MYRModel Year Report

1996 Nissan Sentra

● Typical for this model
1996 Nissan Sentra
RENDERED 2026-11-01T14:48:35.108Z

This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
141
Recalls
7

Campaigns on file for 1996

Investigations
1

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Air bags

38% of complaints

Complaints per year

1982: 1 complaint 1982 1983: 1 complaint 1984: 3 complaints 1985: 6 complaints 1986: 6 complaints 1987: 38 complaints 1988: 38 complaints 1988 1989: 42 complaints 1990: 39 complaints 1991: 64 complaints 1992: 64 complaints 1993: 58 complaints 1994: 103 complaints 1995: 118 complaints 1996: 141 complaints 1996 141 1997: 108 complaints 1998: 58 complaints 1999: 59 complaints 2000: 171 complaints 2001: 236 complaints 2002: 318 complaints 2003: 180 complaints 2004: 197 complaints 2005: 170 complaints 2006: 116 complaints 2006 2007: 154 complaints 2008: 167 complaints 2009: 55 complaints 2010: 144 complaints 2011: 142 complaints 2012: 180 complaints 2012 2013: 638 complaints 2014: 380 complaints 2015: 352 complaints 2016: 269 complaints 2017: 231 complaints 2018: 184 complaints 2018 2019: 223 complaints 2020: 207 complaints 2021: 132 complaints 2022: 81 complaints 2023: 20 complaints 2024: 41 complaints 2024 2025: 31 complaints 2026: 19 complaints
1982: 1 complaint 1982 1983: 1 complaint 1984: 3 complaints 1985: 6 complaints 1985 1986: 6 complaints 1987: 38 complaints 1988: 38 complaints 1988 1989: 42 complaints 1990: 39 complaints 1991: 64 complaints 1991 1992: 64 complaints 1993: 58 complaints 1994: 103 complaints 1995: 118 complaints 1996: 141 complaints 1996 141 1997: 108 complaints 1998: 58 complaints 1999: 59 complaints 2000: 171 complaints 2000 2001: 236 complaints 2002: 318 complaints 2003: 180 complaints 2003 2004: 197 complaints 2005: 170 complaints 2006: 116 complaints 2006 2007: 154 complaints 2008: 167 complaints 2009: 55 complaints 2009 2010: 144 complaints 2011: 142 complaints 2012: 180 complaints 2012 2013: 638 complaints 2014: 380 complaints 2015: 352 complaints 2015 2016: 269 complaints 2017: 231 complaints 2018: 184 complaints 2018 2019: 223 complaints 2020: 207 complaints 2021: 132 complaints 2021 2022: 81 complaints 2023: 20 complaints 2024: 41 complaints 2024 2025: 31 complaints 2026: 19 complaints
1982: 1 complaint 1982 1983: 1 complaint 1984: 3 complaints 1984 1985: 6 complaints 1986: 6 complaints 1986 1987: 38 complaints 1988: 38 complaints 1988 1989: 42 complaints 1990: 39 complaints 1990 1991: 64 complaints 1992: 64 complaints 1992 1993: 58 complaints 1994: 103 complaints 1994 1995: 118 complaints 1996: 141 complaints 1996 141 1997: 108 complaints 1998: 58 complaints 1998 1999: 59 complaints 2000: 171 complaints 2000 2001: 236 complaints 2002: 318 complaints 2002 2003: 180 complaints 2004: 197 complaints 2004 2005: 170 complaints 2006: 116 complaints 2006 2007: 154 complaints 2008: 167 complaints 2008 2009: 55 complaints 2010: 144 complaints 2010 2011: 142 complaints 2012: 180 complaints 2012 2013: 638 complaints 2014: 380 complaints 2014 2015: 352 complaints 2016: 269 complaints 2016 2017: 231 complaints 2018: 184 complaints 2018 2019: 223 complaints 2020: 207 complaints 2020 2021: 132 complaints 2022: 81 complaints 2022 2023: 20 complaints 2024: 41 complaints 2024 2025: 31 complaints 2026: 19 complaints 2026

1996: 141 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19821
19831
19843
19856
19866
198738
198838
198942
199039
199164
199264
199358
1994103
1995118
1996141
1997108
199858
199959
2000171
2001236
2002318
2003180
2004197
2005170
2006116
2007154
2008167
200955
2010144
2011142
2012180
2013638
2014380
2015352
2016269
2017231
2018184
2019223
2020207
2021132
202281
202320
202441
202531
202619

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Air bags

38% · 53 reports

Most commonly citing frontal and sensor/control module.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2016-08-24

While driving at 40MPH had an accident. Was hit on passenger's side ,and neither air bag deployed, dealer has been notified. Please provide further information.

NHTSA ODI report, 2003-01-31

In an accident vehicle went under a truck, and none of the air bags deployed on impact, the driver sustained a cuncussion, facial and chest bruises, three broken bones in the right foot and now suffers from headaches (Sometimes severe).

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-09-09

Visibility

11% · 15 reports

Most commonly citing linkages and windshield wiper/washer.

Electrical system

9% · 12 reports

Most commonly citing fuses and circuit breakers and alternator/generator/regulator.

FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-04-03

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2017-10-12

Power train

8% · 11 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and manual transmission.

CRASH

Service brakes

7% · 10 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic.

CRASHINJURY

Safety timeline

7 recalls · 1 investigation · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    1998-02-28Exterior lighting98V008000 These vehicles do not meet the illumination requirements of FMVSS No. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."

    Remedy: Owners will be provided with two new light bulbs for the stop/tail lamps which are brighter than the original bulbs. A label with the new bulb number will also be provided for insertion into the…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. R
    1998-08-14Visibility98V093000 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.

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. I
    1999-06-17SQOpen Corrision fatigue of front coil springs
  4. R
    2000-04-24Suspension00V063000 Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The front coil springs may not have sufficient corrosion resistance in areas of the country where significant amounts of de-icing salts are applied to…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the front coil spring.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. R
    2006-04-03Exterior lighting06E026000 Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber…

    Remedy: Pro-a motors will notify owners and offer to repurchase the lamps. The recall began on April 3, 2006. Owners may contact pro-a motors at 323-838-2988.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2006-07-01Exterior lighting06E049000 Certain ck motorsports combination headlights, clear corner, bumper, and side marker lights sold as replacement lamps for use on the passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are…

    Remedy: Ck motorsport will notify owners and replace the noncompliant lamps free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2006. Owners may contact ck motorsport at 1-909-610-7211.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    Remedy: Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on May 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    Remedy: Dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on July 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

1996 Nissan Sentra — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Air bags: 53 reports on file for this year.
  • Visibility: 15 reports on file for this year.
  • Electrical system: 12 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 98V008000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 98V093000 · Visibility
  • Recall 00V063000 · Suspension
  • Recall 06E026000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E049000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 1996 Nissan Sentra reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1996 Nissan Sentra is rated "typical".
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Nissan Sentra?
The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 38% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1996 Nissan Sentra have?
7 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-31 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.