Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Nissan Sentra, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Air bags33
- Visibility24
- Service brakes, hydraulic15
- Electrical system10
- Vehicle speed control9
- Engine and engine cooling6
- Tires5
- Steering4
- Exterior lighting3
- Fuel system, gasoline3
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 26 injuries and 2 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 3 1997 Sentra vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 3 people died inside them. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1997 Nissan Sentra failed the safety check 1.16% of the time — 27% less often than the average 1997 passenger car (1.60%). Median odometer at inspection: 106,845 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In New Zealand
265 1997 cars are on the New Zealand register.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 8.1–8.7 L/100 km (about 27–29 mpg US), CO₂ 186–200 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sentra/200SX · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 9.3 | 6.6 | 8.1 |
| Sentra/200SX · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 9.9 | 7.2 | 8.7 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 1997 Nissan Sentra.
| 1998093 12 May 1998 | Visual System WATER COULD ENTER AND DISPLACE THE GREASE IN THE WIPER ARM LINKAGE BALL JOINT WHERE THE WIPER LINKAGE ATTACHES TO THE WIPER MOTOR LINKAGE. THIS COULD RESULT IN … |
| 1998008 20 Jan 1998 | Lights And Instruments THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 108 - LIGHTING. THE STOP LAMP DOES NOT MEET THE PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD. CORRECTION: NEW BRIGHTE… |
| 1997140 14 Aug 1997 | Engine WHEN THE THROTTLE POSITION REMAINS UNCHANGED WHEN DRIVING FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME AT LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURES, MOISTURE MAY CONDENSE IN THE THROTTLE CHAM… |
| 1997041 19 Feb 1997 | Seats And Restraints NOTE: NON-AIRBAG EQUIPPED VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 115 - VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. THE EIGHTH DIGIT OF THE V.I.N. IS A "D" W… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
THESE VEHICLES DO NOT MEET THE ILLUMINATION REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Nissan told its dealers about the 1997 Nissan Sentra: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 632164 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR (TPS) ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE. *TT |
| 631971 | INFORMATION ON NISSAN REVISED TPS ADJUSTMENT PROCDURE. *SLC |
| 631766 | INFORMATION REGARDING ESSENTIAL TOOL: THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR TEST CONNECTOR. *SLC |
| 631760 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES. *SLC |
| 629210 | SEAT BELT LATCH PLATE RETAINING BUTTON MISSING. *TT |
| 609957 | SUBJECT REGARDING A HARD TO START ENGINE DURING HIGH ALTITUDE AND LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURES CONDITION. *TT |
| 6092407 | VOLUNTARY SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR POTENTIAL OF WATER ENTERING WIPER ARM LINKAGE BALL JOINT, RESULTING GRADUAL WEAR INSIDE THE JOINT AND CAUSING THE WIPERS TO STOP WORKING WHILE THEY ARE BEING USED WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *TT |
| 607942 | VEHICLES WITHIN CERTAIN VIN RANGES MAY EXHIBIT A HORN THAT ACTIVATES RANDOMLY. *TT |
| 607626 | CONCERNS WITH THE FRONT SEAT BELT LATCH PLATE STOPPER BUTTON MISSING. *TT |
| 606571 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE AIR CONDITIONING (A/C) HIGH PRESSURE HOSE SERVICE CAMPAIGN. *TT |
| 605769 | INFORMATION REGARDING VEHICLES WITH MIL 'ON'; DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0100 (MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR) STORED IN ECM. *TT |
| 605048 | VEHICLES WITHIN CERTAIN VIN RANGES MAY EXHIBIT A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0300 STORED. *TT |
| 604411 | VEHICLE WITHIN VARIOUS VIN RANGES MAY EXHIBIT MISFIRE OR RUNNING ROUGHLY DUE TO SPARK PLUG WIRE(S). *TT |
| 603937 | A REVISED SERVICE PROCEDURE FOR THE ENGINE FRONT COVER / TIMING CHAIN HAS BEEN ADOPTED FOR THE GA16DE. *YC |
| 602818 | VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT ON WITH DTCS P0120, P0510, P0731, P0732 OR P0733 WITH NO DRIVEABILITY INCIDENTS. *YC |
| 602099 | VEHICLE WITH (MIL) MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON AND (DTC) DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0505 STIRED UB ECM. *YC |
| 601731 | INFORMATION ON MIL 'ON' DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0100 STORED IN ECM. *YC |
| 54271 | VEHICLE EXPERIENCING ODOR FROM THE TAILPIPE. *YC |
| 52172 | SHIFT RELEASE BUTTON REPLACEMENT. *JD |
| 52171 | DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE FOR P0731, P0732 & P0733 (A/T SIGNALS) WITH NO DRIVEABILITY INCIDENTS. *JD |
| 10243708 | DIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT) AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF-CENTER This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin. |
| 10239062 | SILICONE-BASED LUBRICANT OR GREASE CAN DAMAGE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SERVICE INFORMATION Do not apply Silicone-based lubricants or grease to, or around, any interior electrical components. To avoid the risk of death or severe personal injury, do not directly spray Silicone-based lubricant or grease, or inadvertently overspray Silicone-based lubricant or grease onto any interior electrical components. These types of lubricants can be detrimental to the proper operation of electrical components. |
| 10239060 | 12 VOLT BATTERY TESTING FOR IN-SERVICE VEHICLES SERVICE INFORMATION The following Service Information lists NNA procedural recommendations for establishing good connections while performing 12V battery testing. These recommendations are expected to promote uniformity during the connection process, therefore reducing the number of incorrect Test with DCA and Replace results. HINT: If 12 volt batteries are allowed to discharge for a prolonged period of time, battery life may be drastically reduced. This condition may lead to premature battery replacement and customer dissatisfaction. |
| 10235729 | RADIO INTERMITTENTLY REBOOTS DURING AUDIO PLAYBACK VIA BLUETOOTH CONNECTED IPHONE This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin. |
| 10235710 | INTELLIGENT KEY REPLACEMENT OR SWAPPING BETWEEN VEHICLES This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Discard all previous versions of this bulletin. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)