1992 Nissan Sentra: problems, recalls and reliability
0 recalls and 62 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is electrical system (20% of complaints); the 1990 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly
0
recalls
62
owner complaints
15
fire reports
107,500
typical failure mileage, mi
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Among the quietest Sentra years (#34 of 37 by complaints, age-adjusted)No recall campaignsProblems tend to appear late (median 107,500 mi)Weak spot: electrical system (20%)15 fire reports
Common problems
Computed from 62 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
Electrical System (battery, wiring, electronics)20% · 12 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling (engine, radiator, overheating)17% · 10 complaints
Power Train (transmission, axles, driveline)13% · 8 complaints
Seat Belts13% · 8 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic (brakes)10% · 6 complaints
Air Bags (airbags and crash sensors)5% · 3 complaints
“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”Owner report · Air Bags · Feb 2015
“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.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Aug 2012
“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.”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · May 2011
Show 7 more owner reports
“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”Owner report · Electrical System · May 2007
“Consumer was traveling about 50mph & another cut the consumer off. Consumer ran on the outside of the embankment & rand head-on into a tree. Upon impact, airbags didn't deploy. Consumer is trying to contact the manufacturer.*ak”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2000
“While driving on road and making a sharp turn or slowing down, vehicle will just cut off, or make a loud knocking noise when accelerating, then sound stops. If sitting at a red light or at stop sign, it vibrates very badly. Took it to a local mechanic. . Dealer was told that vehicle has a bad injector inside the third cylinder. *ak”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Feb 2000
“This wiring harness appeared faulty from the factory, and it took 44000 miles for it to rub through and short out the wiring, causing the fire and engine stoppage. *ak”Owner report · Electrical System · Nov 1999
“Initially, I thought this was an isolated incident. But ever since the investigation into bridgestone/firestone began, I have been thinking about what *could* have happened to my wife. She was driving the car the day the tire separated, and fortunately, it was not on the front axle. My belief now, in light of this recent development, is that they have been hiding information for quite a long time.( dot number: tire size: 17570r13 )”Owner report · Tires · Aug 1999
“While driving in 5th gear at approximately 65-70 mph,transmission downshifted. High pitched whining occurred. Transmission started leaking fluid. Seal is broken. Unsure if trans has other problems. Only 53000 miles on car! Any help?”Owner report · Power Train · Feb 1999
“When driving vehicle at any speed, vehicle lost power. When using the clutch and trying to go into another gear, the vehicle won't pick up speed. *ak”Owner report · Power Train · Jan 1999
When filing, owners marked a crash in 8 of these complaints and injuries in 5 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 1992 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
Body stylesSedan/Saloon
How other years compare
Check your exact Sentra by VIN
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Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1992 Nissan Sentra reliable?
NHTSA has 62 owner complaints and 0 recall campaigns on record for the 1992 Nissan Sentra. The most complained-about area is electrical system (20% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1992 Nissan Sentra problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 107,500 miles or less.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.