1987 Nissan Sentra

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

72/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 50 complaints with NHTSA about the 1987 Nissan Sentra, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Seat belts	16	32%
Power train	8	16%
Engine and engine cooling	7	14%
Latches/locks/linkages	4	8%
Structure	3	6%
Fuel system	2	4%
Electrical system	2	4%
Fuel system	1	2%
Engine and engine cooling	1	2%
Exterior lighting	1	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

ENGINE IDLE IS HIGH AFTER STARTING AND REMAINS HIGH AFTER ENGINE WARMS UP. IDLE IS ROUGH AT LOW RPM AND HESITANT UNDER A LOAD. CONSUMES MORE GAS THAN NORMAL, ABOUT 80 MILES A TANK LESS RANGE. MOLDING IS FALLING OFF ON BO
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system

THE TRANSMISSION WOULD STALL FOR NO REASON. HAD VEHICLE TOWED. HAPPENED 3 YEARS LATER. WAS INFORMED THAT TORQUE CONVERTOR WAS PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING FLUID. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Power train

WHILE AT CRUISE, THE ENGINE STARTED TO STALL. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL TO A SIDE OF FREEWAY, ENGINE CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER, FIRE ERRUPTED; ALSO REPLACED ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

FUEL INJECTORS FAILED, RESULTING IN STALLING/RACING OF ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system

INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WHEN PUTTING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, SOMETIMES WILL START AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

BOLT THAT HOLDS TRANSMISSION AND GEAR BOX TO STAY TOGETHER BROKE, CAUSING THEM TO SEPERATE AND DROP TO GROUND. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Power train

RELEASE BUTTON NEED TO BE REPLACE UNDER RECALL, DEALER SAID THAT THE ORANGE BUCKLE WERE NOT INCLUDED, SEATBELT NO LONGER WORKS AT ALL.
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts

OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE TO HAVE THE RELEASE BUTTON IN BOTH FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES REPLACED, WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE BROKEN. FOUR DAYS AFTER ASSUMED REPAIR, OWNER RECEIVED A CALL SAYING THAT THE PARTS FOR THE RECA
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1987 Nissan Sentra. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Seat belts:front:buckle assembly 95V103002

THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.

Risk: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Fix: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES A

The seven scores

Reliability	87	excellent
Longevity est.	80	excellent
Maintenance	82	excellent
Depreciation	61	average
Performance	41	below average
Efficiency	45	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 53% of compact cars
Longevity: better than 63% of compact cars
Running costs: better than 65% of compact cars
Value retention: better than 56% of compact cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 87: from NHTSA recalls and complaints, divided by approximate units sold so it is comparable between models.
Longevity 80: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1987 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 82: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1987 Nissan Sentra?

Owners have filed 50 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and seat belts is the most reported area with 16 of them (32%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1987 Nissan Sentra reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 87/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density, adjusted for how many were sold so a popular model is not penalised for having more owners.

How long will a 1987 Nissan Sentra last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 80/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1987 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1987 Nissan Sentra?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 72/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.