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1986 Nissan Sentra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
6Owner complaints

Model-year median: 116

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
1
19833
19846
19856
198636
198737
198841
1989
Compare all Sentra years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Seat Belts
2Electrical System
1Engine And Engine Cooling
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Power Train
1
All reported categories
Steering
1Structure
1

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: 0 of 6 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.

  • Seat Belts. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

6 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 2000
Structure

CRACKS ON INNER SIDE OF CHANNEL ON PASSENGER'S SIDE, WHERE FRAME GOES OVER WHEEL, CAUSING PULLING TO THE RIGHT DURING ACCELERATION, AND SERVERE TURNING WHILE MAKING TURNS. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #859784

Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 2000
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

WHEN CAR GOES ABOUT 30 MILES CAR WILL START TO SPIT, AND CHOKE LIKE ITS OUT OF GAS. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS BAD COIL, AND THEY REPLACED IT. BUT PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. TOOK TO ANOTHER DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS A FUEL PUMP PROBLEM. REPLACED FUEL PUMP AND STILL HAD SAME PROBLEM. TOOK TO ANOTHER MECHANIC, AND HE …

Read full complaint

WHEN CAR GOES ABOUT 30 MILES CAR WILL START TO SPIT, AND CHOKE LIKE ITS OUT OF GAS. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS BAD COIL, AND THEY REPLACED IT. BUT PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. TOOK TO ANOTHER DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS A FUEL PUMP PROBLEM. REPLACED FUEL PUMP AND STILL HAD SAME PROBLEM. TOOK TO ANOTHER MECHANIC, AND HE SAID IT WAS A DISTRIBUTOR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #856935

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

TRANSMISSION LEAKS FLUID.

NHTSA ODI #543938

Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 1998
Seat BeltsInjury

SHOULDER BELT FAILED TO LOCK DURING CRASH.

NHTSA ODI #532438

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 1995
Seat Belts

PASSENGER SIDE LAP/SHOULDER SEAT BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT LATCH. TT

NHTSA ODI #960485

Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 1995
Steering

OWNER NOTICED PLAY IN STEERING. 4 BOLT MOUNTS THAT HOLD RACK AND PINION STEERING/MAIN GEAR BOX WERE UNSCREWED 3/8 OF AN INCH.

NHTSA ODI #958523

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.