Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1983 Sentra.
Documented as a 1983 model-year entry, the Nissan Sentra is anchored here by straightforward service figures—a 3.5-quart engine oil capacity and manufacturer-recommended viscosity grades of 20W-40, 20W-50, or 5W-30—the kind of baseline data a researcher needs before moving through the nameplate's later history. That foundation is reinforced by an unusually clean reliability record for the year itself, with just one owner complaint logged under seat belts and a single recall on file. In context, the 1983 sits at the calm end of a complaint arc that runs from 1990 through 2026, peaking at 638 reports in 2013 and bottoming at 8 in 2026, positioning this early example as a useful reference point for how the model's reliability profile has shifted across generations.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
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.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | XE 3-door Hatchback 1.5L I-4 | 12.70 sec | 18.60 sec | 67 hp | FWD |
| 1986 | SE Coupe 1.6L I-4 | 13.40 sec | 19.20 sec | 69 hp | FWD |
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, DOT 3 brake fluid.
| Brake Fluid | DOT 3 |
| Engine Oil | 20W-40 · 20W-50 · 5W-30 · 10W-30 · 10W-40 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 3.5 qt |
| Engine Oil | 20W-40 · 20W-50 · 5W-30 · 10W-30 · 10W-40 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 3.5 qt |
| Engine Oil | 15W-40 · 5W-30 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 3.8 qt |
| Power Steering Fluid | ATF |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The federal record begins in 1990, so there are no complaint, recall, investigation, or TSB figures available for the 1983 Sentra itself. From 1990 onward the data show a gradual rise in complaints—from 41 in 1990 to a peak of 638 in 2013—while recall activity remains relatively modest, generally ranging between 0 and 8 per year, with a noticeable increase after 2000. Investigations are rare (most years have 0‑1) and the number of technical service bulletins (TSBs) climbs steadily, reaching over 200 in the early‑2020s. Because the 1983 model sits before this documented upward trend, it likely experienced fewer reported issues than later generations, but the absence of specific data means its reliability cannot be quantified. **Takeaway:** With no federal complaints or recalls recorded for 1983, the year appears historically low‑risk, yet prospective buyers should still perform a thorough mechanical inspection because the dataset does not provide direct evidence for that model year.
All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
THE WIPER BLADE MAY EXTEND TOO FAR AND CATCH ON THE RADIO ANTENNA BRACKET. THE CONNECTION OF THE WIPER ARM AND THE PIVOT COULD BE DAMAGED. THE CONDITION IS CAUSED BY AN INCORRECT SETTING OF THE WIPER ARM HEIGHT ABOVE… Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, THE WIPER ARM PIVOT WILL BE REPLACED AND THE WIPER STROKE ADJUSTED.
Showing 3 of 3 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| NTB-09-101 | 2010-09-30 | Tires | NISSAN: TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) WARNING LIGHT ON/FLASHING. NO MODELS OR… |
| NTB-09-129 | 2010-09-13 | Equipment | NISSAN: VENT CONTROL VALVE REPLACEMENT. WHEN REPLACING THE EVAP CANISTER VENT CONTROL… |
| NTB-09-030 | 2009-04-06 | Electrical System | NISSAN: THE 12 VOLT BATTERY IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND IS… |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
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.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.