1991 Nissan Sentra Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year report a mix of problems, with front safety belt hardware and under-hood fires drawing the most attention. Many complaints describe belts that would not lock, retract, or hold in a crash, while others describe fuel leaks, wiring-related smoke and flames, and automatic transmissions that hang in gear. Almost all reports come from older, high-mileage cars.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Under-hood fire from fuel or wiring

   • 10 complaints (16%)
   • median 203,160 mi at 16.5 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2012

   Owners report smoke and flames from the engine compartment, sometimes while driving and sometimes shortly after parking or restarting. Several attribute the fire to fuel injection hoses or lines leaking, and others to wiring harness faults near the fuel system; some vehicles were totaled. Fire department findings cited in the complaints pointed to a fuel leak, and one owner describes a harness short burning through a fuel line. Reported from the mid-1990s onward with no consistent mileage pattern; several incidents happened while parked or just after starting.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Inspect fuel hoses and lines in the engine bay for cracking, seepage or a fuel smell, and check the wiring harness for chafed insulation or taped repairs. Ask whether the old fuel pump service campaign was ever performed; a service bulletin notes it is no longer active for reimbursement.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “There seems to be a default in the wiring harness. This caused an electricl fire that burned through a fuel line coming from the carburator. A lot of damage was done to the area around the harness and it was only good luck that kept the fire from causing a complete burn down. Are there any other reports on this type defect? Has there been a call back for this defect? I would be grateful for any information related to this.”

   NHTSA complaint #700243, filed 1998-11

   “While driving vehicle caught on fire. Consumer experienced a strong smell and smoke from under the hood. She then pulled over, and the smoke errupted into flame. The vehicle was totaled. Fire department has advised consumer that fire was fuel related.”

   NHTSA complaint #868763, filed 2000-08
2. 2
   Seat belts

   Front safety belts fail to lock, retract or hold

   • 13 complaints (21%)
   • typically at 5.4 yrs old
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2002

   Owners describe shoulder or lap belts that would not lock up, would not retract during a frontal impact, or separated at the buckle or latch plate. Some say the dealer replaced the belts but the problem persisted; others had post-crash analyses showing the belt hardware came apart. In a few accounts the seat also collapsed. Mostly reported on older cars, often after a collision rather than at a particular mileage.

   Recall 95V103002Recall 91V022000

   What to check: Pull each front belt out fully and let it retract, confirm the buckle latches firmly, and look for cracked red release buttons and frayed webbing near the retractor. Recall 95V103002 covers the front buckle release button and 91V022000 covers belt fraying near the retractor, so ask whether both were completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Restraint system analysis was performed by chp-central division mait. The analysis indicated that the restraint failed at the latch plate connection to the motorized guide plate. This report is being filed for the vehicle owner by the chp per our departmental policy.”

   NHTSA complaint #735685, filed 2000-11

   “Seat belt assembly did not retract upon collision. Driver hit steering and passenger's seat collapsed. The seat belt did not hold the passenger in seat completely during the collision.”

   NHTSA complaint #816597, filed 1997-09
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Automatic transmission hangs or slips in gear

   • 5 complaints (8%)
   • median 115,000 mi at 15.9 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 1997–2006

   Complaints describe an automatic that intermittently hangs in second gear or in passing gear, sometimes needing a full stop and re-acceleration and occasionally needing the car to cool down. One owner reports the transmission slipping at a stop with a loose-feeling clutch and gears that would not engage, and a repair shop found the clutch at fault. Another was told by a transmission specialist that the valve body was responsible. Mostly reported on cars already past 70,000 miles, and owners note the hang-up appears more in warm weather.

   What to check: Drive long enough to warm the transmission and run through all gears, including a passing-gear downshift. Ask whether the fluid has been serviced and whether any transmission or clutch work has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My transmission periodically hangs up in second gear. Also, it will periodically hang up in passing gear. This problem occurs more in warm weather than in cold. If it hangs up, I must come to a complete stop and reaccelerate to go through the gears. If this does not work, I must let the car cool down. I was told by a automatic transmission specialist that a valve body in the transmission is the culprit and is a problem on nissans with the same transmission. I bought the car used with 70,000 miles on it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #713804, filed 1999-10

   “The contact stated while stopped at an intersection, the transmission became stuck. The clutch appeared loose and the gears would not engage. The vehicle was taken to a private repair shop, where the mechanic determined that the clutch was faulty.”

   NHTSA complaint #10166980, filed 2006-08, 115,000 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Brake drag, lock-up and a soft pedal

   • 6 complaints (10%)
   • median 202,299 mi at 14.5 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2005

   Owners report front calipers that lock up or wear too often while driving, and one intermittent problem where the pedal had to be pumped to stop and pads were replaced about every six months. A dealer in one case said nothing could be found. Another account describes a shimmy around 40-50 mph that the dealership could not diagnose. Reported on older, high-mileage cars, often above 100,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: After a test drive, feel each wheel for uneven heat and watch for a dragging caliper or a pedal that sinks or needs pumping. Ask for brake service records, including whether rotors were resurfaced or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1.)on 11/20/2004, I ricardo guerrero drove my car (1991 Nissan Sentra se-r) to the auto repair shop khoa auto service, to replace front and rear brake pads and turn the rotors. I also requested the front right rotor to be replaced. When I received my car I felt the brake pedal slighty different whenever I pushed the pedal, the time to receive stopping distance was increased. Until 3/27/05 I was driving down the freeway out to an exit when I was realizing a quiet grind at the end of stopping process . …”

   NHTSA complaint #10116060, filed 2005-03, 202,299 miles

   “Ongoing / intermittent problem with brakes failure due to ABS by-pass coming on. Brakes had to be pumped to get vehicle to stop properly. This has rersulted in two accidents, but no injuries. Also brake pads had to be replaced every six months. Dealer notified, and informed consumer that nothing was wrong or could be found.”

   NHTSA complaint #855663, filed 2000-01
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Electrical faults and harness-related smoke

   • 6 complaints (10%)
   • median 286,320 mi at 15.9 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2006

   Owners describe wiring harness failures and shorts that produced smoke or fire under the hood, plus several electrical items failing together such as door locks, the heater fan, dash lights and overhead lights. One owner reports smoke and flames from a radio noise condenser when the ignition was turned on, and another says the dealer wanted a diagnostic fee before examining the burned harness. Reported from the mid-1990s onward, with some cars at very high mileage.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check that the battery is securely connected and that no wiring shows splices, melted insulation or silicone grease contamination. Test the accessories one at a time, and ask whether the harness has ever been repaired or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “A failure of the electrical wiring harness caused an engine fire in my 1991 Sentra. Quick action I was able to save the car from an entire loss which clearly points to where the fire started. Nissan didn't want to even look at unless they charged me 89 dollars for a diagnostic test. They could answer me when asked what value that would add since I have all the wires separated and safely taped from shorting further.”

   NHTSA complaint #10165061, filed 2006-08, 286,320 miles

   “While driving driver saw smoke coming from under the front hood. Driver pulled vehicle to the side of the road when it caught on fire in the engine compartment and burned. The fire was put out by the fire department. The vehcle was totalled.”

   NHTSA complaint #844384, filed 1999-08

Buying note. On a car this old, condition and service history matter more than the model's reputation. Have a mechanic inspect the seat belts, fuel lines and wiring, and get brake and transmission records before deciding.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 29 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.