RoadVitals

2003 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.
8
Latest Dec 6, 2017
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.
4%
of 180 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.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

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 2003 Nissan Sentra submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 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

AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Dec 6, 2017
Crash reported

TAKATA RECALL I WAS DRIVING MY NISSAN SENTRA AND I HIT A DEER, MY PASSENGER AIRBAG DID NOT GO OFF.

NHTSA ID
11052779
Incident
Mar 10, 2016
Mileage
165,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Jun 26, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN SENTRA. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND PLACED INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL STRUT TOWER FAILED AND THE TIRE NEARLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEEL HAD EXCESSIVE RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. MA 08/13/15 UPDATED 12/1/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID
10730607
Incident
Jun 25, 2015
Mileage
62,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 7, 2005

I HAVE PURCHASED A NISSAN SENTRA 2003 . I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THE WINDOWS DO NO FIT NICELY INTO THE RUBBER RUNS. IN FACT YOU CAN SEE AND FEEL THE GAPS. I FEEL THAT IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE WHEN I'M DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND PROCEED TO CLOSE MY WINDOWS, THEY WON'T CLOSE PROPERLY AND THE WIND WHISTLES THROUGH THE CAR AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER TO CLOSE THEM. I CALLED STADIUM NISSAN IN CALGARY, ALBERTA CANADA. I SPOKE TO DARREN IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THERE AND WAS ADVISED THAT BECAUSE MY 60,000 KM WARRANTY HAD RUN OUT THAT IT WOULD COST ME APPROX $ 230.00. HE ALSO TOLD ME TO SIT THE CAR IN THE SUN AND THE RUBBER WOULD SOFTEN AND REFORM WITH THE WINDOWS. HE DID ADVISE ME THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN A LOT BUT HE HAS SEEN IT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. HE TOLD ME THAT EVEN FIXING IT WOULDN'T GUARANTEE THAT IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. I TOLD HIM THAT THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THIS IS DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE TO CORRECT IT. I DID NOTICE THAT ON THIS WEBSITE THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN SUBMITTED. THE ITEM NUMBER IS 10008714 AND THE SUMMARY DESCRIPTION SAID " FRONT WINDOW GLASS RUN RUBBER DEFORMED. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR PROMPT HELP IN THIS MATTER. SINCERELY, CAROLINE COCKER. *JB

NHTSA ID
10135717
Incident
Jun 25, 2005
Body & structure
Filed Feb 19, 2005
Crash reported2 injuries reported

MY 2003 NISSAN SENTRA WAS REAR-ENDED BY A DRIVER TRAVELLING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. THE REAR SEAT VIRTUALLY COLLAPSED AND IF THERE WERE ANYONE SITTING THERE THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. MY WIFE AND I WERE SITTING IN THE FRONT SEATS. SHE SPENT A WEEK IN THE HOSPITAL WITH HEAD INJURIES AND I SPENT TWO DAYS. WHY AREN'T CARS TESTED FOR REAR IMPACT, SIMILAR TO OUR ACCIDENT, INSTEAD OF ONLY FRONT AND SIDE IMPACT?*AK

NHTSA ID
10110802
Incident
Feb 14, 2005
Mileage
30,400 mi
Body & structureElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Aug 10, 2004

I BOUGHT MY CAR IN MAY OF 2004. SINCE THEN, THE INTERIOR DASH LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS AND VARIOUS FUSES HAVE BLOWN AT LEAST 3 TIMES EACH. LIGHTS WERE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG THAT THEY COULD FIND, AND THEY HAD REPLACED THE FUSES. THE VERY NEXT DAY, THE SAME FUSES BLEW AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WERE NO "OPEN RECALLS" ON MY CAR. IT IS A 2003 NISSAN SENTRA SE-R. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 29000 MILES. THIS ACTUALLY BLEW MY ENGINE, WHICH DEALERSHIP RELACED. THE FUSE PROBLEM IS STILL PERSISTENT.

NHTSA ID
10086598
Incident
May 17, 2004
Mileage
29,000 mi
Body & structureEngineFuel system+1 more
Filed Jan 4, 2004

I PURCHASED MY 2003 NISSAN SENTRA GXE ON JUNE 10, 2003. SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE 7 WORK ORDERS ON MY VEHICLE AND THAT DOESN'T COUNT EACH TIME I HAD TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SHOW THE PROBLEM AND THEN MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND WINDOW, A DING THEY PUT IN THE HOOD, NOT EVEN CLOSE TO STICKER GAS MILEAGE AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON FOR NO REASON FOUND AND NOW THERE'S A RECALL ON THAT I HAVEN'T BEEN NOTIFIED OF YET. *LA

NHTSA ID
10052321
Incident
Jan 4, 2004
Mileage
3,500 mi
Body & structureBrakesEngine+2 more
Filed Oct 7, 2003

I PURCHASED MY SENTRA IN DEC OF 2002. ONE WEEK AFTER I BOUGHT IT, I HAD TO TAKE IT IN BECAUSE IT CLUNKED WHEN YOU TURNED THE WHEEL. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER AND FRONT SUSPENSION WAS LOOSE. FIXED THE CLUNK. STARTED TO NOTICE THAT 2 QTS OF ENGINE OIL WAS GONE AND THE COOLANT LEVEL KEPT DROPPING EVEN THOUGH I KEPT POURING MORE IN. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER, CLAIMED THERE WAS AIR BUBBLE IN ENGINE AND TO LET IT GO. STILL NOTICING ENGINE OIL SMELL AND COOLANT LEVEL LOW. DEALER CLAIMS NOTHING IS WRONG. PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW LEAKS, HAD RUN CHANNEL REPLACED TWICE. AROUND 7000 MI, I NOTICED THAT THE TRANNY SQUEAKED B/W 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. BEEN TO DEALER 4 TIMES, CLAIM TO TIGHTEN MOUNT BOLTS, BELTS, AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD. STILL SQUEAKING. REAR BUMPER IS NOW FALLING OFF AND GEAR SHIFT IS STARTING TO STICK. HAD REAR BRAKES ADJUSTED AT 7500 MI AND AGAIN AT 11000 MI. BRAKES STILL SEAM SPONGY AND LOSE STOPPING ABILITY. BEEN TO DEALER AROUND 20 TIMES SINCE DECEMBER. *JB

NHTSA ID
10041353
Incident
Oct 6, 2003
Body & structure
Filed Aug 28, 2003

BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR PRODUCE NOISE AS A RESULT OF A VIBRATION. DEALER WAS ABLE TO REPAIR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. BUT, BECAUSE DEALER COULD NOT VERIFY NOISE FROM DRIVERS SIDE DOOR THEY COULD NOT REPAIR IT.

NHTSA ID
10036758
Incident
Mar 30, 2003
Mileage
100 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 .