1997 Nissan Sentra: problems, recalls and reliability
7 recalls and 108 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (27% of complaints); the 1998 and 1999 model years look 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 108 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Have a 1997 nissan sentra 1.6 x e four-door sedan. This morning starting the vehicle I noticed the airbag light stayed on and begin to blank and would not shut off after further inspection I realize that no one had made any contact with my vehicle sitting in my driveway the vehicle is at 227xxx miles but I would never expect for a safety restraint system to expire or malfunction I really hope that nissan takes this into consideration.”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Nov 2017
“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 nissan sentra. After the vehicle was started, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 115,000.”Owner report · Air Bags · Apr 2014
“At a stop sign with the car in drive, the engine rpm accelerated by itself. Later while parking, with car in park, the engine accelerated and engine continued to rev. *tr”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Mar 2014
Show 7 more owner reports
“Braking at a stop sign while in drive, the engine rpm increased by itself. Later while parking the engine rpm increased and stayed at a high rpm by itself while in park. *tr”Owner report · Engine · Mar 2014
“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 nissan sentra. The contact stated that while traveling 35 mph, the vehicle stalled without any warnings. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The mechanic stated that the fuel pump and fuel lines needed to be replaced. The failure recurred. The vehicle had not been to the dealer. The failure mileage was 153,000 and the current mileage was 167,000. Updated 01/05/13*lj updated 02/06/13”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Sep 2012
“I have a 1997 nissan sentra and on a rainy day my windshield wipers quit working without warning. The wiper transmission motor sounds like its working but nothing happens. It has been suggested it is a faulty wiper arm. I found out about recall 98v093000 and called nissan north america. They informed me there is no open recall on the issue and that my VIN number did not qualify for the recall. *kb”Owner report · Visibility · Jul 2011
“Tl*the contact owns a 1997 nissan sentra. The contact stated the windshield wipers stopped working on the vehicle. There was no warning prior to the windshield wipers failing. The manufacturer confirmed that NHTSA recall campaign id number: 98v093000 (visibility: windshield wiper/washer: linkages) for the vehicle was closed. The contact was concerned about the safety issue. The failure mileage was 90,000.”Owner report · Visibility · May 2011
“Tl*the contact owns a 1997 nissan sentra. The contact stated that he experienced several failures with the front and rear suspension, the hub and the steering. The sales dealer would not assist with repairs. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000 and the current mileage was 178,568.”Owner report · Suspension · Oct 2009
“I was driving my 1997 nissan sentra xe hit a small bump going at a low speed and my dual air bags deployed busting my windshield on the passenger side and on the drivers side it hit me in the face while I was driving causing bruising around my right eye. *tr”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2009
“Vehicle engine was idling car was in park. Turned on windshield wiper switch I heard a loud knock in the dash console and could hear a mechanism sound as if windshield wipers were moving but the wipers themselves did not move so the result of this is no visibility without windshield wipers working on rainy days. Unable to drive vehicle. *tr”Owner report · Visibility · Apr 2009
When filing, owners marked a crash in 26 of these complaints and injuries in 26 - 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. ONE OF THREE STYROFOAM PADS LOCATED IN EACH REAR DOOR AS PART OF THE DESIGN FOR ENSURING COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS NO. 214, "SIDE DOOR STRENGTH," WAS NOT INSTALLED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE MISSING PAD IN EACH REAR DOOR.
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 1997 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 1997 Nissan Sentra reliable?
NHTSA has 108 owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns on record for the 1997 Nissan Sentra. The most complained-about area is air bags (27% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1997 Nissan Sentra problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 105,000 miles or less.
Does the 1997 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.