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1998 Nissan Sentra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Nissan Sentra are lower than the model-year median of 116.

About this comparison →
58Owner complaints

Model-year median: 116

1Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
117
1995141
1996108
199758
199859
1999171
2000236
2001
Compare all Sentra years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Air Bags
15Visibility
13Service Brakes, Hydraulic
6Vehicle Speed Control
6Engine And Engine Cooling
4
All reported categories
Suspension
4Electrical System
3Structure
3Tires
3Equipment
2Fuel System, Gasoline
2Fuel/propulsion System
2Seat Belts
2Unknown Or Other
2Exterior Lighting
1Seats
1Service Brakes
1Visibility/wiper
1

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

Suspension complaints

4 reports
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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 …

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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 8, 2003
Suspension

CONSUMER STATES FRONT COIL SPRING FAILED CAUSING LOST OF STEERING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS *DT

NHTSA ODI #10002333

Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2001
Suspension

WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY IN FACTORY WHICH AND WAS CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL TO LEFT AT ANY SPEED. CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER 7 TIMES, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE , KEPT DOING ALIGNMENTS. COSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INDICATED CAUSE OF DEFECT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #879192

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

DEFECTIVE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER CAUSING THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM NOT TO ACTIVATE. ALSO PROBLEMS WHEN DRIVING ABOVE 40 MPH, VEHICLE VIBRATES AND ALSO HAD OTHER PROBLEMS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN #. *AK

NHTSA ODI #835948

Official recalls

1

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.

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.