2002 Nissan Sentra problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine And Engine Cooling (55) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine (34) · Air Bags (24)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Nissan Sentra model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
209 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2022-08-09 · campaign 22E066000 · 375 vehicles
Defect: 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
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the inflators as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 14, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2020-12-01 · campaign 20V747000 · 3,930 vehicles ⚠ DO NOT DRIVE
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 air bag inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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, free of charge. The recall began January 22, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PM964.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2020-01-09 · campaign 20V008000 · 307,962 vehicles
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 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. T
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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 Nissan customer service at 888-737-9511 or Infiniti customer service at 888-810-3715.
Air Bags 2015-05-15 · campaign 15V287000 · 1,090,569 vehicles
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 bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Risk: 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.
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. Note: On December 18, 2015 Nissan informed NHTSA of an amendment of this recall to remove 2004-2005 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 vehicles.
Service bulletins (73)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2026-04-13 · NTB09-131C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certification label and vin plate replacement service information because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “certification label” or “vin plate/label” may be needed. hint: certification label = fmvss (federal motor vehicle safety standards) label. these items may be availabl
Structure:body 2026-04-13 · NTB09-131C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certification label and vin plate replacement service information because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “certification label” or “vin plate/label” may be needed. hint: certification label = fmvss (federal motor vehicle safety standards) label. these items may be availabl
Electrical System 2024-05-21 · NTB13-107G · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
vehicle key not detected / authenticated, engine will not start this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Visibility/Wiper 2024-04-30 · NTB17-019H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
window glass warranty information this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Visibility/Wiper 2024-04-30 · NTB13-028I · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
removing foreign material from the window glass this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Visibility/Wiper 2024-04-30 · NTB09-081K · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
windshield cracking this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Showing the 6 most recent of 73 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-02-24 · Air Bags“the contact called regarding the ownership of the 2002 nissan sentra. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v008000 (air bags); and would like the address to be removed from the vehicle recall distribution list because the vehicle owner does not live at the contact’s address. the manufacturer was contacted. …”
2020-11-04 · Unknown Or Other · 102,000 mi“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 su…”
2020-09-18 · Engine · 120,000 mi“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 con…”
2020-03-17 · Engine · 10,900 mi“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 t…”
2019-01-09 · Air Bags“takata recall. went to dealership to replace the recalled airbag. they inspected the airbag inflator, said it does not need to be replaced. they did not do any repair or replacement work on the takata airbag despite the fact that the recall notification stating that the nissan dealer will replace the air bag inflator with a new one. *dt vin availa…”
2018-09-08 · Air Bags“i was notified of air bag recall by nissan. i took my vehicle to the local dealership and they agreed to fix but wanted me to release them of responsibility if they cracked my dash board during the repair. i refused to give permission to damage my vehicle. as instructed by the dealership i called 1800 nissan consumer affairs and reported and the…”
2018-02-28 · Electrical System“tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan sentra. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign numbers: 15v287000 (air bags) and 07v527000 (electrical system); however, the contact was unable to get the remedy performed due to the nearest dealer being 600 miles away. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for …”
2017-11-09 · Air Bags“takata recall......ive been advised by a class action lawsuit settlement notice that my vehicle may have inflators that are subject to recall but i havent heard anything from the manufacturer as to whether my specific vehicle is affected or not. i would like to be contacted to know whether or not my vehicle needs to be checked or repaired.…”
2017-11-07 · Air Bags“on october 25, 2017 i received a letter about airbag safety recall from the department of highway safety and motor vehicle regarding an urgent request from nissan manufacturer concerning safety issues affecting my vehicle. there information received from my nissan 2002 sentra that is currently registered under my name. i am filing the complaint to …”
2017-11-07 · Air Bags“on october 25, 2017 i received 2 letters regarding a vehicle recall for my nissan sentra 2002 concerning issues with my airbag that is defective am reporting this problem because i will like to know what will be my next step and how can i fix this issue that concerns me.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.