1997 Nissan Sentra

● Typical for this model

1997 Nissan Sentra
RENDERED 2026-09-17T04:33:05.737Z

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

1997: 108 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 31%

31% of complaints: air bags — 34 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing frontal and sensor/control module.

CRASH INJURY DEATH

Show complaint excerpts

MY FATHER WAS INVLOVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN MY CAR A 97 NISSAN SENTRA ON SEPTEMBER 18,2003 HE WAS GOING ABOUT 10 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BUT NOT AS THEY SHOULD THEY EXPLODED THERE ARE HOLES IN THEM WITH BURNT EDGES.

NHTSA ODI report, 20030930

AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AFTER A VERY HARD STOP AND COLLISION WITH A BIKE A MONTH LATER AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED TO BLINK NON STOP

NHTSA ODI report, 20030403

WHEN VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION, WHERE THE GRILL CONTACTED THE ENGINE, AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. NOT SURE IF THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 19971112

VISIBILITY 25%

25% of complaints: visibility — 27 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing linkages and windshield wiper/washer.

CRASH INJURY DEATH

SERVICE BRAKES 15%

15% of complaints: service brakes — 16 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing hydraulic.

CRASH INJURY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10%

10% of complaints: electrical system — 11 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing ignition and fuses and circuit breakers.

FIRE

Show complaint excerpts

THE WIRING UNDER THE WINDOW CONTROLS IN THE DRIVER DOOR STARTED TO SMOLDER AND BURST INTO FLAMES WITHIN SECONDS. PART OF THE PLASTIC DOOR PANEL MELTED. IT TOOK TWO WATERING CANS OF WATER TO PUT OUT THE FIRE.

NHTSA ODI report, 20030629

VEHICLE FIRE.

NHTSA ODI report, 19981014

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 8%

8% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 9 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing cruise control and accelerator pedal.

CRASH

SAFETY TIMELINE

R 19970801 — structure

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. ONE OF THREE STYROFOAM PADS LOCATED IN EACH REAR DOOR AS PART OF THE DESIGN FOR ENSURING COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS NO. 214, "SIDE DOOR STRENGTH," WAS NOT INST

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE MISSING PAD IN EACH REAR DOOR.

Campaign 97V110000 — check if this car was fixed

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

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