1994 Nissan Sentra

Routine

Owners filed 99 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the seat belts. No safety recall has been issued.

Not among the Nissan Sentra years to avoid. Which Nissan Sentra years to avoid →

Most common 1994 Nissan Sentra problems

25 of the 99 complaints (25%) are about the seat belts.

ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Seat Belts10
202
Seat Belts › Front › Retractor7
108
Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage7
204
Air Bags › Frontal · airbags5
502
Vehicle Speed Control · throttle and acceleration4
000
Tires4
100
Power Train › Automatic Transmission · transmission4
100
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline · engine4
100
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine · engine4
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder · brakes3
030

What owners reported

Newest filings
TiresCrash
Filed Sep 19, 2022CA

Replcement nota installed into the housing into the tire hud system mechenismo. These are not tires are not the correcto sizes ay 13" size rims by Nissan. 1996 Nissan Skyline. Also, need a hydrolic swith systematic mechenismo is not intalled into housing of the brakes with mames the tires work harder into shipping at 2000 feet... Nissan rims shoud be 16" rim(s) by Nissan Skyline 96. 44624 serria hey Lancaster ca 93534 6617294155

Air BagsCrash
Filed Oct 30, 2017181,000 milesVA

TAKATA RECALL THE SAVAGE YARD HAS PUT IT OVER THE AIR TO LOCATE AIR BAG AND NOTHING WAS RETURNED.. I'VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR THE AIR BAG OVER THE LAST 3 MONTHS. ALSO THE DEALER NO LONGER CARRIES THE PART DO TO THE MAKE AND YEAR OF THE CAR.

Electrical System
Filed Feb 11, 2011GA

ALTERNATOR PLACED TWICE, NO DASH BOARD LIGHTS, NO RADIO, POWER LOCKS DO NOT WORK, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS FAILED. *TR

Seat Belts
Filed Aug 15, 2008170,000 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT MECHANISM JAMMED AND THEN FAILED. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT MECHANISM AND POSSIBLY THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 170,000.

Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Filed Aug 9, 2006IL

1994 NISSAN SENTRA SE WITH 1.6L ENGINE HAS HAD MULTIPLE ALTERNATORS REPLACED AT NISSAN DEALER AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SHOPS. ALTERNATORS LAST FROM 3 MONTHS - 2 YEARS BEFORE REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. NO WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH ALTHOUGH THE DASH BULBS ARE GOOD, VEHICLE SIMPLY RUNS ON BATTERY UNTIL IT DIES. *NM

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Feb 21, 2006WA

1) CLOSED CAR DOOR. 2) SHOULDER SEAT BELT CABLE FROM RETRACTOR PULLEY SNAPPED. UPPER BELT CLASP STUCK. 3) REMOVED CABLE. *JB

Unknown or Other
Filed Nov 16, 2005FL

I HAVE OWNED MY CAR SINCE 1994 AND WASHED IT REGULARLY. I NOTICED SINCE 2004 THAT THE PAINT IS WEARING OFF THE CAR PREMATURELY. OTHER OWNERS OF 1994 SAME MODELS DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE THEM REPAINTED. WHY DOES MINE NEED TO BE REPAINTED? *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control
Filed Aug 5, 2005PR

DT: A REGISTERED IMPORTER WAS MAKING A DOT AND EPA CONVERSION ON NISSAN SKYLINE VEHICLE SO IT WAS US LEGAL, AND IT WAS SUPPOSE TO TAKE 3-4 MONTHS. HAD VEHICLE AND MONEY FOR TWO YEARS ANDCONSUMER STILL DIDN'T HAVE THE VEHICLE. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed May 1, 2004180,000 milesWV

SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT, STAYS OUT DID NOT REPAIR. *AK

Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash1 injured
Filed Mar 5, 2004180,000 milesMA

CONSUMER WAS SLOWLY PULLING UP TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKES VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL, AND COLLIDED WITH THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED CHEST, LEG, AND NECK INJURIES. ALSO, AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT FAILED TO WORK. POLICE ARRIVED AND CITED THE CONSUMER.*AK

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Dec 2, 2003NY

THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE DOOR DID NOT RETRACT AT ALL. WHEN THE DOOR WAS CLOSED, THE SEAT BELT HIT THE DOOR LATCH CONTINUOUSLY, CAUSING THE METAL AROUND THE LATCH TO CRACK AND MOVE THE LATCH OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. THIS ALSO CAUSED THE DOOR NOT TO BE CLOSED SECURELY RESULTING IN THE OPEN DOOR INDICATOR LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. DEALER PERFORMED SERVICE BULLETIN NTB01-005. *TT *AK *JB

Tires
Filed Aug 7, 2003UT

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT A TIRE ON HER VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER MONARCH MODEL 17570R13. ALSO WHILE DRIVING AT 80 MPH, A TIRE BLEW OUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. *PH

Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System › Injectors
Filed Apr 23, 200340,000 milesNV

THE # 2 FUEL INJECTOR FAILED WHICH RESULTED IN A SEVERE ROUGH IDLE. THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM CAUSED BY A DEFECT IN THE ENGINE DESIGN. *NLM

Tires › Sidewall
Filed Apr 3, 2003NE

THE REPLACEMENT TIRE SEPARATED AT THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. *JB

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Sep 3, 2002MD

ENGINE QUITS WITHOUT WARNING - MULTIPLE EVENTS - AFTER RESTART AND BETWEEN EVENTS ENGINE RUNS FINE. RESTART BY CYCLING IGNITION SWITCH TO OFF AND BACK TO RUN IF CAR IS IN MOTION - OTHERWISE STARTS NORMALLY FOLLOWING EVENT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON - COMPUTER CHECKED FOR CODES - NONE FOUND. REPAIR SHOP CHECKED ALL WIRING AND ENGINE INSTALLATION ALONG WITH VARIOUS DATABASES FOR INFO - NO FINDINGS OR FAULTS. RELUCTANT TO TAKE TO DEALER SINCE THERE IS NO RECORDED FAULT AND VERY INTERMITTENT. REVIEW OF NHTSA WEB SITE REVEALED ONE OTHER SIMULAR EVENT - SUCCESS IN FIXING UNKNOWN.*AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 9, 2002MD

TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING FROM VEHICLE, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO SLIP FROM TIME TO TIME. CONTACTED DEALER AND THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK *TT

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Apr 9, 2002MD

THERE WAS NOISE COMING FROM BRAKES WHEN BEING APPLIED. ALSO, CONSUMER NEEDS TO PUSH BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR TO GET VEHICLE TO STOP. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AKL *TT

Seat Belts › Front › AnchorageCrash3 injured
Filed Jan 9, 2002IN

CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELTS HAVE BROKEN ONCE BEFORE, AFTER BEING REPLACED THE SEAT BELT DID NOT DO PERFORM CORRECTLY WHEN CONSUMER WAS INVOLED IN A 20-30 MPH ACCIDENT. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK THE VEHICLE STALLS FOR NO APARENT REASON, ALSO THE WINDOW SOMTIMES DOES NOT ROLL ALL THE WAY UP. *YH

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Jul 23, 2001NJ

THE POWER WINDOWS HAVE FAILED FIVE TIMES, THE REGULATOR CABLE GETS TWISTED, THE DEALER STATES IT WILL COST $300.OO TO REPAIR EACH WINDOW.*YD

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Jul 16, 2001NJ

ALL 4 POWER WINDOWS GO OUT AND MANUALLY HAD TO BE PUSHED UP AND TAPED. CONSUMER HAS HAD NEW AND USED REGULATOR CABLES REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM WAS ONGOING. DEALER HAS ADMITTED THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW, BUT THERE WAS NO COVERAGE.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Mar 18, 2001FL

HAVE HAD OIL LEAKS FOR ABOUT 3/4 YEARS, HEARD THERE IS A RECALL CALLED DEALER HE STATED NO, ARE YOU AWARE OF???*AK

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Mar 6, 2001IL

DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCKS, WOULD NOT WORK. DRIVER'S SIDE IS WORSE THAN OTHER SIDE. *AK CONSUMER STATES SHE CAN'T UNLOCK DOOR FROM OUTSIDE ON PASSENGER'S SIDE. *SLC

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Mar 6, 2001IL

CONSUMER STATES OIL LEAKS CONSTANTLY. *SLC

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System
Filed Mar 6, 2001IL

THERE IS EXHAUST COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE, STAINING TAIL LIGHT.*AK

Tires
Filed Mar 6, 2001NC

HEARD A LOUND THUN, VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL, VEERING SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT. POSSIBLE DUE TO TIRE DETACHED FROM THE RIM AT THE INSIDE, LOST ALL AIR PRESSURE, PULLED THE CAR IMMEDIATLEY INTO THE RAIL. VEHICLE TOTALLED

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist › Pump
Filed Mar 2, 2001IL

POWER STEERIMG PUMP HAS A LEAK AND IT MAKES STEERING VERY DIFFICULT. *AK *SLC

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Mar 2, 2001IL

BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. MUST OPEN DOOR FROM OUTSIDE. *AK THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAD BEEN REPAIRED BUT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR STILL CAN NOT BE OPENED FROM OUTSIDE. *YH

Steering › Gear Box › Shaft Pitman
Filed Nov 22, 2000CA

THE SEATBELTS GETS STUCK AND THE WIRING POPPS OUT WHICH CAUSE GREASE TO GO ALL OVER THE CAR AND MYSELF. I AM ONLY USING LAP BELT AT THIS TIME BECAUSE OF THIS. IT IS CAUSING HUGE INCONVENIENCE. *AK

Tires
Filed Nov 17, 2000FL

CONSUMER PURCHASED TWO NEW TIRES IN AUGUST, 2000. ALSO, VEHICLE STARTED PULLING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. RIGHT TIRE WAS WARPED AND WEARING IN THE INNER SIDE OF TIRE. STEEL BELT RADIAL, EXECUTIVE P155-80R13. *AK

Seat BeltsCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 19, 2000IL

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK UP, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO SUSTAIN INJURIES. PLEASE GIVE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Mar 18, 2000WA

OIL PUMP APPARENTLY FAILED, ENGINE SEIZED CATASTROPHICALLY WITH ALMOST NO WARNING. OIL AND COOLENT LEVELS FINE. TOO LOW A MILEAGE FOR SUCH A FAILURE.

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator PedalCrash
Filed Feb 3, 2000KS

BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ACCLERATOR PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED CAUSING UNWANTED ACCELERATION, RESULTING IN A CRASH. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT THE DEALER. *AK *ML

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage
Filed Oct 31, 1999OH

I AM INQUIRING ON THIS DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THIS SYSTEM TO BE FUNCTIONAL AND IN MY OPIONION THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSILBE FOR REPAIR OF SAFTY RESTRAINTS FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE PREVIOSLY BEEN AN AUTO TECH AND I KNOW THAT MITSUBUSHI HAS HAD MANY TROUBLES WITH THEIR SYSTEMS AND WE HAD A RECALL AND REPLACED SEVERAL SEAT BELT MOTORS DUE TO THIS SAME PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Oct 13, 1999CA

ENGINE WILL QUITE WHILE IN MOTION, TURNING CORNERS, ETC. VERY DANGEROUS

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Sep 30, 1999OH

WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP FAILED AT 15,000 MILE OF WEAR. SEEKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS PROBLEM OR PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFOROMATION. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Sep 20, 1999FL

WHENEVER DRIVING VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS IT WOULD STALL OUT FOR NO REASON. WOULD HAVE NO WARNING WHEN THIS OCCURS. VEHICLE COULD COAST & THEN BE RESTARTED. CAUSES TRAFFIC HAZARD WHEN IT DOES. BEEN TO DEALERSHIP TWICE, BUT CAUSE COULD NOT BE LOCATED. *AK

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
Filed Aug 12, 1999NJ

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING A BAD TOXIC SMELL COMING THROUGH VENTS CAUSING DISCOMFORT TO DRIVER, DEARLER ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR FAILURE ON THREE OCCASIONS, COULD NOT FIX PROBLEM. *YC

Unknown or OtherCrash
Filed Jul 7, 1999MS

NO SUMMARY

Seat Belts › Front › AnchorageCrash1 injured
Filed Jun 25, 1999FL

DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELTS FAILED TO HOLD DURING COLLISION, RESULTING IN INJURY TO DRIVER. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage
Filed Jun 24, 1999MD

SEAT BELT ACTS UP ONLY WHEN GETTING IN THE CAR AND CLOSING DOOR. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 20, 1999CA

I HAD TO REPLACE A SMALL PLASTIC GOVERNOR GEAR ON MY TRANSMISSION, WOULD ONLY GO TO DRIVE, NO OTHER GEAR, COST APPROX $400.00. THAT WAS 33,000 MILES AGO, NOW I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH GETTING OUT OF PARK IN COLDER TEMPERATURES, & WHEN I PUT THE BRAKE ON TO TAKE IT OUT OF PARK, YOU CAN HEAR & FEEL IT CLICK IN THE SHIFTER. I HAVE TO WIGGLE IT AND MESS AROUND WITH IT SOMETIMES 10 MINUTES BEFORE IT COMES OUT OF PARK. AFTER IT WARMS UP IT WILL COME OUT OF PARK NORMAL. I TOOK IT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE, & THE MAN THERE SAID THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS, HE OWNED THE EXACT SAME CAR A FEW YEARS AGO & HIS DID THE SAME THING, BUT HE COULDN'T FIX IT. SO I AM LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM SINCE HE (A MECHANIC) KNEW EXACTLY WHAT KIND OF CAR I HAD WHEN I DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM OVER THE PHONE BEFORE I TOOK IT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Apr 19, 1999NJ

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP. *YC

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › GasolineCrash
Filed Feb 9, 1999NC

MAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS VEHICLE SHUTDOWN, CAUSING STEERING TO LOCK UP, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

Structure › Body › Trunk Lid
Filed Dec 15, 1998HI

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH TRUNK HOOD TRUNK LEVER IS TOO LOW. CONSUMER HAS BUMPED HEAD ON IT NUMEROUS TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK

Electrical System › Wiring › Front UnderhoodFire
Filed Sep 24, 1998OK

WIRING HARNESS BURNED/OVERHEATED, RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE DEFECT *AK.

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch
Filed Sep 9, 1998MD

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE HOOD FLEW UP, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO SWERVE. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH. THE HOOD IS BENT LIKE A WAFFLE AND CANNOT BE CLOSED. THE HOOD HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor7 injured
Filed Aug 4, 1998CA

SEAT BELT RETRACTORS FAILED, CAUSING INJURY IN AN ACCIDENT.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jun 17, 1998NJ

CONSUMER COMPLAINING THAT VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP POSITION FOR REASON UNKNOWN, THIS COMPLAINT WAS REPORTED BACK IN JAN. OF 1996, AND NOTHING WAS HEARD FROM THAT COMPLAINT. YET SAME PROBLEM IS STILL REOCCURRING. DEALER NOTIFIED, BUT NOTHING IS BEING DONE. *AK

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Jun 6, 1998TX

ALL WINDOWS FELL WITHIN A TWO WEEK PERIOD. ALL MEDAL CORDS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 21, 1998FL

TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

Complaints 1-50 of 99, newest first, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2013
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
202619110Routine
202531400Routine
202441300Routine
202320100Routine
202281200Routine
2021133310Routine
2020207400Above average
2019223210Above average
2018185231Fatalities reported
2017231360Above average
2016270620Above average
2015352330Above 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
1994 — this page99050Routine
199358020Routine
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.