1996 Nissan SENTRA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
67 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
66,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 67 complaints (22.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 7.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 6.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 6.0% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 6.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 15 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Linkages | 6 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
| Tires | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 2 |
| Child Seat | 2 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 15; Air Bags: 6; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Linkages: 6; Electrical System: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Tires: 3; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 2; Child Seat: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 53 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 12 |
| 2000 | 19 |
| 2001 | 11 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
1996: 12; 2000: 19; 2001: 11; 2002: 5; 2003: 2; 2004: 3; 2005: 1; 2006: 6; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2011: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10216475 · 2008-01-30 (January 30, 2008)
INSUFFICIENT HEADREST FOAM COVERAGE. FOAM DEGRADES OR SELF MOVES OUT OF POSITION TO REVEAL INTERNAL METAL FRAME WHICH RUNS ACROSS ENTIRE HEADREST AT POINT OF HEAD IMPACT. PART DOES NOT SEEM SERVICEABLE FOR REPAIR, AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY MANUFACTURER WITH UPDATED VERSION. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND AIRBAG LIGHT ARE BOTH TRIGGERED TOO EASILY BY TOO MANY SENSORS, SO VEHICLE IS CONSTANTLY IN SHOP WITH NO TROUBLE FOUND. SEEMS LIKE IT WAS DESIGNED BY AN OVERLY-WORRIED CAR MANUFACTURER, OR FOR THE PURPOSES OF MAKING OWNERS FEEL THE CAR NEEDS TO BE R…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10216475 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11033749 · 2017-10-12 (October 12, 2017)
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-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11033749 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 719360 · 2000-02-27 (February 27, 2000)
ON AT LEAST THREE OCCASIONS NOW, AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR AND PICKING IT UP ONE WEEK AGO, I COULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF THE PARK GEAR TO DRIVE, WITHOUT TURNING OFF THE CAR AND TURNING IT BACK ON SEVERAL TIMES. THIS HAS OCCURRED IN THE GETTY GAS STATION AFTER GETTING GAS AS WELL AS TRYING TO LEAVE A PARKING SPACE. I HAVE TO CONTINUALLY PRESS THE BUTTON, TURN THE CAR ON AND OFF, AND STEP ON THE REGULAR BRAKE, BEFORE THE BUTTON SUDDENLY WORKS AGAIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 719360 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 731150 · 2000-09-12 (September 12, 2000)
1) WHILE CAR PARKED IN DRIVEWAY PASSENGER. AIRBAG LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING & HASN'T STOPPED 2) AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION/ 3RD GEAR FAILED; 1ST & 2ND SLIPPED BADLY AFTER CAR HAS WARMED UP. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 731150 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10173922 · 2006-11-21 (November 21, 2006)
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-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10173922 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10176196 · 2006-12-14 (December 14, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE WAITING IN THE RIGHT LANE TO MAKE A TURN, THE VEHICLE WAS RAMMED FROM BEHIND. THE DRIVER FROM THE OTHER VEHICLE INDICATED THERE WERE NO TAIL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO NOTICE IF IT WAS MOVING OR NOT AT NIGHT. THE POLICE WAS PRESENT AT THE SCENE, AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS TO ALERT THE CONTACT FOR AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. AFTER NINE YEARS OF THE ACCIDENT, THE CONTACT ENCOUNTERED A NHTSA RECALL # 98V008000 WHICH MATCHED THE ELECTRICAL FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME …
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10176196 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10230974 · 2008-06-13 (June 13, 2008)
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-reported narrative. 196,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10230974 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10276956 · 2009-07-16 (July 16, 2009)
AIR CONDITIONER -- WHEN I HAD AIR CONDITIONER ON THE CAR WOULD STALL. AFTER BRINGING IT TO SEVERAL MECHANICS, I FINALLY CONVINCED ONE THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG AND HE CLEANED THE THROTTLE AND THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING MUCH BETTER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10276956 at NHTSA ↗