1997 Nissan Sentra — Known Issues & Recalls

Your windshield wipers stopped working without warning on a rainy day, even though you can hear the motor running underneath. A faulty wiper arm was suggested as the cause. You discovered recall 98V093000 exists for this issue, but Nissan told you your vehicle's VIN doesn't qualify for the recall. You'll likely need to replace the wiper arm or transmission linkage to restore function.

Your windshield wipers suddenly stopped working with no warning signs beforehand. Nissan confirmed a previous recall (98V093000) related to wiper linkages had been closed on your vehicle. The problem occurred at 90,000 miles. The repair will likely involve inspecting or replacing the wiper motor, linkage assembly, or wiper control switch.

When you turned on your windshield wipers while the car was parked and idling, you heard a loud knocking noise from the dashboard and heard mechanical sounds like the wipers were trying to move, but the wipers themselves didn't actually move. This means your windshield wipers aren't working, leaving you without visibility on rainy days and making the car unsafe to drive. The fix will likely involve inspecting or replacing the windshield wiper motor or the linkage connecting it to the wiper blades.

Your windshield wiper motor has failed twice and needed replacement. When you use the wipers, they stop working unexpectedly, which reduces your visibility while driving. The fix will involve replacing the wiper motor assembly.

Your airbag warning light came on after starting the vehicle. The airbag system may not be functioning properly, which means the airbags might not deploy in a crash. You should have a diagnostic scan performed to identify the specific airbag system fault and determine what repairs are needed.

Your dual airbags deployed when you hit a small bump at low speed while driving. The airbag on the passenger side broke the windshield, and the driver's side airbag hit you in the face, causing bruising around your right eye. This unexpected deployment at such a minor impact suggests the airbag sensor may be overly sensitive or malfunctioning. The fix would likely involve having the airbag control module and sensors inspected and possibly replaced by a technician.

Your wife was in a frontal collision at 35-40 mph in a 1997 Nissan Sentra, and the front airbag failed to deploy. She sustained a whiplash injury as a result of the airbag not working during the crash.

While driving on the freeway at 65 mph, your car began swaying violently side to side, nearly causing you to lose control. The rear suspension control arms have failed and need to be replaced by a mechanic at a cost of over $800. This is a serious safety issue that could cause an accident.

Your front and rear suspension system has failed multiple times, along with problems in your hub and steering components. The dealership refused to help with repairs, so the issues remain unaddressed. This likely involves replacing worn suspension components and steering linkage parts.

Your car wobbles when traveling at highway speeds (65-70 mph), especially when hitting small road obstacles. The dealership replaced all the struts, but the wobbling continued. Nissan later told you they would charge you for further repairs to diagnose and fix the problem.

Your car stalled unexpectedly while driving at 35 mph with no warning signs. A mechanic found that your fuel pump and fuel lines needed replacement, but the stalling happened again after the repair. The problem started around 153,000 miles and continued through 167,000 miles. You may need to have the fuel system inspected again to identify what's causing the persistent stalling issue.

Gasoline is leaking from your fuel filler neck (the opening where you add gas) when your fuel tank is more than three-quarters full. This leak occurs during normal fueling and creates a potential fire hazard. The filler neck or its seal may need to be replaced or repaired to stop the leak.

Your airbag warning light turned on this morning and won't turn off, even though no one touched the vehicle. Your car has over 227,000 miles. Since the airbag system is a critical safety feature, this needs to be diagnosed immediately to make sure your airbags will deploy properly in a crash. A technician will need to scan your vehicle's airbag system computer for error codes and test the system components.

Your car was stolen from a parking lot. This is a theft issue rather than a mechanical problem with the vehicle itself.

While driving at 70 mph on the freeway, you had to brake hard to avoid a multi-car accident ahead. Your brakes locked up, causing your car to skid and slide under the truck in front of you. Neither the driver's nor passenger's airbag deployed during the crash. You're reporting three failures: the brake lockup and the failure of both airbags to deploy.

After hitting a pothole while driving slowly, the spot welds connecting the frame to the inner fender broke apart, creating a one-foot-long seam that split open three inches wide. Your steering column jammed as a result, which could have caused a serious accident. A professional welder charged $1,500 to repair and brace the damage and noted that this is a known weakness in this vehicle model.

Your engine's RPM increased on its own while the car was stopped at a stop sign in Drive. Later, while parking with the car in Park, the engine accelerated again and continued to rev without you touching the gas pedal. This could indicate a problem with the throttle control or idle speed system that may require inspection of the fuel injection and throttle components.

Your engine's RPM increased on its own while you were braking at a stop sign, and later while parking, the engine stayed at a high RPM by itself even though the car was in Park. This suggests your engine may not be returning to its normal idle speed as it should.

While driving at 70 mph, you noticed your car handling differently and found the rear driver's side tire was flat. The dealer determined the valve stem had failed and replaced the tire.

Your check engine light keeps turning on and off depending on outside temperature. The issue is likely a faulty EVAP vent control valve and O-ring that need replacement. While this won't affect how your car drives, your vehicle won't pass emissions inspections and fuel economy will suffer until these parts are replaced. The repair involves replacing the EVAP valve and O-ring, then having the diagnostic trouble code cleared at a dealership.