Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 14 of 141 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Air Bags. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Visibility. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
43 crash reports1 fire reports25 injury reports
What owners actually said
141 reports
Mileage unknown · May 24, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE HAS 46,381 ORIGNAL MILES, ENGINE HAD BEEN MAINTAINED PROPERLY. ENGINE SHOULD HAVE NOT GONE OUT AT 46K MILES. ARE THERE ANY OTHER REPORTED CASES OF THIS TYPE CAR/ENGINE?DO I HAVE A CLAIM AGAINST THE DEALER FOR A FAULTY ENGINE?WHAT ARE MY LEGAL RIGHTS CONCERNING THIS, AS I STILL OWE $8,000.00 ON THE LOAN, THROUGH RELIABLE C…
Read full complaint
ENGINE HAS 46,381 ORIGNAL MILES, ENGINE HAD BEEN MAINTAINED PROPERLY. ENGINE SHOULD HAVE NOT GONE OUT AT 46K MILES. ARE THERE ANY OTHER REPORTED CASES OF THIS TYPE CAR/ENGINE?DO I HAVE A CLAIM AGAINST THE DEALER FOR A FAULTY ENGINE?WHAT ARE MY LEGAL RIGHTS CONCERNING THIS, AS I STILL OWE $8,000.00 ON THE LOAN, THROUGH RELIABLE CREDIT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #745873
Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 2001
Visibility
VEHICLE WAS A PART OF RECALL 98V093000; WATER ENTERED AND DISPLACED GREASE IN WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM LINKAGE BALL JOINT, WHERE WIPER LINKAGE ATTACHES TO WIPER MOTOR LINKAGE. CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE USED, BUT DEALER HAD ADVISED THAT RECALL WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED. HOWEVER DEFECT CONTINUES, AND WINSHIELD WIPERS WERE DISF…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE WAS A PART OF RECALL 98V093000; WATER ENTERED AND DISPLACED GREASE IN WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM LINKAGE BALL JOINT, WHERE WIPER LINKAGE ATTACHES TO WIPER MOTOR LINKAGE. CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE USED, BUT DEALER HAD ADVISED THAT RECALL WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED. HOWEVER DEFECT CONTINUES, AND WINSHIELD WIPERS WERE DISFUNCTIONAL. *AK
NHTSA ODI #886262
Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2001
Air Bags
ONE IN FEBRUARY 2001, I STARTED UP THE CAR. THE AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. IT WAS 30 DAYS BEFORE I COULD GET IT IN TO SLIDELL NISSAN. THE MECHANIC MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THE AIR BAG HAD JUST GONE BAD. HE COULD NOT TELL ME SPECIALLY WHY IT FAILED. BUT, HE SAID THAT IT WOULD COST BE $652.00 TO GET IT FIXED. I HAVE NEVER HA…
Read full complaint
ONE IN FEBRUARY 2001, I STARTED UP THE CAR. THE AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. IT WAS 30 DAYS BEFORE I COULD GET IT IN TO SLIDELL NISSAN. THE MECHANIC MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THE AIR BAG HAD JUST GONE BAD. HE COULD NOT TELL ME SPECIALLY WHY IT FAILED. BUT, HE SAID THAT IT WOULD COST BE $652.00 TO GET IT FIXED. I HAVE NEVER HAD TO USE THE AIRBAG, AND NOW I FIND THAT IF I HAVE A COLLISION, I WILL NOT HAVE AIR BAG PROTECTION AT ALL. I THEN SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND NISSAN IS ON RECORD AS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR OLDER AIR BAGS, 1996 INCLUDED. NISSAN WILL NOT FIX THIS FOR ME FOR FREE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #743744
Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 2001
Electrical SystemInterior Lighting
THERE WAS A SHORT CIRCUIT IN TAIL LIGHTS. CONSUMER STARTED TO SMELL SMOKE AND NOTICED DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS HAD STOPPED WORKING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #885217
Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 2001
Air Bags
AIRBAG LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED TWICE, THE FIRST TIME THE DEALER REPLACED THE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY, NOW AT 78,836 MILES THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS AGAIN ILLUMINATED, THE CONSUMER FEELS THE DEALERSHIP SHOUD REPLACE THIS BEING IT'S ONLY 20,000 MILES LATER AND HAS FAILED AGAIN.
NHTSA ODI #559131
Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 2001
Air Bags
AIRBAG LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY BLINKING ON DASHBOARD. *AK
NHTSA ODI #877249
Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2000
Power Train
I ONLY RECEIVED A BRUSH OFF AT NISSAN - I WENT TO AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC TO FIX THIS VEHICLE - I KEPT THE TRANSMISSION CASING. THIS PARTICULAR MECHANIC HAS FIXED AT LEAST 10 1996 SENTRAS - BUT HE SAID THE WEAK CASING WAS ODD IN MY CASE. I BELIEVE IT IS A RESULT OF POOR MANUFACTURING. CONSUMERS DESERVE TO BE SOLD GOOD, SAFE PRODU…
Read full complaint
I ONLY RECEIVED A BRUSH OFF AT NISSAN - I WENT TO AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC TO FIX THIS VEHICLE - I KEPT THE TRANSMISSION CASING. THIS PARTICULAR MECHANIC HAS FIXED AT LEAST 10 1996 SENTRAS - BUT HE SAID THE WEAK CASING WAS ODD IN MY CASE. I BELIEVE IT IS A RESULT OF POOR MANUFACTURING. CONSUMERS DESERVE TO BE SOLD GOOD, SAFE PRODUCTS! I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT NISSAN CAN GET AWAY WITH THIS! PLEASE RESPOND WITH ADVICE - I WANT TO HAVE THIS CASING EXAMINED BY EXPERTS BECAUSE I THINK NISSAN PUTS CUSTOMERS OFF AND OTHER CUSTOMERS JUST "LET IT GO" SO NISSAN KEEPS GETTING AWAY WITH POOR MANUFACTURING.*AK
NHTSA ODI #735086
Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 2000
Unknown Or Other
PLEASE HELP ME SOON RESPOND
NHTSA ODI #734801
Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline
GAS FUEL LEAKS OUT OF MY GAS PORT WHEN I AM PARKED FACE UP ON A 15 DEGREE HILL ON A SUNNY DAY. THE SPILLED GAS CREATES A SERIOUS FIRE AND HEALTH HAZZARD. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO A LOCAL AUTHORIZED NISSAN DEALER MORE THAN FOUR TIMES TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES.
NHTSA ODI #734338
50,000 miles · Oct 14, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline
GAS FUEL LEAKS OUT OF MY PORT WHEN I AM PARKED FACE UP ON A 15 DEGREE HILL ON A SUNNY DAY. THE SPILLED GAS CREATES A SERIOUS FIRE AND HEALTH HAZARD. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO A LOCAL AUTHORIZED NISSAN DEALER MORE THAN FOUR TIMES TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES. *JB *SCC *****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER…
Read full complaint
GAS FUEL LEAKS OUT OF MY PORT WHEN I AM PARKED FACE UP ON A 15 DEGREE HILL ON A SUNNY DAY. THE SPILLED GAS CREATES A SERIOUS FIRE AND HEALTH HAZARD. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO A LOCAL AUTHORIZED NISSAN DEALER MORE THAN FOUR TIMES TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES. *JB *SCC *****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****734338
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS MAY NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT CORROSION RESISTANCE IN AREAS OF THE COUNTRY WHERE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF DE-ICING SALTS ARE APPLIED TO ROADS IN THE WINTER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF A BROKEN SPRING COMES OUT OF THE LOWER SEAT, IT COULD CONTACT AND PUNCTURE THE TIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT COIL SPRING.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. WATER CAN ENTER AND DISPLACE THE GREASE IN THE WIPER ARM LINKAGE BALL JOINT WHERE THE WIPER LINKAGE ATTACHES TO THE WIPER MOTOR LINKAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN GRADUAL WEAR OVER A PERIOD OF TIME INSIDE THE JOINT THAT COULD LEAD TO THE SEPARATION OF THE WIPER LINKAGE ASSEMBLY FROM THE WIPER MOTOR LINKAGE AT THE BALL JOINT. A LOSS OF WINDSHIELD WIPER FUNCTION CAN RESULT IN THIS SEPARATION OCCURS.
Remedy: TO PREVENT GREASE FROM BEING WASHED OUT OF THE JOINT, THE DEALERS WILL MODIFY BY ADDING A WATER DIVERSION SEAL THAT WILL PREVENT WATER FROM ENTERING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE BALL JOINT AREA.
THESE VEHICLES DO NOT MEET THE ILLUMINATION REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FOLLOWING VEHICLES MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT IS STOPPING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH TWO NEW LIGHT BULBS FOR THE STOP/TAIL LAMPS WHICH ARE BRIGHTER THAN THE ORIGINAL BULBS. A LABEL WITH THE NEW BULB NUMBER WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED FOR INSERTION INTO THE OWNER'S MANUAL. IF AN OWNER SO DESIRES, A DEALERS CAN INSTALL THE LIGHT BULBS FOR THEM.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
SQ99018 · Corrision Fatigue Of Front Coil Springs
Opened Jun 17, 1999 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
NISSAN IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL IN CANADA OF 11,100 1994 THROUGH 1996 SENTRA 2 DOOR MODELS IN WHICH THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS ARE FRACTURING FROM CORROSION FATIGUE.NISSAN REPORTED THAT THE FAILURES OCCUR FROM A LOSS OF THE PROTECTIVE PAINT COATING ON THE SPRINGS AND EXPOSURE TO HEAVY ROAD SALT.CORROSION CAN CAUSE PITS TO FORM ON THE SPRING SURFACE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE SPRING.A BROKEN SPRING COULDPUNCTURE THE AFFECTED TIRE, POSSIBLY CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.THE CANADIAN RECALL NUMBER FOR THIS IS 99-069, DATED APRIL 28, 1999.THE PURPOSE OF THIS SQ IS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE DEFECT IDENTIFIED IN THE CANADIAN SAFETY RECALL SHOULD BE CONDUCTED IN THE U.S. AS A SAFETY RECALL.
1996 Nissan Sentra Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration