1997 Nissan Sentra GXE from North America - Comments

Timing Belt went twice.

Seat movement failed.

Alternator died.

Numerous electrical faults.

CV Boots gone about 5 times.

This is the worst car I have ever had in my entire life. I should have known it was going to be bad when I noticed the terrible jerk the automatic transmission made from first to second gear - its enough to give you whiplash. From when I got it in 1997, every year this car has had something seriously go wrong with it. The alternator died, the timing chain has gone twice, its needed new winderwiper motors, numerous CV replacements. At the time we got it I told my parents to get me a Honda, but they wouldn't listen, and now of course they regret it. Right now its sitting in my driveway with a broken timing chain, which will take $1000 to fix a car that is worth... well whats a car that doesn't go worth to anyone? I will never ever buy a Nissan again as long as I live.

I agree with you I'm searching now for a engine, something is always wrong with the electric, the brakes go every other month, I hate that car.

At least it's a toilet on wheels. My sentra is a toilet on donuts, given that the tires are always going out of round. I wouldn't be surprised if it's just a design flaw from the car's evilishly high center of gravity which is carried by four lego-thin wheels.

I don't even know what to say to these comments. I have been a mechanic for 5 years and know a lot of people that have been doing it for decades, never in my life have I heard of a timing chain "going".

Out of round tires due to a high center of gravity? I guess SUVs always get out of round tires also, since they are even higher right?

I'm no mechanic, but a Nissan Sentra literally craps on any domestic sub-compact vehicle. Sure, the alternators that Nissan uses are cheap and the starters as well.

"I hate this car because it jerks from first to second gear" - yeah it does have that problem, but it will continue to have that problem for 15 or more years unless you sell it because you're sick of driving it or someone crashes into you.