1998 Nissan Sentra
This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than 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.
- Complaints
- 58
- Recalls
- 5
- Investigations
- 0
- Top problem
- Air bags
Campaigns on file for 1998
None on file
28% of complaints
Complaints per year
1998: 58 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 | 352 |
| 2016 | 269 |
| 2017 | 231 |
| 2018 | 184 |
| 2019 | 223 |
| 2020 | 207 |
| 2021 | 132 |
| 2022 | 81 |
| 2023 | 20 |
| 2024 | 41 |
| 2025 | 31 |
| 2026 | 19 |
Known problem areas
Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.
Air bags
28% · 16 reportsMost commonly citing frontal and side/window.
Show complaint excerpts
Consumer's vehicle was involved in a frontal collision at 40 MPH with another vehicle and neither frontal air bag deployed. Driver sustained minor injuries to the shoulder and the right arm from the seat belt.
NHTSA ODI report, 2004-12-14
Driving approx 30-40MPH and rear ended another car which my airbags did not deploy and my car was totalled. Reported to Nissan and nothing was done regarding it.
NHTSA ODI report, 2004-01-13
I was driving down a back road and my front passenger side went off the road into the sand, causing the tie-rod to break. The car shot to the left and I hit a brim of sand and rocks causing the car to roll several times over.
NHTSA ODI report, 2003-10-23
Visibility
22% · 13 reportsMost commonly citing windshield wiper/washer and linkages.
Service brakes
16% · 9 reportsMost commonly citing hydraulic.
Show complaint excerpts
Coming to a stop in a l turn lane, with foot definitely only on brake, at under 3 MPH. Just as I stopped, brake faded, engine raced, and car surged violently forward, simultaneously.
NHTSA ODI report, 2019-02-04
Also filed under Fuel/propulsion system
Vehicle speed control
10% · 6 reportsMost commonly citing linkages and accelerator pedal.
Suspension
7% · 4 reportsMost commonly citing coil springs.
Safety timeline
5 recalls · 0 investigations · oldest first
To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Buy-smart checklist
1998 Nissan Sentra — pre-purchase inspection
Inspect
- Air bags: 16 reports on file for this year.
- Visibility: 13 reports on file for this year.
- Service brakes: 9 reports on file for this year.
Verify these recalls were completed
- Recall 98V093000 · Visibility
- Recall 06E026000 · Exterior lighting
- Recall 06E049000 · Exterior lighting
- Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
- Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
Other years of this model
See all years ranked →FAQ
- Is the 1998 Nissan Sentra reliable?
- Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1998 Nissan Sentra is rated "better than typical".
- What are the most common problems with the 1998 Nissan Sentra?
- The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 28% of complaints on file.
- How many recalls does the 1998 Nissan Sentra have?
- 5 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.