1986 Nissan Sentra Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 1986 Nissan Sentra. Part of Generation 1 — 1982–1986.

19851987
Complaints
9
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
1
Fatalities
Recalls
0

Worst 1986 Nissan Sentra Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#11 complaints

Electrical System:Ignition

#21 complaints

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

#31 complaints

Fuel Pump

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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1986 Nissan Sentra.

Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel Pump
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Automatic Transmission
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belts:Front:Webbing
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion)
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Steering:Rack And Pinion
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structure:Frame And Members
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1986 Nissan Sentra. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Other Nissan Sentra Years

1986 Nissan Sentra — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 1986 Nissan Sentra reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1986 Nissan Sentra has 9 NHTSA complaints, 0 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical System:Ignition with 1 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1986 Nissan Sentra?
Top reported problems: Electrical System:Ignition (1 complaints); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine (1 complaints); Fuel Pump (1 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
How safe is the 1986 Nissan Sentra?
NHTSA complaints for the 1986 Nissan Sentra include 0 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 1 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1986 Nissan Sentra have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1986 Nissan Sentra as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1986 Nissan Sentra?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Nissan Sentra reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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