1996 Nissan Sentra: problems, recalls and reliability
7 recalls and 141 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (37% of complaints); the 1998 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall May 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 141 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“"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.”Owner report · Steering · May 2018
“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”Owner report · Electrical System · Sep 2017
“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.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2016
Show 7 more owner reports
“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”Owner report · Tires · Dec 2010
“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.”Owner report · Wheels · Jun 2008
“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”Owner report · Electrical System · Nov 2006
“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”Owner report · Visibility · Nov 2006
“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”Owner report · Visibility · Nov 2006
“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”Owner report · Equipment · Oct 2006
“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.”Owner report · Visibility · Sep 2005
When filing, owners marked a crash in 43 of these complaints and injuries in 33 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 7 campaigns
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. WATER CAN ENTER AND DISPLACE THE GREASE IN THE WIPER ARM LINKAGE BALL JOINT WHERE THE WIPER LINKAGE ATTACHES TO THE WIPER MOTOR LINKAGE.
Remedy: TO PREVENT GREASE FROM BEING WASHED OUT OF THE JOINT, THE DEALERS WILL MODIFY BY ADDING A WATER DIVERSION SEAL THAT WILL PREVENT WATER FROM ENTERING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE BALL JOINT AREA.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS MAY NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT CORROSION RESISTANCE IN AREAS OF THE COUNTRY WHERE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF DE-ICING SALTS ARE APPLIED TO ROADS IN THE WINTER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT COIL SPRING.
THESE VEHICLES DO NOT MEET THE ILLUMINATION REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH TWO NEW LIGHT BULBS FOR THE STOP/TAIL LAMPS WHICH ARE BRIGHTER THAN THE ORIGINAL BULBS. A LABEL WITH THE NEW BULB NUMBER WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED FOR INSERTION INTO THE OWNER'S MANUAL. IF AN OWNER SO DESIRES, A DEALERS CAN INSTALL THE LIGHT BULBS FOR THEM.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 1996 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Sentra by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Nissan Sentra reliable?
NHTSA has 141 owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns on record for the 1996 Nissan Sentra. The most complained-about area is air bags (37% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1996 Nissan Sentra problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 66,500 miles or less.
Does the 1996 Nissan Sentra have open recalls?
7 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning exterior lighting:headlights. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.