Total Complaints
138 filings
NISSAN SENTRA · model year
138 NHTSA complaints, 34 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997NISSANSENTRA carries 138 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 34 crashes, 2 fires, 43 injuries, and 4 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 1997 SENTRA is air bags:frontal with 20 filings, followed by air bags (11) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (8). 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 1997 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.
Total Complaints
138 filings
Crashes Reported
34 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 20 |
| AIR BAGS | 11 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 8 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 7 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES | 7 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 5 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 5 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 5 |
| TIRES | 4 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 3 |
| SUSPENSION | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
HAVE A 1997 NISSAN SENTRA 1.6 X E FOUR-DOOR SEDAN. THIS MORNING STARTING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ON AND BEGIN TO BLANK AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION I REALIZE THAT NO ONE HAD MADE ANY CONTACT WITH MY VEHICLE SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE IS AT 227XXX MILES BUT I WOULD NEVER EXPECT FOR A SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM TO EXPIRE OR MALFUNCTION I REALLY HOPE THAT NISSAN TAKES THIS INTO CONSIDERATION.
Mileage: 226,858
HAVE A 1997 NISSAN SENTRA 1.6 X E FOUR-DOOR SEDAN. THIS MORNING STARTING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ON AND BEGIN TO BLANK AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION I REALIZE THAT NO ONE HAD MADE ANY CONTACT WITH MY VEHICLE SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE IS AT 227XXX MILES BUT I WOULD NEVER EXPECT FOR A SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM TO EXPIRE OR MALFUNCTION I REALLY HOPE THAT NISSAN TAKES THIS INTO CONSIDERATION.
Mileage: 226,858
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NISSAN SENTRA. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
Mileage: 115,000
BRAKING AT A STOP SIGN WHILE IN DRIVE, THE ENGINE RPM INCREASED BY ITSELF. LATER WHILE PARKING THE ENGINE RPM INCREASED AND STAYED AT A HIGH RPM BY ITSELF WHILE IN PARK. *TR
Mileage: 130,000
AT A STOP SIGN WITH THE CAR IN DRIVE, THE ENGINE RPM ACCELERATED BY ITSELF. LATER WHILE PARKING, WITH CAR IN PARK, THE ENGINE ACCELERATED AND ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV. *TR
CAR STOLEN FROM PARKING LOT
Mileage: 109,999
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 167,000. UPDATED 01/05/13*LJ UPDATED 02/06/13
Mileage: 153,000
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
Mileage: 147,000
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
Mileage: 147,000
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
Mileage: 147,000
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.
Mileage: 90,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL FAILURES WITH THE FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION, THE HUB AND THE STEERING. THE SALES DEALER WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 178,568.
Mileage: 100,000
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
Mileage: 122,385
I WAS DRIVING MY 1997 NISSAN SENTRA XE HIT A SMALL BUMP GOING AT A LOW SPEED AND MY DUAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BUSTING MY WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND ON THE DRIVERS SIDE IT HIT ME IN THE FACE WHILE I WAS DRIVING CAUSING BRUISING AROUND MY RIGHT EYE. *TR
Mileage: 33,689
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING DIFFERENTLY. WHEN HE EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT. THE TIRE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS THE VALVE STEM. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 73,943.
Mileage: 73,943
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
Mileage: 120,907
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
Mileage: 120,907
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING A 1997 NISSAN SENTRA. AND SHE HAD A FRONTAL ACCIDENT GOING ABOUT 35/40 MPH AND THE FRONT AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR IS NOW TOTALED AND SHE HAS A WHIPLASH BECAUSE OF THE DEFECT. *JB
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 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
Mileage: 112,000
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.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.