Nissan Sentra 2000–2006 problems by year and mileage
5th generation (B15)
NHTSA data through 24 September 20261,374 complaints, 898 with mileageMethod
A DO NOT DRIVE recall covers part of this generation — check the VIN before driving it home.
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
The 2000 Nissan Sentra
Close- Median failure report
- 57,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 171
- Recalls naming this year
- 6
Most reported on the 2000
- Engine and its cooling system72 reports · median 62,000 mi
- Electrical system29 reports
- Airbag system16 reports
6 recall campaigns name the 2000: Engine and engine cooling; Electrical system — ignition; Engine and engine cooling — engine. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2001 Nissan Sentra
Close- Median failure report
- 61,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 236
- Recalls naming this year
- 7
Most reported on the 2001
- Engine and its cooling system93 reports · median 54,000 mi
- Electrical system44 reports · median 68,000 mi
- Hydraulic brake circuit22 reports
7 recall campaigns name the 2001: Engine and engine cooling; Electrical system — ignition; Exterior lighting — headlights. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2002 Nissan Sentra
Close- Median failure report
- 71,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 304
- Recalls naming this year
- 10
Most reported on the 2002
- Engine and its cooling system127 reports · median 72,000 mi
- Electrical system54 reports · median 79,000 mi
- Airbag system30 reports
10 recall campaigns name the 2002: Air bags — frontal; Air bags; Engine and engine cooling. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2003 Nissan Sentra
Close- Median failure report
- 69,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 180
- Recalls naming this year
- 7
Most reported on the 2003
- Engine and its cooling system86 reports · median 69,000 mi
- Electrical system35 reports
- Engine24 reports
7 recall campaigns name the 2003: Air bags — frontal; Air bags; Engine and engine cooling. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2004 Nissan Sentra
Close- Median failure report
- 77,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 197
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
Most reported on the 2004
- Engine and its cooling system59 reports · median 69,000 mi
- Airbag system32 reports
- Electrical system28 reports
4 recall campaigns name the 2004: Air bags — frontal; Air bags; Engine and engine cooling. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2005 Nissan Sentra
Close- Median failure report
- 76,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 170
- Recalls naming this year
- 5
Most reported on the 2005
- Engine and its cooling system48 reports · median 70,000 mi
- Engine33 reports
- Airbag system21 reports
5 recall campaigns name the 2005: Air bags — frontal; Air bags; Engine and engine cooling. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2006 Nissan Sentra
Close- Median failure report
- 79,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 116
- Recalls naming this year
- 5
Most reported on the 2006
- Airbag system30 reports
- Engine19 reports
- Engine and its cooling system14 reports
5 recall campaigns name the 2006: Air bags — frontal; Air bags; Engine and engine cooling. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
Each tile shows the median mileage at which that model year’s failures were reported. The 2006 reports latest and the 2000 earliest, but part of that gap is age: the 2000 has had 6 more years on the road to accumulate mileage.
The short answer
“Is the 2000–2006 Nissan Sentra reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 70,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 145,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 898
- Recalls
- 16
Most reported
- Engine and its cooling system36.3% of complaints · median 67,000 mi
- Electrical system15.8% of complaints · median 78,000 mi
- Airbag system11.4% of complaints · median 100,000 mi
Documented problems
- Engine (2.5L QR25DE)2002–2006
- Engine (1.8L QG18DE)2000–2006
- Engine Management2000–2006
Owners filed 1,374 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000–2006 Nissan Sentra; the engine and its cooling system leads with 36.3% of them, and half of the 898 that record an odometer reading came by 70,000 miles. A count like this can’t rate reliability on its own: NHTSA records what owners chose to report, not how many of each car were sold.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 37,000 and 105,000 miles.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2000–2006 Nissan Sentra last?
Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 2000–2006 Nissan Sentra, half of the 898 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 70,000 miles and 90% by 145,000 miles.
80 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 12 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Sentra reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Nissan Sentra 2000–2006 · 898 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 10,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 80 complaints.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 12 complaints (1.3%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 12,000
- 25%
- 37,275
- Median
- 70,000
- 75%
- 105,000
- 90%
- 145,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 77 | 8.6% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 48 | 5.3% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 52 | 5.8% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 58 | 6.5% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 59 | 6.6% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 66 | 7.3% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 80 | 8.9% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 77 | 8.6% |
| 80,000–90,000 | 64 | 7.1% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 55 | 6.1% |
| 100,000–110,000 | 54 | 6.0% |
| 110,000–120,000 | 33 | 3.7% |
| 120,000–130,000 | 39 | 4.3% |
| 130,000–140,000 | 30 | 3.3% |
| 140,000–150,000 | 26 | 2.9% |
| 150,000–160,000 | 18 | 2.0% |
| 160,000–170,000 | 19 | 2.1% |
| 170,000–180,000 | 10 | 1.1% |
| 180,000–190,000 | 15 | 1.7% |
| 190,000–200,000 | 6 | 0.7% |
| 200,000+ | 12 | 1.3% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Common Sentra problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Nissan Sentra 2000–2006
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Transmission and driveline71 reports62,00012,000–106,000Transmission and driveline: 71 reports, median 62,000 miles, middle half 12,000 to 106,000 miles.
- Throttle and speed control70 reports66,00020,000–140,000Throttle and speed control: 70 reports, median 66,000 miles, middle half 20,000 to 140,000 miles.
- Engine and its cooling system499 reports67,00040,000–95,000Engine and its cooling system: 499 reports, median 67,000 miles, middle half 40,000 to 95,000 miles.
- Fuel system76 reports67,00036,000–100,000Fuel system: 76 reports, median 67,000 miles, middle half 36,000 to 100,000 miles.
- Electrical system217 reports78,00037,000–110,000Electrical system: 217 reports, median 78,000 miles, middle half 37,000 to 110,000 miles.
- Airbag system156 reports100,00052,000–150,000Airbag system: 156 reports, median 100,000 miles, middle half 52,000 to 150,000 miles.
- Engine150 reports110,00075,000–140,000Engine: 150 reports, median 110,000 miles, middle half 75,000 to 140,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and its cooling system | 499 | 36.3% | 67,000 | 40,000–95,000 |
| Electrical system | 217 | 15.8% | 78,000 | 37,000–110,000 |
| Airbag system | 156 | 11.4% | 100,000 | 52,000–150,000 |
| Engine | 150 | 10.9% | 110,000 | 75,000–140,000 |
| Fuel system | 76 | 5.5% | 67,000 | 36,000–100,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 71 | 5.2% | 62,000 | 12,000–106,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 70 | 5.1% | 66,000 | 20,000–140,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 60 | 4.4% | 29,000 | 5,000–45,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 52 | 3.8% | 62,000 | 28,000–102,000 |
| Tyres | 45 | 3.3% | 38,000 | 24,000–65,000 |
System by system, in words
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 70,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 36.3% of complaints (499 reports, 363 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 67,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 40,000 and 95,000 miles.
A single system taking 36.3% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The electrical system accounts for 15.8% of complaints (217 reports, 161 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 78,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 37,000 and 110,000 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 11.4% of complaints (156 reports, 64 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 100,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 52,000 and 150,000 miles.
The engine accounts for 10.9% of complaints (150 reports, 129 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 110,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 75,000 and 140,000 miles.
The fuel system accounts for 5.5% of complaints (76 reports, 60 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 67,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 36,000 and 100,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 5.2% of complaints (71 reports, 46 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 62,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 12,000 and 106,000 miles.
Known problems with the 2000–2006 Sentra
Engine (2.5L QR25DE) 2002–2006
Pre-catalyst substrate disintegrates and ceramic debris is drawn back into the cylinders, scoring bores and producing runaway oil consumption and engine failure — the same mechanism as the contemporaneous Altima 2.5.
Engine (1.8L QG18DE) 2000–2006
Catalytic converter and oxygen sensor failures plus excessive oil consumption at higher mileage.
Engine Management 2000–2006
Crankshaft position sensor failures causing stall-while-driving.
Before you buy a 2000–2006 Sentra: the 3-minute check
Generated from 898 mileage-tagged complaints, 16 recall campaigns, 3 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- A DO NOT DRIVE recall covers part of this generation. Run the VIN before you drive it home — the fix is free at an authorized dealer.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 16 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Check engine (2.5L QR25DE) on 2002–2006 cars. Pre-catalyst substrate disintegrates and ceramic debris is drawn back into the cylinders, scoring bores and producing runaway oil consumption and engine failure — the same mechanism as the contemporaneous Altima 2.5.
- Check engine (1.8L QG18DE) on 2000–2006 cars. Catalytic converter and oxygen sensor failures plus excessive oil consumption at higher mileage.
- Check engine management on 2000–2006 cars. Crankshaft position sensor failures causing stall-while-driving.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 37,000 and 105,000 miles, with a median of 70,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the engine and its cooling system and the electrical system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The engine and its cooling system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 67,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Sentra problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer reading, or read the common mileages in the table. Your marker lands on the timing chart above and on the curve below.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi40% below | At 90k mi65% below | At 120k mi81% below | At 150k mi91% below | At 200k mi99% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and its cooling system | 40,000–95,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Electrical system | 37,000–110,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Airbag system | 52,000–150,000 | in window | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
| Engine | 75,000–140,000 | later | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
| Fuel system | 36,000–100,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Transmission and driveline | 12,000–106,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Throttle and speed control | 20,000–140,000 | in window | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Nissan Sentra 2000–2006 · 898 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 40% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 65% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 81% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 91% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 99% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it above
The staircase tops out at 99%: the remaining 1.3% of reports (12) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
2000–2006 Nissan Sentra recalls (16)
NHTSA records 16 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
1 of these carry a severe advisory — NHTSA's do not drive or park outside warnings, which the agency applies only when it considers the risk immediate. If you own one of these vehicles, that is the first thing to check by VIN.
The campaigns cluster around the engine and its cooling system (7), the airbag system (3), the fuel system (1). Several campaigns against one area can mean a remedy that did not hold, or separate defects in parts filed under the same heading; the summaries below name each defect.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Dec 2020 · 2002–2006 · Air Bags do not driveAn inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in…
The defect. 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…
What can happen. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The free fix. Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been completed. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will re-inspect the vehicle and, if necessary, replace the air bag inflator…
Jan 2020 · 2002–2006 · Air BagsAn inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in…
The defect. 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…
What can happen. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators with alternate desiccated inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2020. Owners may contact…
May 2015 · 2002–2006 · Air BagsIn the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could…
The defect. 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…
What can happen. 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…
The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 15, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.…
Nov 2007 · 2002, 2005–2006 · Engine and Engine CoolingIf the interruption in the signal from the crankshaft position sensor is so brief that the electronic control…
The defect. On certain passenger vehicles equipped with a 2.5L engine, the crankshaft position sensor can overheat causing a brief interruption in the signal output from the sensor.
What can happen. If the interruption in the signal from the crankshaft position sensor is so brief that the electronic control module (ecm) logic does not have time to diagnose the condition, the engine may stop…
The free fix. Dealers will reprogram the ecm free of charge. Certain my 2006 altimas which have been previously remedied under recall campaign 06v223 (Nissan r0606) are not included in this recall since the…
Jul 2006 · 2003–2004 · Engine and Engine CoolingIf the interruption in the signal from the sensor is so brief that the electronic control module (ecm) logic…
The defect. 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…
What can happen. 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…
The free fix. Dealers will reprogram the ecm free of charge. The recall began on august 21, 2006. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Jun 2006 · 2006 · Engine and Engine CoolingIf the oil is not maintained at least at the minimum level, engine damage can occur and in extreme cases…
The defect. Certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.5L engines may experience excessive engine oil consumption as a result of improper performance of the piston rings.
What can happen. If the oil is not maintained at least at the minimum level, engine damage can occur and in extreme cases result in an engine fire.
The free fix. Dealers will reprogram the electronic control module (ecm or engine computer). Your vehicle will also be inspected to determine if it has been consuming engine oil at a higher than normal rate. In a…
Jun 2005 · 2005 · Fuel System, GasolineThe vapor canister could become full, and excess fuel could spill out onto the ground.
The defect. On certain passenger vehicles, a vapor hose located in the fuel tank may not have been formed correctly during the manufacturing process. When the vehicle is parked with a full fuel tank, fuel may flow into the vapor hose, which is connected to a vapor…
What can happen. The vapor canister could become full, and excess fuel could spill out onto the ground. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
The free fix. Dealers will check the vapor hose connections in the fuel tank to determine if a poor seal exists. If a poor seal is identified, a new fuel tank will be installed free of charge. The recall began on…
Dec 2003 · 2000–2003 · Engine and Engine CoolingOn certain electric vehicles, the front suspension transverse link's ball joint bracket may break from stress…
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.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the bracket on these vehicles. Owner notification began december 15, 2003. Owners should contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Nov 2003 · 2000–2003 · Engine and Engine CoolingThis could cause the "service engine soon" warning light to come on, create a no start condition, cause…
The defect. 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.
What can happen. 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…
The free fix. Dealers will replace the crank position sensors. Camshaft position sensor(s), and in some cases, the variable timing control sensor(s). Vehicles involved in a previous recall campaign, 01v357, are…
Nov 2003 · 2000–2003 · Electrical SystemIf one of the resistors inside the ecm has a crack on the surface coating, the gas may cause corrosion of the…
The defect. 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.
What can happen. 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…
The free fix. Dealers will remove the inside lining material from the ecm box. Owner notification began on december 22, 2003. Owners should contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Mar 2003 · 2002 · Engine and Engine CoolingEither of these two conditions could result in a fire.
The defect. On certain vehicles equipped with the 2.5 Liter engine, the exhaust pipe hanger pin may catch debris from the road that could be ignited by contact with the main catalyst. Also on 2002 altima and Sentra vehicles, certain engine operating conditions may cause…
What can happen. Either of these two conditions could result in a fire.
The free fix. Dealers will remove the protruding portion of the exhaust pipe hanger pin. In addition to the corrective action, in order to reduce the risk of fire in the event of poor or improper maintenance that…
Feb 2002 · 2002 · Other or unspecifiedIf this occurs unexpectedly, it could lead to a crash.
The defect. On some passenger vehicles equipped with a Nissan-approved accessory floor mat that was installed either at the assembly plant or by the dealer, due to the length of the driver side floor mat, a small amount of mat movement could cause the mat to interfere…
What can happen. If this occurs unexpectedly, it could lead to a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect the driver side floor mat and if it is a Nissan floor mat subject to this recall, the dealer will replace both the driver and passenger side floor mats. Owner notification began…
Dec 2001 · 2001–2002 · Exterior LightingThese caps are installed to prevent misadjustment of the headlamps.
The defect. Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These vehicles were missing tamperproof caps that prevent horizontal…
What can happen. These caps are installed to prevent misadjustment of the headlamps.
The free fix. Dealers will install a tamperproof cap over the horizontal adjustment screw for both headlamps. Owner notification began january 14, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an…
Nov 2001 · 2000–2001 · Engine and Engine CoolingIf the engine stops running while the vehicle is in motion, it could result in a crash.
The defect. Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with a 1.8 Liter engine. The engine could stop running while being driven due to a defective crank position sensor. This could also result in the "service engine soon" warning light coming on or reduced engine…
What can happen. If the engine stops running while the vehicle is in motion, it could result in a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the crank position sensors. Owner notification began december 10, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive…
Aug 2001 · 2000–2001 · WheelsSeparation of the wheel from the vehicle while being operated could result in a vehicle crash.
The defect. Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The cooling holes in the steel wheel may have burrs on their edges as a result of improper manufacturing. These burrs can cause cracks as the vehicle is being driven. Cracks can propagate between adjacent cooling…
What can happen. Separation of the wheel from the vehicle while being operated could result in a vehicle crash.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect for cracks and replace the wheel if cracks are discovered. Owner notification will be conducted in two phases. The first mailing began october 1, 2001, asking owners to bring…
May 2001 · 2000–2001 · SuspensionThe bolts could fracture, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. One or more of the three bolts used to attach each front suspension lower control arm to the body on the left and right sides may not have been properly manufactured.
What can happen. The bolts could fracture, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the lower control arm attachment bolts. Owner notification began june 30, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not…
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 1,374 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 127 (9.2%)
- Fires
- 18
- Injury reports
- 68
- Fatality reports
- 1
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Sentra problems by model year
The 2002 drew the most complaints of this generation, 304, most of them about the engine and its cooling system, and the 2006 the fewest, 116. A typical year drew about 180.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 171 | 69 | 57,000 | Engine and its cooling system (72) | 6 |
| 2001 | 236 | 121 | 61,000 | Engine and its cooling system (93) | 7 |
| 2002 | 304 | 209 | 71,000 | Engine and its cooling system (127) | 10 |
| 2003 | 180 | 137 | 69,000 | Engine and its cooling system (86) | 7 |
| 2004 | 197 | 149 | 77,000 | Engine and its cooling system (59) | 4 |
| 2005 | 170 | 125 | 76,000 | Engine and its cooling system (48) | 5 |
| 2006 | 116 | 88 | 79,000 | Airbag system (30) | 5 |
What Sentra owners reported
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)…
2004 · 70,000 miles · Airbag system
The contact owns a 2000 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated on several occasions while attempting to start the vehicle in the morning, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the engine failed to turn over however, the vehicle was able to be started closer to the afternoon. The check engine warning light…
2000 · 160,000 miles · Engine and its cooling system
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that on numerous occasions while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated then stalled. The contact stated that he was able to restart the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be…
2006 · 193,000 miles · Engine and its cooling system
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that the passenger side air bag warning light would remain illuminated and the b1066 front passenger air bag module due to electrical circuit shortage. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact was informed that…
2006 · 125,000 miles · Airbag system
Built from 898 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-09-26 · open data · how it is built
Other Sentra generations
- Sentra 2007–2012 641 reports with mileage, most about the airbag system
- Sentra 2013–2019 1,396 reports with mileage, most about the transmission and driveline
- Sentra 2020–2025 101 reports with mileage, most about the steering