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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

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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

Power Train complaints

11 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2000
Power Train

I ONLY RECEIVED A BRUSH OFF AT NISSAN - I WENT TO AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC TO FIX THIS VEHICLE - I KEPT THE TRANSMISSION CASING. THIS PARTICULAR MECHANIC HAS FIXED AT LEAST 10 1996 SENTRAS - BUT HE SAID THE WEAK CASING WAS ODD IN MY CASE. I BELIEVE IT IS A RESULT OF POOR MANUFACTURING. CONSUMERS DESERVE TO BE SOLD GOOD, SAFE PRODU…

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I ONLY RECEIVED A BRUSH OFF AT NISSAN - I WENT TO AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC TO FIX THIS VEHICLE - I KEPT THE TRANSMISSION CASING. THIS PARTICULAR MECHANIC HAS FIXED AT LEAST 10 1996 SENTRAS - BUT HE SAID THE WEAK CASING WAS ODD IN MY CASE. I BELIEVE IT IS A RESULT OF POOR MANUFACTURING. CONSUMERS DESERVE TO BE SOLD GOOD, SAFE PRODUCTS! I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT NISSAN CAN GET AWAY WITH THIS! PLEASE RESPOND WITH ADVICE - I WANT TO HAVE THIS CASING EXAMINED BY EXPERTS BECAUSE I THINK NISSAN PUTS CUSTOMERS OFF AND OTHER CUSTOMERS JUST "LET IT GO" SO NISSAN KEEPS GETTING AWAY WITH POOR MANUFACTURING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #735086

Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 2000
Power Train

WARRANTY RAN OUT 3/00 - MAJOR TRANSMISSION REPAIR NEEDED - CAR IS 4 YR/OLD - NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH MY OTHER VEHICLES. THEY WON'T EVEN OFFER TO PAY FOR A PORTION OF THE REPAIR - TWO OTHER MECHANICS LOOKED AT THE TRANSMISSION LEAK BEFORE I TOOK IT TO NISSAN - I WAS TOLD IT WAS A MANUFACTURER'S ERROR - WEAK ALUMINUM.

NHTSA ODI #733877

Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2000
Air BagsPower Train

1) WHILE CAR PARKED IN DRIVEWAY PASSENGER. AIRBAG LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING & HASN'T STOPPED 2) AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION/ 3RD GEAR FAILED; 1ST & 2ND SLIPPED BADLY AFTER CAR HAS WARMED UP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #731150

Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2000
Power TrainCrash

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #724662

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2000
Power Train

ON AT LEAST THREE OCCASIONS NOW, AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR AND PICKING IT UP ONE WEEK AGO, I COULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF THE PARK GEAR TO DRIVE, WITHOUT TURNING OFF THE CAR AND TURNING IT BACK ON SEVERAL TIMES. THIS HAS OCCURRED IN THE GETTY GAS STATION AFTER GETTING GAS AS WELL AS TRYING TO LEAVE A PARKING SPACE. I HAVE TO CONTINUA…

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ON AT LEAST THREE OCCASIONS NOW, AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR AND PICKING IT UP ONE WEEK AGO, I COULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF THE PARK GEAR TO DRIVE, WITHOUT TURNING OFF THE CAR AND TURNING IT BACK ON SEVERAL TIMES. THIS HAS OCCURRED IN THE GETTY GAS STATION AFTER GETTING GAS AS WELL AS TRYING TO LEAVE A PARKING SPACE. I HAVE TO CONTINUALLY PRESS THE BUTTON, TURN THE CAR ON AND OFF, AND STEP ON THE REGULAR BRAKE, BEFORE THE BUTTON SUDDENLY WORKS AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #719360

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 1999
Power Train

NISSAN HAS MADE THREE ATTEMPTS TO REPLACE A TRANSMISION AND FAILED ALL TIMES

NHTSA ODI #703821

Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 1998
Power Train

THE VEHICLE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED. HAD A PIECE OF METAL IN THE TRANSMISSION PAN MISSING/LOOSE PARTS WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #826413

Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 1998
Power Train

AUTOMATIC SHIFT BUTTON FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #530906

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1997
Power Train

TRANSMISSION JERKING AND LUNGED FORWARD WHEN PUTTING INTO PARKED GEAR.

NHTSA ODI #604659

Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 1996
Power TrainCrash

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A FRIEND'S DRIVEWAY WHEN IT WAS SHIFTED BY SOMEONE IN REVERSE, VEHICLE MOVED OUT OF DRIVEWAY INTO A TREE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #511173

Official recalls

3

00V063000 · 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

1

SQ99018 · 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.