RoadVitals

1998 Nissan Sentra Visibility Problems

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

Data refreshed

Visibility 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.
14
Latest Sep 7, 2019
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.
24%
of 58 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.
0
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 windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Nissan Sentra submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 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 visibility

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

ElectricalFuel systemVisibility
Filed Sep 7, 2019

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
Visibility
Filed Jan 2, 2008

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
Visibility
Filed Sep 17, 2007

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
Visibility
Filed Jan 18, 2007

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
Visibility
Filed Sep 6, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ENGAGED, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGES SEPARATED AT THE JOINT PIVOT WITHOUT WARNING AND BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGES WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER AFTERWARDS, THE LINKAGES SEPARATED AGAIN WITH NORMAL USE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 98V093000, REGARDING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA ID
10167475
Incident
Sep 6, 2006
Mileage
69,000 mi
BrakesInterior & seatsVisibility
Filed Dec 8, 2004

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

NHTSA ID
10094740
Incident
Sep 26, 2004
Mileage
102,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 16, 2004

THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER MALFUNCTIONED. A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS INCLUDED. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10079357
Incident
Jun 2, 2004
Mileage
110,000 mi
SuspensionVisibility
Filed Jun 4, 2004

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

NHTSA ID
10071850
Incident
Mar 23, 2001
Mileage
20,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jan 8, 2004

NISSAN HAS A SAFETY RECALL FOR WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE (SEE NHTSA CAMPAIGN 98V093000). ACCORDING TO THE NISSAN WEB SITE MY VEHICLE [XXX] IS IN THE RANGE OF AFFECTED VINS. MY WIPERS FAILED IN THE EXACT MANNER DESCRIBED IN THE SAFETY RECALL (WEAR OF THE BALL JOINT IN THE WIPER LINKAGE CAUSING THE LINKAGE TO SEPARATE), BUT NISSAN (AND THE NISSAN DEALER) REFUSE TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WORK UNDER THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THEY CLAIM THAT MY PARTICULAR VIN, ALTHOUGH IN THE CORRECT RANGE, IS NOT AFFECTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED DURING A HEAVY DOWNPOUR ON A BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AND NEARLY CAUSED A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I THINK NISSAN NEEDS TO TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT WHICH VINS ARE TRULY AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM. *LA UPDATED 07/26/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
10052665
Incident
Nov 15, 2003
Mileage
86,100 mi
Visibility
Filed Jan 15, 2002

THE HEATER CORE OF THE RADIATOR FAILED. DEFROST COOLANT SPILLED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE IN THE FRONT AND COOLANT GOT INTO THE VENT SYSTEM. WE NOTICED THE DEFECT BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WOULD NOT DEFROST. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT OF THE COOLANT IS ETHYLENE GLYCOL. WHEN WE ASKED WHY THE COOLANT WOULD SPILL INTO THE CAR AND INTO THE VENTS, THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DIRECTOR INFORMED US THAT "IT IS THE ONLY PLACE IT COULD GO." THE MANUFACTURER TOOK CARE OF THE COST OF REPAIR OF THIS PART. HOWEVER, WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE CAR IS DESIGNED SUCH THAT COOLANT WOULD BE LEAKED INTO THE VENTS AND THAT THERE IS NO MENTION OF THIS POSSIBILITY IN THE VEHICLE BOOKLET. WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED THAT PEOPLE WHO SUFFER A SIMILAR SITUATION WILL NOT BE AWARE THAT THEY MAY BE INHALING COOLANT THROUGH THE VENT SYSTEM FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME WITHOUT KNOWING THAT THEY ARE BEING EXPOSED TO THIS COMPONENT.*AK

NHTSA ID
756892
Incident
Nov 20, 2001
Visibility
Filed Sep 19, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
752358
Incident
Sep 16, 2001
Visibility
Filed Jan 31, 2001

CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 98V093000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NTB98-06 CONCERNING WINDSHIELD WIPERS. DEALER IS TRYING TO CHARGE FOR A MOTOR , AND PROBLEM IS A PLASTIC BALL JOINT PIECE. IF TOO MUCH WATER GETS INTO IT, IT WON'T FUNCTION. A MECHANIC HAS ALSO DETERMINED PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
879417
Incident
Jan 31, 2001
Heating & air conditioningElectricalVisibility
Filed Feb 1, 1999

AIR CONDITIONER SOLENOID FAILED. MJS

NHTSA ID
606958
Visibility
Filed May 19, 1998

PROBLEM: VERY ACRID WINDSHILD WASHER VAPORS ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. RECOMMENDED SOLUTIOND MOVE THE NOZZELS TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARMS. THE EXISTING DESIGN PLACES THE NOZZELS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE FRESH AIR INTAKE THUS DRAWING THE ATOMIZED WIPER SOLUTION INTO THE AIRCONDITIONING/DEFROST DUCT WORK WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. THE FUMES ARE VERY STRONG AND COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE OLDER PEOPLE WITH BREATHING PROBLEMS TO HAVE A REACTION TO THESE FUMES WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID
535880

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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .