1997 NISSAN SENTRA Recalls, Complaints & Safety

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 MILES BUT I WOULD NEVER EXPECT FOR A SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM TO EXPIRE OR MALFUNCTION I REALLY HOPE THAT NISSAN TAKES THIS INTO CONSIDERATION.

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.

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

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

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 NOT BEEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 167,000. UPDATED 01/05/13*LJ UPDATED 02/06/13

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 INFORMED ME THERE IS NO OPEN RECALL ON THE ISSUE AND THAT MY VIN NUMBER DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. *KB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING ON THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILING. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V093000 (VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER: LINKAGES) FOR THE VEHICLE WAS CLOSED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL FAILURES WITH THE FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION, THE HUB AND THE STEERING. THE SALES DEALER WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 178,568.

VEHICLE ENGINE WAS IDLING CAR WAS IN PARK. TURNED ON WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH I HEARD A LOUD KNOCK IN THE DASH CONSOLE AND COULD HEAR A MECHANISM SOUND AS IF WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE MOVING BUT THE WIPERS THEMSELVES DID NOT MOVE SO THE RESULT OF THIS IS NO VISIBILITY WITHOUT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKING ON RAINY DAYS. UNABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 1997 NISSAN SENTRA XE HIT A SMALL BUMP GOING AT A LOW SPEED AND MY DUAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BUSTING MY WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND ON THE DRIVERS SIDE IT HIT ME IN THE FACE WHILE I WAS DRIVING CAUSING BRUISING AROUND MY RIGHT EYE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING DIFFERENTLY. WHEN HE EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT. THE TIRE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS THE VALVE STEM. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 73,943.

WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE FREEWAY DOING ABOUT 70 MPH WHEN THERE WAS A WRECK ON THE HWY, TO AVOID FURTHER COLLISIONS UP TO 5 CARS IN FRONT OF ME LOCKED UP THEIR BRAKES, THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME LOCKED UP HIS BRAKES, & I LOCKED UP MY BRAKES, & MY FRONT END WENT DOWN, MY BRAKES LOCKED UP, MY CAR SLID UNDER THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME, & NEITHER AIR-BAG DEPLOYED! MY FRONT END BUCKLED UP I COUNT 3 FAILURES, THE BRAKES BEING 1ST, 2ND, & 3RD BEING AIR BAGS. (DRIVERS, & PASSENGER. THERE HAS NOT YET BEEN ANY ACTION TO CORRECT THE FAILURE, THIS IS THE FIRST THING MY WIFE HAS DONE. I DID HAVE A PASSENGER IN MY CAR, & BEING AS I REAR-ENDED THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME I AM HAVING TO PAY FOR DAMAGES. MINOR COMPARED TO THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR. NO DEATHS BUT BOTH WERE PRETTY BANGED UP!*JB

Crash 2 injured

WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE FREEWAY DOING ABOUT 70 MPH WHEN THERE WAS A WRECK ON THE HWY, TO AVOID FURTHER COLLISIONS UP TO 5 CARS IN FRONT OF ME LOCKED UP THEIR BRAKES, THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME LOCKED UP HIS BRAKES, & I LOCKED UP MY BRAKES, & MY FRONT END WENT DOWN, MY BRAKES LOCKED UP, MY CAR SLID UNDER THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME, & NEITHER AIR-BAG DEPLOYED! MY FRONT END BUCKLED UP I COUNT 3 FAILURES, THE BRAKES BEING 1ST, 2ND, & 3RD BEING AIR BAGS. (DRIVERS, & PASSENGER. THERE HAS NOT YET BEEN ANY ACTION TO CORRECT THE FAILURE, THIS IS THE FIRST THING MY WIFE HAS DONE. I DID HAVE A PASSENGER IN MY CAR, & BEING AS I REAR-ENDED THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME I AM HAVING TO PAY FOR DAMAGES. MINOR COMPARED TO THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR. NO DEATHS BUT BOTH WERE PRETTY BANGED UP!*JB

Crash 2 injured

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING A 1997 NISSAN SENTRA. AND SHE HAD A FRONTAL ACCIDENT GOING ABOUT 35/40 MPH AND THE FRONT AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR IS NOW TOTALED AND SHE HAS A WHIPLASH BECAUSE OF THE DEFECT. *JB

Crash 1 injured

DT: THE VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. WHEN THE WIPERS WERE IN USE THEY WOULD STOP CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *NM

NHTSA RECALL 98V093000. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE WIPER MOTOR RECALL DUE TO VIN ALTHOUGH IT EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT WERE MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. *AK WHILE DRIVING IN SNOW/SLEET THE WIPER STOPPED FUNCTIONING WHICH CAUSED REDUCED VISIBILITY. *NM

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO ENGAGE. HUSBAND DIAGNOSED WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM, POWER TO WIPER MOTOR WAS OKAY, CONTINUED TO TROUBLESHOOT, FOUND WIPER ARM CONTROL SEPERATED FROM WIPER MOTOR. SEEMS LIKE THE SAME ISSUE THE RECALL 98V093000 PERTAINED TO. HUSBAND LUBRICATED BALL JOINT, AND SQUEEZED SOCKET TO BALL BACK TOGETHER. NO PROBLEMS SINCE REPAIR.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IT VIBRATED SEVERELY. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK *SC

I OWN A 1997 NISSAN SENTRA THE MAIN SEAL AROUND THE HEAD GASKET LEAKS CAUSING OIL TO LEAK. PREVIOUS TO THIS I OWNED A NISSAN ALTIMA I THINK THE YEAR WAS 1993 THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO MY AIR BAG LIGHT CONSTANTLY BLINKS EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT

FAILURE AT 40,000 MILES ON 80,000 MILE GOODYEAR AQUATREAD REPLACEMENT TIRES NOT ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT 1NORMAL DRIVING. MONTHS BEFORE HIT SPEED BUMP AT 20 MPH. ANOTHER TIME VEHICLE WAS OVERLOADED BY 200 LBS FOR 7 MILES. 2 STESS CRACKS ON SIDE WALL OF ONE OF THE AQUATREAD TIRES, SLOW LOSS OF AIR PREASURE IN TIRE. 3 REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AT RECOMENDATION OF MANAGER AT GOODYEAR TIRE HE EXPLAINED HE HAD NEVER SEEN STRESS CRACKS ON THE SIDE WALL OF A PASSENGER VEHICLE TIRE IN HIS 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE.HE HAD ONLY SEEN THEM ON TRUCK TIRES . HE THOUGHT IT MAY BE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND SENT THE TIRES TO GOODYEAR FOR XRAY ANALYSIS. HE ALSO SAID ITS POSSIBLE THAT A SPEED BUMP OR OVERLOADING COULD CAUSE THIS PROBLEM. *AK

THERE'S A GAP ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BUMPER WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE GAP PROGRESSED AND BECAME WIDER. THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES AND IN SOME CASES THE BUMPER SEPARATED AND FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. *AK *NM *TC UPDATED 04/19/06

(1) IT WAS A LIGHT RAIN. THE WIPER IS IN THE LOWEST SETTING. BOTH WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. I CAN HEAR THE WIPER MOTOR RUNNING BUT THE WIPERS DOESN'T OPERATE. (2) AS IT WAS NO RAINING HARD, I WAS STILL ABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE SAFELY HOME. I FOUND THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES FOR 1997 NISSAN SENTRA. (3) CONTACTED NISSAN ABOUT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I HAVE NEVER RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE BUT I AM TOLD THE RECALL DOESN'T APPLIED TO MY VIN NUMBER. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP REPAIR SHOP. THEY REPLACED THE WIPER TRANSMISSION WHICH CONSISTS OF THE PIVOT-ASSY-WIPE(R), AND 2 LINK ASSY-CONNE(CTOR). THE OLD PARTS ARE UNAVAILABLE.

THIS COMPLAINT IS REGARD TO THE VOLUNTARY RECALL ON THE '97 NISSAN SENTRA'S WIPER SEAL. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEN THE 1-800 NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL DIDN'T APPLY TO MY VEHICLE DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT FALLS WITHIN THE RANGE OF NUMBERS GIVEN ON NISSAN'S OWN WEBSITE (CLIPPED FROM WEB PAGE - [XXX]TO [XXX] (SENTRA) WITH A VIN#[XXX]. I PURCHASED THIS AS A USED VEHICLE AND SO IT IS NOT UNREASONABLE TO EXPECT THAT THE WIPERS COULD HAVE FAILED THROUGH NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE A BETTER EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE RECALL DOESN'T APPLY WHEN BY ALL INDICATIONS ON NISSAN'S OWN WEB SITE IT APPEARS TO APPLY. *JB UPDATED 07/26/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

1997 NISSAN SENTRA HAS HAD (4) FOUR RUN-AWAY CRUISE CONTROL INCIDENTS. CRUISE REFUSES TO DISENGAGE WHILE ACCELERATING SPEED TO 90-100+MPH. ONCE THE GOVERNNOR SHUT THE CAR DOWN, EACH OTHER TIME THE TEENAGE DRIVER HAS MANAGED TO STOP THE CAR BY EITHER, SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL, SHUTTING THE CAR OFF OR USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND REGULAR BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME. EACH TIME THE INCIDENT HAS REQUIRED A DIFFERENT METHOD TO STOP THE CAR. FORTUNATELY THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY INJURIES OR ACCIDENTS. HOWVER, NISSAN SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM YET REFUSE TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE LIFE THREATENING INCIDENTS. THE HEAD MECHANIC AT NISSAN IN LEBANON TOLD MY 18 YEAR OLD TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE CAR AND IF IT DID IT AGAIN TO BRING IT BACK IN !!! *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ON THE DRIVER SIDE QUIT WORKING. RECALL 98V093000 WAS ISSUED, BUT THIS VEHICLE WA SNOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

MY STARTER IN MY 1997 NISSAN SENTRA IS ALWAYS MESSING UP!! I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE IT FOUR TIMES WITHIN ONE YEAR. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY, SO I EVEN REPLACED THAT. BUT AT THE END, IT IS ALWAYS THE STARTER THAT FAILS. I PUT THE KEY IN, TURN IT TO START, AND THE CAR JUST HISSES. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. I AM SEVERLY CONVINCED THAT THERE IS SOMEWORT OF STARTER/ELECTRICAL DEFECT THAT NO ONE (NISSAN AUTHORITIES) HAVE REPORTED. EVEN MY MECHANIC THINKS IT'S ODD THAT HE HAS HAD TO REPLACE IT 4 TIMES. I PUT 20 FAILURES BECAUSE IT BEEN AROUND 20 TIMES WHEN IT WOULD NOT START, THEN IT WOULD, ID GET IT TOWED, AND GET A NEW STARTER EVENTUALLY. *LA

MY NISSAN SENTRA RECENTLY NEEDED TO HAVE BOTH WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGES REPLACED DUE TO THE PROBLEM WITH WATER ENTERING AND RUSTING OUT THE BEARINGS. I NEW OF THE SAFETY RECALL BUT ALL THE DEALER DID WAS ADD A RIDICULOUS 10 CENT STRIP OF FOAM TO THE PANEL ABOVE THE FALLEN APART BEARINGS. BOTH ME AND MY STEPFATHER ARGUED WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND NISSAN MOTORS BUT THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE THE BEARINGS FREE OF CHARGE. MY STEPFATHER ENDED UP BUYING AND REPLACING THEM HIMSELF BUT IN THE MEANTIME I GOT A $50.00 TICKET BECAUSE DURING THIS DELAY MY INSPECTION STICKER RAN OUT AND I COULDN'T GET A NEW ONE UNTIL THE WIPERS WERE FIXED. *LA

UPPER RADIATOR HOSE LEAKS AT EITHER CONNECTION. TRIED INSTALLING NEW RADIATOR HOSE AND BRAND NEW, HIGH QUALITY HOSE CLAMPS, BUT PROBLEM PERSISTED. COOLANT THEN DRIPS DOWN DIRECTLY INTO THE ALTERNATOR SHORTING THE ALTERNATOR OUT. SOLUTION: MAKE A COVER FOR ALTERNATOR OUT OF SHEET METAL, AND BOLT IT TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD COVER. IF WATER DRIPS FROM THE ABOVE RADIATOR HOSE, THE COVER WILL PROTECT THE ALTERNATOR BY DIRECTING THE RUNOFF ELSEWHERE. *LA

POWER WINDOWS OCCASIONALLY FREEZE IN THE DOWN POSITION ON 97 SENTRA GXE MODELS. POWER DOOR LOCK ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR DOES NOT UNLOCK MOST OF THE TIME. *LA

UPPER RADIATOR HOSE LEAKS AT EITHER POINT OF CONNECTION. COOLANT DRIPS DOWN DIRECTLY INTO ALTERNATOR SHORTING THE ALTERNATOR OUT. TRIED REPLACING OLD HOSE AND HOSE CLAMPS WITH A NEW HOSE AND NEW, HIGH QUALITY HOSE CLAMPS, BUT PROBLEM PERSISTED. SOLUTION: MADE OWN COVER TO PROTECT ALTERNATOR FROM COOLANT DRIPPING FROM LEAKY UPPER RADIATOR HOSE OUT OF SHEET METAL. BOLTED SHEET METAL COVER TO EXHAUST MANIFOLD. NOW IF THE UPPER RADIATOR HOSE LEAKS, THE COOLANT DRIPS ON SHEET METAL COVER AND RUNOFF GOES ELSEWHERE SAFELY. HAVEN'T HAD A PROBLEM SINCE. *LA

MY FATHER WAS INVLOVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN MY CAR A 97 NISSAN SENTRA ON SEPTEMBER 18,2003 HE WAS GOING ABOUT 10 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BUT NOT AS THEY SHOULD THEY EXPLODED THERE ARE HOLES IN THEM WITH BURNT EDGES. MY SONS NOSE AND CHEEK WERE BURNT THANK GOODNESS HE'S OK EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT HE WON'T GET IN A CAR ANYMORE. I'M WRITING TO ASK IF THIS IS A DEFECT WITH MY AIR BAGS. I TRIED CALLING NISSAN DIRECTLY BUT ALWAYS GOT DISCONNECTED. I GUESS THEY ARE JUST TIRED OF HEARING EVERYONE COMPLAINTS. I JUST NEED TO KNOW WHAT I CAN DO IF ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE I'M AN UNEMPLOYED STUDENT AND NEED A VEHICLE BUT NOW I CAN'T AFFORD ONE SO PLEASE TELL ME IF THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT I NEED TO BRING TO NISSAN'S ATTENTION.

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WHILE DRIVING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL . *AK

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 WAS FILED TODAY. IT MIGHT BE WORTHWHILE TO CHECK INTO THIS. *NLM

Fire

AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AFTER A VERY HARD STOP AND COLLISION WITH A BIKE A MONTH LATER AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED TO BLINK NON STOP

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CONTINUAL BRAKE FAILURE, DOOR LOCK MALFUNCTION, DEFOGGER, VISIBILITY WINDSHIELD WIPERS, ENGINE RELATED ISSUES, TIRES, GAS TANK. *NLM

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HER WINDSHIELD WIPERS. ALSO STATED THAT SHE IS AWARE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL OUT BUT HER VIN # WAS NOT INCLUDED AND SHE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THE RECALL INDICATES. TS

CONSUMER STATES STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AFTER RECALL HAS BEEN PERFORM ON VEHICLE RECALL#98V093000 WINDSHIELD WIPER. TS

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 PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

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