1992 Nissan Sentra

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

70/100

Worth a look

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

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 78 complaints with NHTSA about the 1992 Nissan Sentra, and it carries no recalls. 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
Electrical system	15	19%
Engine and engine cooling	10	13%
Seat belts	10	13%
Power train	10	13%
Service brakes	8	10%
Air bags	3	4%
Exterior lighting	3	4%
Unknown or other	2	3%
Tires	2	3%
Seats	2	3%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

GOING STRAIGHT, THE VEHICLE WAS STARTING TO LOSE POWER FIRST. CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BOTTLE OUT OF CONTROL NEARLY CRASHING, LUCKILY REGAINING THE CAR'S CONTROL, AS THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN BUT STILL HAD MOMENTUM, TO PARK AT A
NHTSA complaint: Electronic stability control (esc)

I WAS COMING BACK FROM TAKING MY WIFE TO WORK AND I WAS GETTING READY TO GO THROUGH THE GREEN LIGHT WHEN A CAR RAN THE RED LIGHT WHICH MADE ME T-BONE HIM. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND MY WHOLE FRONT END GOT PUSHED ALMO
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

AFTER PARKING THE CAR FOLLOWING A BRIEF ERRAND, THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. ALTHOUGH IT WAS 20 YEARS OLD, IT WAS IN GOOD CONDITION. THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE CAR BURNED, IT WAS TOTALED. IT TOOK THE FIRE DEP
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other

I BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR MY 17-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER FOR HER FIRST CAR. IT WAS IN MINT SHAPE WITH ONLY 81,000 MILES AT PURCHASE. ON THE DATE STATED SHE WENT TO START THE CAR TO GO TO WORK. UPON STARTING THE CAR SMOKE IMMEDIATEL
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE EMITTED AN ODOR THAT MADE HIM DIZZY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT A DOCTOR CONFIRMED THAT CARBON MONOXIDE WAS INHALED DURING T
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

PARKED CAR, SMOKE EMERGED FROM HOOD NEAR WIND SCREEN, THEN PAINT BUBBLED IN MIDDLE OF HOOD. SECONDS LATE, ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES, AND CAR WAS INCINERATED. PRIOR TO THIS, CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED, HOUSED IN GARAGE, AND
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

BRAKES LOCK IN EMERGENCY AND NORMAL BRAKING, CAUSING SKIDS, 3 NEAR-MISSES OVER THE LAST WEEK. *LA
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

INDEX AND MIDDLE FINGERS BENT AND TWISTED TOWARDS THE BABY FINGERS. SEE PHOTOS AT: HTTP://PHOTOS.YAHOO.COM/MIKETOMICH THIS INFORMATION BEING SUBMITTED ON BEHALF OF JOHN REED BY MIKE TOMICH 989, 665-2311 DT
NHTSA complaint: Steering

The seven scores

Reliability raw	80	excellent
Longevity est.	77	good
Maintenance	82	excellent
Depreciation	61	average
Performance	41	below average
Efficiency	47	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 33% of compact cars
Longevity: better than 41% 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 80: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 77: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1992 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 1992 Nissan Sentra?

Owners have filed 78 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 15 of them (19%). No recalls are on record for it.

Is the 1992 Nissan Sentra reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 80/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 1992 Nissan Sentra last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 77/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1992 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1992 Nissan Sentra?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. 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.