NISSAN SENTRA · model year

1999 NISSAN SENTRA

74 NHTSA complaints, 19 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1999NISSANSENTRA carries 74 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 19 crashes, 0 fires, 16 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 1999 SENTRA is electrical system:ignition with 9 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (6) and tires (5). 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 1999 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.

74
Complaints
19
Crashes
0
Fires
16
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

74 filings

Crashes Reported

19 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION9
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL6
TIRES5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
SUSPENSION:FRONT3
STEERING2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS2
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR2
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
ENGINE2
SEATS1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST1

Recent Complaints

20150331ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 03V477000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), AND 01V357000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

20150331ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 03V477000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), AND 01V357000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

20141211SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

20141211ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

20130130TIRES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN SENTRA EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR VIVA 2 TIRES, SIZE 175/65R14 DOT NUMBER (PJ8JH6HR5011). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THERE WAS A ROARING NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVER FRONT TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC. WHILE THE TIRES WERE BEING ROTATED, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE INSIDE OF BOTH TIRES WERE SEPARATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE TIRE WARRANTY HAD TO BE REDEEMED AT THE LOCATION FROM WHICH THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED. THE TIRES WERE NOT EXCHANGED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE WAS 155,432. THE FAILURE TIRE MILEAGE WAS 300. .... UPDATED 03/08/13 *BF

Mileage: 155,432

20111013FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF FUEL WOULD OVERFLOW FROM THE FUEL TANK FILLER NECK WHENEVER REFUELING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED AND THEY DETECTED THE FUEL TANK FILLER NECK WAS COMPLETELY COVERED WITH RUST. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER STATED THE PART WAS NO LONGER IN PRODUCTION AS A RESULT TO THE VEHICLE NOT BEING REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

Mileage: 69,000

20080102ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THERE IS A RECALL ON 2002, 2005-2006 NISSAN SENTRAS & ALTIMAS WITH THE SENSOR. THE CAR CAN SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING AND ENGINE STALL. MY CAR IS A 1999 NISSAN SENTRA WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY WON'T FIX IT BECAUSE OF THE WRONG YEAR. REGARDLESS OF THE YEAR IT SHOULD BE FIXED OR I SHOULD RECEIVE SOME KIND OF COMPENSATION. LUCKILY WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND MY CAR SHUT DOWN I WASN'T HIT FROM THE BACK. I AM LOOKING TO FILE A LAW SUIT OVER THIS MATTER BECAUSE I SPENT MY MONEY ON THIS CAR BUYING IT BRAND NEW AND THIS ORGANIZATION JUST SHOVED ME OFF LIKE MY PROBLEM DOESN'T MATTER. I USE MY CAR AND NOW I AM WITHOUT A CAR AND CATCHING THE BUS. IT'S NOT FAIR! IT'S THEIR CAR!*CN

20080102ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THERE IS A RECALL ON 2002, 2005-2006 NISSAN SENTRAS & ALTIMAS WITH THE SENSOR. THE CAR CAN SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING AND ENGINE STALL. MY CAR IS A 1999 NISSAN SENTRA WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY WON'T FIX IT BECAUSE OF THE WRONG YEAR. REGARDLESS OF THE YEAR IT SHOULD BE FIXED OR I SHOULD RECEIVE SOME KIND OF COMPENSATION. LUCKILY WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND MY CAR SHUT DOWN I WASN'T HIT FROM THE BACK. I AM LOOKING TO FILE A LAW SUIT OVER THIS MATTER BECAUSE I SPENT MY MONEY ON THIS CAR BUYING IT BRAND NEW AND THIS ORGANIZATION JUST SHOVED ME OFF LIKE MY PROBLEM DOESN'T MATTER. I USE MY CAR AND NOW I AM WITHOUT A CAR AND CATCHING THE BUS. IT'S NOT FAIR! IT'S THEIR CAR!*CN

20071114ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE TEETH ON ONE OF THE TIMING CHAIN SPROCKETS WORE DOWN CAUSING BENT VALVES DUE TO TIMING FAILURE. THE HEAD WILL HAVE TO BE REMOVED TO REPLACE DAMAGED PARTS OR A NEW/REBUILT ENGINE WILL HAVE TO BE INSTALLED. *TR

Mileage: 215,000

20070910FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

THE FUEL FILLER TANK/HOSE ON MY FATHER'S 1999 NISSAN SENTRA MUST BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE FORM NISSAN; IT IS NO LONGER MADE AND THERE IS NO 'AFTER MARKET" ITEM. HE TRIED A 2000 PART; IT COULD NOT BE MADE TO FIT. WE HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN DIRECTLY, HAVE TALKED TO DEALERS, ETC. WITHOUT THIS NEEDED REPAIR, THE CAR IS BASICALLY OF NO VALUE. IT CANNOT BE SOLD, BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION. COMPLETE FRUSTRATION. THE CAR ITSELF IS GREAT, LESS THAN 60,000 MILES, NO RUST, EXCELLENT M[G, ETC. BUT WHAT CAN WE DO NOW/ WHO TO COMPLAIN TO/ NISSANS RESPONSE SEEMS TO BE "TOUGH LUCK" AND THERE IS NO RECOURSE. *JB

20070528TIRES

AS MY WIFE AND I TRAVELED IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA ON 5-28-2007, MY REAR TIRE CAME APART CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO SPIN 360 DEGREES AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE DUE TO THE INCIDENT. THANK GOD, THE TRAFFIC SURROUNDING MY CAR WAS NOT AFFECTED BY MY SPINNING. THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR WAS TEMPORARILY SECURED BY THE HIGHWAY ROAD RANGER AND I WAS REQUIRED TO DRIVE AT VERY LOW SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY TO REACH MY DESTINATION. *TR

20070212CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED TO FULLY FUNCTION. WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN, THE VEHICLE SLOWED. HOWEVER, AS I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDER TO COME TO A FULL STOP, THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. A TWO VEHICLE CAR CRASH RESULTED, AND THE SENTRA IS A TOTAL LOSS. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE BRAKES WERE LAST SERVICED ON 10-23-06. I DO NOT TRUST THE DEALERSHIP, SINCE I HAVE HAD PREVIOUS PROBLEMS. I HAD THE SAME SUPSPENSION PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE - TIRES WEARING PREMATURELY ON THE INSIDE. IN ONE INSTANCE, NISSAN OF HICKORY TOLD ME THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE. AFTER TWO HOURS, THE SERVICE MANAGER WALKED ME INTO THE GARAGE, WHERE HE TRIED TO PROVE THE PROBLEM WAS MY TIRES. I POINTED TO A LEAKING SHOCK ON MY VEHICLE, AND HE WAS SUPRISED AND UPSET THAT I NOTICED IT. HE THEN TOLD ME THEY DID NOT TAKE THE TIRES OFF MY VEHICLE IN THE TWO HOURS I WAS WAITING. I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN NISSAN OF HICKORY TO EXAMINE MY VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THAT INCIDENT. *NM

Mileage: 101,108

20070212CrashAIR BAGS

BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED TO FULLY FUNCTION. WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN, THE VEHICLE SLOWED. HOWEVER, AS I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDER TO COME TO A FULL STOP, THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. A TWO VEHICLE CAR CRASH RESULTED, AND THE SENTRA IS A TOTAL LOSS. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE BRAKES WERE LAST SERVICED ON 10-23-06. I DO NOT TRUST THE DEALERSHIP, SINCE I HAVE HAD PREVIOUS PROBLEMS. I HAD THE SAME SUPSPENSION PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE - TIRES WEARING PREMATURELY ON THE INSIDE. IN ONE INSTANCE, NISSAN OF HICKORY TOLD ME THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE. AFTER TWO HOURS, THE SERVICE MANAGER WALKED ME INTO THE GARAGE, WHERE HE TRIED TO PROVE THE PROBLEM WAS MY TIRES. I POINTED TO A LEAKING SHOCK ON MY VEHICLE, AND HE WAS SUPRISED AND UPSET THAT I NOTICED IT. HE THEN TOLD ME THEY DID NOT TAKE THE TIRES OFF MY VEHICLE IN THE TWO HOURS I WAS WAITING. I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN NISSAN OF HICKORY TO EXAMINE MY VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THAT INCIDENT. *NM

Mileage: 101,108

20060725CrashEXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES

THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHTS ON MY 1999 NISSAN ARE OPAQUE. THE LIGHT OUTPUT IS DIMINISHED AT LEAST 40%. THE DEALER WANTS $200 FOR REPLACEMENT OF PLASTIC HEADLIGHTS. I THEN NOTICED THAT MANY CARS THAT ARE OVER 5 YEARS OLD HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, DIMINISHED LIGHTING DUE TO POOR PLASTIC HEADLIGHTS. I HOPE YOU CAN GET NISSAN AND ALL OTHER MAKES INVOLVED TO REPLACE THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHTS FOR FREE. *JB

20060110POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

CAR IS VIBRATING AND SHAKING IN THE FRONT END, REPLACED SET OF TIRES THEN THE NEW TIRES WERE BEING DAMAGED AGAIN BY THE VIBRATION. NISSAN REFUSED TO CHECK DRIVE AXLES WHICH SEEM TO BE THE SOURCE OF THE VIBRATION. THE PART LOOKS IN GOOD CONDITION, WAS INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC AND HE STATED THAT IS THE DRIVE AXLE. *JB

20050810CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CAR WAS BEING PARKED WHEN SUDDEN ACCELERATION TOOK OVER AND CAUSED THE CAR TO CRASH INTO A WALL. ON AUGUST 8, TWO WOMEN WERE INJURED. *NM

20050121VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES

ON MY 1999 NISSAN SENTRA 1.6L,IT APPEARS THAT I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE WIPER LINKAGE ASSEMBLY AS ON THE 1996'S,97'S,AND 98'S. THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR THE 1999'S! CAN I GET THIS FIXED FOR FREE OR WHAT? IT IS A REAL PAIN BECAUSE I CAN'T SEE OUT THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW DURING RAIN OR SNOW STORMS. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR A LEGITIMATE RECALL AS ON OTHER YEARS. *NM

20050103VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WIPERS RECALL ISSUED, BUT NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *AK

20040728POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)

I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT, WHEN I NOTICED THAT MY CLUTCH HAD A LITTLE MORE "PLAY" IN THE PEDAL THAN NORMAL. I THOUGHT THIS WAS MY IMAGINATION UNTIL WITHIN ANOTHER 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING I NOTICED THAT THE GEARS STARTED SHIFTING HARDER THAN NORMAL AS WELL. WITHIN ANOTHER FEW MINUTES, THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS ALMOST ALL THE WAY IN, AND THE CLUTCH WAS NOT RELEASING CAUSING ME NOT TO BE ABLE TO SHIFT AT ALL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND GET THE CAR INTO SECOND GEAR AND DRIVE THE REMAINDER OF THE WAY HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. ONCE HOME WITH THE CAR, I INSPECTED THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND THE CLUTCH CABLE UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE PIECE THE CLUTCH CABLE ATTACHES TO (THE WITHDRAWAL LEVER) WAS CRACKED AND ALMOST COMPLETELY BROKEN IN HALF. THE CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO MY MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT AFTER ADJUSTING THE CLUTCH SYSTEM AND TEST DRIVING IT, HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM I OBSERVED, AND ALMOST COULDN'T GET THE CAR BACK TO HIS SHOP FROM THE TEST DRIVE. HE INFORMED ME TH

Mileage: 72,900

20040728POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT, WHEN I NOTICED THAT MY CLUTCH HAD A LITTLE MORE "PLAY" IN THE PEDAL THAN NORMAL. I THOUGHT THIS WAS MY IMAGINATION UNTIL WITHIN ANOTHER 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING I NOTICED THAT THE GEARS STARTED SHIFTING HARDER THAN NORMAL AS WELL. WITHIN ANOTHER FEW MINUTES, THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS ALMOST ALL THE WAY IN, AND THE CLUTCH WAS NOT RELEASING CAUSING ME NOT TO BE ABLE TO SHIFT AT ALL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND GET THE CAR INTO SECOND GEAR AND DRIVE THE REMAINDER OF THE WAY HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. ONCE HOME WITH THE CAR, I INSPECTED THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND THE CLUTCH CABLE UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE PIECE THE CLUTCH CABLE ATTACHES TO (THE WITHDRAWAL LEVER) WAS CRACKED AND ALMOST COMPLETELY BROKEN IN HALF. THE CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO MY MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT AFTER ADJUSTING THE CLUTCH SYSTEM AND TEST DRIVING IT, HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM I OBSERVED, AND ALMOST COULDN'T GET THE CAR BACK TO HIS SHOP FROM THE TEST DRIVE. HE INFORMED ME TH

Mileage: 72,900

Compare 1999NISSANSENTRA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1999 NISSAN SENTRA have?
The 1999 NISSAN SENTRA has 74 NHTSA complaints, 19 crashes, 0 fires, 16 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 NISSAN SENTRA?
The most-complained component for the 1999 NISSAN SENTRA is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION with 9 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL and TIRES.
Is the 1999 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.