Total Complaints
45 filings
Nissan Sentra · model year
1990 Nissan Sentra
45 NHTSA complaints, 8 crash reports. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
- Complaints
- 45
- Recalls
- 0
The verdict
The 1990 Nissan Sentra posts top-quartile complaint standing among its own model-year siblings.
- Top 22%
- fewest complaints, own model years
- 0
- recall campaigns
The 1990NissanSentra carries 45 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 8 crashes, 3 fires, 13 injuries, and 1 fatality. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 1990 Sentra is engine and engine cooling:engine with 6 filings, followed by seat belts:front:buckle assembly (5) and seat belts:front:anchorage (3). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.
NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 1990 Sentra, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
45
Complaints
8
Crashes
3
Fires
13
Injuries
1
Deaths
F
PlainCars Safety Score
0/100
1990 Nissan Sentra
PlainCars' own composite of NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings and rollover-risk assessment, each dimension normalized against the federal scale or the full national model-year corpus. Not an official NHTSA figure, and not a substitute for a specific vehicle's VIN-level recall check.
NHTSA Overall Rating N/A
Not rated
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program overall crash-test rating.
Front Crash N/A
Not rated
Frontal barrier crash-test rating.
Side Crash N/A
Not rated
Side barrier and pole crash-test rating.
Rollover Resistance N/A
Not rated
Static stability factor + dynamic rollover test rating.
Rollover Risk N/A
Not reported
NHTSA single-vehicle rollover probability, dynamic test.
Crashes Reported
8 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 6 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 5 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING | 3 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 2 |
| TIRES | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20041230POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE LEAKED OIL AND TRANSMISSION FLUID. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK
Mileage: 82,958
20041022POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OR WHILE DRIVING IT WAS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. THIS CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT HARD AND ROUGH. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
20030710SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS ARE FRAYED AROUND THE RETRACTOR.*AK
20010628SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
MIDDLE SEATBELT ON BACKSEAT WILL NOT BUCKLE UP. TWO REAR OUTSIDE BUCKLES WILL ONLY WORK INTERMITTENTLY.*AK
20010604SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
WITHOUT WARNING CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO HOOK DRIVER LAP SEATBELT, THE METAL PIECE GOES IN BUT WILL NOT HOOK. *JB
20010403SUSPENSION:REAR
CAR WENT TO SEARS FOR FOUR NEW TIRES AND ALIGNMENT, MECHANIC REPLACED BALL JOINTS PRIOR TO ALIGNMENT, WHILE ALIGNING REAR LEFT TOE CAM BOLT SNAPPED, SENT 16YR OLD HOME WITH VEHICLE UNTIL PART ARRIVES IN DAY OR TWO.
20010123TIRES
LEFT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT AND VEHICLE SPUN AND ROLLED OVER, BOTH PASSENGERS BRUISED, VEHICLE TOTALED (KELLY SPRINGFIELD MONARCH T-P RADIAL 175/70R13). NLM
20001227CrashSUSPENSION:FRONT
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 75 MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A BANGING NOISE. VEHICLE ROLLED AND SPRUNG FORWARD. *AK TIRE FAILED. *YH
20001227CrashTIRES
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 75 MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A BANGING NOISE. VEHICLE ROLLED AND SPRUNG FORWARD. *AK TIRE FAILED. *YH
20001030FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK
I AM CURIOUS IF THIS IS PREVELEANT PROBLEM, AND IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE PART. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
20000418CrashFatalSEAT BELTS
SHOULDER BELT WEBBING FAILED. THE WEBBING SEPARATED COMPLETELY DURING A HEAD ON COLLISION. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT MR. MARV SPRINKMAN, MOTOR CARRIER SPECIALIST, CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL CENTRAL DIVISION MAIT UNIT, (559)277-7250,CASE NUMBER CL-010-00. *AK
19991117CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY, 35-40 MPH VEHICLE HIT A TREE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. SEAT BELT SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE LAP BELT TO BREAK IN HALF. BUT DRIVER'S LAP BELT WAS STILL BUCKLED. SHOULDER BELT GOT CAUGHT AROUND THE NECK, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO CUT THROUGH THE DRIVER'S NECK, AND DRIVER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
19991117CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY, 35-40 MPH VEHICLE HIT A TREE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. SEAT BELT SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE LAP BELT TO BREAK IN HALF. BUT DRIVER'S LAP BELT WAS STILL BUCKLED. SHOULDER BELT GOT CAUGHT AROUND THE NECK, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO CUT THROUGH THE DRIVER'S NECK, AND DRIVER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
19990930UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY.
19990923FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
RADIATOR CLOGGED,TEMP GAUGE DID NOT READ HOT,ENGINE MELTED,REPLACED
19990923SUSPENSION
BOTH AXELS CRACKED,REPLACED: DEALER "SOMETIMES THEY WEAR OUT."
19990606ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TIMING CHAIN COVER CRACKED, AND OIL LEAKED ONTO RIGHT FRONT BRAKE. *AK
19980517SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEAT BELT BUCKLE UNHOOKS THE BELT BY ITSELF.
19980517SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT BUCKLE UNHOOKS THE BELT BY ITSELF.
19980429SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELT RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED, HOWEVER DEALERSHIP REFUSED WORK ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS.
Compare 1990NissanSentra to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Vehicle Safety Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1990 Nissan Sentra have?▼
The 1990 Nissan Sentra has 45 NHTSA complaints, 8 crashes, 3 fires, 13 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 Nissan Sentra?▼
The most-complained component for the 1990 Nissan Sentra is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY and SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE.
Is the 1990 Nissan Sentra safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 1990 Nissan Sentra; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.