1998 Nissan Sentra problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

A typical year for this model

The 1998 Nissan Sentra is a recall-heavy year with an otherwise ordinary complaint record: 5 NHTSA recall campaigns apply, yet its 76 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 2 deaths and 20 injuries, per the complaint records themselves.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across airbags (16), visibility & wipers (14), and brakes (9), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect.

NHTSA complaints

Recalls

Investigations

Crash-involved

Fires reported

Injuries

Deaths

—

NCAP overall

How does 1998 compare to other Sentra years?

Sentra NHTSA complaints by model year, 1998 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Sentra years to avoid →

What are the most common 1998 Nissan Sentra problems?

Component	Complaints	Share	vs prior year
Airbags	16	21%	▼ down
Visibility & Wipers	14	18%	▼ down
Brakes	9	12%	▼ down
Speed Control	6	8%	▼ down
Suspension	4	5%	▲ up
Fuel System	4	5%	▲ up
Electrical System	4	5%	▼ down
Engine	4	5%	▼ down
Tires & Wheels	4	5%	— flat
Other	3	4%	— flat
Body & Structure	3	4%	— flat
Seat Belts	2	3%	▼ down
Seats	1	1%	▼ down
Climate Control (A/C & Heat)	1	1%	▼ down
Lighting	1	1%	▼ down

Does the 1998 Nissan Sentra have recalls?

5 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.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

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

“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.…”
Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · October 19, 2003 · crash

“I HAVE A 1998 NISSAN SENTRA AND THE PROBLEMS I HAVE WITH THIS CAR IS MY IGNITION SWITCH. MY KEY GETS STUCK IN MY IGNITION SOMETIMES AND MY CAR DOESN'T WANT TO START AT TIMES. THIS PROBLEM IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE CONSISTENT OVER THE TEN YEARS I'VE HAD IT. I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY ENGINE MULTIPLE…”
Complaint filed with NHTSA · Visibility & Wipers · March 4, 2008

“MASTER CYLINDER WAS NOT PUMPING ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FLUID PROPERLY, CAUSING BRAKES TO FAIL IN AN EMERGENCY STOPPING SITUATION. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK THE CUSTOMER HAD BRAKES FIXED TWICE BUT FAILED AGAIN CAUSING ACCIDENT. AIR BAGS ALSO FAILED TO DEPLOY. *YH”
Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · crash

“WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES UNCONTROLLABLY. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED IN JANUARY OF 1999 (NO INJURY OR PRPERTY DAMAGE OCCURRED). THE INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE SECOND INCIDENT…”
Complaint filed with NHTSA · Speed Control · crash

“1998 NISSAN SENTRA WAS STRUCK BY UNIT 2 STRUCK IN THE REAR AS THE CONSUMER BEGAN HAVING ENGINE TROUBLE AND STARTED SLOWING DOWN. THIS CAUSED SENTRA TO GO OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND OVERTURN IN THE DITCH. BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0414-89)*JB UPDATED 04/22/11 *BF”
Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · October 8, 2010 · crash

1998 Nissan Sentra — common questions

Is the 1998 Nissan Sentra reliable?

Its record is better than the model's norm: 76 NHTSA complaints, below the typical Sentra year, with 5 recalls and no open investigations.

What are the most common 1998 Sentra problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are airbags (16 complaints), visibility & wipers (14 complaints), brakes (9 complaints).

Does the 1998 Nissan Sentra have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns affecting the 1998 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 1998 compare to other Sentra years?

What are the most common 1998 Nissan Sentra problems?

Does the 1998 Nissan Sentra have recalls?

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

1998 Nissan Sentra — common questions

Is the 1998 Nissan Sentra reliable?

What are the most common 1998 Sentra problems?

Does the 1998 Nissan Sentra have recalls?

Which Nissan Sentra years should you avoid?

Related