RoadVitals

2002 Nissan Sentra Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Sep 6, 2008
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 318 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
8

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Nissan Sentra submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structure
Filed Sep 6, 2008

I OWN A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA AND AT A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE PLASTIC HANDLE ON MY OIL DIPSTICK BROKE OFF AND THE DIPSTICK IS STUCK DOWN IN THE TUBE. THE DEALER WANTS $350 TO REMOVE IT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT IT COULD CAUSE MORE SERIOUS PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10241170
Incident
Jun 1, 2008
Mileage
70,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 31, 2008

THE PLASTIC HANDLE ON THE OIL DIPSTICK IS BROKEN. I HAVE SEARCHED FOR A SOLUTION ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH NISSAN SENTRA. MINE IS A 2002 SENTRA GXE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10240497
Incident
Jul 10, 2007
Body & structure
Filed Feb 9, 2006

THE DRIVER DOOR ON 2002 NISSAN SENTRA GXE WILL NOT OPEN UNLESS I LET DOWN THE WINDOW AND OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. IT MUST BE IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *NM

NHTSA ID
10149862
Incident
Jan 5, 2006
Body & structure
Filed Jan 5, 2005
1 injury reported

THE TRUNK DOOR DID NOT STAY OPEN WHEN IT WAS FULLY OPENED. THE NEW TORSION BAR DID NOT WORK AND WHILE LOADING THE TRUNK, THE LID FELL ON THE PASSENGER'S HEAD. *SC NO WARNINGS IN MANUAL AND NO INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE OPEN POSITION. *TC

NHTSA ID
10109161
Incident
Jan 1, 2005
Body & structure
Filed Mar 28, 2004
6 injuries reported

THE TRUNK LID ON MY 2002 NISSAN SENTRA GXE IS FREE FALLING AND HAS INJURED MANY. THE DEALER STATES THAT MY TRUNK IS WITHIN NORMAL OPERATION FOR MY VEHICLE. I CONSIDER IT TO BE VERY DANGEROUS. IT HAS FALLEN ON THE TOP OF CHILDREN'S HEAD AND SHOULDERS CAUSING MUCH PAIN. I HAVE INVESTIGATED TO DISCOVER THAT ALL THE TRUNK LIDS OF THE 02 SENTRA'S THAT I TESTED ARE FREE FALLING. THE 04 SENTRA'S DO NOT HAVE THIS SAFETY FLAW. I AM VERY WORRIED THAT THIS IS GOING TO SERIOUSLY HURT SOMEONE. SINCE THE PURCHASE OF MY VEHICLE 5 CHILDREN UNLOADING BACKPACKS FROM MY TRUNK HAVE BEEN INJURED BY THE TRUNK LID FALLING ON TOP OF THEIR HEAD. I'M REPORTING THE INCIDENT DATE AS THE PURCHASE DATE BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THEN. THE INJURIES HAVE OCCURRED BETWEEN THEN AND NOW, 3/28/2004. PLEASE NOTE THAT MY TRUNK HAS FALLEN MANY TIMES WITHOUT CAUSING INJURY. I WOULD SAY THE ATTEMPT TO INJURY NUMBER TO BE 300 TIMES. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10064038
Incident
Apr 1, 2002
Body & structure
Filed Jan 6, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE COLLIDED HEAD ON WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELTS WERE WORN AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT THE OVERHEAD COMPARTMENT FLEW OPEN AND SEVERELY INJURED THE CONSUMER, WHO SUSTAINED HEAD LACERATIONS, AND WAS HOSPITALIZED. THE POLICE ARRIVED BUT NO ONE WAS CITED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10053488
Incident
Dec 16, 2003
Mileage
13,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jun 4, 2003

TRUNK FILLS WITH WATER EVERYTIME IT RAINS, THOUGH THERE IS NO VISIBLE LEAK. IN THE WINTER WHEN I REALIZED THIS PROBLEM, I NEEDED TO RETRIEVE MY SPARE TIRE AND IT WAS FROZEN N INCHES OF WATER, MAKING FOR A VERY DIFFICULT REMOVAL (CROW BAR). *NLM

NHTSA ID
10021024
Incident
Jan 12, 2003
Body & structure
Filed Apr 30, 2003

TRUNK FAILED TO OPEN. ASSEMBLY LOOSE AND KEPT FALLING INTO VALET MODE. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN THEY ACTED LIKE I WAS STUPID EVEN THOUGH I TRIED TO EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM TO THEM. ALL THEY DID WAS PUSH IT UP OUT OF VALET MODE AND SEND ME HOME. PROBLEM PERSISTED SO I RETURNED AND TOLD THEM THAT IT MUST BE LOOSE OR FAULTY. IT WAS FIXED THAT TIME AND HAS BEEN OK EVER SINCE.

NHTSA ID
10016734
Incident
Dec 14, 2001
Mileage
291 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 30, 2003

OEM SIDE SKIRTS DO NOT FIT RIGHT WITH CAR. SEEM WARPED. BOW OUT IN VARIOUS SPOTS ALONG THE BODY. COMPARED MY CAR TO OTHERS OF SIMILAR MODEL AND THEY ARE FLUSH WHILE MINE LOOKS AWFUL. DEALER REPLACED SKIRTS ONLY TO HAVE IT LOOK WORSE WITH THE NEW ONES. SUPPOSED TO HAVE ME MEET WITH A REP BUT I WAS SUPPOSED TO WORK AROUND HER SCHEDULE AND NEVER GOT THE CHANCE TO MEET HER. NO SOLUTION EVER FOUND NOR DID IT SEEM THEY CARED TO FIND ONE. THIS TIME IT TOOK A MONTH TO GET THE PARTS IN. TOOK IN MAY 1, 2002 , PARTS REPLACED JUNE 4, 2002

NHTSA ID
10016733
Incident
Jun 4, 2002
Mileage
5,153 mi
Body & structure
Filed Mar 5, 2003

PAINT PROBLEMS... EXCESSIVE PAINT CHIPPING (FRONT BUMPER) AND SURFACE RUST AFTER 1 YEAR OF OWNING CAR! DEALER REFUSES TO REPAINT DAMAGED PANELS. THOUGH OPENLY ADMITS TO NISSAN PAINT PROBLEMS!

NHTSA ID
10008407
Incident
Feb 28, 2003

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .