1996 Nissan Sentra

● Typical for this model

1996 Nissan Sentra
RENDERED 2026-09-17T03:39:15.274Z

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 PER YEAR

1996: 141 complaints

View as data table

Year	Complaints
1982	1
1983	1
1984	3
1985	6
1986	6
1987	38
1988	38
1989	42
1990	39
1991	64
1992	64
1993	58
1994	103
1995	118
1996	141
1997	108
1998	58
1999	59
2000	171
2001	236
2002	318
2003	180
2004	197
2005	170
2006	116
2007	154
2008	167
2009	55
2010	144
2011	142
2012	180
2013	638
2014	380
2015	351
2016	269
2017	230
2018	184
2019	221
2020	204
2021	131
2022	81
2023	19
2024	38
2025	30
2026	15

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

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

AIR BAGS 38%

38% of complaints: air bags — 53 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing frontal and sensor/control module.

CRASH INJURY

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, 20160824

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.*AK *TR

NHTSA ODI report, 20030131

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).*AK

NHTSA ODI report, 20020909

VISIBILITY 11%

11% of complaints: visibility — 15 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing linkages and windshield wiper/washer.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9%

9% of complaints: electrical system — 12 distinct reports on file, 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, 20180403

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, 20171012

POWER TRAIN 8%

8% of complaints: power train — 11 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing automatic transmission and manual transmission.

CRASH

SERVICE BRAKES 7%

7% of complaints: service brakes — 10 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing hydraulic.

CRASH INJURY

SAFETY TIMELINE

R 19980228 — exterior lighting

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 OWNE

Campaign 98V008000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19980814 — visibility

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.

Campaign 98V093000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19990617 — SQ (open)

CORRISION FATIGUE OF FRONT COIL SPRINGS

R 20000424 — suspension

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 ROADS

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT COIL SPRING.

Campaign 00V063000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060403 — exterior lighting

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 S

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.

Campaign 06E026000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060701 — exterior lighting

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 N

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.

Campaign 06E049000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090511 — exterior lighting

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 CONF

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.

Campaign 09E012000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090728 — exterior lighting

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 CONF

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.

Campaign 09E025000 — check if this car was fixed