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1991 Nissan Sentra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1991 Nissan Sentra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 116.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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: 5 of 63 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 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 8 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 reports10 fire reports4 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

7 reports
Clear category filter
286,320 miles · Aug 9, 2006
Electrical SystemFire

A FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS CAUSED AN ENGINE FIRE IN MY 1991 SENTRA. QUICK ACTION I WAS ABLE TO SAVE THE CAR FROM AN ENTIRE LOSS WHICH CLEARLY POINTS TO WHERE THE FIRE STARTED. NISSAN DIDN'T WANT TO EVEN LOOK AT UNLESS THEY CHARGED ME 89 DOLLARS FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THEY COULD ANSWER ME WHEN ASKED WHAT VALUE …

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A FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS CAUSED AN ENGINE FIRE IN MY 1991 SENTRA. QUICK ACTION I WAS ABLE TO SAVE THE CAR FROM AN ENTIRE LOSS WHICH CLEARLY POINTS TO WHERE THE FIRE STARTED. NISSAN DIDN'T WANT TO EVEN LOOK AT UNLESS THEY CHARGED ME 89 DOLLARS FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THEY COULD ANSWER ME WHEN ASKED WHAT VALUE THAT WOULD ADD SINCE I HAVE ALL THE WIRES SEPARATED AND SAFELY TAPED FROM SHORTING FURTHER. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10165061

Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 1999
Electrical SystemFire

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE FRONT HOOD. DRIVER PULLED VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND BURNED. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHCLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #844384

Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 1998
Electrical SystemFire

THERE SEEMS TO BE A DEFAULT IN THE WIRING HARNESS. THIS CAUSED AN ELECTRICL FIRE THAT BURNED THROUGH A FUEL LINE COMING FROM THE CARBURATOR. A LOT OF DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE AREA AROUND THE HARNESS AND IT WAS ONLY GOOD LUCK THAT KEPT THE FIRE FROM CAUSING A COMPLETE BURN DOWN. ARE THERE ANY OTHER REPORTS ON THIS TYPE DEFECT? HA…

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THERE SEEMS TO BE A DEFAULT IN THE WIRING HARNESS. THIS CAUSED AN ELECTRICL FIRE THAT BURNED THROUGH A FUEL LINE COMING FROM THE CARBURATOR. A LOT OF DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE AREA AROUND THE HARNESS AND IT WAS ONLY GOOD LUCK THAT KEPT THE FIRE FROM CAUSING A COMPLETE BURN DOWN. ARE THERE ANY OTHER REPORTS ON THIS TYPE DEFECT? HAS THERE BEEN A CALL BACK FOR THIS DEFECT? I WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY INFORMATION RELATED TO THIS.

NHTSA ODI #700243

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 1997
Electrical System

ALTERNATOR FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #604603

Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

WHILE TURNING ON IGNITION SWITCH, OWNER SMELLED STRONG ODOR, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERHOOD, TURNED OFF IGNITION, CHECKED UNDERHOOD, FLAMES SHOT OUT FROM RADIO NOISE CONDENSOR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #803971

Mileage unknown · May 3, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT, VEHICLE STALLED, RESTARTED IT, VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN, TRIED STARTING AGAIN, NOTICED ODOR, SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM VEHICLE, *AK

NHTSA ODI #984024

Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 1995
Electrical SystemSuspension

UNKNOWN VIBRATION ESTIMATED SPEED 40-50 MPH. FRONT STARTS TO SHIMMY WITH RPM DROPPING TO A STALL. DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO DETECT CAUSE. VEHICLE IN SHOP (30) TIMES.

NHTSA ODI #958921

Official recalls

2

95V103002 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly

May 24, 1995

THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE.

91V022000 · Seat Belts

Feb 8, 1991

IMPROPER BELT GUIDE PERFORMANCE CAN CAUSE FRAYING OF THE SHOULDER SAFETY BELTS NEAR THE RETRACTOR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE FRAYING OF THE SHOULDER SAFETY BELT WEBBING CAN CAUSEIMPROPER RETRACTION OF THE BELT, WHICH WOULD LEAD TO INADEQUATE PROTECTION OFSEAT OCCUPANT DURING A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT, AND COULD RESULT IN INCREASEDRISK OF INJURY.

Remedy: MODIFY THE SAFETY BELT GUIDES TO PREVENT FRAYING; AND OR REPLACE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY IF FRAYING IS PRESENT.

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

2

EA95007 · Takata Seat Belt Buckle Failure

Opened Mar 10, 1995 · Closed Aug 2, 1995

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly

There is no summary currently available

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