The 1997 Nissan Sentra has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 577,837 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 138 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
VISIBILITY98V0930001998-05-05512,387 affected
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.
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.
STRUCTURE97V1100001997-07-22450 affected
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.
Complaints by component
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
20
16crashes20injuries2deaths
AIR BAGS
11
3crashes3injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
8
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
7
3crashes
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
7
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
5
1crashes
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
5
1crashes2injuries
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
5
1crashes2injuries2deaths
TIRES
4
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
4
Total complaints138
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Have a 1997 nissan sentra 1.6 x e four-door sedan. This morning starting the vehicle I noticed the airbag light stayed on and begin to blank and would not shut off after further inspection I realize that no one had made any contact with my vehicle sitting in my driveway the vehicle is at 227xxx…”
“Have a 1997 nissan sentra 1.6 x e four-door sedan. This morning starting the vehicle I noticed the airbag light stayed on and begin to blank and would not shut off after further inspection I realize that no one had made any contact with my vehicle sitting in my driveway the vehicle is at 227xxx…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 nissan sentra. After the vehicle was started, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 115,000.”
“Braking at a stop sign while in drive, the engine rpm increased by itself. Later while parking the engine rpm increased and stayed at a high rpm by itself while in park. *tr”
“At a stop sign with the car in drive, the engine rpm accelerated by itself. Later while parking, with car in park, the engine accelerated and engine continued to rev. *tr”
“Car stolen from parking lot”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 nissan sentra. The contact stated that while traveling 35 mph, the vehicle stalled without any warnings. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The mechanic stated that the fuel pump and fuel lines needed to be replaced. The failure recurred. The vehicle had…”
“I have a 1997 nissan sentra and on a rainy day my windshield wipers quit working without warning. The wiper transmission motor sounds like its working but nothing happens. It has been suggested it is a faulty wiper arm. I found out about recall 98v093000 and called nissan north america. They…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1997 Nissan Sentra as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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