What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2003 Nissan Sentra

Typical pattern

8.9% of complaints about the 2003 Nissan Sentra came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2003 vehicle — around the middle of the 228 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 6.3 yr in service. The most-reported system is engine cooling (86 complaints), typically at 5.9 yr or about 70,000 miles.

Complaints
237
Median age at failure
6.3 yr
Median mileage
66,956 n=181
Crash / fire / tow
7.6% of reports
Safety recalls
10 1 do not drive

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Engine cooling
86 reports · 70,000 mi
5.9 yr
7%
Electrical system
36 reports · 66,956 mi
6.7 yr
0%
Engine
24 reports · 103,000 mi
11.9 yr
0%
Air bags
16 reports · 125,325 mi
12.1 yr
37.5%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

20V747000 2020-12-01 Do not drive
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2002-2006 Sentra vehicles whose passenger air bags were previously inspected and may have been released without replacing the Takata air bag inflator. In the event of a crash, Takata frontal passenger air bag inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

22E066000 2022-08-09
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain air bag inflator replacement service parts that may have been installed as part of a theft or collision repair. The parts include certain passenger-side air bag inflators designed to fit Infiniti 2002-2003 QX4, 2006-2010 M35 and M45; Nissan 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, and both driver and passenger-side inflators designed to fit 2007-2012 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback vehicles. Please see Nissan's recall report for the specific part numbers. These replacement inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

20V008000 2020-01-09
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2007-2011 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback, 2001-2004 Infiniti I30 and I35, 2002-2003 Inifiniti QX4, 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 and 2006-2010 M35 and M45 vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated, frontal passenger air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

15V287000 2015-05-15
Air bags

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2001-2003 Nissan Maxima, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4 and I35, 2003 FX35 and FX45, and 2001 I30 vehicles. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

09E025000 2009-05-11
Exterior lighting:headlights

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

06E064000 2006-07-17
Exterior lighting

CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

06V242000 2006-07-07
Engine cooling

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5L ENGINE, THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR IS AFFECTED BY TEMPERATURE VARIATIONS. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, THESE VARIATIONS IN TEMPERATURE CAN BE LARGE ENOUGH TO CAUSE A BRIEF INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL OUTPUT FROM THE SENSOR.

IF THE INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL FROM THE SENSOR IS SO BRIEF THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) LOGIC DOES NOT HAVE TIME TO DIAGNOSE THE CONDITION, THE ENGINE MAY STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT A LOW SPEED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

03V511000 2003-12-10
Engine cooling

ON CERTAIN ELECTRIC VEHICLES, THE FRONT SUSPENSION TRANSVERSE LINK'S BALL JOINT BRACKET MAY BREAK FROM STRESS CONCENTRATION AT A NOTCH CREATED BY SURFACE ROUGHNESS AND THE SHAPE OF THE MATERIAL CUT-LINE.

03V455000 2003-11-17
Engine cooling

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR OR CAM POSITION SENSOR MAY HAVE AN IMPROPER SOLDER JOINT DUE TO SOLDER DEFORMATION CAUSED BY HEAT STRESS ACCELERATED BY THE EXISTENCE OF FLUX RESIDUE DURING THE SOLDERING PROCESS.

THIS COULD CAUSE THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON, CREATE A NO START CONDITION, CAUSE REDUCED ENGINE POWER, OR CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

03V477000 2003-11-14
Electrical system:ignition:module

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE QG18DE ENGINE OR QR25DE ENGINES, THE FOAM MATERIAL USED FOR THE INTERIOR LINING OF THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) BOX EMITS SULFUR AS IT CURES.

IF ONE OF THE RESISTORS INSIDE THE ECM HAS A CRACK ON THE SURFACE COATING, THE GAS MAY CAUSE CORROSION OF THE RESISTOR. THIS COULD CAUSE THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT TO COME ON, POOR DRIVABILITY (IDLE INSTABILITY, POOR ACCELERATOR), OR THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

In owners’ own words

Electrical system 192 mi 4 mo in service
JUMPS FORWARD SOMETIMES WITHOUT FOOT ON ACCLERATOR, ESPECIALLY WHEN MAKING TURN FROM STOPPED POSITION. DEALERSHIP CAN NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. FALSE ALLIGNMENT AT TIME OF PURCHASE. DEALERSHIP STATES STEERING COLUMN WAS PUT IN OFF CENTER. THIS PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. CREAK AND POPS IN DASH ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP ON TWO OCCASIONS TO FIX PROBLEMS. NO LUCK YET.
Electrical system mileage not reported 6 mo in service
WHILE DRIVING THE LIGHT, HORN AND HAZARD LIGHTS FAILED. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NLM
Electrical system 29,000 mi 1.7 yr in service
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.
Air bags mileage not reported 5 mo in service crash / fire / tow
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*JB VEHICLE INVOLVED IN COLLISION AND THE AIR BAG EQUIPMENT FAILED TO DEPLOY. *MR

Other Sentra model years

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