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.
Engine
624.0%
Buckle Assembly
520.0%
Webbing
312.0%
Anchorage
312.0%
Gasoline
28.0%
Recliner
28.0%
Retractor
28.0%
Automatic Transmission
28.0%
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 3Dec 2004
NHTSA investigations into the 1990 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 1990 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.
91V022000
SEAT BELTS
IMPROPER BELT GUIDE PERFORMANCE CAN CAUSE FRAYING OF THE SHOULDER SAFETY BELTS NEAR THE RETRACTOR.
Risk: THE FRAYING OF THE SHOULDER SAFETY BELT WEBBING CAN CAUSEIMPROPER RETRACTION OF THE BELT, WHICH WOULD LEAD TO INADEQUATE PROTECTION OFSEAT OCCUPANT DURING A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT, AND COULD RESULT IN INCREASEDRISK OF INJURY.
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.
Peoria, AZ2 injured
TIRES
LEFT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT AND VEHICLE SPUN AND ROLLED OVER, BOTH PASSENGERS BRUISED, VEHICLE TOTALED (KELLY SPRINGFIELD MONARCH T-P RADIAL 175/70R13). NLM
NHTSA complaint #558622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Peoria, AZCrash2 injured
SUSPENSION:FRONT
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 75 MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A BANGING NOISE. VEHICLE ROLLED AND SPRUNG FORWARD. *AK TIRE FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #877059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Peoria, AZCrash2 injured
TIRES
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 75 MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A BANGING NOISE. VEHICLE ROLLED AND SPRUNG FORWARD. *AK TIRE FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #877059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Portsmouth, RIFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK
I AM CURIOUS IF THIS IS PREVELEANT PROBLEM, AND IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE PART. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED.
NHTSA complaint #735203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tulare, CACrash1 injured1 killed
SEAT BELTS
SHOULDER BELT WEBBING FAILED. THE WEBBING SEPARATED COMPLETELY DURING A HEAD ON COLLISION. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT MR. MARV SPRINKMAN, MOTOR CARRIER SPECIALIST, CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL CENTRAL DIVISION MAIT UNIT, (559)277-7250,CASE NUMBER CL-010-00.
NHTSA complaint #721408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tupelo, MSCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY, 35-40 MPH VEHICLE HIT A TREE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. SEAT BELT SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE LAP BELT TO BREAK IN HALF. BUT DRIVER'S LAP BELT WAS STILL BUCKLED. SHOULDER BELT GOT CAUGHT AROUND THE NECK, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO CUT THROUGH THE DRIVER'S NECK, AND DRIVER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #853024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 82,958 milesLAS Vegas, NV
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE LEAKED OIL AND TRANSMISSION FLUID. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #10105565 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LAS Vegas, NV
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OR WHILE DRIVING IT WAS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. THIS CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT HARD AND ROUGH. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10097538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lexington, SC
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS ARE FRAYED AROUND THE RETRACTOR.
NHTSA complaint #10025821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hutchinson, KS
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
MIDDLE SEATBELT ON BACKSEAT WILL NOT BUCKLE UP. TWO REAR OUTSIDE BUCKLES WILL ONLY WORK INTERMITTENTLY.
NHTSA complaint #891595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Camdenton, MO
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
WITHOUT WARNING CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO HOOK DRIVER LAP SEATBELT, THE METAL PIECE GOES IN BUT WILL NOT HOOK.
NHTSA complaint #785004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Epsom, NH
SUSPENSION:REAR
CAR WENT TO SEARS FOR FOUR NEW TIRES AND ALIGNMENT, MECHANIC REPLACED BALL JOINTS PRIOR TO ALIGNMENT, WHILE ALIGNING REAR LEFT TOE CAM BOLT SNAPPED, SENT 16YR OLD HOME WITH VEHICLE UNTIL PART ARRIVES IN DAY OR TWO.
NHTSA complaint #742863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Peoria, AZ2 injured
TIRES
LEFT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT AND VEHICLE SPUN AND ROLLED OVER, BOTH PASSENGERS BRUISED, VEHICLE TOTALED (KELLY SPRINGFIELD MONARCH T-P RADIAL 175/70R13). NLM
NHTSA complaint #558622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Peoria, AZCrash2 injured
SUSPENSION:FRONT
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 75 MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A BANGING NOISE. VEHICLE ROLLED AND SPRUNG FORWARD. *AK TIRE FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #877059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Peoria, AZCrash2 injured
TIRES
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 75 MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A BANGING NOISE. VEHICLE ROLLED AND SPRUNG FORWARD. *AK TIRE FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #877059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Portsmouth, RIFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK
I AM CURIOUS IF THIS IS PREVELEANT PROBLEM, AND IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE PART. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED.
NHTSA complaint #735203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tulare, CACrash1 injured1 killed
SEAT BELTS
SHOULDER BELT WEBBING FAILED. THE WEBBING SEPARATED COMPLETELY DURING A HEAD ON COLLISION. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT MR. MARV SPRINKMAN, MOTOR CARRIER SPECIALIST, CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL CENTRAL DIVISION MAIT UNIT, (559)277-7250,CASE NUMBER CL-010-00.
NHTSA complaint #721408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tupelo, MSCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY, 35-40 MPH VEHICLE HIT A TREE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. SEAT BELT SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE LAP BELT TO BREAK IN HALF. BUT DRIVER'S LAP BELT WAS STILL BUCKLED. SHOULDER BELT GOT CAUGHT AROUND THE NECK, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO CUT THROUGH THE DRIVER'S NECK, AND DRIVER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #853024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tupelo, MSCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY, 35-40 MPH VEHICLE HIT A TREE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. SEAT BELT SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE LAP BELT TO BREAK IN HALF. BUT DRIVER'S LAP BELT WAS STILL BUCKLED. SHOULDER BELT GOT CAUGHT AROUND THE NECK, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO CUT THROUGH THE DRIVER'S NECK, AND DRIVER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #853024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Harmonly, PA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY.
NHTSA complaint #712581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angeles, CA
SUSPENSION
BOTH AXELS CRACKED,REPLACED: DEALER "SOMETIMES THEY WEAR OUT."
NHTSA complaint #711898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angeles, CAFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
RADIATOR CLOGGED,TEMP GAUGE DID NOT READ HOT,ENGINE MELTED,REPLACED
NHTSA complaint #711897 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hilliard, OH
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TIMING CHAIN COVER CRACKED, AND OIL LEAKED ONTO RIGHT FRONT BRAKE.
NHTSA complaint #707258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Phoenixvil, PA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT BUCKLE UNHOOKS THE BELT BY ITSELF.
NHTSA complaint #535860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Phoenixvil, PA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEAT BELT BUCKLE UNHOOKS THE BELT BY ITSELF.
NHTSA complaint #535860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Staten Island, NY
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELT RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED, HOWEVER DEALERSHIP REFUSED WORK ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS.
NHTSA complaint #514005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OWNER SMELLED GAS FUMES.OWNER THEN TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT FUEL INJECTORS WERE FAULTY. PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPAIRED. *AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #818928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fenton, MO
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OWNER SMELLED GAS FUMES.OWNER THEN TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT FUEL INJECTORS WERE FAULTY. PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPAIRED. *AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #818928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dunwoody, GA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OIL LEAKS FROM FAILED CRANKSHAFT SEAL ONTO PULLEY/DRIVE BELT AND OTHER PARTS OF ENGINE. THERE IS ALSO A DANGER OF FIRE. IN ADDITION, ENGINE COULD SEIZE, STRANDING VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC.
NHTSA complaint #520302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dunwoody, GA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OIL LEAKS FROM THE DEFECTIVE CRANKSHAFT SEAL ONTO PULLEY/DRIVE BELT AND OTHER PARTS OF ENGINE. THERE IS A DANGER OF FIRE. ALSO, ENGINE COULD SEIZE, STRANDING VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC.
NHTSA complaint #520302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Zanesville, OH
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DUE TO A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE TIMING SYSTEM THE CHAIN GUARD FAILED, PLASTIC ENDED UP IN THE ENGINE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE LIFTERS.
NHTSA complaint #519066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.