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
What owners actually said
58 reports
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 · Feb 15, 2005
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury
WHILE DRIVING ANOTHER VEHICLE CROSSED OVER INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE LANE AND HIT THE NISSAN HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE DRIVER 'S SEAT BELT SHEARED OFF DURING THE COLLISION. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO BE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. IT THEN CRASHED INTO THE CONCRETE BARRIER. PASSENGERS SUSTAINED M…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING ANOTHER VEHICLE CROSSED OVER INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE LANE AND HIT THE NISSAN HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE DRIVER 'S SEAT BELT SHEARED OFF DURING THE COLLISION. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO BE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. IT THEN CRASHED INTO THE CONCRETE BARRIER. PASSENGERS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE DRIVER WAS DOA. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THIS INFORMATION WAS FURNISHED BY THE WIFE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10111562
265,803 miles · Dec 14, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 40 MPH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AND NEITHER FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO THE SHOULDER AND THE RIGHT ARM FROM THE SEAT BELT. INSURANCE COMPANY REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10103699
102,000 miles · Dec 8, 2004
SeatsService Brakes, HydraulicVisibility
WINDSHIELD LINKAGE WERE DEFECTIVE, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL.98V093000. *AK THE CONSUMER HAD THE LINK ASSEMBLY REPLACED. *TC THE BRAKES FELT SPONGY AND THE LEFT FRONT SEAT DID NOT MOVE PROPERLY ON TRACK. *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10094740
39,500 miles · Aug 20, 2004
Seat Belts
THE FRONT AND REAR SEAT BELTS BECAME TANGLED INSIDE THE RETRACTOR. *AK *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10080209
110,000 miles · Aug 16, 2004
Visibility
THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER MALFUNCTIONED. A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS INCLUDED. *AK *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10079357
20,000 miles · Jun 4, 2004
SuspensionVisibility
THE SPRINGS THAT WERE CONNECTED TO THE STRUTS DROPPED AND PUNCTURED THE PASSENGER'S FRONT TIRE. PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE FELL TO THE GROUND. *AK THE LEFT FRONT SPRING HAD BROKEN AS WELL. CURRENTLY THE RIGHT SPRINGS WERE TEARING A 6 INCH GASH IN THE TIRE. OTHER PROBLEMS WERE: THERE WAS A BANG NOISE AND GRIND WHEN …
Read full complaint
THE SPRINGS THAT WERE CONNECTED TO THE STRUTS DROPPED AND PUNCTURED THE PASSENGER'S FRONT TIRE. PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE FELL TO THE GROUND. *AK THE LEFT FRONT SPRING HAD BROKEN AS WELL. CURRENTLY THE RIGHT SPRINGS WERE TEARING A 6 INCH GASH IN THE TIRE. OTHER PROBLEMS WERE: THERE WAS A BANG NOISE AND GRIND WHEN IN MOTION DUE TO A BROKEN LEFT STRUT AND STRUT BEARING, AND NOISE IN THE WIPERS DURING INTERMITTENT RELAY. *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10071850
Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 2004
EquipmentService Brakes, Hydraulic
SINCE PURCHASE, BRAKES HAVE REQUIRED REPEATED REPLACEMENT STARTING AT 4,759 MILES 2 1/2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. 1998-PRESENT IS THE PERIOD OVER WHICH THIS MATTER CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM. DATE BELOW IS NOT SPECIFIC AS RANGE CANNOT BE INPUT. THE CONSUMER NOTED THAT NISSAN HAS TAKEN EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO COLLECT PAYMENTS FOR SERV…
Read full complaint
SINCE PURCHASE, BRAKES HAVE REQUIRED REPEATED REPLACEMENT STARTING AT 4,759 MILES 2 1/2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. 1998-PRESENT IS THE PERIOD OVER WHICH THIS MATTER CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM. DATE BELOW IS NOT SPECIFIC AS RANGE CANNOT BE INPUT. THE CONSUMER NOTED THAT NISSAN HAS TAKEN EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO COLLECT PAYMENTS FOR SERVICES, THAT HAS NOT CORRECTED THE FAULTY BRAKE PROBLEM. *CB
NHTSA ODI #10051449
69,400 miles · Jan 13, 2004
Air BagsCrash
DRIVING APPROX 30-40MPH AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR WHICH MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY CAR WAS TOTALLED. REPORTED TO NISSAN AND NOTHING WAS DONE REGARDING IT.
NHTSA ODI #10053084
86,100 miles · Jan 8, 2004
Visibility
NISSAN HAS A SAFETY RECALL FOR WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE (SEE NHTSA CAMPAIGN 98V093000). ACCORDING TO THE NISSAN WEB SITE MY VEHICLE [XXX] IS IN THE RANGE OF AFFECTED VINS. MY WIPERS FAILED IN THE EXACT MANNER DESCRIBED IN THE SAFETY RECALL (WEAR OF THE BALL JOINT IN THE WIPER LINKAGE CAUSING THE LINKAGE TO SEPARATE), BUT NISSA…
Read full complaint
NISSAN HAS A SAFETY RECALL FOR WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE (SEE NHTSA CAMPAIGN 98V093000). ACCORDING TO THE NISSAN WEB SITE MY VEHICLE [XXX] IS IN THE RANGE OF AFFECTED VINS. MY WIPERS FAILED IN THE EXACT MANNER DESCRIBED IN THE SAFETY RECALL (WEAR OF THE BALL JOINT IN THE WIPER LINKAGE CAUSING THE LINKAGE TO SEPARATE), BUT NISSAN (AND THE NISSAN DEALER) REFUSE TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WORK UNDER THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THEY CLAIM THAT MY PARTICULAR VIN, ALTHOUGH IN THE CORRECT RANGE, IS NOT AFFECTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED DURING A HEAVY DOWNPOUR ON A BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AND NEARLY CAUSED A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I THINK NISSAN NEEDS TO TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT WHICH VINS ARE TRULY AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM. *LA UPDATED 07/26/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
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.
1998 Nissan Sentra Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration