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1997 Nissan Sentra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Nissan Sentra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 116.

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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: 24 of 108 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 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

26 crash reports1 fire reports17 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

15 reports
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120,907 miles · Oct 30, 2006
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE FREEWAY DOING ABOUT 70 MPH WHEN THERE WAS A WRECK ON THE HWY, TO AVOID FURTHER COLLISIONS UP TO 5 CARS IN FRONT OF ME LOCKED UP THEIR BRAKES, THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME LOCKED UP HIS BRAKES, & I LOCKED UP MY BRAKES, & MY FRONT END WENT DOWN, MY BRAKES LOCKED UP, MY CAR SLID UNDER THE TRUCK IN FRON…

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WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE FREEWAY DOING ABOUT 70 MPH WHEN THERE WAS A WRECK ON THE HWY, TO AVOID FURTHER COLLISIONS UP TO 5 CARS IN FRONT OF ME LOCKED UP THEIR BRAKES, THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME LOCKED UP HIS BRAKES, & I LOCKED UP MY BRAKES, & MY FRONT END WENT DOWN, MY BRAKES LOCKED UP, MY CAR SLID UNDER THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME, & NEITHER AIR-BAG DEPLOYED! MY FRONT END BUCKLED UP I COUNT 3 FAILURES, THE BRAKES BEING 1ST, 2ND, & 3RD BEING AIR BAGS. (DRIVERS, & PASSENGER. THERE HAS NOT YET BEEN ANY ACTION TO CORRECT THE FAILURE, THIS IS THE FIRST THING MY WIFE HAS DONE. I DID HAVE A PASSENGER IN MY CAR, & BEING AS I REAR-ENDED THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME I AM HAVING TO PAY FOR DAMAGES. MINOR COMPARED TO THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR. NO DEATHS BUT BOTH WERE PRETTY BANGED UP!*JB

NHTSA ODI #10172197

Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2003
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

CONTINUAL BRAKE FAILURE, DOOR LOCK MALFUNCTION, DEFOGGER, VISIBILITY WINDSHIELD WIPERS, ENGINE RELATED ISSUES, TIRES, GAS TANK. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10013556

Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DEPRESSING BRAKES NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE. DEALER HAS REPLACED BRAKES, BUT NOISE RETURNED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8001781

Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 2001
Air BagsExterior LightingService Brakes, Hydraulic

WATER IS ENTERING THE TRUNK AND IS ROUTED ALONG THE ELECTRICAL WIRING, THIS IS DUE TO THE REAR LIGHT MODULE IS SEALED INTO PLACE WITH A PRODUCT THAT IS NOT FIT FOR THE PURPOSE INTENDED. VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH A SEMI TRUCK AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE GENERIC BRAKE PADS ARE NOT CO…

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WATER IS ENTERING THE TRUNK AND IS ROUTED ALONG THE ELECTRICAL WIRING, THIS IS DUE TO THE REAR LIGHT MODULE IS SEALED INTO PLACE WITH A PRODUCT THAT IS NOT FIT FOR THE PURPOSE INTENDED. VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH A SEMI TRUCK AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE GENERIC BRAKE PADS ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE ORIGINAL PARTS AS EXCESSIVE SQUEALING TAKES PLACE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #895668

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

EVERY YEAR VEHICLE BRAKES NEED REPLACEMENT WHEN USING NISSAN. BUT, WHEN USING OTHER BRAKES, CONSUEMR NOTICED LONGER WEAR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

NHTSA ODI #881557

Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

VEHICLE'S BRAKING DISTANCE HAS INCREASED WHEN IT SITS FOR 4 OR 5 DAYS AT A TIME WITHOUT BEING DRIVEN. DEALER SAID HE HAS OTHER MODELS ON HIS LOT THAT DO THE SAME THING. ALSO, DEALER TOLD CONSUMER TO LET VEHICLE RUN FOR 30 SECONDS. THEN, PUMP BRAKE BEFORE DRIVING. NISSAN HAS FILE ON THIS. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #880462

Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES HAVE TO BE REPLACED EVERY YEAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #848227

Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

GOING DOWN HILL AT APPROX 15-30 MILES PER HOUR,BRAKES SMOKE/ OVERHEAT/ BURN SQUEEK. HAVE HAD TO SHOP TWICE IN LAST WEEK. JUST GOT CAR LAST WEEK, NO OTHER PROBLEMS. WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEM SAFETY CHECKED AND REPLACED IF NEEDED. HAVE APPOINTMENT AGAIN FOR NEXT MONDAY, JUST HOPE ALL WILL WORK OUT. WANTED TO KNOW OF OTHERS WITH SAME…

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GOING DOWN HILL AT APPROX 15-30 MILES PER HOUR,BRAKES SMOKE/ OVERHEAT/ BURN SQUEEK. HAVE HAD TO SHOP TWICE IN LAST WEEK. JUST GOT CAR LAST WEEK, NO OTHER PROBLEMS. WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEM SAFETY CHECKED AND REPLACED IF NEEDED. HAVE APPOINTMENT AGAIN FOR NEXT MONDAY, JUST HOPE ALL WILL WORK OUT. WANTED TO KNOW OF OTHERS WITH SAME BRAKE PROBLEM, AND POOR GAS MILAGE, THAT HAS TO RELATE IN SOME WAY TO BREAK SYSTEM.

NHTSA ODI #704474

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES MALFUNCTIONING. *YC

NHTSA ODI #607432

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES WORE OUT CAUSING ROTOR DAMAGE. YH

NHTSA ODI #606973

Official recalls

3

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.

97V110000 · Structure:body:door

Jul 22, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. ONE OF THREE STYROFOAM PADS LOCATED IN EACH REAR DOOR AS PART OF THE DESIGN FOR ENSURING COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS NO. 214, "SIDE DOOR STRENGTH," WAS NOT INSTALLED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, AN OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY PROTECTED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE MISSING PAD IN EACH REAR DOOR.

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.