1998 Nissan Sentra: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 76 complaints
76
Total Complaints
102,000mi
Median Mileage
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Top Issue
21
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

69,000 25th Percentile
102,000 Median Mileage
120,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
12
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
6
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
3
SUSPENSION
3
AIR BAGS
3
TIRES
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2

Severity Assessment

21
Crashes
3
Fires
20
Injuries
2
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"CONSUMER MADE A TURN WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE ENTERED THE SAME LANE AND HIT THE SENTRA ON PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR. DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT, CAUSING PASSENGER TO SUSTAIN INJURIES. *AK"
"CONSUMER MADE A TURN WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE ENTERED THE SAME LANE AND HIT THE SENTRA ON PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR. DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT, CAUSING PASSENGER TO SUSTAIN INJURIES. *AK"
"PROBLEM: VERY ACRID WINDSHILD WASHER VAPORS ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. RECOMMENDED SOLUTIOND MOVE THE NOZZELS TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARMS. THE EXISTING DESIGN PLACES THE NOZZELS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE FRESH AIR INTAKE THUS DRAWING THE ATOMIZED WIPER SOLUTION INTO THE AIRCONDITIONING/D..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28