Illustration"TAKATA RECALL". MAD A RIGHT HAND TURN AND BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS RANDOMLY DEPLOYED.THEY CAUSED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD TO CRACK BADLY. DIDNT HIT ANOTHER CAR NOR ANYTHING WITH MAKING THE TURN. WAS MOVING IN A CITY STREET AT 9PM SO NOT MUCH TRAFFIC. TURNED INTO AN EMPTY STREET LUCKILY.
1996 Nissan Sentra
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Nissan Sentra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 116.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sentra years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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
Air Bags complaints
53 reportsJULY 20 2016 WE WERE REAR ENDED BY A HONDA ACCORD DOING 40 MPH WHILE WE WERE STOPPED AT A LIGHT. THE IMPACT SLAMMED US INTO THE CHEVY SILVERADO IN FRONT OF US. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED.
INSUFFICIENT HEADREST FOAM COVERAGE. FOAM DEGRADES OR SELF MOVES OUT OF POSITION TO REVEAL INTERNAL METAL FRAME WHICH RUNS ACROSS ENTIRE HEADREST AT POINT OF HEAD IMPACT. PART DOES NOT SEEM SERVICEABLE FOR REPAIR, AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY MANUFACTURER WITH UPDATED VERSION. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND AIRBAG LIGHT ARE BOTH TRIGGER…
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INSUFFICIENT HEADREST FOAM COVERAGE. FOAM DEGRADES OR SELF MOVES OUT OF POSITION TO REVEAL INTERNAL METAL FRAME WHICH RUNS ACROSS ENTIRE HEADREST AT POINT OF HEAD IMPACT. PART DOES NOT SEEM SERVICEABLE FOR REPAIR, AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY MANUFACTURER WITH UPDATED VERSION. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND AIRBAG LIGHT ARE BOTH TRIGGERED TOO EASILY BY TOO MANY SENSORS, SO VEHICLE IS CONSTANTLY IN SHOP WITH NO TROUBLE FOUND. SEEMS LIKE IT WAS DESIGNED BY AN OVERLY-WORRIED CAR MANUFACTURER, OR FOR THE PURPOSES OF MAKING OWNERS FEEL THE CAR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT ALSO GREATLY INCREASES THE LIKELY HOOD OF FAILING AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. THE SAFETY ISSUE STEMS FROM ALL THE BLINKING LIGHTS ON THE DASH WHICH ARE VERY DISTRACTIVE, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT, AND USUALLY COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY. IN 1996, THERE WAS A RECALL FOR INSUFFICIENT BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATION ON THE SENTRA MODEL. NISSAN'S FIX FOR THIS WAS A BRIGHTER BULB. SINCE MY CAR WAS BOUGHT USED, AND THE PRIOR OWNER DID NOT UPGRADE TO THE NEW BULBS, AND THERE IS NO LISTING FOR THE REPLACEMENT BULBS, OWNER'S MAY NOT KNOW HOW TO UPGRADE THEIR BRAKE LIGHTS. NISSAN DEALERS DO NOT SEEM TO KNOW WHAT BULB TO REPLACE IT WITH FOR BETTER ILLUMINATION. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AS THERE ARE MANY 1996 NISSAN SENTRAS ON THE ROAD TODAY. *TR
WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH HAD AN ACCIDENT. WAS HIT ON PASSENGER'S SIDE ,AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED, DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK *TR
IN AN ACCIDENT VEHICLE WENT UNDER A TRUCK, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON IMPACT, THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A CUNCUSSION, FACIAL AND CHEST BRUISES, THREE BROKEN BONES IN THE RIGHT FOOT AND NOW SUFFERS FROM HEADACHES (SOMETIMES SEVERE).*AK
CONSUMER STATES THE AIR BAG SENOR LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON, WHICH IS CAUSED BY A FAULTY AIR BAG MODULE FAILURE . HAD PART REPLACED PROBLEM STILL ACCURING .*JB
NNEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED DURING TWO DIFFERENT ACCIDENTS, THERE WERE NO INJURIES DURING THESE ACCIDENTS. *YH
ON 2/17/2000 THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS FLASHING IT WAS TAKEN TO NISSAN 112 (730 RT.112) FOR REPAIRS.ON 7/6/2001 THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLED IN A ACCIDENT WHERE IT WAS STRCK IN THE FRONT THE AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED. *AK
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…
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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
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.
Official recalls
300V063000 · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs
Mar 2, 2000
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.
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.
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
1SQ99018 · 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.