Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Nissan Sentra owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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!
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.
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.
While driving the vehicle experienced windshield wiper failure, affecting visibility and causing a frontal accident. The driver's and passenger's air bags did not deploy, which did not protect the occupants in this accident. Also the driver and passenger were seatbelted, but the shoulder belt did not lock up, causing the occupant to hit the windshield and sustain injuries. Prior to accident, had problems with the brakes, which had been replaced 4 times, and with the automatic window going off track.et.
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.
A deer stepped in front of vehicle which was traveling 55 MPH. Deer was hit from left front, rolled across road upon impact with deer, neither air bags deployed. Driver suffered a broken two bulging discs one against spine. The seat belt also failed to restrain . The consumer resulting in serious injury.
Vehicle was involved in an accident, and neither driver's side nor passenger's side air bag deployed. Consumer sustained injuries. Windshield wipers failed resulting in accicent in which neither driver nor passenger side air bag deployed. Driver and passenger sustained injuries.
The vehicle air bags deployed during low impact crash, the byproduct from the air bag filled the vehicle causing burning sensation in the consumers nose and throat, the consumer has suffered from cold like symptoms since the accident and is concerned about her health. Nlm
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.
Airbag complaints in other Sentra years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1997 Nissan Sentra?
NHTSA has 33 complaints about the air bags of the 1997 Nissan Sentra, 31% of the model year's 108 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (20 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Nissan Sentra airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 1997 Nissan Sentra, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1997 Nissan Sentra airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 121,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 19 crashes, 0 fires and 23 injuries and 2 deaths to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.