NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
62 reportsMileage unknown · Jan 22, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineFuel/propulsion SystemFire
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 RECEI…
Read full complaint
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.
NHTSA ODI #10821762
200,000 miles · Feb 18, 2015
Air BagsCrashInjury
I 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 LIF…
Read full complaint
I 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
NHTSA ODI #10684196
110,000 miles · Aug 27, 2012
Unknown Or OtherFire
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.
NHTSA ODI #10473421
96,000 miles · Dec 9, 2011
Electrical SystemFire
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 T…
Read full complaint
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
NHTSA ODI #10439212
155,000 miles · Sep 29, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingInjury
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 N…
Read full complaint
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.
NHTSA ODI #10427946
105,000 miles · Jun 28, 2007
Electrical SystemFire
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 APPAREN…
Read full complaint
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
NHTSA ODI #10194891
83,754 miles · Oct 14, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKES LOCK IN EMERGENCY AND NORMAL BRAKING, CAUSING SKIDS, 3 NEAR-MISSES OVER THE LAST WEEK. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10041766
Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE STALLS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, BUT CAN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8003744
Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 2000
Power TrainVisibility
#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 …
Read full complaint
#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
NHTSA ODI #733298
Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2000
Service Brakes, Air
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!
NHTSA ODI #731391