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#BS-1987-NISSEN-8CEF

1987 Nissan SentraProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 46 owners and 1 recall for this exact model.

Data updated ·checked October 30, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 28, 2026

Complaints
46
Crashes
2
Fires
4
Recalls
1
TSBs
3
🟡

Preliminary Verdict

Think Twice

Based on 46 complaints, 2 crashes, 4 fires, and 1 recalls. Complaint rate is 4.1x the class average.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Preview: What's in your full report

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the Seat Belts:front:buckle AssemblyHIGH

9 owners reported seat belts:front:buckle assembly issues.

!Inspect the Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasolineMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly (9 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly9 (20%)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline4 (9%)
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch3 (7%)
Seat Belts:front:anchorage3 (7%)
Structure:body:door3 (7%)
Fuel System, Gasoline:carburetor System2 (4%)
Speed Control2 (4%)
Electrical System:ignition:module1 (2%)

1987 Nissan Sentra: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly Issues

Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly complaints account for 20% of all reports filed for the 1987 Nissan Sentra, with 9 owners filing complaints with NHTSA.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline Issues

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 1987 Nissan Sentra, with 4 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch Issues

Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch complaints account for 7% of all reports filed for the 1987 Nissan Sentra, with 3 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Seat Belts:front:anchorage Issues

Seat Belts:front:anchorage complaints account for 7% of all reports filed for the 1987 Nissan Sentra, with 3 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to seat belts:front:anchorage-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (1 recall)

95V103002Sep 1995

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.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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NHTSA Defect Investigations (1)

All closed. Investigations are how NHTSA decides whether a defect needs a recall.

EA95007ClosedOpened Mar 1995 · closed Aug 1995

TAKATA SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

The worst model year for the Nissan Sentra is the 2015 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is transmission.

1987 Nissan Sentra vs. Class Average (Subcompact Cars)

This vehicle

46

Class avg

11

4.1x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical subcompact cars vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 46 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 1 recall found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated (checked October 30, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 28, 2026.

Other Nissan Sentra Model Years

202620252024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000199919981997199619951994199319921991199019891988198719861985198419831982
View all Nissan Sentra years →

1987 Nissan Sentra: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 1987 Nissan Sentra?
The most commonly reported issue with the 1987 Nissan Sentra is related to the seat belts:front:buckle assembly, with 9 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 1987 Nissan Sentra reliable?
The 1987 Nissan Sentra has 46 complaints, 2 crash reports, and 4 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 4.1x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How much does it cost to fix 1987 Nissan Sentra problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 1987 Nissan Sentra have any recalls?
Yes, the 1987 Nissan Sentra has 1 recall on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Nissan Sentra problems start?
Mileage data is limited for this vehicle. The full report analyzes available data to identify failure patterns by mileage range.
When was the 1987 Nissan Sentra data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 30, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 28, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins. Its numbers last changed on October 4, 2026.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 46 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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