Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 141 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Nissan Sentra. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 141 · page 1 of 6
"TAKATA RECALL". MAD A RIGHT HAND TURN AND BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS RANDOMLY DEPLOYED.THEY CAUSED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD TO CRACK BADLY. DIDNT HIT ANOTHER CAR NOR ANYTHING WITH MAKING THE TURN. WAS MOVING IN A CITY STREET AT 9PM SO NOT MUCH TRAFFIC. TURNED INTO AN EMPTY STREET LUCKILY.
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. IN PARTICULAR, THE FAULTY CONNECTOR IS E104 ON THE HEC (THE BACK OF THE FUSE PANEL IN DRIVER SIDE COMPARTMENT). FAILURE OCCURS MORE OFTEN IN HOT WEATHER. FAILURE HAS OCCURRED TWICE WHILE DRIVING, AND DOZENS OF TIMES WHEN PARKED. JIGGLING THE CONNECTOR OFTEN RESTORES POWER. ALSO, A SIMILAR POWER WIRE OPEN CIRCUIT OCCURS ON ANOTHER CONNECTOR ON THE SAME HEC THAT CAUSES ALL LIGHTING TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND MOST INTERIOR LIGHTING TO FAIL. FAILURE HAS OCCURED AT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS, PREVENTING THE DRIVER FROM SEEING HOW FAST THEY ARE TRAVELING.
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. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY INTERMITTENT CIRCUIT. UPDATED 10/16/2017*JS
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.
1996 NISSAN SENTRA, WAS TRAVELING WESTBOUND WHEN THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW. THE DRIVER WENT OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND STRUCK THE MEDIAN WALL. HE RETURNED TO THE ROADWAY AND DROVE OFF THE NORTH SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE STOPPING ON THE NORTH BERM. *BF THE DRIVER STATED HE HAD TO KEEP PUTTING AIR IN THE TIRE PRIOR TO THE BLOWOUT. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0913-90) UPDATED 02/15/11 *BF UPDATED 05/24/11*LJ UPDATED 05/31/11
AIR CONDITIONER -- WHEN I HAD AIR CONDITIONER ON THE CAR WOULD STALL. AFTER BRINGING IT TO SEVERAL MECHANICS, I FINALLY CONVINCED ONE THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG AND HE CLEANED THE THROTTLE AND THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING MUCH BETTER. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ENTIRE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE LOWERED ONTO ITS FRONT AXLE AND WAS TOWED TO A TIRE SHOP. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK AND THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD THUMPING NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEELS HAD ALUMINUM RIMS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 196,000.
INSUFFICIENT HEADREST FOAM COVERAGE. FOAM DEGRADES OR SELF MOVES OUT OF POSITION TO REVEAL INTERNAL METAL FRAME WHICH RUNS ACROSS ENTIRE HEADREST AT POINT OF HEAD IMPACT. PART DOES NOT SEEM SERVICEABLE FOR REPAIR, AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY MANUFACTURER WITH UPDATED VERSION. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND AIRBAG LIGHT ARE BOTH TRIGGERED TOO EASILY BY TOO MANY SENSORS, SO VEHICLE IS CONSTANTLY IN SHOP WITH NO TROUBLE FOUND. SEEMS LIKE IT WAS DESIGNED BY AN OVERLY-WORRIED CAR MANUFACTURER, OR FOR THE PURPOSES OF MAKING OWNERS FEEL THE CAR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT ALSO GREATLY INCREASES THE LIKELY HOOD OF FAILING AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. THE SAFETY ISSUE STEMS FROM ALL THE BLINKING LIGHTS ON THE DASH WHICH ARE VERY DISTRACTIVE, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT, AND USUALLY COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY. IN 1996, THERE WAS A RECALL FOR INSUFFICIENT BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATION ON THE SENTRA MODEL. NISSAN'S FIX FOR THIS WAS A BRIGHTER BULB. SINCE MY CAR WAS BOUGHT USED, AND THE PRIOR OWNER DID NOT UPGRADE TO THE NEW BULBS, AND THERE IS NO LISTING FOR THE REPLACEMENT BULBS, OWNER'S MAY NOT KNOW HOW TO UPGRADE THEIR BRAKE LIGHTS. NISSAN DEALERS DO NOT SEEM TO KNOW WHAT BULB TO REPLACE IT WITH FOR BETTER ILLUMINATION. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AS THERE ARE MANY 1996 NISSAN SENTRAS ON THE ROAD TODAY. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE WAITING IN THE RIGHT LANE TO MAKE A TURN, THE VEHICLE WAS RAMMED FROM BEHIND. THE DRIVER FROM THE OTHER VEHICLE INDICATED THERE WERE NO TAIL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO NOTICE IF IT WAS MOVING OR NOT AT NIGHT. THE POLICE WAS PRESENT AT THE SCENE, AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS TO ALERT THE CONTACT FOR AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. AFTER NINE YEARS OF THE ACCIDENT, THE CONTACT ENCOUNTERED A NHTSA RECALL # 98V008000 WHICH MATCHED THE ELECTRICAL FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, THE DISTRIBUTOR HAS MALFUNCTIONED 4 TIMES SINCE MY OWNERSHIP OF THIS VEHICLE. CAR FAILS TO START, WITH IT BEING IN THE FIRING SYSTEM THIS PRESENTS A FIRE HAZARD. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN IT RAINED; THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT CLEAR THE RAIN WATER OFF THE WINDSHIELD WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, AS THEY DID NOT COME INTO COMPLETE CONTACT WITH THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 98V093000, FOR VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD/WASHER: LINKAGES FOUND ON THE MANUFACTURERS WEBSITE. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO PROVIDE RECALL SERVICE AS THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 11/30/2006 - *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD WASHER DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE WASHER NOZZLES ONLY EMITTED FLUID INTERMITTENTLY, AND OCCASIONALLY IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO DIFFERENT SERVICE DEALERS, WHERE THE DEALERS WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 11/30/2006 - *NM
I HAVE A 1996 NISSAN SENTRA GXE. VIN NUMBER IS 3N1AB41D0TL0XXXXX. THERE ARE THREE OPEN RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE: 1. VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES 2. SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS 3. EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS NONE OF THE NISSAN DEALERS IN MY AREA HAVE OFFERED TO FIX ANY OF THESE RECALL ISSUES FOR FREE (AS IS REQUIRED BY FEDERAL AND STATE LAW). MY VEHICLE STILL HAS THESE SAFETY DEFECTS IN IT AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT NISSAN IS ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THESE RECALL DEFECTS. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35MPH THE LEAKAGE BALL THAT CONNECTS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO THE WIPER MOTOR SNAPPED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 98V093000, REGARDING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGES. THE VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR FALLS DOWN . AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER'S VISION IS IMPAIRED. THE DEALER STATES THE PART IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. *AK ON THE SECOND INCIDENT, THE SWIVEL HINGE CLIP BROKE. *SC *JB
12/28/04...I WAS DRIVING ON 2ND AVE IN TROY, NY, IT BEGAN TO SNOW/RAIN...TURNED ON MY WIPERS AND THAT IS WHEN I HEARD A SNAP NOISE AND THEN MY DRIVERS SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM SEEMED TO BE BROKEN. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC THE VERY NEXT MORNING AND THEY SAID IT WAS BROKEN, THAT A PLASTIC PIECE SNAPPED OFF. IT WAS A DEALERSHIP ITEM, BUT THAT IT IS A NISSAN RECALL ITEM. MY MECHANIC PRINTED OUT THE RECALL INFO AND I WENT TO THE NISSAN DEALER IN LATHAM, NY. I WAS VERY UPSET WHEN THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PART IS A BACK ORDER PART AND WOULD NOT BE IN UNTIL SOMETIME IN JANUARY OF 2005. MEANWHILE, I HAVE TO GO TO WORK AND CAN'T DRIVE IN THE RAIN, SNOW, SLEET, HAIL. WHEN I ASKED WHY THEY COULDN'T FEDEX THE PART THE DEALERSHIP IN LATHAM TOLD ME IT IS BECAUSE IT IS A BACK-ORDER ITEM. I ASKED THEM IF THEY COULD LOAN ME A CAR DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS A RECALL ITEM. THEY TOLD ME THEY DIDN'T KNOW AND THEN PROMISED I WOULD HEAR FROM THEM THE SAME DAY IN A LITTLE WHILE, THEY HAD TO WAIT ON AN ANSWER FROM SOMEONE. I NEVER HEARD BACK, SO I CALLED THEM. THEY SAID THEY COULD GET ME A RENTAL CAR, BUT I HAD TO PAY FOR IT. I WAS VERY UPSET BECAUSE FIRST OF ALL, THIS DEFECT IS NOT MY DOING. SECOND, I CAN END UP WITH NO JOB IF I CAN'T GET TO MY JOB. THAT IS THE ENTIRE PROBLEM, NO CAR TO GO TO WORK WITH IF IT RAINS OR SNOWS WHILE WAITING ON NISSAN FOR THE PART ON BACK ORDER. THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE DEALERSHIP IS: NEMITH MOTOR CORP., ROUTE 9, BOX 669, LATHAM, NY 12110. PH: 1-800-395-0798. *NM
MY 1996 NISSAN SENTRA HAS A DEFECTIVE ODOMETER. MY UNIT IS BEING REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT CARS WITH FAULTY ODOMETERS ARE BOTH A SAFETY HAZARD AND A CONSUMER FRAUD PROBLEM. *MR
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH A TANKER TRUCK CUT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE OFF. TO AVOID A COLLISION CONSUMER PULLED ONTO A SHOULDER. THEN, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT TO ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES. WHEN VEHICLE ROLLED OVER THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT DETACHED FROM THE BASE WITH A CHILD IN IT AND CRASHED THROUGH THE REAR WINDOW. THE CHILD SUSTAINED A BRUISED SPLEEN AND TAIL BONE WHILE CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISES. ANOTHER PASSENGER SUFFERED SEVERE HEAD TRAUMA, AND OTHER SCRAPES AND BRUISES.*AK
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING DURING A RAINSTORM. MR SCC *NLM
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
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
VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE,ENGINE RAVVED VERY LOUDLY, AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED,CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLAM INTO A PARKED VEHICLE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH HEARD A LOUD NOISE, AND THEN VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. AS A RESULT OF A PIECE NEAR RACK AND PINION STEERING THAT BROKE.*AK
CONSUMER STATES THE AIR BAG SENOR LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON, WHICH IS CAUSED BY A FAULTY AIR BAG MODULE FAILURE . HAD PART REPLACED PROBLEM STILL ACCURING .*JB
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES FAILED, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKES WERE UNFIT FOR DRIVING AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE.*JB
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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