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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.

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: 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

Visibility complaints

24 reports
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147,000 miles · Aug 18, 2011
Visibility

I HAVE A 1997 NISSAN SENTRA AND ON A RAINY DAY MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING WITHOUT WARNING. THE WIPER TRANSMISSION MOTOR SOUNDS LIKE ITS WORKING BUT NOTHING HAPPENS. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED IT IS A FAULTY WIPER ARM. I FOUND OUT ABOUT RECALL 98V093000 AND CALLED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA. THEY INFORMED ME THERE IS NO OPEN RECALL…

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I HAVE A 1997 NISSAN SENTRA AND ON A RAINY DAY MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING WITHOUT WARNING. THE WIPER TRANSMISSION MOTOR SOUNDS LIKE ITS WORKING BUT NOTHING HAPPENS. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED IT IS A FAULTY WIPER ARM. I FOUND OUT ABOUT RECALL 98V093000 AND CALLED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA. THEY INFORMED ME THERE IS NO OPEN RECALL ON THE ISSUE AND THAT MY VIN NUMBER DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10419975

90,000 miles · May 25, 2011
Visibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING ON THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILING. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V093000 (VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER: LINKAGES) FOR THE VEHICLE WAS CLOSED. THE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING ON THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILING. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V093000 (VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER: LINKAGES) FOR THE VEHICLE WAS CLOSED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10402692

122,385 miles · Jul 3, 2009
Visibility

VEHICLE ENGINE WAS IDLING CAR WAS IN PARK. TURNED ON WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH I HEARD A LOUD KNOCK IN THE DASH CONSOLE AND COULD HEAR A MECHANISM SOUND AS IF WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE MOVING BUT THE WIPERS THEMSELVES DID NOT MOVE SO THE RESULT OF THIS IS NO VISIBILITY WITHOUT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKING ON RAINY DAYS. UNABLE TO DRIVE …

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VEHICLE ENGINE WAS IDLING CAR WAS IN PARK. TURNED ON WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH I HEARD A LOUD KNOCK IN THE DASH CONSOLE AND COULD HEAR A MECHANISM SOUND AS IF WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE MOVING BUT THE WIPERS THEMSELVES DID NOT MOVE SO THE RESULT OF THIS IS NO VISIBILITY WITHOUT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKING ON RAINY DAYS. UNABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10275716

Mileage unknown · May 5, 2005
Visibility

DT: THE VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. WHEN THE WIPERS WERE IN USE THEY WOULD STOP CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10119947

112,000 miles · Dec 21, 2004
Visibility

NHTSA RECALL 98V093000. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE WIPER MOTOR RECALL DUE TO VIN ALTHOUGH IT EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT WERE MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. *AK WHILE DRIVING IN SNOW/SLEET THE WIPER STOPPED FUNCTIONING WHICH CAUSED REDUCED VISIBILITY. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10101752

94,234 miles · Oct 25, 2004
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO ENGAGE. HUSBAND DIAGNOSED WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM, POWER TO WIPER MOTOR WAS OKAY, CONTINUED TO TROUBLESHOOT, FOUND WIPER ARM CONTROL SEPERATED FROM WIPER MOTOR. SEEMS LIKE THE SAME ISSUE THE RECALL 98V093000 PERTAINED TO. HUSBAND LUBRICATED BALL JOINT, AND SQUEEZED SOCKET TO BALL BACK TOGETHER. N…

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WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO ENGAGE. HUSBAND DIAGNOSED WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM, POWER TO WIPER MOTOR WAS OKAY, CONTINUED TO TROUBLESHOOT, FOUND WIPER ARM CONTROL SEPERATED FROM WIPER MOTOR. SEEMS LIKE THE SAME ISSUE THE RECALL 98V093000 PERTAINED TO. HUSBAND LUBRICATED BALL JOINT, AND SQUEEZED SOCKET TO BALL BACK TOGETHER. NO PROBLEMS SINCE REPAIR.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10096385

160,500 miles · May 26, 2004
Visibility

(1) IT WAS A LIGHT RAIN. THE WIPER IS IN THE LOWEST SETTING. BOTH WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. I CAN HEAR THE WIPER MOTOR RUNNING BUT THE WIPERS DOESN'T OPERATE. (2) AS IT WAS NO RAINING HARD, I WAS STILL ABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE SAFELY HOME. I FOUND THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES FOR 1997 NISSAN SENTRA. (3) …

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(1) IT WAS A LIGHT RAIN. THE WIPER IS IN THE LOWEST SETTING. BOTH WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. I CAN HEAR THE WIPER MOTOR RUNNING BUT THE WIPERS DOESN'T OPERATE. (2) AS IT WAS NO RAINING HARD, I WAS STILL ABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE SAFELY HOME. I FOUND THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES FOR 1997 NISSAN SENTRA. (3) CONTACTED NISSAN ABOUT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I HAVE NEVER RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE BUT I AM TOLD THE RECALL DOESN'T APPLIED TO MY VIN NUMBER. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP REPAIR SHOP. THEY REPLACED THE WIPER TRANSMISSION WHICH CONSISTS OF THE PIVOT-ASSY-WIPE(R), AND 2 LINK ASSY-CONNE(CTOR). THE OLD PARTS ARE UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10073166

121,000 miles · Apr 5, 2004
Visibility

THIS COMPLAINT IS REGARD TO THE VOLUNTARY RECALL ON THE '97 NISSAN SENTRA'S WIPER SEAL. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEN THE 1-800 NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL DIDN'T APPLY TO MY VEHICLE DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT FALLS WITHIN THE RANGE OF NUMBERS GIVEN ON NISSAN'S OWN WEBSITE (CLIPPED FROM WEB PAGE…

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THIS COMPLAINT IS REGARD TO THE VOLUNTARY RECALL ON THE '97 NISSAN SENTRA'S WIPER SEAL. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEN THE 1-800 NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL DIDN'T APPLY TO MY VEHICLE DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT FALLS WITHIN THE RANGE OF NUMBERS GIVEN ON NISSAN'S OWN WEBSITE (CLIPPED FROM WEB PAGE - [XXX]TO [XXX] (SENTRA) WITH A VIN#[XXX]. I PURCHASED THIS AS A USED VEHICLE AND SO IT IS NOT UNREASONABLE TO EXPECT THAT THE WIPERS COULD HAVE FAILED THROUGH NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE A BETTER EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE RECALL DOESN'T APPLY WHEN BY ALL INDICATIONS ON NISSAN'S OWN WEB SITE IT APPEARS TO APPLY. *JB UPDATED 07/26/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #10064574

Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2004
Visibility

WHILE DRIVING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ON THE DRIVER SIDE QUIT WORKING. RECALL 98V093000 WAS ISSUED, BUT THIS VEHICLE WA SNOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10061582

Mileage unknown · Nov 16, 2003
Visibility

MY NISSAN SENTRA RECENTLY NEEDED TO HAVE BOTH WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGES REPLACED DUE TO THE PROBLEM WITH WATER ENTERING AND RUSTING OUT THE BEARINGS. I NEW OF THE SAFETY RECALL BUT ALL THE DEALER DID WAS ADD A RIDICULOUS 10 CENT STRIP OF FOAM TO THE PANEL ABOVE THE FALLEN APART BEARINGS. BOTH ME AND MY STEPFATHER ARGUED WITH …

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MY NISSAN SENTRA RECENTLY NEEDED TO HAVE BOTH WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGES REPLACED DUE TO THE PROBLEM WITH WATER ENTERING AND RUSTING OUT THE BEARINGS. I NEW OF THE SAFETY RECALL BUT ALL THE DEALER DID WAS ADD A RIDICULOUS 10 CENT STRIP OF FOAM TO THE PANEL ABOVE THE FALLEN APART BEARINGS. BOTH ME AND MY STEPFATHER ARGUED WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND NISSAN MOTORS BUT THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE THE BEARINGS FREE OF CHARGE. MY STEPFATHER ENDED UP BUYING AND REPLACING THEM HIMSELF BUT IN THE MEANTIME I GOT A $50.00 TICKET BECAUSE DURING THIS DELAY MY INSPECTION STICKER RAN OUT AND I COULDN'T GET A NEW ONE UNTIL THE WIPERS WERE FIXED. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10046991

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.