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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

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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

Structure complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
168,000 miles · Jul 6, 2005
StructureInjury

DT: CONSUMER HAS A 1998 NISSAN SENTRA. WHEN SHE WENT TO REMOVE ITEMS FROM THE TRUNK, SHE SLICED HER HAND SLICED ON THE SURFACE OF THE TRUNK LID IN THE BACK THAT CONNECTS TO THE BACK OF THE CAR. THERE WAS A SHARP PIECE OF METAL THAT WAS UNSEEN TO THE CONSUMER. THIS CUT FELT LIKE A RAZOR BLADE CUTTING HER HAND. THE METAL WAS TOWA…

Read full complaint

DT: CONSUMER HAS A 1998 NISSAN SENTRA. WHEN SHE WENT TO REMOVE ITEMS FROM THE TRUNK, SHE SLICED HER HAND SLICED ON THE SURFACE OF THE TRUNK LID IN THE BACK THAT CONNECTS TO THE BACK OF THE CAR. THERE WAS A SHARP PIECE OF METAL THAT WAS UNSEEN TO THE CONSUMER. THIS CUT FELT LIKE A RAZOR BLADE CUTTING HER HAND. THE METAL WAS TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE TRUNK. THIS HAPPENED ON JULY 2, 2005. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED AS OF YET. THERE WAS NO HOSPITAL VISIT. OWNER HAD NEVER NOTICED THIS BEFORE. CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THE DEALERSHIP AVAILABLE. CONSUMER SAID IT WAS A SCARY THING TO FIND HAND CUT LIKE THAT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10127622

Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 1998
Structure

THE POWER DOOR LOCK SYSTEM IS SUPPOSE TO ALLOW YOU TO LOCK AND UNLOCK ALL DOORS SIMULTANEOUSLY USING THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR KEY, BUT IT DOES NOT WORK.

NHTSA ODI #541673

Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 1998
Structure

VEHICLE LEAKS WHEN IT RAINS. THINKS THERE IS A GENERAL PROBLEM FOR THIS YEAR AND MODEL.

NHTSA ODI #780133

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.