NISSAN SENTRA · model year

1996 NISSAN SENTRA

177 NHTSA complaints, 47 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1996NISSANSENTRA carries 177 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 47 crashes, 1 fire, 37 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1996 SENTRA is air bags:frontal with 32 filings, followed by air bags (18) and power train:automatic transmission (7). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 1996 SENTRA, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

177
Complaints
47
Crashes
1
Fires
37
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

177 filings

Crashes Reported

47 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL32
AIR BAGS18
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION7
UNKNOWN OR OTHER6
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL5
TIRES4
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE4
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE3

Recent Complaints

20180525AIR BAGS

"TAKATA RECALL". MAD A RIGHT HAND TURN AND BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS RANDOMLY DEPLOYED.THEY CAUSED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD TO CRACK BADLY. DIDNT HIT ANOTHER CAR NOR ANYTHING WITH MAKING THE TURN. WAS MOVING IN A CITY STREET AT 9PM SO NOT MUCH TRAFFIC. TURNED INTO AN EMPTY STREET LUCKILY.

Mileage: 2,000

20180525STEERING

"TAKATA RECALL". MAD A RIGHT HAND TURN AND BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS RANDOMLY DEPLOYED.THEY CAUSED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD TO CRACK BADLY. DIDNT HIT ANOTHER CAR NOR ANYTHING WITH MAKING THE TURN. WAS MOVING IN A CITY STREET AT 9PM SO NOT MUCH TRAFFIC. TURNED INTO AN EMPTY STREET LUCKILY.

Mileage: 2,000

20180525VISIBILITY/WIPER

"TAKATA RECALL". MAD A RIGHT HAND TURN AND BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS RANDOMLY DEPLOYED.THEY CAUSED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD TO CRACK BADLY. DIDNT HIT ANOTHER CAR NOR ANYTHING WITH MAKING THE TURN. WAS MOVING IN A CITY STREET AT 9PM SO NOT MUCH TRAFFIC. TURNED INTO AN EMPTY STREET LUCKILY.

Mileage: 2,000

20180403ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ALL POWER LOST, INCLUDING ENGINE, POWER BRAKES, AND POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS. CAUSE IS AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ON WIRING HARNESS INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING AN OPEN CIRCUIT ON A POWER WIRE. IN PARTICULAR, THE FAULTY CONNECTOR IS E104 ON THE HEC (THE BACK OF THE FUSE PANEL IN DRIVER SIDE COMPARTMENT). FAILURE OCCURS MORE OFTEN IN HOT WEATHER. FAILURE HAS OCCURRED TWICE WHILE DRIVING, AND DOZENS OF TIMES WHEN PARKED. JIGGLING THE CONNECTOR OFTEN RESTORES POWER. ALSO, A SIMILAR POWER WIRE OPEN CIRCUIT OCCURS ON ANOTHER CONNECTOR ON THE SAME HEC THAT CAUSES ALL LIGHTING TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND MOST INTERIOR LIGHTING TO FAIL. FAILURE HAS OCCURED AT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS, PREVENTING THE DRIVER FROM SEEING HOW FAST THEY ARE TRAVELING.

Mileage: 71,000

20171012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CPSP: MY CAR, A 1996 NISSAN SENTRA, LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING. NO POWER STEERING, NO POWER BRAKES, ENGINE TURNED OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE WHILE DRIVING, AND NUMEROUS TIMES WHEN I GO TO START UP THE CAR AND NOTHING HAPPENS. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY INTERMITTENT CIRCUIT. UPDATED 10/16/2017*JS

20160824CrashAIR BAGS

JULY 20 2016 WE WERE REAR ENDED BY A HONDA ACCORD DOING 40 MPH WHILE WE WERE STOPPED AT A LIGHT. THE IMPACT SLAMMED US INTO THE CHEVY SILVERADO IN FRONT OF US. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED.

Mileage: 147,849

20110206CrashTIRES

1996 NISSAN SENTRA, WAS TRAVELING WESTBOUND WHEN THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW. THE DRIVER WENT OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND STRUCK THE MEDIAN WALL. HE RETURNED TO THE ROADWAY AND DROVE OFF THE NORTH SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE STOPPING ON THE NORTH BERM. *BF THE DRIVER STATED HE HAD TO KEEP PUTTING AIR IN THE TIRE PRIOR TO THE BLOWOUT. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0913-90) UPDATED 02/15/11 *BF UPDATED 05/24/11*LJ UPDATED 05/31/11

Mileage: 56,233

20090716ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

AIR CONDITIONER -- WHEN I HAD AIR CONDITIONER ON THE CAR WOULD STALL. AFTER BRINGING IT TO SEVERAL MECHANICS, I FINALLY CONVINCED ONE THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG AND HE CLEANED THE THROTTLE AND THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING MUCH BETTER. *TR

Mileage: 30,000

20080613WHEELS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ENTIRE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE LOWERED ONTO ITS FRONT AXLE AND WAS TOWED TO A TIRE SHOP. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK AND THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD THUMPING NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEELS HAD ALUMINUM RIMS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 196,000.

Mileage: 196,000

20080130SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT

INSUFFICIENT HEADREST FOAM COVERAGE. FOAM DEGRADES OR SELF MOVES OUT OF POSITION TO REVEAL INTERNAL METAL FRAME WHICH RUNS ACROSS ENTIRE HEADREST AT POINT OF HEAD IMPACT. PART DOES NOT SEEM SERVICEABLE FOR REPAIR, AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY MANUFACTURER WITH UPDATED VERSION. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND AIRBAG LIGHT ARE BOTH TRIGGERED TOO EASILY BY TOO MANY SENSORS, SO VEHICLE IS CONSTANTLY IN SHOP WITH NO TROUBLE FOUND. SEEMS LIKE IT WAS DESIGNED BY AN OVERLY-WORRIED CAR MANUFACTURER, OR FOR THE PURPOSES OF MAKING OWNERS FEEL THE CAR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT ALSO GREATLY INCREASES THE LIKELY HOOD OF FAILING AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. THE SAFETY ISSUE STEMS FROM ALL THE BLINKING LIGHTS ON THE DASH WHICH ARE VERY DISTRACTIVE, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT, AND USUALLY COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY. IN 1996, THERE WAS A RECALL FOR INSUFFICIENT BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATION ON THE SENTRA MODEL. NISSAN'S FIX FOR THIS WAS A BRIGHTER BULB. SINCE MY CAR WAS BOUGHT USED, AND THE PRIOR OWNER DID NOT UPGRADE TO THE NEW BU

20080130AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

INSUFFICIENT HEADREST FOAM COVERAGE. FOAM DEGRADES OR SELF MOVES OUT OF POSITION TO REVEAL INTERNAL METAL FRAME WHICH RUNS ACROSS ENTIRE HEADREST AT POINT OF HEAD IMPACT. PART DOES NOT SEEM SERVICEABLE FOR REPAIR, AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY MANUFACTURER WITH UPDATED VERSION. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND AIRBAG LIGHT ARE BOTH TRIGGERED TOO EASILY BY TOO MANY SENSORS, SO VEHICLE IS CONSTANTLY IN SHOP WITH NO TROUBLE FOUND. SEEMS LIKE IT WAS DESIGNED BY AN OVERLY-WORRIED CAR MANUFACTURER, OR FOR THE PURPOSES OF MAKING OWNERS FEEL THE CAR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT ALSO GREATLY INCREASES THE LIKELY HOOD OF FAILING AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. THE SAFETY ISSUE STEMS FROM ALL THE BLINKING LIGHTS ON THE DASH WHICH ARE VERY DISTRACTIVE, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT, AND USUALLY COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY. IN 1996, THERE WAS A RECALL FOR INSUFFICIENT BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATION ON THE SENTRA MODEL. NISSAN'S FIX FOR THIS WAS A BRIGHTER BULB. SINCE MY CAR WAS BOUGHT USED, AND THE PRIOR OWNER DID NOT UPGRADE TO THE NEW BU

20080130EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

INSUFFICIENT HEADREST FOAM COVERAGE. FOAM DEGRADES OR SELF MOVES OUT OF POSITION TO REVEAL INTERNAL METAL FRAME WHICH RUNS ACROSS ENTIRE HEADREST AT POINT OF HEAD IMPACT. PART DOES NOT SEEM SERVICEABLE FOR REPAIR, AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY MANUFACTURER WITH UPDATED VERSION. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND AIRBAG LIGHT ARE BOTH TRIGGERED TOO EASILY BY TOO MANY SENSORS, SO VEHICLE IS CONSTANTLY IN SHOP WITH NO TROUBLE FOUND. SEEMS LIKE IT WAS DESIGNED BY AN OVERLY-WORRIED CAR MANUFACTURER, OR FOR THE PURPOSES OF MAKING OWNERS FEEL THE CAR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT ALSO GREATLY INCREASES THE LIKELY HOOD OF FAILING AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. THE SAFETY ISSUE STEMS FROM ALL THE BLINKING LIGHTS ON THE DASH WHICH ARE VERY DISTRACTIVE, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT, AND USUALLY COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY. IN 1996, THERE WAS A RECALL FOR INSUFFICIENT BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATION ON THE SENTRA MODEL. NISSAN'S FIX FOR THIS WAS A BRIGHTER BULB. SINCE MY CAR WAS BOUGHT USED, AND THE PRIOR OWNER DID NOT UPGRADE TO THE NEW BU

20080130ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

INSUFFICIENT HEADREST FOAM COVERAGE. FOAM DEGRADES OR SELF MOVES OUT OF POSITION TO REVEAL INTERNAL METAL FRAME WHICH RUNS ACROSS ENTIRE HEADREST AT POINT OF HEAD IMPACT. PART DOES NOT SEEM SERVICEABLE FOR REPAIR, AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY MANUFACTURER WITH UPDATED VERSION. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND AIRBAG LIGHT ARE BOTH TRIGGERED TOO EASILY BY TOO MANY SENSORS, SO VEHICLE IS CONSTANTLY IN SHOP WITH NO TROUBLE FOUND. SEEMS LIKE IT WAS DESIGNED BY AN OVERLY-WORRIED CAR MANUFACTURER, OR FOR THE PURPOSES OF MAKING OWNERS FEEL THE CAR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT ALSO GREATLY INCREASES THE LIKELY HOOD OF FAILING AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. THE SAFETY ISSUE STEMS FROM ALL THE BLINKING LIGHTS ON THE DASH WHICH ARE VERY DISTRACTIVE, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT, AND USUALLY COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY. IN 1996, THERE WAS A RECALL FOR INSUFFICIENT BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATION ON THE SENTRA MODEL. NISSAN'S FIX FOR THIS WAS A BRIGHTER BULB. SINCE MY CAR WAS BOUGHT USED, AND THE PRIOR OWNER DID NOT UPGRADE TO THE NEW BU

20061214CrashEXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE WAITING IN THE RIGHT LANE TO MAKE A TURN, THE VEHICLE WAS RAMMED FROM BEHIND. THE DRIVER FROM THE OTHER VEHICLE INDICATED THERE WERE NO TAIL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO NOTICE IF IT WAS MOVING OR NOT AT NIGHT. THE POLICE WAS PRESENT AT THE SCENE, AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS TO ALERT THE CONTACT FOR AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. AFTER NINE YEARS OF THE ACCIDENT, THE CONTACT ENCOUNTERED A NHTSA RECALL # 98V008000 WHICH MATCHED THE ELECTRICAL FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

Mileage: 30,000

20061121ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, THE DISTRIBUTOR HAS MALFUNCTIONED 4 TIMES SINCE MY OWNERSHIP OF THIS VEHICLE. CAR FAILS TO START, WITH IT BEING IN THE FIRING SYSTEM THIS PRESENTS A FIRE HAZARD. *JB

Mileage: 70,000

20061121ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, THE DISTRIBUTOR HAS MALFUNCTIONED 4 TIMES SINCE MY OWNERSHIP OF THIS VEHICLE. CAR FAILS TO START, WITH IT BEING IN THE FIRING SYSTEM THIS PRESENTS A FIRE HAZARD. *JB

Mileage: 70,000

20061107VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN IT RAINED; THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT CLEAR THE RAIN WATER OFF THE WINDSHIELD WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, AS THEY DID NOT COME INTO COMPLETE CONTACT WITH THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 98V093000, FOR VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD/WASHER: LINKAGES FOUND ON THE MANUFACTURERS WEBSITE. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO PROVIDE RECALL SERVICE AS THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 11/30/2006 - *NM

Mileage: 94,060

20061107VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES

I HAVE A 1996 NISSAN SENTRA GXE. VIN NUMBER IS 3N1AB41D0TL0XXXXX. THERE ARE THREE OPEN RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE: 1. VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES 2. SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS 3. EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS NONE OF THE NISSAN DEALERS IN MY AREA HAVE OFFERED TO FIX ANY OF THESE RECALL ISSUES FOR FREE (AS IS REQUIRED BY FEDERAL AND STATE LAW). MY VEHICLE STILL HAS THESE SAFETY DEFECTS IN IT AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT NISSAN IS ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THESE RECALL DEFECTS. *NM

20061107SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS

I HAVE A 1996 NISSAN SENTRA GXE. VIN NUMBER IS 3N1AB41D0TL0XXXXX. THERE ARE THREE OPEN RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE: 1. VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES 2. SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS 3. EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS NONE OF THE NISSAN DEALERS IN MY AREA HAVE OFFERED TO FIX ANY OF THESE RECALL ISSUES FOR FREE (AS IS REQUIRED BY FEDERAL AND STATE LAW). MY VEHICLE STILL HAS THESE SAFETY DEFECTS IN IT AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT NISSAN IS ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THESE RECALL DEFECTS. *NM

20061107EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

I HAVE A 1996 NISSAN SENTRA GXE. VIN NUMBER IS 3N1AB41D0TL0XXXXX. THERE ARE THREE OPEN RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE: 1. VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES 2. SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS 3. EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS NONE OF THE NISSAN DEALERS IN MY AREA HAVE OFFERED TO FIX ANY OF THESE RECALL ISSUES FOR FREE (AS IS REQUIRED BY FEDERAL AND STATE LAW). MY VEHICLE STILL HAS THESE SAFETY DEFECTS IN IT AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT NISSAN IS ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THESE RECALL DEFECTS. *NM

Compare 1996NISSANSENTRA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1996 NISSAN SENTRA have?
The 1996 NISSAN SENTRA has 177 NHTSA complaints, 47 crashes, 1 fires, 37 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 NISSAN SENTRA?
The most-complained component for the 1996 NISSAN SENTRA is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 32 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1996 NISSAN SENTRA safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.