RoadVitals

2004 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.
197
Latest Dec 17, 2025
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.
20
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.
2
Reports on file since Feb 2, 2004

What this page shows

Our database holds 197 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 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 197 · page 1 of 8

Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 17, 2025

Hard shifting and occasional uncertainty in gear selected.

NHTSA ID
11705583
Incident
Nov 1, 2025
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Oct 28, 2025

The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at an independent mechanic, the vehicle was diagnosed computer system failure, causing the vehicle to fail to start. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V287000 (Air Bags), which was associated with the VIN. The manufacturer had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The dealer informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The dealer notified the manufacturer that the contact had refused to pay for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not repaired and remained with the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

NHTSA ID
11696056
Incident
Sep 28, 2025
Mileage
70,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 15, 2025

I have been getting recall notices for over 2 years on my 2004 Sentra concerning airbag replacement. I called the number on the recall mailing and was told on multiple occasions that the car was dangerous to operate. I am a [XXX] and was assured that the Nissan recall team offered a mobile repair service and that my repair was in the range of mobile repair service technicians and that a repair tech could be sent to my location. I agreed to the time line that they suggested. I just requested the exact time and date of the repair work. Nissan agree to the repair service arrangements and I thought that I would have the service work done at my location. As time passed the Nissan agent called multiple times assuring me that when a repair unit was available that it would be dispatched to my location to preform the required service. After 2 full years of delays and failed attempts, I am suddenly told that no mobile service repairs are possible in my location. When I asked why I was told the mobile service could be preformed at my location I was subjected to the agent speaking abusive and hostile attitude. The issue has not been resolved as of this date. So I do want to file a compliant and also make the company aware of this situation. Thank for the opportunity to present my concerns. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11648465
Incident
Feb 24, 2025
Airbags
Filed Jul 25, 2023

1.) Both driver and passenger airbag replacement replacements. 2.) If I get into a reck then me and my passenger have a chance of death due to the recall on the airbags. 3.) Yes. 4.) No. 5.) Unknown. Every time I schedule to get the recall fixed either the shops don’t have the parts or they don’t have the time to do it.

NHTSA ID
11534247
Incident
Jun 27, 2023
Airbags
Filed Mar 15, 2023

Went into the dealership to talk about the air bag issue, turns out they fixed the check engine light. Next on the paper it says they found there was no airbag and tried to perform recall, and that they could not perform the recall

NHTSA ID
11512070
Incident
Mar 14, 2023
Interior & seats
Filed Sep 2, 2022

THE BACK METAL FRAME THAT CONNECTS TO THE DRIVER FRONT SEAT IS BROKEN. THE SEAT IS NOT STABLE BECAUSE WHEN YOU DRIVE IT IT GOES TO THE BACK BY ITSELF. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IT LIKE THAT. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR LAST JANUARY.

NHTSA ID
11482523
Incident
Aug 1, 2022
Airbags
Filed Jun 29, 2022

No Nissan dealership wants to honor the safety recall on my vehicle due to it being a rebuilt title. I have filed a complaint before in 2020 with NHTSA & the issue has still not been resolved. Unfortunately, this is the only vehicle I own & drive day to day & my life as well as the life of my special needs grandchild is in danger with this recall that no one wants to honor & repair.

NHTSA ID
11471623
Incident
Jun 29, 2022
Engine
Filed Mar 31, 2022

The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH, the engine began to run roughly and the vehicle was shaking. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled off the road safely where the vehicle stalled. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle, but eventually had the vehicle towed to his residence. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched the failure online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 06V242000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

NHTSA ID
11459124
Incident
Mar 21, 2022
Mileage
150,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 2, 2020
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE DRIVER SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A METAL GUARD RAIL. DURING THE CRASH THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE HAD SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000. *DT THE CONSUMER PROVIDED A PHOTO. *TR

NHTSA ID
11315679
Incident
Dec 22, 2019
Mileage
146,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 30, 2018

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V287000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NISSAN OF QUEENS (93-25 ROCKAWAY BLVD, OZONE PARK, NY 11417, 718-835-8300), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED DUE TO THE DIAGNOSTIC FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,419.

NHTSA ID
11091042
Incident
Apr 21, 2018
Mileage
47,419 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 11, 2018
Crash reported1 death reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE THE DRIVER WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT NOT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED UPPER TORSO INJURIES, HEAD TRAUMA, AND PELVIC FRACTURES AND DIED DUE TO THE INJURIES. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V287000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A POLICE IMPOUND LOT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. **BF..*BF..*BF *TR

NHTSA ID
11062268
Incident
Nov 5, 2017
Airbags
Filed Dec 11, 2017
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 206,000.

NHTSA ID
11053958
Incident
Oct 11, 2017
Mileage
206,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 13, 2017

AIRBAG RECALLED

NHTSA ID
11045853
Incident
Nov 13, 2017
Mileage
180,000 mi
Filed Nov 13, 2017

THE CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ID
11045830
Incident
Oct 10, 2016
Airbags
Filed Nov 6, 2017

EVER SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR THE AIRBAG HAS BEEN ON. NOW I COME TO FIND OUT THAT THEY WEREN'T MANUFACTURED PROPERLY. HERE I AM THINKING JJJ M SAVE WITH MY AIRBAG THAT NOTHING WOULD REALLY BAD HAPPENED BECAUSE IM DEPENDING ON IT CONE TO FIND OUT IN BETTER OF NOT HAVING ONE.

NHTSA ID
11043943
Incident
Nov 6, 2017
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Oct 13, 2017

IT'S BEEN FALLING APART EVERY YEAR NO MATTER WHAT I DO TO PROTECT IT

NHTSA ID
11033179
Incident
Oct 10, 2017
Mileage
98,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 29, 2017

I READ NEWS THAT MY CAR MODEL MAY HAVE RECALL OF TAKATA AIRBAG. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN CANADA AND NOW I DRIVE IT IN CALIFORNIA. SO FAR MY CAR VIN NUMBER HAD NOT SHOWN UP IN YOUR VIN CHECKING TOOL. IS IT BECAUSE YOUR TOOL ONLY HAS VUN FOR CARS SOLD IN USA?

NHTSA ID
11011456
Incident
Jul 1, 2017
Brakes
Filed Jul 17, 2017
Crash reported

MY CAR HIT A TRUCK GOING 25-30 MPH. I WAS ON A CITY STREET. MY BREAKS DID NOT STOP ME ON TIME. NEW BREAK PADS WERE JUST REPLACED. THE BREAKS JUST DIDN'T WORK RIGHT. TOOK TOO LONG TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I TESTED MY BREAKS ON MY OTHER CAR TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY DIFFERENCE IN STOPPING AND I WOULD HAVE STOPPED IN MY OTHER CAR ON TIME. BREAKS JUST TOOK TO LONG TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP ON THE NISSAN.

NHTSA ID
11005618
Incident
Jul 27, 2016
Airbags
Filed Jul 17, 2017
Crash reported

WHEN MY CAR HIT A TRUCK GOING 25- 30 MPH THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BUT NOT FULLY. PASSENGER FRONT HIT WINDSHILD. BROOK WINDSHIELD. AIRBAG DID NOT INFLATION FULLY ON DRIVERS SIDE OR PASSENGER SIDE. MY CAR WAS ON A CITY STREET. IN MOTION GOING 25-30 MPH

NHTSA ID
11005617
Incident
Jul 27, 2016
Airbags
Filed Jul 16, 2017

TOOK THIS CAR INTO TWO NISSAN DEALERSHIPS AFTER RECEIVING A LETTER REGARDING THE TAKATA INFLATOR RECALL, WAS DENIED BOTH TIMES AT BOTH LOCATIONS THAT THEY WOULD NOT WORK ON MY VEHICLE DUE TO IT BEING A REBUILT TITLE, WHICH I PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM SOMEONE AS IS. SENT AN EMAIL TO NISSAN'S CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS AND MY CASE WAS NEVER HANDLED. IVE READ OF THE FATALITIES DUE TO THIS PARTICULAR RECALL AND I FEAR FOR ME AND MY FAMILIES SAFETY. PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ID
11005595
Incident
Jun 15, 2016
Airbags
Filed Mar 3, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V287000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10958527
Incident
May 14, 2015
Engine
Filed Sep 16, 2016

IN THE MORNING, CAR TOOK MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO START. IN AFTERNOON, AFTER HAVING SAT FOR AN HOUR, IT WAS AGAIN HARD TO START. DROVE APPROX. 1/2 MILE ACROSS HIGHWAY INTO A PARKING LOT, SLOWED AND CAR STALLED. RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, DROVE APPROX. 1/4 MILE AND CAR STALLED AS I SLOWED AGAIN PRIOR TO ATTEMPTING TO TURN INTO PARKING SPACE. WOULD NOT RESTART UNTIL LEFT SIT FOR APPROX. AN HOUR.

NHTSA ID
10907200
Incident
Sep 16, 2016
Mileage
97,705 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Sep 14, 2016

VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN STARTING & STALLS OUT OR SHUTS DOWN WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR COMING TO A HALT. IF LET TO SIT FOR A WHILE IT WILL RESTART, BUT HAS LEFT ME STRANDED MULTIPLE TIMES. CRANK SENSOR REPLACED AS WELL AS ALL FLUIDS. HAVE HAD IT CHECKED FOR CODES, BUT NOTHING SHOWS UP. CAR WAS RECENTLY PURCHASED IN LATE MAY 2016. VENDOR REPAIRED SEVERAL ITEMS,BUT NOW CAR IS OUT OF VENDOR WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID
10906318
Incident
Sep 11, 2016
Mileage
61,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 13, 2016

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN 2015 THE CAR ENGINE WOULD JUST STOP RUNNING. MY HUSBAND CALLED THE TOWING COMPANY AND ME AFTER HE PULLED OVER AFTER TEN MINUTES OR SO AND THE CAR STARTED AGAIN, WE CANCELLED THE TOW AND HE RETURNED HOME BUT NEAR THE HOME THE CAR STALLED OUT AGAIN. WE MANAGED TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN AND DROVE IT TO A FIRESTONE REPAIR SHOP WHICH CHARGED US 280.89 DOLLARS FOR A CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. NISSAN RECALLED A CRANK ANGLE SENSOR FOR THE 2.5 L BUT WE HAVE THE 1.8 L ENGINE.

NHTSA ID
10905968
Incident
Jun 29, 2015
Mileage
136,466 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Sep 10, 2016

DRIVING & ALL GAUGES IN DASHBOARD TURNED OFF. THE SAME DAY, THE CAR DIDN'T RESPOND NORMALLY WHEN GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED. THE GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE CAR TOOK IN GAS. PARKED CAR, & LATER THAT DAY RESTARTED CAR. CAR AGAIN DIDN'T RESPOND WELL WHEN PRESSING ACCELERATOR. GAUGES STILL NON OPERATIONAL. CAR DIED & BATTERY TESTED BY AAA. BATTERY FOUND TO BE OK, BUT CHARGING SYSTEM WAS ISSUE. TOWED TO TOW YARD & TOLD ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NEW, NOT REBUILT, ALTERNATOR REPLACED BY COUSIN & FUSE (NOT SURE WHICH ONE) WAS FOUND TO BE BLOWN & REPLACED. GAUGES WORKED AFTER FUSE & ALTERNATOR REPLACED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SEVERAL DAYS LATER. CKED CAR ON AUTO ZONES FREE DIAGNOSTIC TOOL & DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE U1001 CAN COMMUNICATION LINE & P0462 SECONDARY CODE GIVEN. CAR DIED AGAIN BOUT WEEK LATER & TOWED TO PEP BOYS. PEP BOYS SAID BATTERY NEEDED REPLACEMENT, SO I HAD AAA TEST IT & AAA SAID ITS THE CHARGING SYSTEM. AAA REPLACED THE BATTERY AFTER MUCH ADO. CAR TAKEN BACK TO PEP BOYS FOR 'ELECTRONIC DIAGNOSIS' & THEY SAID ALTERNATOR! ALTERNATOR TESTED AT SEPARATE BATTERY SHOP & TESTED FINE. LATER FOUND METER FUSE BLOWN. TOOK TO MECHANIC SPECIALIZING IN ELECTRICAL & HE SCANNED PCM & FOUND NO COMMUNICATION ON DATA LINES. HAD BLOWN METER FUSE CAUSING FALSE CODE. MECHANIC CLEARED OUT CODES & TEST DROVE. HE CKD CHARGE 14.2 VOLTS. MECHANIC TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN IF HAPPENS AGAIN. WELL, HAPPENED AGAIN & REPLACED METER FUSE & CK ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN. ELECTRICAL MECHANIC SAID IT'S A SHORT SOMEWHERE & I'D HAVE TO LEAVE CAR FOR MAYBE SEVERAL DAYS. HAD A FRIEND INSPECT UNDER DASHBOARD & CKED UNDER THE GEAR SHIFTER & CKD SPEEDOMETER WIRES & DIDN'T FIND ANY SHORTS. GOOGLED "METER FUSE NISSAN SENTRA" & METER FUSE HAS CREATED A LOT OF PROBLEMS. PROBLEMS LISTED ON FORUMS. I'VE ALREADY SPENT $550, CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY NISSAN $150 DIAGNOSTIC FEE YET.

NHTSA ID
10905168
Incident
Aug 1, 2016
Mileage
198,005 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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