GAS, THEN SUDDENLY START ACCELERATING ONCE AGAIN. ALSO WHEN SLOWING DOWN AT INTERSECTIONS THE ENGINE ATTEMPTS TO SHUT OFF BUT CYCLES BACK ON. THIS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED RACING THE ENGINE. TOOK CAR TO DEALER 10/30/2000 HAD A ENGINE ANALYSIS DONE EVERYTHING WAS UP TO MANUFACTORS SPECS INCLUDING THE TIMING. CLEANED ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM. TWO DAYS LATER 11/01/2000 PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Oct 19, 2000NE

THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES BEFORE IN THE PAST 3 YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR. I WILL BE DRIVING AND FOR NO REASON THE CAR CUTS OFF. SOMETIMES I AM DRIVING UPHILL, SOMETIMES ON STRAIGHT, FLAT ROAD. I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED YESTERDAY BECAUSE FOR NOW REASON, AND NO WARNING MY CAR STOPS DEAD IN IT'S TRACKS. ALL THE ENGINE FAIL LIGHTS COME ON, AS IF YOU WERE JUST STARTING THE CAR IN THE MORNING. THE CAR HASN'T BEEN DRIVEN FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, MEANING IT'S NOT OVERHEATED WHEN THIS OCCURS. I HAVE HAD A FUEL INJECTOR REPLACED. TEMPERATURE SENSORS REPLACED MORE THEN ONCE. ALTERNATOR WAS RECENTLY REPLACED AND NUMEROUS BATTERIES. NOTHING CORRECTS THE PROBLEM.

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Sep 22, 2000MO

I WAS DRIVING UP A HILL, A/C ON, CRUISE CONTROL ON, DOING 60 MPH IN 5TH GEAR WHEN THE TRANSMISSION "POPPED OUT" OF 5TH GEAR. I WAS ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM BY DRIVING UPHILL WITH AND WITHOUT THE A/C ON, WITH AND WITHOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL BEING ON. ACCORDING TO TWO DEALERS, I NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $1751. A REBUILD COULD BE DONE FOR $750. CHECKING THE WEB FOUND HTTP://WWW.SE-R-LIST.ORG/FIFTH.GEAR.PHTML, WHERE THE PROBLEM IS DETAILED. THAT INDIVIDUAL'S COST? ABOUT $300. WHY MUST A TRANSMISSION BE REPLACED FOR AN ENGINEERING DEFECT?

Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System
Filed Aug 25, 2000TX

THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR 2 YEARS. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER THEY HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND HAVE DIFFICULTIES DUPLICATING THE PROBLEM. HAPPENS ON A WHIM. SOMETIMES NOT FOR WEEKS THEN OTHER TIMES EVERY DAY. IT IS VERY SPARATICE MAKING GETTING IT FIXED REAL HARD.

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Aug 8, 2000CA

DIFFICULTY STARTING CAR. CAR WILL NOT START. *AK

20 of 58 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2013
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
202615110Routine
202530400Routine
202438300Routine
202319100Routine
202281200Routine
2021131310Routine
2020204400Above average
2019222210Above average
2018185231Fatalities reported
2017230360Above average
2016270620Above average
2015351330Above average
2014380560Above average
2013638641Fatalities reported
2012180040Routine
2011142260Routine
2010144340Routine
200955101Fatalities reported
2008167330Routine
20071541102Fatalities reported
2006116610Do not drive
2005170640Do not drive
2004197501Do not drive
20031801010Do not drive
20023181480Do not drive
2001236820Above average
2000171740Routine
199959300Routine
199858521Fatalities reported
1997108712Fatalities reported
1996141710Routine
1995117732Fatalities reported
199499050Routine
1993 — this page58020Routine
1992620150Routine
1991632101Fatalities reported
199039231Fatalities reported

Compare every Sentra year →

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.