1988 Nissan Sentra Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 10about this part
- Share
- 27%of 37 total for the year
- Median mileage
- —not reported
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 10 complaints about the engine cooling of the 1988 Nissan Sentra, 27% of the 37 complaints for this model year. 3 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Checked oil and filled up the oil holder, 200 mile in the trip a loud clanking sound was heard under the hood, lost power, no restart, after opening the hood smoke was everywhere, technician revealed that the engine simply burst for lack of oil, no indicator light came on.”
NHTSA complaint #540685, filed 1998-09“A failure in either of the two rubber or neoprene hoses in the air injection system will allow exhaust gases to backflow and cause a fire. If the lower hose breaks the distributer and wiring will ignite. A failure at the air intake reed system could possibly ignite it as it is non- metal. Additionally if the vehicle is being worked on without the air cleaner assembly on the car exhaust will backflow out of the air injection tube and ignite the non metallic portions of the hose.”
NHTSA complaint #706501, filed 1999-05Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 | 0% |
| 2015 | 1 | 0% |
| 2014 | 3 | 1% |
| 2013 | 4 | 1% |
| 2012 | 1 | 1% |
| 2011 | 4 | 3% |
| 2010 | 8 | 6% |
| 2009 | 2 | 4% |
| 2008 | 10 | 6% |
| 2007 | 11 | 7% |
| 2006 | 14 | 12% |
| 2005 | 48 | 28% |
| 2004 | 59 | 30% |
| 2003 | 86 | 48% |
| 2002 | 127 | 42% |
| 2001 | 93 | 39% |
| 2000 | 72 | 42% |
| 1999 | 6 | 10% |
| 1998 | 4 | 7% |
| 1997 | 6 | 6% |
| 1996 | 9 | 6% |
| 1995 | 12 | 10% |
| 1994 | 11 | 11% |
| 1993 | 5 | 9% |
| 1992 | 11 | 18% |
| 1991 | 4 | 6% |
| 1990 | 8 | 21% |
| 1989 | 9 | 22% |
| 1988 | 10 | 27% |
| 1987 | 5 | 14% |
| 1986 | 1 | 17% |
| 1985 | 2 | 33% |
Other parts of the 1988 Nissan Sentra
15 complaintsFuel system
4 complaintsElectrical system
2 complaintsSeats
2 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
2 complaintsOther or unknown
1 complaintsSteering
1 complaintsSuspension
1 complaintsVehicle speed control
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1988 Nissan Sentra
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology