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1998 Nissan Sentra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Nissan Sentra are lower than the model-year median of 116.

About this comparison →
58Owner complaints

Model-year median: 116

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
117
1995141
1996108
199758
199859
1999171
2000236
2001
Compare all Sentra years →

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

What owners reported most

Air Bags
15Visibility
13Service Brakes, Hydraulic
6Vehicle Speed Control
6Engine And Engine Cooling
4
All reported categories
Suspension
4Electrical System
3Structure
3Tires
3Equipment
2Fuel System, Gasoline
2Fuel/propulsion System
2Seat Belts
2Unknown Or Other
2Exterior Lighting
1Seats
1Service Brakes
1Visibility/wiper
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: 18 of 58 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 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports2 fire reports10 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

3 reports
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62,621 miles · Sep 7, 2019
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemVisibility/wiper

I HAVE A 1998 NISSAN SENTRA AND THE PROBLEMS I HAVE WITH THIS CAR IS MY IGNITION SWITCH. MY KEY GETS STUCK IN MY IGNITION SOMETIMES AND MY CAR DOESN'T WANT TO START AT TIMES. THIS PROBLEM IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE CONSISTENT OVER THE TEN YEARS I'VE HAD IT. I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY ENGINE MULTIPLE TIMES AND I'VE GOTTEN IT FIX…

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I HAVE A 1998 NISSAN SENTRA AND THE PROBLEMS I HAVE WITH THIS CAR IS MY IGNITION SWITCH. MY KEY GETS STUCK IN MY IGNITION SOMETIMES AND MY CAR DOESN'T WANT TO START AT TIMES. THIS PROBLEM IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE CONSISTENT OVER THE TEN YEARS I'VE HAD IT. I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY ENGINE MULTIPLE TIMES AND I'VE GOTTEN IT FIXED MORE THAN THREE TIMES.

NHTSA ODI #11253805

115,513 miles · May 23, 2006
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFire

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I PURCHASED MY 1998 NISSAN SENTRA XE/GXE JANUARY 27, 2005, FROM A USED AUTO CAR DEALER. MAY 18. 2006 DEFECT ON THE VEHICLE OCCURRED THAT CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO GO UP IN FLAMES AND CAUSED IT TO BE DESTROYED. THE FIRE STARTED WITH THE HEAD LIGHT AND LEADING TO OTHER PARTS OF THE MOTOR. THE FIRE DEPARTMEN…

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TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I PURCHASED MY 1998 NISSAN SENTRA XE/GXE JANUARY 27, 2005, FROM A USED AUTO CAR DEALER. MAY 18. 2006 DEFECT ON THE VEHICLE OCCURRED THAT CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO GO UP IN FLAMES AND CAUSED IT TO BE DESTROYED. THE FIRE STARTED WITH THE HEAD LIGHT AND LEADING TO OTHER PARTS OF THE MOTOR. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED OUT TO THE SCENE. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRE WAS THAT IT STARTED FROM THE RIGHT HEAD LIGHT WHICH HAD A SHORTAGE IN THE WIRING AND SET OFF A BOX BEHIND THE LIGHT WHICH CAUSED THE FIRE TO MELT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID BOX WHICH CAUSED THE FIRE TO SPREAD. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10158130

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Electrical System

SPARK PLUGS FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #608906

Official recalls

1

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.

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.