RoadVitals

1997 Nissan Sentra Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Jan 23, 2004
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 108 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Nissan Sentra submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalOther / unspecified
Filed Jan 23, 2004

MY STARTER IN MY 1997 NISSAN SENTRA IS ALWAYS MESSING UP!! I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE IT FOUR TIMES WITHIN ONE YEAR. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY, SO I EVEN REPLACED THAT. BUT AT THE END, IT IS ALWAYS THE STARTER THAT FAILS. I PUT THE KEY IN, TURN IT TO START, AND THE CAR JUST HISSES. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. I AM SEVERLY CONVINCED THAT THERE IS SOMEWORT OF STARTER/ELECTRICAL DEFECT THAT NO ONE (NISSAN AUTHORITIES) HAVE REPORTED. EVEN MY MECHANIC THINKS IT'S ODD THAT HE HAS HAD TO REPLACE IT 4 TIMES. I PUT 20 FAILURES BECAUSE IT BEEN AROUND 20 TIMES WHEN IT WOULD NOT START, THEN IT WOULD, ID GET IT TOWED, AND GET A NEW STARTER EVENTUALLY. *LA

NHTSA ID
10054739
Incident
Jan 23, 2004
Electrical
Filed Aug 29, 2003

WHILE DRIVING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL . *AK

NHTSA ID
10037957
Incident
Aug 26, 2003
Electrical
Filed Jun 29, 2003
Fire reported

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. NISSAN HAS REFUSED TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY, BUT I SEE ON YOUR WEBSITE THAT A SIMILAR COMPLAINT WAS FILED TODAY. IT MIGHT BE WORTHWHILE TO CHECK INTO THIS. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10023982
Incident
Jun 18, 2003
Mileage
84,000 mi
BrakesElectricalEngine+4 more
Filed Mar 27, 2003

CONTINUAL BRAKE FAILURE, DOOR LOCK MALFUNCTION, DEFOGGER, VISIBILITY WINDSHIELD WIPERS, ENGINE RELATED ISSUES, TIRES, GAS TANK. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10013556
Incident
Jan 9, 2003
Electrical
Filed Jan 12, 2001

VEHICLE OWNER WAS DRIVING AT 55 MPH ON HIGHWAY WHEN CAR COMPLETELY DIED WITHOUT WARNING. NO INDICATIONS OF PROBLEM IN 4 YRS OF OWNERSHIP. *AK

NHTSA ID
739250
Incident
Jan 5, 2001
Electrical
Filed Oct 10, 2000

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 55 MPH AND ON A 4- WAY HIGHWAY WHEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY DIED, COMPLETELY STOPPED WITHOUT NO PRIOR WARNING . ONLY REASON CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY WAS BECAUSE CONSUMER HAD JUST GOT INTO THE RIGHT HAND LANE. DEALER REPAIRED THE R&R DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY.*AK

NHTSA ID
872659
Incident
Mar 10, 2000
Electrical
Filed Aug 25, 2000

BOUGHT VEHICLE A FEW WEEKS AGO & HORN WOULD CONTINUE TO BLOW. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC WAS SUPPOSE TO HAVE REPAIRED IT. PICKED VEHICLE UP AND PROBLEM REAPPEARED AFTER HITTING A CRACK OR BUMP. TOOK BACK TO DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 4 OTHER TIMES AND HORN PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. DEALERSHIP WAS REFUSING TO REPAIR IT AGAIN. OWNER REMOVED FUSE & IT NOW HAS TO GO THROUGH INSPECTION.*AK

NHTSA ID
868713
Electrical
Filed May 29, 1999

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
706966
Incident
Mar 11, 1999
Electrical
Filed Feb 26, 1999

BRAKE LIGHT FUSE GOES OUT WHICH MAKES THE BRAKE LIGHTS INOPERATIVE AND MAY CAUSE ACCIDENT. BEEN TO DEALER MANY TIMES, CANNOT RESOLVE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
835334
Incident
Sep 25, 1998
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Jun 23, 1998

WINDOWS WOULD NOT CLOSE.

NHTSA ID
537052
Incident
Mar 23, 1998

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Airbags33Visibility24Brakes16Driver assistance9

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .