Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1997 Nissan Sentra. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗NISSAN/WINDSHIELD WIPER
- Summary
- 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.
NISSAN/FMVSS 108
- Summary
- 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.
NISSAN/FMVSS 214
- Summary
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (108)
108 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The air bags is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 108 |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 33 | 30.6% |
| Visibility | 24 | 22.2% |
| Service brakes | 15 | 13.9% |
| Electrical system | 10 | 9.3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 9 | 8.3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 6 | 5.6% |
| Tires | 5 | 4.6% |
| Steering | 4 | 3.7% |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 2.8% |
| Fuel system | 3 | 2.8% |
How 1997 compares with other Sentra years
Best and worst Sentra years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 58 | 0 |
| 1994 | 99 | 0 |
| 1995 | 117 | 3 |
| 1996 | 141 | 3 |
| 1997 | 108 | 3 |
| 1998 | 58 | 1 |
| 1999 | 59 | 0 |
| 2000 | 171 | 6 |
| 2001 | 236 | 7 |
| 2002 | 304 | 10 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Looking at a 1997 Sentra for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1997 Nissan Sentra FAQ
How many recalls does the 1997 Nissan Sentra have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 98V093000 (visibility), 98V008000 (lighting), 97V110000 (structure). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1997 Nissan Sentra problems?
Owners filed 108 complaints with NHTSA. Air bags (33), Visibility (24), Service brakes (15) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
How does the 1997 Sentra compare with other years?
Among the 1993–2002 Nissan Sentra model years at least five years old, the 1993 drew the fewest complaints (58) and the 2002 the most (304). The 1997 drew 108. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.