1998 Nissan Sentra Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1998 Nissan Sentra, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags1521.4%
- Visibility1420.0%
- Brakes710.0%
- Driver assistance68.6%
- Suspension45.7%
- Electrical45.7%
- Engine45.7%
- Fuel system45.7%
- Body & structure34.3%
- Tires & wheels34.3%
- Seat belts22.9%
- Other / unspecified11.4%
- Interior & seats11.4%
- Heating & air conditioning11.4%
- Exterior lighting11.4%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
WHILE DRIVING ANOTHER VEHICLE CROSSED OVER INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE LANE AND HIT THE NISSAN HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE DRIVER 'S SEAT BELT SHEARED OFF DURING THE COLLISION. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO BE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. IT THEN CRASHED INTO THE CONCRETE BARRIER. PASSENGERS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE DRIVER WAS DOA. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THIS INFORMATION WAS FURNISHED BY THE WIFE. *AK
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
WINDSHIELD LINKAGE WERE DEFECTIVE, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL.98V093000. *AK THE CONSUMER HAD THE LINK ASSEMBLY REPLACED. *TC THE BRAKES FELT SPONGY AND THE LEFT FRONT SEAT DID NOT MOVE PROPERLY ON TRACK. *SC *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON SEVERAL OCCASION, ONCE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE PARKING AND RAN INTO THE SIDE OF A BUILDING CAUSING FRONT BUMPER DAMAGE. NLM
WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES UNCONTROLLABLY. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED IN JANUARY OF 1999 (NO INJURY OR PRPERTY DAMAGE OCCURRED). THE INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED IN MARCH OF 1999 (NO INJURY OR PRPERTY DAMAGE OCCURRED). THIS WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND SUGGESTED THAT THE OPERATOR WAS DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE THIRD INCIDENT OCCURRED ON JULY 23, 1999 (NO INJURY OR PRPERTY DAMAGE OCCURRED). THE FOURTH INCIDENT OCCURRED ON AUGST 5, 199 (NO INJURY OR PRPERTY DAMAGE OCCURRED). THE FIFTH INCIDENT OCCURRED ON NOVEMBER 19, 1999 AND RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE STRIKING THE BRICK FRONT OF A CMMMERCIAL BEAUTY SALON. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT BMPER AND DAMAGED TEH BRICKS ON THE BUILDING. THE AIRBAGS DDI NOT DEPLOY. THE SIXTH INCIDENT OCCURRED ON APRIL 3, 2000 (NO INJURY OR PRPERTY DAMAGE OCCURRED). THE SEVENTH INCIDENT OCCURRED ON JUNE 3, 2000 (NO INJURY OR PRPERTY DAMAGE OCCURRED). THE EIGHT INCIDENT ALSO OCCURRRED ON JUNE 3, 2000 (NO INJURY OR PRPERTY DAMAGE OCCURRED). ON JUNE 4, 2000 ALL PRIOR INCIDENTS WERE REPRTED TO DEALER AND INFORMATION ABTAINED FROM A SERVICE MECHANIC FOR ANOTHER NISSAN DEALER INDICATING THAT THE AIC OR AIA VALVES WERE AT FAULT WAS RELAYED TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF HARRY GREEN CHEVROLET. THEY ADVISED THAT THE OWNER WOULD HAVE TO PROVE TO THEM THAT THE PARTS WERE BAD BEFORE THEY COULD REPLACE THEM. WHEN ADVISED OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOUND ON THE NHTSA DATABASE, THE SERVICE MANAGER INDICATED THAT THEY DID NOT BELIEVE ANYTHING THAT CAME OFF THE INTERNET.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE SPRINGS THAT WERE CONNECTED TO THE STRUTS DROPPED AND PUNCTURED THE PASSENGER'S FRONT TIRE. PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE FELL TO THE GROUND. *AK THE LEFT FRONT SPRING HAD BROKEN AS WELL. CURRENTLY THE RIGHT SPRINGS WERE TEARING A 6 INCH GASH IN THE TIRE. OTHER PROBLEMS WERE: THERE WAS A BANG NOISE AND GRIND WHEN IN MOTION DUE TO A BROKEN LEFT STRUT AND STRUT BEARING, AND NOISE IN THE WIPERS DURING INTERMITTENT RELAY. *SC *JB
CONSUMER STATES FRONT COIL SPRING FAILED CAUSING LOST OF STEERING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS *DT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I PURCHASED MY 1998 NISSAN SENTRA XE/GXE JANUARY 27, 2005, FROM A USED AUTO CAR DEALER. MAY 18. 2006 DEFECT ON THE VEHICLE OCCURRED THAT CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO GO UP IN FLAMES AND CAUSED IT TO BE DESTROYED. THE FIRE STARTED WITH THE HEAD LIGHT AND LEADING TO OTHER PARTS OF THE MOTOR. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED OUT TO THE SCENE. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRE WAS THAT IT STARTED FROM THE RIGHT HEAD LIGHT WHICH HAD A SHORTAGE IN THE WIRING AND SET OFF A BOX BEHIND THE LIGHT WHICH CAUSED THE FIRE TO MELT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID BOX WHICH CAUSED THE FIRE TO SPREAD. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
MY CAR LOST POWER,I HAD TO DRIVE MAYBE (6) SIX MILES TO THE DEALER.WENT I GOT THERE I GOT OUT AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FORM TRUNK.I OPEN TRUNK AND SAW THAT THE CARPET WAS SMOKING AND HAD MELTED.THERE WAS A BURNT SPOT WHERE THE CARPET WAS.MY POINT IS THAT I HAD THREE QUARTER TANK OF GAS IN MY CAR.I COULD HAVE BEEN BLOWN-UP IN THAT CAR IF I HAD TO GO MUCH FARTHER.IT REALLY BURNT THAT CARPET GOOD.THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS THAT IT WAS THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND THE CONVERTER,WHICH COMES TOGETHER AND COST $901.87 TO REPAIR.I BOUGHT THIS CAR ONLY A WEEK PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT,FROM THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP ON HWY 70 EAST NO DOUGHT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT: CONSUMER HAS A 1998 NISSAN SENTRA. WHEN SHE WENT TO REMOVE ITEMS FROM THE TRUNK, SHE SLICED HER HAND SLICED ON THE SURFACE OF THE TRUNK LID IN THE BACK THAT CONNECTS TO THE BACK OF THE CAR. THERE WAS A SHARP PIECE OF METAL THAT WAS UNSEEN TO THE CONSUMER. THIS CUT FELT LIKE A RAZOR BLADE CUTTING HER HAND. THE METAL WAS TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE TRUNK. THIS HAPPENED ON JULY 2, 2005. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED AS OF YET. THERE WAS NO HOSPITAL VISIT. OWNER HAD NEVER NOTICED THIS BEFORE. CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THE DEALERSHIP AVAILABLE. CONSUMER SAID IT WAS A SCARY THING TO FIND HAND CUT LIKE THAT.*AK
THE POWER DOOR LOCK SYSTEM IS SUPPOSE TO ALLOW YOU TO LOCK AND UNLOCK ALL DOORS SIMULTANEOUSLY USING THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR KEY, BUT IT DOES NOT WORK.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
CAR DID NOT PASS INSPECTION DUE TO FRONT TIRES HAVING LOW THREAD ON INSIDE PART OF TIRE. CAR WAS AT DEALER'S 9 MONTH AGO AND REPORTED NO UNEVEN WEAR AND TEAR ON ANY TIRES, RECOMMENDED ONLY BALANCING. SUSPECTED PROBLEM TO BE ALIGNMENT, BUT NONE WAS MENTIONED BY DEALER ON 11/30/99. THE CAR IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD, WITH 22500 MILES AND NOW NEED 2 NEW TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 175/65R14 )
NO SUMMARY NEEDED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 205/60HR15 )
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING ANOTHER VEHICLE CROSSED OVER INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE LANE AND HIT THE NISSAN HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE DRIVER 'S SEAT BELT SHEARED OFF DURING THE COLLISION. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO BE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. IT THEN CRASHED INTO THE CONCRETE BARRIER. PASSENGERS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE DRIVER WAS DOA. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THIS INFORMATION WAS FURNISHED BY THE WIFE. *AK
THE FRONT AND REAR SEAT BELTS BECAME TANGLED INSIDE THE RETRACTOR. *AK *SC *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
SINCE PURCHASE, BRAKES HAVE REQUIRED REPEATED REPLACEMENT STARTING AT 4,759 MILES 2 1/2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. 1998-PRESENT IS THE PERIOD OVER WHICH THIS MATTER CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM. DATE BELOW IS NOT SPECIFIC AS RANGE CANNOT BE INPUT. THE CONSUMER NOTED THAT NISSAN HAS TAKEN EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO COLLECT PAYMENTS FOR SERVICES, THAT HAS NOT CORRECTED THE FAULTY BRAKE PROBLEM. *CB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
WINDSHIELD LINKAGE WERE DEFECTIVE, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL.98V093000. *AK THE CONSUMER HAD THE LINK ASSEMBLY REPLACED. *TC THE BRAKES FELT SPONGY AND THE LEFT FRONT SEAT DID NOT MOVE PROPERLY ON TRACK. *SC *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIR CONDITIONER SOLENOID FAILED. MJS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I PURCHASED MY 1998 NISSAN SENTRA XE/GXE JANUARY 27, 2005, FROM A USED AUTO CAR DEALER. MAY 18. 2006 DEFECT ON THE VEHICLE OCCURRED THAT CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO GO UP IN FLAMES AND CAUSED IT TO BE DESTROYED. THE FIRE STARTED WITH THE HEAD LIGHT AND LEADING TO OTHER PARTS OF THE MOTOR. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED OUT TO THE SCENE. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRE WAS THAT IT STARTED FROM THE RIGHT HEAD LIGHT WHICH HAD A SHORTAGE IN THE WIRING AND SET OFF A BOX BEHIND THE LIGHT WHICH CAUSED THE FIRE TO MELT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID BOX WHICH CAUSED THE FIRE TO SPREAD. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .