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1997 Nissan Sentra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Nissan Sentra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 116.

About this comparison →
108Owner complaints

Model-year median: 116

3Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
99
1994117
1995141
1996108
199758
199859
1999171
2000
Compare all Sentra years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Air Bags
33Visibility
24Service Brakes, Hydraulic
15Electrical System
10Vehicle Speed Control
9
All reported categories
Engine And Engine Cooling
6Tires
5Steering
4Exterior Lighting
3Fuel System, Gasoline
3Seat Belts
3Structure
3Suspension
3Seats
2Unknown Or Other
2Engine
1Equipment
1Interior Lighting
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Power Train
1

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: 24 of 108 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 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

26 crash reports1 fire reports17 injury reports

Steering complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
44,000 miles · Nov 9, 2004
Steering

WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IT VIBRATED SEVERELY. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVE…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IT VIBRATED SEVERELY. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK *SC

NHTSA ODI #10095124

Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 2002
SteeringCrash

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHEN SHE MOVED INTO ANOTHER LANE, CAUSING THE CAR TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL, CRASHING INTO A FENCE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE AND HER PASSENGERS COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT. LOCK ON THE STEERING WHEEL IS SUSPECT, IN MY OPINION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #764542

Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2000
Air BagsSteeringCrashInjury

WHILE WIFE WAS DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH HIT ROAD DIVIDER AND LOST CONTROL. VEHICLE ROLLED OVER A COUPLE TIMES. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #859393

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 1999
SteeringCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING ON DRY/CLEAR PAVEMENT, I FELT/HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKESD UP. WITH NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE I STRUCK AND EMBANKMENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #707890

Official recalls

3

98V093000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:linkages

May 5, 1998

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.

98V008000 · Exterior Lighting:tail Lights

Jan 21, 1998

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.

97V110000 · Structure:body:door

Jul 22, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. ONE OF THREE STYROFOAM PADS LOCATED IN EACH REAR DOOR AS PART OF THE DESIGN FOR ENSURING COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS NO. 214, "SIDE DOOR STRENGTH," WAS NOT INSTALLED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, AN OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY PROTECTED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE MISSING PAD IN EACH REAR DOOR.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.