RoadVitals

2002 Nissan Sentra Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
318
Latest Feb 24, 2026
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
30
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
1
Reports on file since Dec 29, 2001

What this page shows

Our database holds 318 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Nissan Sentra. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 318 · page 1 of 13

Airbags
Filed Feb 24, 2026

The contact called regarding the ownership of the 2002 Nissan Sentra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V008000 (Air Bags); and would like the address to be removed from the vehicle recall distribution list because the vehicle owner does not live at the contact’s address. The manufacturer was contacted.

NHTSA ID
11720117
Incident
Feb 24, 2026
Airbags
Filed Mar 7, 2025

Unknown

NHTSA ID
11647072
Incident
Feb 19, 2025
Engine
Filed Nov 4, 2020

THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM WHEN I RECALL DATA REFRESHED ON NOV 04,2020 1UNREPAIRED RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VIN JAN 09,2020 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBERPM684 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER20V-008 RECALL STATUSRECALL INCOMPLETE SUMMARY TAKATA HAS DETERMINED THAT A DEFECT RELATED TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY MAY ARISE IN SOME OF THE SUBJECT NON-DESICCATED AMMONIUM NITRATE INFLATORS DUE TO PROPELLANT DEGRADATION OCCURRING AFTER PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO HIGH ABSOLUTE HUMIDITY, HIGH TEMPERATURES AND HIGH TEMPERATURE CYCLING THIS CAR.

NHTSA ID
11373048
Incident
Nov 4, 2020
Mileage
102,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 18, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH OR STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SHUTOFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP, THE SPARK PLUGS, THE FUEL FILTER AND THE EXHAUST PIPES. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID
11359850
Incident
Nov 1, 2019
Mileage
120,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 20, 2020

NO LONGER OWN THIS CAR

NHTSA ID
11321630
Incident
Apr 19, 2020
Mileage
100,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 17, 2020

I WAS MADE AWARE RECENTLY( MARCH 2020) THAT THE CAM SENSOR IN MY CAR IS DEFECTIVE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PART IN 2004. AFTER CONTACTING THE NISSAN CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS, THEY INFORM ME THAT THEIR RECORDS SHOW THE RECALL REMEDY WAS SATISFIED IN 2004. I DO NOT REMEMBER BRINGING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP NOR DOES THE DEALERSHIP HAVE ANY RECORD THE RECALL WAS SATISFIED.

NHTSA ID
11318374
Incident
Mar 16, 2020
Mileage
10,900 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 9, 2019

TAKATA RECALL. WENT TO DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE RECALLED AIRBAG. THEY INSPECTED THE AIRBAG INFLATOR, SAID IT DOES NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THEY DID NOT DO ANY REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT WORK ON THE TAKATA AIRBAG DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE RECALL NOTIFICATION STATING THAT THE NISSAN DEALER WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG INFLATOR WITH A NEW ONE. *DT VIN AVAILABLE *JB

NHTSA ID
11166077
Incident
Jan 9, 2019
Airbags
Filed Sep 8, 2018

I WAS NOTIFIED OF AIR BAG RECALL BY NISSAN. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY AGREED TO FIX BUT WANTED ME TO RELEASE THEM OF RESPONSIBILITY IF THEY CRACKED MY DASH BOARD DURING THE REPAIR. I REFUSED TO GIVE PERMISSION TO DAMAGE MY VEHICLE. AS INSTRUCTED BY THE DEALERSHIP I CALLED 1800 NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND REPORTED AND THEY ALSO CONFIRMED THEY COULD REPAIR BUT SAID I WOULD HAVE TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE CAUSED BY/DURING THE REPAIR. MY VEHICLE CURRENTLY IS NOT DAMAGED AND I REFUSE TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE THEY MAY CAUSE.

NHTSA ID
11128238
Incident
Aug 4, 2018
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Feb 28, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V287000 (AIR BAGS) AND 07V527000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO GET THE REMEDY PERFORMED DUE TO THE NEAREST DEALER BEING 600 MILES AWAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE IN NOVEMBER OF 2017 AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD SEND OUT A TECHNICIAN TO PERFORM THE REPAIRS; HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN NO RESPONSE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. *TT *TR

NHTSA ID
11075491
Incident
Nov 1, 2017
Airbags
Filed Nov 9, 2017

TAKATA RECALL......IVE BEEN ADVISED BY A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT NOTICE THAT MY VEHICLE MAY HAVE INFLATORS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO RECALL BUT I HAVENT HEARD ANYTHING FROM THE MANUFACTURER AS TO WHETHER MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE IS AFFECTED OR NOT. I WOULD LIKE TO BE CONTACTED TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT MY VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE CHECKED OR REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID
11044779
Incident
Sep 17, 2017
Airbags
Filed Nov 7, 2017

ON OCTOBER 25, 2017 I RECEIVED A LETTER ABOUT AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAY SAFETY AND MOTOR VEHICLE REGARDING AN URGENT REQUEST FROM NISSAN MANUFACTURER CONCERNING SAFETY ISSUES AFFECTING MY VEHICLE. THERE INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM MY NISSAN 2002 SENTRA THAT IS CURRENTLY REGISTERED UNDER MY NAME. I AM FILING THE COMPLAINT TO VERIFY WHAT WILL BE MY NEXT STEP TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION AND HAVE THIS ISSUE REPAIRED FOR FREE. I AM CONCERN FOR MY SAFETY !

NHTSA ID
11044070
Incident
Oct 25, 2017
Airbags
Filed Nov 7, 2017

ON OCTOBER 25, 2017 I RECEIVED 2 LETTERS REGARDING A VEHICLE RECALL FOR MY NISSAN SENTRA 2002 CONCERNING ISSUES WITH MY AIRBAG THAT IS DEFECTIVE AM REPORTING THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE I WILL LIKE TO KNOW WHAT WILL BE MY NEXT STEP AND HOW CAN I FIX THIS ISSUE THAT CONCERNS ME.

NHTSA ID
11044062
Incident
Oct 25, 2017
Airbags
Filed Oct 27, 2017

TAKATA RECALL CENTRAL HOUSTON NISSAN DEALERSHIP NUMBER (713) 661-9955 X 5355 IS BUSY, DOES NOT CALL ME BACK TO SCHEDULE BAG REPLACEMENT. NISSAN CUSTOMER CARE (KAYLA (615) 725-7543, CASE # 28688503) HAS NOT HELPED AND DOES NOT CALL ME BACK. I CALLED 1-888-327-4236 AND MADE A COMPLAINT, BUT HAVEN'T HEARD BACK.

NHTSA ID
11040362
Incident
Oct 19, 2017
Mileage
60,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 17, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V287000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. CENTRAL HOUSTON NISSAN (2901 S LOOP W, HOUSTON, TX 77054, (713) 277-7566) WAS CONTACTED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT DUE TO THE PARTS NOT BEING AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. *BF CONSUMER STATED LEFT VEHICLE FOR UNSCHEDULED REPAIR 11/17/17 AT CENTRAL HOUSTON NISSAN. UPDATED 7/31/18*JB

NHTSA ID
11034015
Incident
Jul 15, 2015
Electrical
Filed Jul 30, 2017

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY CAR ENGINE SHUT OFF. IT DID THIS TWICE. THE SECOND TIME THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART AS OF 7-29-2017

NHTSA ID
11011513
Incident
Jul 25, 2017
Mileage
123,000 mi
Filed Jul 27, 2017

THE CAR SHUT DOWN SOMETIMES WHEN I STOP IN A RED LIGHT. EVEN SOMETIMES INSIDE THE FREEWAY. WHEN ALMOST STOP. I BELIVE IS A MALFUNTION OF THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE ( ECM )

NHTSA ID
11010948
Incident
Dec 7, 2016
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Jun 9, 2017

CAR HAS BEEN TURNING OFF A FEW TIMES WHEN BRAKE HAD BEEN PUSHING DOWN.(WHEN THE CAR HAD BEEN STOPPING)

NHTSA ID
10994171
Incident
Jun 9, 2017
Mileage
3 mi
Filed May 23, 2017

I'M NOT SURE IF THE ECM REPROGRAM THAT IS OUT FOR MY VEHICLE WILL REMEDY THIS BY THE DEALER REFUSED TO FIX IT BECAUSE I REFUSED TO PAY FOR A RECALL! I WAS TRAVELING LOW SPEED AND DECELERATING TO PULL INTO MY WORK AND THE CAR WENT INTO FAILSAFE MODE AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO CRASH AND GET HURT IT WAS ALSO ON A CITY STREET WHEN I WAS DOWNSHIFTING PROBABLY ABOUT 5-10 MPH THEN I TRIED TO TURN AND THERE WAS NO POWER AND A TRUCK FROM BEHIND WAS FLYING UP ON ME AND BARELY SWERVED OUT OF THE WAY TO NOT HIT ME AND IT WAS A SUPER HUMID HOT DAY WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED! I HAVE NEVER HAD A MAJOR PROBLEM ON MY CAR! IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF LIKE IT WAS ROYALTY! THE OBD11 READS P0605 CODE AND THE DESCRIPTION IS A ROM ERROR IT SAYS, LET ME STATE EVEN THOUGH MY CAR IS A 2002 IT ONLY HAS 28,750 MILES ON IT AND NEAR PERFECT CONDITION! I CAN ERASE THE CODE AND DRIVE IT THEN IT WILL GO INTO FAILSAFE MODE AFTER DRIVING FOR A FEW MINUTES! THE DEALERSHIP TRIED TO TELL ME THE ECU WAS FRIED AND TO BRING IT IN AND EXPECT A MINIMUM CHARGE OF A HOUR FOR THEM TO JUST GET MY CAR IN THERE BUILDING! THAT IS NOT RIGHT! I HAVE 2 RECALLS AND THAT IS ALL I WANT DONE! IF THE ECU WAS TRULY FRIED THEN THE CAR WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO START AT ALL! THE CAR ALSO SAT FOR MANY YEARS BUT WAS WELL PROPERLY STORED AND TAKEN CARE OF WHEN IT SAT!

NHTSA ID
10991193
Incident
May 17, 2017
Mileage
27,885 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Mar 9, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID
10959864
Incident
Mar 8, 2017
Mileage
140,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Dec 14, 2016

CAR TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10935177
Incident
Nov 23, 2016
Mileage
16,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Oct 2, 2016

TAKATA RECALL; AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE AND DRIVING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES; CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SUDDENLY COMES ON PRIOR TO PICKING UP SPEED TO ENTER HIGHWAY; VEHICLE ABRUPTLY LOSES POWER AT A SPEED OF 65 MILES PER HOUR AND STALLS IN TRAFFIC CAUSING A NEAR FATAL TRAFFIC ACCIDENT; AFTER RUNNING THE VIN NUMBER IN NHTSA DATABASE VEHICLE WAS NEVER RECALLED FOR GROSSLY NEGLIGENT ISSUE WITH CRANKSHAFT AND CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSORS. THIS LEADS ME TO THE FACT THAT VEHICLE MANUFACTURER NEVER CONTACTED ORIGINAL OWNER CONCERNING THIS TERRIBLE SAFETY ISSUE. AFTER FINDING OUT ABOUT TWO OUTSTANDING RECALLS THAT WERE NEVER ADDRESSED IN WHICH THE VEHICLE HAS EXHIBITED POTENTIAL CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES BASED UPON THE MANUFACTURERS PRODUCT DEFECT IT WAS UNCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A POTENTIAL FATAL ISSUE WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. I AM EXTREMELY TERRIFIED TO OPERATE THIS VEHICLE AND MY EXPERIENCE ON OCTOBER 1, 2016 OF OPERATING THIS VEHICLE AND IT LOSING POWER ABRUPTLY RISKING MY LIFE AND LIMB HAS CAUSED ME EXTREME DEPRESSION, STRESS, AND MENTAL ANGUISH. IF THESE ISSUES ARE NOT CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY AS A REMEDY AT LAW WITH THE NEAREST NISSAN DEALER INCLUDING TOWING AT MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE, I AND THE TEXAS OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WILL PURSUE A GROSS PRODUCT LIABILITY NEGLIGENCE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST NISSAN BASED UPON MY LEGAL ADVICE AND TEXAS LAW; WHICH CLEARLY STATES THAT IN A PRODUCT LIABILITY DISPUTE THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS IS 15 YEARS FROM SALE UNLESS MANUFACTURER SAYS USEFUL LIFE IS LONGER. TEXAS CIVIL PRACTICE & REMEDIES CODE ANN. 16.012. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION TO THIS SERIOUS SAFETY MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10911021
Incident
Oct 1, 2016
Mileage
183,400 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 18, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V287000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SUPPLY THE PART TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10896944
Incident
Aug 18, 2016
Airbags
Filed May 25, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V287000 (AIR BAGS), BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10870794
Incident
Apr 4, 2016
Engine
Filed Apr 26, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE CODE: P0335 (CRANK SENSOR) ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CRANK SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.

NHTSA ID
10861601
Incident
Apr 18, 2016
Mileage
156,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Feb 6, 2016

MY NISSAN SENTRA DECIDED TO STALL OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION. WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE NISSAN AFTER ABOUT 15 SECONDS. LATER THAT DAY I WAS UNABLE TO START MY CAR. BATTERY WAS JUMPED AND THE CAR WAS RUNNING UNTIL I TURNED MY HEADLIGHTS ON. I HAD TO BE TOWED HOME. I BELIEVE MY CAN SENSOR AND CRANK SENSOR NEED TO BE REPLACED AND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS COMPLAINT BEFORE.

NHTSA ID
10824649
Incident
Feb 6, 2016
Mileage
185,000 mi

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.

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