NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a
system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and
knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Buckle Assembly
1852.9%
Anchorage
617.6%
Engine
38.8%
FAN
25.9%
Frame AND Members
25.9%
Accelerator Pedal
12.9%
Wheel Bearing
12.9%
Cooling System
12.9%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Feb 1995peak 7Aug 2003
NHTSA investigations into the 1989 Nissan Sentra
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
EA95007Opened 10 Mar 1995Closed 2 Aug 1995SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
TAKATA SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE
Recalls on the 1989 Nissan Sentra
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
United States — NHTSA
95V103002
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
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.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 1995084106,721 units in Canada
Seats And Restraints
THE (Takata) ABS PLASTIC FRONT SEAT BELT RELEASE BUTTONS ON THESE VEHICLES MAY BREAK ALLOWING PLASTIC PIECES TO FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY. IF THIS SHOULD HAPPEN, A NO LATCH, FALSE LATCH OR FAILURE TO UNLATCH CONDITION COULD OCCUR CREATING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH OR SUDDEN STOP. CORRECTION: FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES WILL BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED AS NECESSARY.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Seattle, WACrash
SUSPENSION:FRONT
AUTOMOBILE JUMPED FORWARD IN LOWER GEARS. CONSUMER HAD AN ACCIDENT, BUT DID NOT KNOW WHETHER THE JUMPING WAS THE CAUSE. TOOK AUTOMOBILE TO DEALER, AND THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH THE AUTOMOBILE.
NHTSA complaint #860311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ronceverte, WV1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELT FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL, RESULTING IN INJURIES WHEN SEAT BELT FAILED DURING VEHICLE ACCIDENT, CONSUMER HIT HEAD ON WINDSHIELD. (95V103-002).
NHTSA complaint #516858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dekalb, MSCrash1 killed
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHENEVER VEHICLE MADE A STOP OR WAS WAITING AT A RED LIGHT THE VEHICLE WOULD CUT OFF. VEHICLE HAD TO BE PUT IN PARK IN ORDER TO START BACK UP. DRIVER WAS KILLED IN ACCIDENT BECAUSE VEHICLE STALLED COMING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #832978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ronceverte, WVCrash
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL, PASSENAGER SEATBELT FAILED, ALLOWING PASSENAGER TO BE EJECTED OUT OF THE SEATBELT.
NHTSA complaint #503258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Maurice, LA1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELT FAILED IN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #520349 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rossford, OHCrash1 injured
SEATS
DURING REAR IMPACT AT SPEEDS OF 15 MPH, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT FALL BACKWARDS ONTO THE REAR SEAT.
NHTSA complaint #808897 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Kamuela, HI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
CAR DIES AT STOPS.EASILY STARTS UP AGAIN. OXYGEN SENSOR HAS BEEN CHANGED BUT DID NOT MAKE A CHANGE. THIS IS A REAL HAZARD AS TRAFFIC IS HEAVY. MECHANIC HAS CLEANED AND CHECKED BUT CAN NOT FIND PROBLEM. THIS STARTED ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO.
NHTSA complaint #10036904 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palm Desert, CA
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP,AND MECHANIC INDICATED BUSHINGS HAD WORN OUT EXCESSIVELY. ALSO, WELDS HAD SEPARATED AND CAUSED T FRAME TO CRACK ON PASSENGER'S SIDE. MECHANIC GAVE NO GUARANTEE PRBLEM WILL REMAIN FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #898817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palm Desert, CA
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP,AND MECHANIC INDICATED BUSHINGS HAD WORN OUT EXCESSIVELY. ALSO, WELDS HAD SEPARATED AND CAUSED T FRAME TO CRACK ON PASSENGER'S SIDE. MECHANIC GAVE NO GUARANTEE PRBLEM WILL REMAIN FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #898817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Seattle, WACrash
SUSPENSION:FRONT
AUTOMOBILE JUMPED FORWARD IN LOWER GEARS. CONSUMER HAD AN ACCIDENT, BUT DID NOT KNOW WHETHER THE JUMPING WAS THE CAUSE. TOOK AUTOMOBILE TO DEALER, AND THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH THE AUTOMOBILE.
NHTSA complaint #860311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Traskwood, AR
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WAS GOING 30MPH WHEN ACCELERATOR WENT TO THE FLOOR. THROTTLE STUCK. HAD BOTH FEET ON BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN. STEERED VEHICLE TO PARKING LOT. TURNED VEHICLE OFF. PUSHED INTO PARKING SPACE. HAVE NOT BEEN TO DEALER, BUT WILL BE GOING. *AK*ADJ
NHTSA complaint #841194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ronceverte, WV1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELT FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL, RESULTING IN INJURIES WHEN SEAT BELT FAILED DURING VEHICLE ACCIDENT, CONSUMER HIT HEAD ON WINDSHIELD. (95V103-002).
NHTSA complaint #516858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Milwaukee, WI
SUSPENSION
DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE STRUTS REAR TIRES GOT BALD 3 TIMES. DEALER REPLACED THE STRUTS. PRESENTLY THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES THE SAME PROBLEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #828684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dekalb, MSCrash1 killed
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHENEVER VEHICLE MADE A STOP OR WAS WAITING AT A RED LIGHT THE VEHICLE WOULD CUT OFF. VEHICLE HAD TO BE PUT IN PARK IN ORDER TO START BACK UP. DRIVER WAS KILLED IN ACCIDENT BECAUSE VEHICLE STALLED COMING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #832978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North Baby, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
BRAKE SEALS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #604600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Montgomery, NY
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
VEHICLE BODY CONTAINS STRESS FRACTURES.
NHTSA complaint #533713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Arlington, VA
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE REAR DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED.
NHTSA complaint #821512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ronceverte, WVCrash
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL, PASSENAGER SEATBELT FAILED, ALLOWING PASSENAGER TO BE EJECTED OUT OF THE SEATBELT.
NHTSA complaint #503258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ronceverte, WV
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELT FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #516858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Paramount, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELT FAILED AFTER RECALL REPAIRS.
NHTSA complaint #515646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Maurice, LA1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELT FAILED IN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #520349 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rossford, OHCrash1 injured
SEATS
DURING REAR IMPACT AT SPEEDS OF 15 MPH, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT FALL BACKWARDS ONTO THE REAR SEAT.
NHTSA complaint #808897 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Great Neck, NY
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT FAILED RELEASE BUTTON FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #510387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Great Neck, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
MUFFLER RUSTED.
NHTSA complaint #510387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Great Neck, NY
TIRES
TIRE BLEW OUT WHEN CROSSING POTHOLE.
NHTSA complaint #510387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Great Neck, NY
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
DEFROSTER SYSTEM INADEQUATE, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.
NHTSA complaint #510387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
East Longmea, MACrash
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
OWNER STATES THAT HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE RELEASE BUTTON ON HIS SEAT BELTS , DEALER REPAIRED THE PROBLEM BUT THE DAY AFTER HE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, HE NOTES THAT SHOULDER STRAPS DID NOT HOLD IN PLACE AND DRIVER HIT STEERING WHEEL.
NHTSA complaint #806310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Centereach, NY
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELT LATCH BROKE PRIOR TO RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #601891 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Centereach, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN INOPERATIVE.
NHTSA complaint #601891 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FT. Lauderdale, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
THE FREEZE PLUG CORRODED AND THE WATER RAN OUT OF THE ENGINE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP WHILE DRIVNG ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF THIS. *AK IGNITION WIRES AND PARTS WERE ALL MELTED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED FREEZE PLU HAD TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #804269 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palmdale, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
PLASTIC CHAIN ON TIMING BELT BROKE WHILE DRIVING, RENDERING THE VEHICLE INOPERATIVE.
NHTSA complaint #802715 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.