Complaints
46
Crashes
2
Fires
4
Injuries
3
Fatalities
1
Recalls
0
Worst 1987 Nissan Sentra Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#19 complaints
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
#24 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
Fires:3
#33 complaints
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1987 Nissan Sentra.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 4 | — | 3 | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly:Pedal/Hand Lever(Motorcycle) | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Manual Transmission | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Webbing | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 1 | — | — | — |
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
3
Avg Miles
—
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Door
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Module
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Other
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Axle Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Clutch Assembly:Pedal/Hand Lever(Motorcycle)
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Manual Transmission
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Webbing
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1987 Nissan Sentra. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Nissan Sentra Years
1987 Nissan Sentra — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1987 Nissan Sentra reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1987 Nissan Sentra has 46 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly with 9 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1987 Nissan Sentra?
Top reported problems: Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly (9 complaints); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline (4 complaints); Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch (3 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
How safe is the 1987 Nissan Sentra?
NHTSA complaints for the 1987 Nissan Sentra include 2 crash-related reports, 4 fire reports, 3 injuries, and 1 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 1987 Nissan Sentra have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1987 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 1987 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.
Check Your Specific 1987 Nissan Sentra
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