1996 Nissan SENTRA: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10006141 · 2003-01-31 (January 31, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH HAD AN ACCIDENT. WAS HIT ON PASSENGER'S SIDE ,AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED, DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006141 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007044 · 2000-10-14 (October 14, 2000)
GAS FUEL LEAKS OUT OF MY PORT WHEN I AM PARKED FACE UP ON A 15 DEGREE HILL ON A SUNNY DAY. THE SPILLED GAS CREATES A SERIOUS FIRE AND HEALTH HAZARD. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO A LOCAL AUTHORIZED NISSAN DEALER MORE THAN FOUR TIMES TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES. *JB *SCC *****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****734338
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007044 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014838 · 2003-04-10 (April 10, 2003)
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING DURING A RAINSTORM. MR SCC *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014838 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067113 · 2004-04-13 (April 13, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH A TANKER TRUCK CUT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE OFF. TO AVOID A COLLISION CONSUMER PULLED ONTO A SHOULDER. THEN, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT TO ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES. WHEN VEHICLE ROLLED OVER THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT DETACHED FROM THE BASE WITH A CHILD IN IT AND CRASHED THROUGH THE REAR WINDOW. THE CHILD SUSTAINED A BRUISED SPLEEN AND TAIL BONE WHILE CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISES. ANOTHER PASSENGER SUFFERED SEVERE HEAD TRAUMA, AND OTHER SCRAPES AND BRUISES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10067113 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073238 · 2004-05-27 (May 27, 2004)
MY 1996 NISSAN SENTRA HAS A DEFECTIVE ODOMETER. MY UNIT IS BEING REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT CARS WITH FAULTY ODOMETERS ARE BOTH A SAFETY HAZARD AND A CONSUMER FRAUD PROBLEM. *MR
Owner-reported narrative. 47,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10073238 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10104739 · 2004-12-29 (December 29, 2004)
12/28/04...I WAS DRIVING ON 2ND AVE IN TROY, NY, IT BEGAN TO SNOW/RAIN...TURNED ON MY WIPERS AND THAT IS WHEN I HEARD A SNAP NOISE AND THEN MY DRIVERS SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM SEEMED TO BE BROKEN. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC THE VERY NEXT MORNING AND THEY SAID IT WAS BROKEN, THAT A PLASTIC PIECE SNAPPED OFF. IT WAS A DEALERSHIP ITEM, BUT THAT IT IS A NISSAN RECALL ITEM. MY MECHANIC PRINTED OUT THE RECALL INFO AND I WENT TO THE NISSAN DEALER IN LATHAM, NY. I WAS VERY UPSET WHEN THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PART IS A BACK ORDER PART AND WOULD NOT BE I…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10104739 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10117200 · 2005-06-20 (June 20, 2005)
THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR FALLS DOWN . AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER'S VISION IS IMPAIRED. THE DEALER STATES THE PART IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. *AK ON THE SECOND INCIDENT, THE SWIVEL HINGE CLIP BROKE. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 63,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10117200 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10150996 · 2006-02-23 (February 23, 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-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10150996 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V063000 · Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs
Reported: 2000-03-02 (March 2, 2000)
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.
Consequence: IF A BROKEN SPRING COMES OUT OF THE LOWER SEAT, IT COULD CONTACT AND PUNCTURE THE TIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT COIL SPRING.
NHTSA campaign record ↗98V008000 · Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights
Reported: 1998-01-21 (January 21, 1998)
THESE VEHICLES DO NOT MEET THE ILLUMINATION REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence: FOLLOWING VEHICLES MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT IS STOPPING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗98V093000 · Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Linkages
Reported: 1998-05-05 (May 5, 1998)
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.
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN GRADUAL WEAR OVER A PERIOD OF TIME INSIDE THE JOINT THAT COULD LEAD TO THE SEPARATION OF THE WIPER LINKAGE ASSEMBLY FROM THE WIPER MOTOR LINKAGE AT THE BALL JOINT. A LOSS OF WINDSHIELD WIPER FUNCTION CAN RESULT IN THIS SEPARATION OCCURS.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗