Table 1 shows three common seats related problems of the 1996 Nissan Sentra.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Front Seat Head Restraint problems | |
| Front Seat Recliner problems | |
| Seats problems |
Insufficient headrest foam coverage. Foam degrades or self moves out of position to reveal internal metal frame which runs across entire headrest at point of head impact. Part does not seem serviceable for repair, and should be replaced by manufacturer with updated version. Check engine light and airbag light are both triggered too easily by too many sensors, so vehicle is constantly in shop with no trouble found. Seems like it was designed by an overly-worried car manufacturer, or for the purposes of making owners feel the car needs to be replaced. It also greatly increases the likely hood of failing an annual inspection. The safety issue stems from all the blinking lights on the dash which are very distractive, especially at night, and usually completely unnecessary. In 1996, there was a recall for insufficient brake light illumination on the Sentra model. Nissan's fix for this was a brighter bulb. Since my car was bought used, and the prior owner did not upgrade to the new bulbs, and there is no listing for the replacement bulbs, owner's may not know how to upgrade their brake lights. Nissan dealers do not seem to know what bulb to replace it with for better illumination. This is an obvious safety issue, as there are many 1996 Nissan Sentras on the road today.
Drivers side seat back broke during a crash from behind. Caused injury to drivers head, neck and back. Left side of drivers head hit divider post between doors, drivers neck was allowed to snap back, and drivers back was allowed to twist when seat back broke and driver was thrown down into rear seat area.
Owner states that she cannot see over the hood while in seat and driving, owner is concerned for safety, she notes that it may be a design flaw.