1998 Nissan SENTRA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
42 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
102,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 18 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 42 complaints (21.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 7 | 16.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 4.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.4% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.4% |
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 | 9 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Linkages | 5 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 4 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 |
| Suspension | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 9; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Linkages: 5; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 4; Air Bags: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Suspension: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 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 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 3
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 24 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 8 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
2000: 8; 2001: 6; 2002: 5; 2003: 3; 2004: 8; 2005: 2; 2006: 3; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2010: 1; 2019: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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 10002333 · 2003-01-08 (January 8, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES FRONT COIL SPRING FAILED CAUSING LOST OF STEERING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS *DT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002333 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003496 · 2003-01-27 (January 27, 2003)
MY CAR LOST POWER,I HAD TO DRIVE MAYBE (6) SIX MILES TO THE DEALER.WENT I GOT THERE I GOT OUT AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FORM TRUNK.I OPEN TRUNK AND SAW THAT THE CARPET WAS SMOKING AND HAD MELTED.THERE WAS A BURNT SPOT WHERE THE CARPET WAS.MY POINT IS THAT I HAD THREE QUARTER TANK OF GAS IN MY CAR.I COULD HAVE BEEN BLOWN-UP IN THAT CAR IF I HAD TO GO MUCH FARTHER.IT REALLY BURNT THAT CARPET GOOD.THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS THAT IT WAS THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND THE CONVERTER,WHICH COMES TOGETHER AND COST $901.87 TO REPAIR.I BOUGHT T…
Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003496 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043450 · 2003-10-23 (October 23, 2003)
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BACK ROAD AND MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WENT OFF THE ROAD INTO THE SAND, CAUSING THE TIE-ROD TO BREAK. THE CAR SHOT TO THE LEFT AND I HIT A BRIM OF SAND AND ROCKS CAUSING THE CAR TO ROLL SEVERAL TIMES OVER. I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH AND THE FRONTAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10043450 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051449 · 2004-01-16 (January 16, 2004)
SINCE PURCHASE, BRAKES HAVE REQUIRED REPEATED REPLACEMENT STARTING AT 4,759 MILES 2 1/2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. 1998-PRESENT IS THE PERIOD OVER WHICH THIS MATTER CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM. DATE BELOW IS NOT SPECIFIC AS RANGE CANNOT BE INPUT. THE CONSUMER NOTED THAT NISSAN HAS TAKEN EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO COLLECT PAYMENTS FOR SERVICES, THAT HAS NOT CORRECTED THE FAULTY BRAKE PROBLEM. *CB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10051449 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052665 · 2004-01-08 (January 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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 86,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052665 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053084 · 2004-01-13 (January 13, 2004)
DRIVING APPROX 30-40MPH AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR WHICH MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY CAR WAS TOTALLED. REPORTED TO NISSAN AND NOTHING WAS DONE REGARDING IT.
Owner-reported narrative. 69,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053084 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10071850 · 2004-06-04 (June 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
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10071850 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079357 · 2004-08-16 (August 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
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10079357 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
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 ↗