NissanSentra1987Overview/nissan/sentra/1987/base/

1987 Nissan Sentra

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1987 Sentra.

Transmission Automatic 3-spd

The 1987 Nissan Sentra came with a 3-speed automatic transmission and a 3.5-quart oil capacity, accepting a wide range of viscosities from 5W-30 to 20W-50. Its EPA ratings of 23 mpg city and 27 highway reflected the efficiency of the era. With only 50 owner complaints and a single recall for seat belts, this model year represents a low-fault benchmark in the Sentra lineage, particularly when contrasted with the 638 complaints logged for the 2013 model.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920181987

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity3.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type20W-40 / 20W-50 / 5W-30OEM · verified
EPA fuel economy23/27/24 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length168.9 in
Overall width64.6 in
Overall height54.7 in
Wheelbase95.7 in
Curb weight2205 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)63/37

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined23 / 27 / 24 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume88 cu ft
Cargo volume12 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Sentra of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.4–13.4 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.40 sec — 1991 SE-R Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1986SE Coupe 1.6L I-413.40 sec19.20 sec69 hpFWD
1991SE-R Coupe 2.0L I-47.40 sec15.80 sec140 hpFWD
1991SE-R Coupe 2.0L I-47.60 sec15.90 sec140 hpFWD
1982XE 3-door Hatchback 1.5L I-412.70 sec18.60 sec67 hpFWD
1992E Coupe 1.6L I-48.40 sec16.70 sec110 hpFWD
1993SE-R Coupe 2.0L I-47.60 sec15.80 sec140 hpFWD
1995GXE 1.6L I-48.50 sec16.70 sec115 hpFWD
1995GXE 1.6L I-49.60 sec17.30 sec115 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 3.5 qt of 20W-40 / 20W-50 / 5W-30 engine oil, GL-5 · 80W-90 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilGL-5 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.1 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil20W-40 · 20W-50 · 5W-30 · 10W-30 · 10W-40
Engine Oil Capacity3.5 qt
Engine Oil15W-40 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity3.8 qt

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 1,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
At 7,500 miEngine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 15,000 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Ignition Timing (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Cabin Air Filter (inspect) · Choke System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miSpark Plugs (replace) · Steering System (inspect) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect) · Timing Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The federal record data provided does not include model-year records for 1987 or the years immediately surrounding it; the year-by-year dataset begins at 1990, making it impossible to directly compare the target year to its immediate predecessors or successors within its own generation. The available dataset shows a general escalation in complaints and recalls over time, with complaints rising from 41 in 1990 to a peak of 638 in 2013, and recalls fluctuating between 0 and 14 across the recorded period, suggesting an aging fleet effect rather than a generation-specific defect trend. The specific complaint breakdown for the 1987 model identifies seat belt malfunctions (16 complaints), powertrain issues (8), and engine/cooling problems (7) as the top categories, with 2 crash-related complaints and 3 fire-related complaints on record. Because the dataset lacks the contextual anchor points needed to assess whether 1987 falls at a particularly problematic or stable point in the Sentra's lifecycle, the data does not specify whether these issues represent early-onset defects or typical wear patterns for the generation. Given this data gap, a prospective buyer should treat the 1987 as an inherently unknown-risk used vehicle: the complaint figures are low in absolute terms, but they cannot be positioned within the model's own reliability arc, making thorough pre-purchase inspection and history verification especially critical.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
3
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
50
Owner complaints
2 involved a crash · 3 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 50 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Seat Belts16
Power Train8
Engine & Engine Cooling7
Latches/Locks/Linkages4
Structure3
Fuel System, Gasoline2
Electrical System2
Fuel System, Gasoline,Vehicle Speed Control,Unknown Or Other1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

95V103002Seat Belts:Front:Buckle AssemblyReported 24/05/1995

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. Remedy: 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 3 of 3 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
NTB-09-1012010-09-30TiresNISSAN: TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) WARNING LIGHT ON/FLASHING. NO MODELS OR…
NTB-09-1292010-09-13EquipmentNISSAN: VENT CONTROL VALVE REPLACEMENT. WHEN REPLACING THE EVAP CANISTER VENT CONTROL…
NTB-09-0302009-04-06Electrical SystemNISSAN: THE 12 VOLT BATTERY IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND IS…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Sentra. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1987 Sentra take?

3.5 qt of ABOVE 50 degrees F: 20W-40 OR 20W-50, BELOW 60 degrees F: 5W-30 OR 10W-30, ABOVE 0 degrees F: 10W-30 OR 10W-40, per the factory manual.

Does the 1987 Sentra have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Sentra get?

EPA figures are 23 city / 27 highway / 24 combined mpg.