EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
1998 Nissan Sentra
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 58 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Nissan Sentra, most frequently naming the airbags, visibility and brakes categories. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 49 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 1998 | 1 | 1 |
| May 1998 | 1 | 2 |
| Jul 1998 | 1 | 3 |
| Sep 1998 | 2 | 5 |
| Nov 1998 | 1 | 6 |
| Feb 1999 | 4 | 10 |
| Mar 1999 | 1 | 11 |
| May 1999 | 2 | 13 |
| Jun 1999 | 1 | 14 |
| Sep 1999 | 2 | 16 |
| Jan 2000 | 1 | 17 |
| Feb 2000 | 1 | 18 |
| Jun 2000 | 2 | 20 |
| Jul 2000 | 2 | 22 |
| Sep 2000 | 1 | 23 |
| Nov 2000 | 1 | 24 |
| Jan 2001 | 2 | 26 |
| Mar 2001 | 1 | 27 |
| Aug 2001 | 1 | 28 |
| Sep 2001 | 1 | 29 |
| Oct 2001 | 1 | 30 |
| Jan 2002 | 2 | 32 |
| Apr 2002 | 1 | 33 |
| Nov 2002 | 1 | 34 |
| Dec 2002 | 1 | 35 |
| Jan 2003 | 2 | 37 |
| Oct 2003 | 1 | 38 |
| Jan 2004 | 3 | 41 |
| Jun 2004 | 1 | 42 |
| Aug 2004 | 2 | 44 |
| Dec 2004 | 2 | 46 |
| Feb 2005 | 1 | 47 |
| Jul 2005 | 1 | 48 |
| May 2006 | 1 | 49 |
| Sep 2006 | 1 | 50 |
| Oct 2006 | 1 | 51 |
| Jan 2007 | 1 | 52 |
| Sep 2007 | 1 | 53 |
| Jan 2008 | 1 | 54 |
| Apr 2008 | 1 | 55 |
| Dec 2010 | 1 | 56 |
| Feb 2019 | 1 | 57 |
| Sep 2019 | 1 | 58 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Airbags1521.4%
- Visibility1420.0%
- Brakes710.0%
- Driver assistance68.6%
- Suspension45.7%
- Electrical45.7%
- Engine45.7%
- Fuel system45.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
5 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govEXTERIOR LIGHTING
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
I HAVE A 1998 NISSAN SENTRA AND THE PROBLEMS I HAVE WITH THIS CAR IS MY IGNITION SWITCH. MY KEY GETS STUCK IN MY IGNITION SOMETIMES AND MY CAR DOESN'T WANT TO START AT TIMES. THIS PROBLEM IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE CONSISTENT OVER THE TEN YEARS I'VE HAD IT. I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY ENGINE MULTIPLE TIMES AND I'VE GOTTEN IT FIXED MORE THAN THREE TIMES.
- NHTSA ID
- 11253805
- Incident
- Mar 4, 2008
- Mileage
- 62,621 mi
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. I BARELY CONTROLLED THIS SURGE WITH EXTREME BRAKE PRESSURE. EVENT LASTED APPROXIMATELY 5 SECONDS. IT DID NOT TRIP A TROUBLE CODE, OR RECUR. APPROXIMATELY 255,000 MILES ON CHASSIS. NO DAMAGE, BUT RISK OF IT VERY HIGH. MCGREGOR, TEXAS, TURNING L OFF OF US 84 EASTBOUND ONTO TX 317 NORTHBOUND. DRIVER IS RETIRED BUT VERY ACCOMPLISHED ENGINEER, WITH 3 ENGINEERING DEGREES, AND DECADES OF WIDE-RANGING EXPERIENCE. THIS HAD ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH PUSHING THE WRONG PEDAL. I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE MY FOOT WAS.
- NHTSA ID
- 11174303
- Incident
- Feb 4, 2019
- Mileage
- 255,000 mi
1998 NISSAN SENTRA WAS STRUCK BY UNIT 2 STRUCK IN THE REAR AS THE CONSUMER BEGAN HAVING ENGINE TROUBLE AND STARTED SLOWING DOWN. THIS CAUSED SENTRA TO GO OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND OVERTURN IN THE DITCH. BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0414-89)*JB UPDATED 04/22/11 *BF
- NHTSA ID
- 10370069
- Incident
- Oct 8, 2010
1998 NISSAN SENTRA GXE WOULD NOT TAKE FUEL. AT THE GAS PUMP, THE PUMP WOULD CLICK OFF, LIKE THE TANK WAS FULL. IT WOULD TAKE LESS THAN A GALLON OF GAS AT A TIME. *TR I TOOK IT TO BE SERVICED AND QUESTIONED IF THERE WAS A RECALL AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS JUST A BULLETIN ON IT. I NEVER LOCATED THE BULLETIN. THE PRESSURE SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THAT PART ALONE, WAS OVER $300. DOLLARS. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10225362
- Incident
- Apr 4, 2008
- Mileage
- 103,000 mi
WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. IT SEEMS TO BE PART OF THE RECALL THAT IS PART OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL, HOWEVER, NISSAN CLAIMS THAT WHILE MY CAR IS THE SAME MAKE, MODEL, YEAR OF RECALL, AND FALLS WITHIN THE AFFECTED VINS THAT MY CAR IS NOT INVOLVED...*CN
- NHTSA ID
- 10213478
- Incident
- Jul 25, 2007
- Mileage
- 120,000 mi
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WIPER ARM LINKAGE SEPARATED FROM THE WIPER MOTOR LINKAGE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V093000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES). AS OF SEPTEMBER 17, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10203165
- Incident
- Sep 14, 2007
- Mileage
- 120,000 mi
MY WIPERS HAVE NEVER WORKED PROPERLY. THE OTHER DAY, THEY COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. I CHECKED ONLINE, AND FOUND THAT MY CAR WAS PART OF A RECALL. I CONTACTED NISSAN, THE MANUFACTURE. AT FIRST, THEY SAID MY CAR WAS AFFECTED, THAT THEY WOULD CALL TO MAKE SURE THAT MY CAR HAD NOT ALREADY BEEN BROUGHT IN (I AM THE SECOND OWNER). I CONSULTED MY FRIEND, WHO I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM. SHE TOLD ME THAT THE WIPERS WERE ALWAYS A LITTLE OFF, BUT THAT SHE NEVER GOT NOTICE OF A RECALL, AND NEVER GOT THEM FIXED. I ALSO LOOKED FURTHER INTO THIS ISSUE ON THIS SITE, WHERE I FOUND THE VIN NUMBERS OF VEHICLES AFFECTED, AND ALSO SAW HOW THEY WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. TWO DAYS LATER, [XXX], THE REP FROM NISSAN, CALLED TO TELL ME THAT MY CAR'S RECALL WAS "CLOSED". I ASKED IF HE SAID THIS MEANT MY CAR WASN'T INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. HE STATED THAT HE COULDN'T TELL ME THAT. WHEN I PRESENTED TO HIM THE INFORMATION THAT I GOT ONLINE, WHICH IDENTIFIED ALL AFFECTED VIN #'S, AND THAT MINE WAS ONE OF THEM, HE SAID HE COULDN'T TELL ME IF MY CAR WAS INVOLVED, BUT THAT "THE CASE IS CLOSED". I PERSISTED, STATING THAT MY FRIEND WHO WAS THE SOLE PREVIOUS OWNER SAID THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER FIXED, AND ASKED CHRIS TO PROVIDE ME WITH THE DATE/PLACE WHERE THE SUPPOSED FIXING OF THE RECALL TOOK PLACE. AGAIN, THE INFORMATION SUPPOSEDLY DOESN'T EXIST. ALL CHRIS WOULD TELL ME WAS THAT I AM OUT OF LUCK. I SINCERELY BELIEVE THEY ARE LYING. RIGHT NOW, I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR IN THE RAIN OR SNOW. THIS IS DUE TO A DEFECT OF DESIGN, AND THIS IS DUE TO A RECALL THAT NEVER GOT FIXED, AND INSTEAD OF DOING THE RIGHT AND THE LAWFUL THING, NISSAN IS GIVING ME THE RUN-AROUND. *NM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10179092
- Incident
- Jan 15, 2007
- Mileage
- 127,000 mi
I WAS REAR ENDED BY A MERCURY MINIVAN (ESTIMATED SPEED 30 MPH) AND PUSHED INTO A DODGE MINIVAN. THE FRONT BUMPER GOT CRACKED IN HALF, THE RADIATOR AND BATTERY WERE ALSO DISPLACED. THE TRUNK WAS DAMAGED, THE REAR BUMPER WAS ALMOST TORN OFF AND THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE PANEL SHOWS DENTS BEYOND THE GAS CAP. I AM BEING TOLD THAT BECAUSE I WAS REAR IMPACTED, AND PUSHED INTO A VEHICLE WITH A HIGHER BUMPER THAN MY OWN THE AIR BAGS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUPPOSED TO DEPLOY. A REAR IMPACT STILL THROWS YOU FORWARD, AND THE NUMBER OF SUVS AND MINI VANS ON THE ROAD MAKES THIS SEEM LIKE A MAJOR HAZARD. PICTURES OF MY CAR AFTER THE ACCIDENT CAN BE PROVIDED UPON REQUEST. *NM
- NHTSA ID
- 10170909
- Incident
- Sep 22, 2006
- Mileage
- 73,000 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
STEERING
DIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT) AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF-CENTER This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
12 VOLT BATTERY TESTING FOR IN-SERVICE VEHICLES SERVICE INFORMATION The following Service Information lists NNA procedural recommendations for establishing good connections while performing 12V battery testing. These recommendations are expected to promote uniformity during the connection process, therefore reducing the number of incorrect âTest with DCAâ and âReplaceâ results. HINT: If 12 volt batteries are allowed to discharge for a prolonged period of time, battery life may be drastically reduced. This condition may lead to premature battery replacement and customer dissatisfaction. IMPORTANT: ï· CPX-900 is now an accepted testing tool to use along with or in place of the DSS-5000 ï· CPX-900 operating instructions are found at: https://nissancpx900.midtronics.com/ ï· DSS-5000 operating instructions are found at: https://nissandss5000.midtronics.com/ ï· DCA-8000 is now a required testing tool to be used for all warranty replacement decisions. The DCA-8000 is also a more efficient charger than previously available, and will charge any available 12 volt lead acid battery safely and accurately as long as all precautions and inputs are made correctly. The DCA-8000 operating instructions are found at: https://nissandca8000.midtronics.com/
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SILICONE-BASED LUBRICANT OR GREASE CAN DAMAGE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SERVICE INFORMATION Do not apply Silicone-based lubricants or grease to, or around, any interior electrical components. To avoid the risk of death or severe personal injury, do not directly spray Silicone-based lubricant or grease, or inadvertently overspray Silicone-based lubricant or grease onto any interior electrical components. These types of lubricants can be detrimental to the proper operation of electrical components.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INTELLIGENT KEY REPLACEMENT OR SWAPPING BETWEEN VEHICLES This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Discard all previous versions of this bulletin.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
RADIO INTERMITTENTLY REBOOTS DURING AUDIO PLAYBACK VIA BLUETOOTH CONNECTED IPHONE This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 50.8 |
| 2025 | 26 | 4 | 0 | 64.4 |
| 2024 | 34 | 3 | 0 | 62.2 |
| 2023 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 49.9 |
| 2022 | 80 | 2 | 0 | 51.9 |
| 2021 | 129 | 3 | 0 | 59.6 |
| 2020 | 204 | 4 | 0 | 51.6 |
| 2019 | 221 | 2 | 0 | 52.3 |
| 2018 | 184 | 2 | 0 | 52.5 |
| 2017 | 230 | 3 | 0 | 60.0 |
| 2016 | 267 | 6 | 0 | 55.0 |
| 2015 | 350 | 3 | 0 | 53.0 |
| 2014 | 380 | 5 | 3 | 61.6 |
| 2013 | 638 | 6 | 3 | 59.1 |
| 2012 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 36.8 |
| 2011 | 142 | 2 | 0 | 52.2 |
| 2010 | 144 | 3 | 0 | 52.2 |
| 2009 | 55 | 1 | 0 | 44.5 |
| 2008 | 167 | 3 | 1 | 57.1 |
| 2007 | 154 | 1 | 1 | 51.6 |
| 2006 | 116 | 6 | 3 | 63.9 |
| 2005 | 170 | 6 | 3 | 61.1 |
| 2004 | 197 | 5 | 3 | 62.9 |
| 2003 | 180 | 10 | 2 | 59.9 |
| 2002 | 318 | 14 | 1 | 59.4 |
| 2001 | 236 | 8 | 0 | 53.9 |
| 2000 | 171 | 7 | 0 | 55.6 |
| 1999 | 59 | 3 | 0 | 55.7 |
| 1998Viewing | 58 | 5 | 0 | 61.0 |
| 1997 | 108 | 7 | 0 | 59.2 |
| 1996 | 141 | 7 | 1 | 65.9 |
| 1995 | 117 | 7 | 1 | 64.1 |
| 1994 | 99 | 0 | 1 | 49.0 |
| 1993 | 58 | 0 | 1 | 45.3 |
| 1992 | 62 | 0 | 1 | 52.4 |
| 1991 | 63 | 2 | 2 | 64.0 |
| 1990 | 39 | 2 | 1 | 60.4 |
| 1989 | 41 | 1 | 1 | 54.5 |
| 1988 | 37 | 1 | 1 | 58.0 |
| 1987 | 36 | 1 | 1 | 51.4 |
| 1986 | 6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 6 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1984 | 3 | 0 | 2 | — |
| 1983 | 1 | 1 | 3 | — |
| 1982 | 1 | 1 | 3 | — |
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.