Exterior Lighting:headlights
NHTSA campaign 09E025000 · 2009 · reported 05/11/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
1996 Nissan Sentra Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Air Bags:frontal — runs 4.5× the fleet median for that category across the 1998 model-years tracked on this site.
141Complaints
7Recalls
43Crashes
1Fires
33Injured
0Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Air Bags:frontal (22.7% of complaints) — has no NHTSA recall or open investigation on file.
Air Bags:frontal complaints here are 4.5× the median for that category across the 1998 model-years tracked on this site.
1 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 5 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags:frontal | 32 · 22.7% | No official action | — |
| Air Bags | 18 · 12.8% | No official action | — |
| Power Train:automatic Transmission | 7 · 5% | No official action | — |
| Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:linkages | 6 · 4.3% | Recalled | Recall 98V093000 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 · 3.5% | No official action | — |
| Tires | 4 · 2.8% | No official action | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 141 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 7 campaigns
Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 09E012000 · 2009 · reported 04/07/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 06E049000 · 2006 · reported 05/24/2006
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs
NHTSA campaign 00V063000 · 2000 · reported 03/02/2000
IF A BROKEN SPRING COMES OUT OF THE LOWER SEAT, IT COULD CONTACT AND PUNCTURE THE TIRE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 06E026000 · 2006 · reported 03/23/2006
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:linkages
NHTSA campaign 98V093000 · 1998 · reported 05/05/1998
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. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting:tail Lights
NHTSA campaign 98V008000 · 1998 · reported 01/21/1998
FOLLOWING VEHICLES MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT IS STOPPING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH HAD AN ACCIDENT. WAS HIT ON PASSENGER'S SIDE ,AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED, DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.”NHTSA complaint 10006141 — filed 01/31/2003 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
“ONE IN FEBRUARY 2001, I STARTED UP THE CAR. THE AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. IT WAS 30 DAYS BEFORE I COULD GET IT IN…”NHTSA complaint 743744 — filed 04/09/2001 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
“1) WHILE CAR PARKED IN DRIVEWAY PASSENGER. AIRBAG LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING & HASN'T STOPPED 2) AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION/ 3RD GEAR FAILED; 1ST & 2ND SLIPPED BADLY…”NHTSA complaint 731150 — filed 09/12/2000 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Nissan Sentra?
Air bags:frontal issues are the most-reported category, cited in 32 of 141 NHTSA complaints (22.7%), followed by air bags (18), power train:automatic transmission (7), unspecified/other issues (6). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 1996 Nissan Sentra have?
141 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 43 involved a crash, 1 involved a fire, and 33 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Does the 1996 Nissan Sentra have any recalls?
Yes — 7 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 09E025000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 1996 Nissan Sentra's reported problems?
1 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page is backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.
