1997 Nissan Sentra problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Worth extra scrutiny

The 1997 Nissan Sentra is a recall-heavy year with an otherwise ordinary complaint record: 7 NHTSA recall campaigns apply, yet its 138 owner complaints run below the Sentra median. The recalls matter more than the complaint count here — verify every campaign was completed before buying. Reports tied to this model year include 4 deaths and 43 injuries, per the complaint records themselves.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across airbags (34), visibility & wipers (27), and brakes (16), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect.

138

NHTSA complaints

Recalls

Investigations

Crash-involved

Fires reported

Injuries

Deaths

—

NCAP overall

How does 1997 compare to other Sentra years?

Sentra NHTSA complaints by model year, 1997 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Sentra years to avoid →

What are the most common 1997 Nissan Sentra problems?

Component	Complaints	Share	vs prior year
Airbags	34	25%	▼ down
Visibility & Wipers	27	20%	▲ up
Brakes	16	12%	▲ up
Electrical System	11	8%	— flat
Speed Control	9	7%	— flat
Engine	7	5%	▼ down
Lighting	5	4%	▼ down
Tires & Wheels	5	4%	▼ down
Steering	4	3%	▲ up
Body & Structure	4	3%	— flat
Suspension	3	2%	▼ down
Seat Belts	3	2%	— flat
Fuel System	3	2%	▼ down
Other	3	2%	▼ down
Seats	2	1%	▼ down
Transmission	1	1%	▼ down
Latches & Locks	1	1%	▼ down

Does the 1997 Nissan Sentra have recalls?

7 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

09E025000LightingMay 11, 2009 · 42,540 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

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.

09E012000LightingApril 7, 2009 · 16,270 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

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.

06E049000LightingMay 24, 2006 · 27,176 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

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.

06E026000LightingMarch 23, 2006 · 61,944 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

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.

98V093000Visibility & WipersMay 5, 1998 · 512,387 units

Defect

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.

98V008000LightingJanuary 21, 1998 · 65,000 units

Defect

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.

97V110000Body & StructureJuly 22, 1997 · 450 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, AN OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY PROTECTED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE MISSING PAD IN EACH REAR DOOR.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WERE THE PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER STATES THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AND CONSUMER WAS TRAPPED IN VEHICLE. CONSUMER STATES THE CHEMICAL FROM AIRBAG TOOK ALL OXYGEN OUT OF VEHICLE AND CONSUMER COULD HARDLY BREATH. PLEASE…”
Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · July 23, 2002 · crash

“VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, AND NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED RESULTING IN ACCICENT IN WHICH NEITHER DRIVER NOR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *YH”
Complaint filed with NHTSA · Visibility & Wipers · May 28, 1999 · crash

“BRAKES HAD A GRINDING NOISE. ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN DRIVING 20-25 MPH. APPLIED THE BRAKES AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURRED, AND FRONTAL IMPACT OCCURRED. PROBLEM CANNOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK”
Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · crash

“THE WIRING UNDER THE WINDOW CONTROLS IN THE DRIVER DOOR STARTED TO SMOLDER AND BURST INTO FLAMES WITHIN SECONDS. PART OF THE PLASTIC DOOR PANEL MELTED. IT TOOK TWO WATERING CANS OF WATER TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. NISSAN HAS REFUSED TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY, BUT I SEE ON YOUR WEBSITE THAT A SIMILAR…”
Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · June 18, 2003 · fire

“CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING INSIDE OF PARKING LOT, PUT HER VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND CAR PICKED UP SPEED. THEN, SHE PUT IT IN DRIVE AND VEHICLE SPEEDED UP, AND WENT INTO A BUSINESS CENTER. VEHICLE KNOCKED OVER A MAILBOX, AND CHIPPED THE SIDE OF A CONCRETE BUILDING. THEN, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO TURN VEHICLE…”
Complaint filed with NHTSA · Speed Control · July 15, 2000 · crash

1997 Nissan Sentra — common questions

Is the 1997 Nissan Sentra reliable?

It is close to typical for the Sentra: 138 NHTSA complaints, 7 recalls, and no investigations on file.

What are the most common 1997 Sentra problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are airbags (34 complaints), visibility & wipers (27 complaints), brakes (16 complaints).

Does the 1997 Nissan Sentra have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns affecting the 1997 Nissan Sentra. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Which Nissan Sentra years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Sentra years to avoid are 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2002, 2019, 2017, 2020, 2001, 2018, 2012, 2003, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2005, 1996, 1995, 2006, 1994. The cleanest record among Sentra years belongs to 1983.

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.

How does 1997 compare to other Sentra years?

What are the most common 1997 Nissan Sentra problems?

Does the 1997 Nissan Sentra have recalls?

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

1997 Nissan Sentra — common questions

Is the 1997 Nissan Sentra reliable?

What are the most common 1997 Sentra problems?

Does the 1997 Nissan Sentra have recalls?

Which Nissan Sentra years should you avoid?

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