RoadVitals

2002 Nissan Sentra Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
157
Latest Nov 4, 2020
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.
49%
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.
6
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. 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. 157 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 engine

The 25 most recent of 157, in the owner's own words

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
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
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
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
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
Engine
Filed Dec 7, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS LOW SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS IDENTICAL TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID
10808852
Incident
Oct 14, 2015
Mileage
60,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 30, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY LOOSE POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.

NHTSA ID
10778645
Incident
Sep 1, 2015
Mileage
149,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 24, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION AND STALLED. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AND CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL. THE OIL WAS APPROXIMATELY TWO QUARTS LOW. AFTER TWENTY MINUTES, THE VEHICLE STARTED AGAIN AND THE FAILURE RECURRED THE CONTACT HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE PRE-CATALYST WAS DAMAGED AND CLOGGED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) A FEW YEARS BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

NHTSA ID
10743386
Incident
Jun 15, 2015
Mileage
124,000 mi
BrakesEngine
Filed May 28, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 7/21/15*CN UPDATED 10/17/2017*CN

NHTSA ID
10721870
Incident
Jan 15, 2014
Engine
Filed Feb 19, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE FLUCTUATED FROM HOT TO COLD AND THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID
10684288
Incident
Sep 11, 2012
Mileage
90,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 9, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE 02 SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIRS WERE MADE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,955. UPDATED 3/18/15*CN UPDATED 9/8/2017*CN

NHTSA ID
10663165
Incident
Oct 11, 2011
Mileage
62,955 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Dec 5, 2014

I CURRENTLY OWN A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA SE-R SPEC V AND IT IS OLD BUT HAS BEEN TAKEN GOOD CARE OF AND IT ONLY HAS 110,000 MILES ON IT. VEHICLE PROBLEMS SMOKE BLACK REALLY BAD, USES UP TO 5 QUARTS BETWEEN OIL CHANGES, IDLES ROUGH, RUNS ROUGH. IT HAS HAD A COUPLE RECALLS I CHECKED UP ON LIKE THE PRE CAT HEADER IT HAD BEEN REPLACED IN 03. I REPLACED COIL PACKS, SPARK PLUGS, MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, CAM SENSOR, AND CRANK SENSOR. ALL THIS VIRTUALLY DID NOTHING AND WITH VEHICLE OIL CONSUMPTION AND FUEL USAGE THE ENGINE IS SHOT AND WILL BE IN NEED OF REBUILD OR REPLACEMENT. I HAVE READ MANY REVIEWS OF OTHERS WITH THE SAME CAR AND HAVE HAD THE SAME AND WORSE PROBLEMS, AND IT JUST MAKES NO SENSE HOW NISSAN CAN SCREW UP THAT BAD AND SCREW THAT MANY PEOPLE OUT OF MONEY BECAUSE OF MANUFACTURING DEFECTS. I ALSO CALLED NISSAN AND TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM AND THEY BASICALLY SAID TO BAD NOTHING WE CAN DO YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN. I STILL OWN THE CAR AND FEEL LIKE AS MANY OF THESE CAR OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUES IT IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING NISSAN DID WRONG AND SHOULD COMPENSATE ME AND OTHERS WITH THIS DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10662473
Incident
Jan 13, 2013
Mileage
110,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 13, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,686.

NHTSA ID
10654868
Incident
Feb 22, 2013
Mileage
184,686 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 8, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000.

NHTSA ID
10643278
Incident
Sep 30, 2014
Mileage
121,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Sep 15, 2014

WHILE DRIVING UP A STEADY GRADE THE 'SERVICE ENGINE SOON', BATTERY, AND OIL LIGHTS ALL CAME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY. A FEW SECONDS LATER, OR POSSIBLY AT THE SAME TIME, THE ENGINE STALLED AND ALL FORWARD POWER WAS LOST WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING (EXCEPT FOR THE WARNING LIGHTS A COUPLE OF SECONDS EARLIER). I STEERED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD USING THE EXISTING MOMENTUM. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE HAD BEEN NORMAL UP UNTIL THE INCIDENT BUT SHOWED AN OVERHEATED ENGINE AFTER TURNING OFF THE CAR AND TURNING ELECTRICITY BACK ON (THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AT THIS TIME). *TR

NHTSA ID
10633412
Incident
Sep 14, 2014
Mileage
146,500 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 18, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR FLOW SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

NHTSA ID
10614557
Incident
May 2, 2005
Engine
Filed Apr 10, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V527000(ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID
10578972
Incident
Apr 9, 2014
Mileage
120,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 12, 2014
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS SMOKING AND OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER, WHO ADVISED THAT THE PRE-CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,500. *TR

NHTSA ID
10568862
Incident
Mar 1, 2014
Mileage
119,500 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 12, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMING OIL EXCESSIVELY AND HE COULD HE HEAR A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD ALLOWED DEBRIS TO ENTER THE PISTONS AND AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 121,000. *TR

NHTSA ID
10568846
Incident
Dec 18, 2013
Mileage
118,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 7, 2014

NISSAN DENIES VEHICLE IS PART OF AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH OIL ISSUES THAT EFFECT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD A THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED AT 14,000 MILES, AND MULTIPLE RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED. NHTSA HAS THIS CASE ALREADY ON RECORD FOR THE CONTINUE PROBLEMS WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. DEFECTIVE ENGINE BUILD, NISSAN ATTEMPTS TO DEFLECT THE ISSUE TO THE DEALERS AND THEN BACK AGAIN. NISSAN CASE # [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10563458
Incident
Feb 7, 2014
Mileage
128,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 25, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 165,112.

NHTSA ID
10545286
Incident
Jul 2, 2009
Mileage
80,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 9, 2013

ENGINE STOPS RUNNING SUDDENLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON, AND WITH NO WARNING. THIS MAY HAPPEN WITHIN SECONDS OF STARTING THE ENGINE, AFTER A FEW MINUTES, AND SOMETIMES EVEN AS MUCH AS AN HOUR AFTER STARTUP. THE ENGINE RUNS SMOOTHLY WHEN IT RUNS, AND THERE IS NO WARNING WHEN IT STOPS RUNNING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS NOT ILLUMINATED (EXCEPT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING STARTUP), AND MY LOCAL SERVICE STATION CANNOT ISOLATE A PROBLEM THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS BEHAVIOR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10542621
Incident
Sep 5, 2013
Mileage
105,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 5, 2013

CAR STALLED AFTER COMING UP TO STOP SIGN. THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES. I HEARD IT COULD BE A CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILURE. ARE THERE ANY RECALLS ON THIS PARTICULAR PART? JULY 1ST 2013, MY BLOWER KNOB DID NOT TURN ON UNTIL I REACHED POSITION #4--THE REST DO NOT WORK, SO I CANNOT CONTROL HEATING, COOLING OR DEFROSTING. ANY RECALLS ON A BLOWER HEAT RESISTOR FAILURE? SEPTEMBER 2010, INTERMITTENT SPEED CONTROL ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN--ONGOING PROBLEM. JULY 3RD 2013, HEAT SHIELD BROKE IN TWO. ARE ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS ON A RECALL LIST? IF SO, WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE, SO I CAN GET THEM FIXED? ARE THERE ANY OTHER RECALLS, SUCH AS AIRBAGS, ETC.? *TR

NHTSA ID
10523270
Incident
Jun 8, 2010
Mileage
120,000 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.

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 .