IllustrationCONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 98V093000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NTB98-06 CONCERNING WINDSHIELD WIPERS. DEALER IS TRYING TO CHARGE FOR A MOTOR , AND PROBLEM IS A PLASTIC BALL JOINT PIECE. IF TOO MUCH WATER GETS INTO IT, IT WON'T FUNCTION. A MECHANIC HAS ALSO DETERMINED PROBLEM. *AK
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 →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: 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
Visibility complaints
13 reportsAIR CONDITIONER SOLENOID FAILED. MJS
PROBLEM: VERY ACRID WINDSHILD WASHER VAPORS ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. RECOMMENDED SOLUTIOND MOVE THE NOZZELS TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARMS. THE EXISTING DESIGN PLACES THE NOZZELS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE FRESH AIR INTAKE THUS DRAWING THE ATOMIZED WIPER SOLUTION INTO THE AIRCONDITIONING/DEFROST DUCT WORK WHILE THE CAR…
Read full complaint
PROBLEM: VERY ACRID WINDSHILD WASHER VAPORS ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. RECOMMENDED SOLUTIOND MOVE THE NOZZELS TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARMS. THE EXISTING DESIGN PLACES THE NOZZELS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE FRESH AIR INTAKE THUS DRAWING THE ATOMIZED WIPER SOLUTION INTO THE AIRCONDITIONING/DEFROST DUCT WORK WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. THE FUMES ARE VERY STRONG AND COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE OLDER PEOPLE WITH BREATHING PROBLEMS TO HAVE A REACTION TO THESE FUMES WHILE DRIVING.
Official recalls
198V093000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.