1997 Nissan Sentra Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) Problems
- Complaints
- 24about this part
- Share
- 22%of 108 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 116,500miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 24 complaints about the visibility of the 1997 Nissan Sentra, 22% of the 108 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 116,500 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10419975, filed 2011-08, 147,000 miles“(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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10073166, filed 2004-05, 160,500 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10275716, filed 2009-07, 122,385 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10096385, filed 2004-10, 94,234 miles“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. While driving in snow/sleet the wiper stopped functioning which caused reduced visibility.”
NHTSA complaint #10101752, filed 2004-12, 112,000 milesRelated recalls
- 98V093000May 5, 1998Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Water can enter and displace the grease in the wiper arm linkage ball joint where the wiper linkage attaches to the…Covers: Nissan Sentra 1995–1998, 200SX 1995–1998
Related service bulletins
- 10232658Feb 27, 2023REMOVING FOREIGN MATERIAL FROM THE WINDOW GLASS This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
- 10232656Feb 27, 2023WINDSHIELD CRACKING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 11% |
| 2025 | 3 | 10% |
| 2021 | 2 | 2% |
| 2020 | 4 | 2% |
| 2019 | 2 | 1% |
| 2017 | 2 | 1% |
| 2016 | 4 | 1% |
| 2015 | 4 | 1% |
| 2014 | 4 | 1% |
| 2013 | 6 | 1% |
| 2012 | 11 | 6% |
| 2011 | 6 | 4% |
| 2010 | 3 | 2% |
| 2008 | 3 | 2% |
| 2007 | 3 | 2% |
| 2006 | 4 | 3% |
| 2005 | 4 | 2% |
| 2004 | 1 | 1% |
| 2003 | 2 | 1% |
| 2002 | 5 | 2% |
| 2001 | 4 | 2% |
| 2000 | 1 | 1% |
| 1999 | 3 | 5% |
| 1998 | 14 | 24% |
| 1997 | 24 | 22% |
| 1996 | 15 | 11% |
| 1995 | 12 | 10% |
| 1994 | 10 | 10% |
| 1992 | 2 | 3% |
| 1991 | 2 | 3% |
| 1989 | 1 | 2% |
Other parts of the 1997 Nissan Sentra
33 complaintsBrakes
15 complaintsElectrical system
10 complaintsVehicle speed control
9 complaintsEngine cooling
6 complaintsTires
5 complaintsSteering
4 complaintsExterior lighting
3 complaintsFuel system
3 complaintsSeat belts
3 complaintsBody and structure
3 complaintsSuspension
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Nissan Sentra
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology