2000 Nissan Sentra
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine and engine cooling is the leading concern among 171 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 14th highest complaint count among 26 Sentra model years with reports.
Of the 2000 reports, 20 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 11 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Exterior lighting, headlightsMar 13, 2006
CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.
Campaign 06E023000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine coolingDec 10, 2003
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.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRACKET ON THESE VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 15, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Campaign 03V511000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine coolingNov 17, 2003
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.
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 ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS NEW CAMPAIGN. THE REPLACEMENT SENSORS USED IN THAT CAMPAIGN ARE ALSO AFFECTED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
Campaign 03V455000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, ignition, moduleNov 14, 2003
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.
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.
Campaign 03V477000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engine, gasolineNov 16, 2001
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 POWER.
IF THE ENGINE STOPS RUNNING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, IT COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
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 THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Campaign 01V357000 on NHTSA.gov
WheelsAug 29, 2001
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 HOLES. IF ENOUGH CRACKS DEVELOP BETWEEN THE COOLING HOLES, THE WHEEL COULD FAIL AND SEPARATE FROM THE MOUNTING HUB WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
SEPARATION OF THE WHEEL FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE BEING OPERATED COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
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 THEIR VEHICLES IN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION OF THE WHEELS. ANY WHEELS WITH CRACKS WILL BE REPLACED. A SECOND OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN IN EARLY DECEMBER, AT WHICH TIME NISSAN WILL HAVE AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF REPLACEMENT WHEELS, REQUESTING OWNERS TO RETURN TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE WHEELS REPLACED. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Campaign 01V277000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, front, control arm, lower armMay 23, 2001
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.
THE BOLTS COULD FRACTURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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 RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Campaign 01V174000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
171 reports, newest first.
Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, Dec 6, 2001
TEMPERATURE METER WAS ON( H). CONSUMER WENT TO LIFT UP HOOD, AND COOLANT WAS ALL OVER ENGINE. ALSO, VEHICLE PULLED TO RIGHT. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
Suspension, Dec 5, 2001, crash
DU TO THE SUSPENSION ATTACHMENT BOLTS BREAKING ON MY VEHICLE I WAS SUBJECT TO HEARING NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT AREA OF THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO NUMEROUS REPAIR SHOPS AND NO ONE COULD DIAGNOSE PROBLEM EVEN AT A DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT THEY ADVISED ME TO KEEP DRIVING VEHICLE UNTIL IT BREAKS DOWN THEN THEY COULD DIAGNOSE PROBLEM I DID EXACTLY AS ADVISED AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ON 8/24/01 AND IT RESULTED IN CRASH. *AK
Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Nov 30, 2001, crash
ENGINE STARTED RACING WHILE GOING 3MPH. CAR JUMPED CURB AND WENT INTO A CEMENT PILLAR AT A STRIP MALL. AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
Suspension, Nov 14, 2001
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE DUE TO SUSPENSION FAILURE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON VEHICLE WHERE BOLTS USED TO ATTACH SUSPENSION MIGHT COME LOOSE FROM FRAME.*AK
Wheels, Nov 1, 2001
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 01V277000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL R1005/3, AND TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. DEALER URGED CONSUMER TO BRING VEHICLE BACK ON DECEMBER 31,2001 TO CHECK WHEEL. WHEN CALLING DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS, DEALERSHIP INDICATED WOULD NOT SERVICE VEHICLE. *AK
Vehicle speed control, Oct 29, 2001
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN STOPPING, VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATES SURGING HAPPENS WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, THE HARDER THE BRAKES ARE APLLIED, THE MORE THE VEHICLE WILL SURGE, THE RPMS ALSO INCREASE, CONSUMER STATES THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION IS BY RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL. *SLC
Vehicle speed control, Sep 5, 2001
WAS AT A FULL STOP WITH FOOT ON BRAKES WHEN VEHICLE ACCELERATED INTO FULL THROTTLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC FOUND NOTHING ON DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE. VEHICLE WAS ALSO TEST DRIVEN, AND NOTHING WAS FOUND.*AK
Vehicle speed control, May 14, 2001
WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS OR WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE VEHICLE WILL UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 11, 2001
ENGINE IS MAKING A RATTLING SOUND DURING ACCELERATION, STOPS WHEN VEHICLE REACHES 40-45 MPH. TAKEN TO 2 DEALER WHO SAID TO WAIT AND SEE IF IT STOPS DOING IT, SINCE VEHICLE HAS A 5 YEAR WARRANTY.*AK THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITHIN THE ENGINE, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT IT WAS. *YH
Air bags, Mar 21, 2001, crash
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WAS INVOLVED IN A CHAIN REACTION WITH FIVE VEHICLES, ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT HER FROM BEHIND AND SHE WAS FOURTH CAR. DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THERE WERE INJURIES SUSTAINED WITH DRIVER AND PASSENGER. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 22, 2001
BELT EXTENDER ARM ON ENGINE SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS AT DEALERSHIP.*AK
Air bags, Dec 21, 2000, crash
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH COULD NOT SEE DUE TO SNOW. VEHICLE HIT A SNOW BANK, AND DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND DID NOT PROTECT OCCUPANTS IN THIS CRASH. NO PREVIOUS PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Equipment, Oct 19, 2000
AIR COND. LINES FREEZE UP AIR COND. BECOMES UNEFFECTIVE
Equipment, Oct 14, 2000
AIR CONDITIONER BLOWS HOT AIR AFTER AN HOUR OF DRIVING WITH IT ON. *AK *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*734304
Equipment, Oct 14, 2000
AIR CONDITIONER BLOWS HOT AIR AFTER AN HOUR OF DRIVING WITH IT ON.
Power train, Sep 21, 2000
TRANSMISSION LOUD WHINNING FIRST GEAR AND AT 35 TO 45 MPH VIBRATION AND NO PICKUP ALSO PINGS ON ACCELERATION
Seat belts, Jul 17, 2000
WHEN DRIVER'S SEAT BELT NOT USED, THE SEAT BELT INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH STAYS ON STEADY, WHICH IS NORMAL. WHEN I USE THE SEAT BELT, THE INDICATOR LIGHT SOMETIMES GOES OFF (NORMAL) AND SOMETIMES IT BLINKS RAPIDLY ON AND OFF. DOES THAT MEAN THERE IS A PROBLEM AND IS THE SEAT BELT , IN FACT, WORKING PROPERLY? I ASKED NISSAN AND THEY SAID TO BRING THE CAR IN FOR EXAMINATION...I AM CURIOUS IF ANYONE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND IF THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE SAFETY PRODUCT FEATURE (SEAT BELT) WITH THIS VEHICLE.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 19, 2000
CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE FOR 2WEEKS & IT STARTED RUNNING HARD & IDLING HIGH. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN REPAIRS 3 TIMES & IS STILL IN THE SHOP. DEALER KNOW'S IT'S A VALVE PROBLEM, BUT NOT SURE WERE IT'S COMING FROM.*AK
Equipment, May 30, 2000
AFTER APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING, DESPITE ADJUSTING EVERY CONTROL POSSIBLE, THE AIR CONDITIONER CEASED WORKING. WHILE STOPPED FOR LUNCH, GAS REFILL, ETC. AND THE CAR HAD BEEN OFF FOR MORE THAN 5 MINUTES, UPON START UP IT WOULD ATTEMPT TO COOL, BUT THE ATTEMPTS FAILED AND AS A RESULT BLEW OUT ONLY HOT AIR. THIS OCCURED DURING A DRIVING TRIP TO/FROM DALLAS OVER MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, SO IT WAS NOT AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, IT WAS CONSTANT, DESPITE ALL THE CONTROL ADJUSTMENT ATTEMPTS. WHEN TAKING IT TO THE DEALER THE DAY AFTER I RETURNED, I DETAILED THE PROBLEM AND SAID, DON'T CALL ME AND TELL ME IT MUST BE INTERMITTENT BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG BECAUSE YOU WON'T SINCE IT ONLY OCCURED ON THE LONG TRIP. SURPRISE, THAT'S WHAT THEY TOLD ME AND THEY CANNOT RUN A DYE TEST THROUGH THE COMPONENT TO SEE WHAT FAILED UNTIL A NISSAN REPRESENTATIVE REPLICATES THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC TEST DROVE IT FOR 20 MILES AND THE PROBLEM DIDN'T SURFACE, WHICH IT WOULDN'T ACCORDING TO MY EXPERIENCES. NOW, THE DEALER IS SENDING IT HOME WITH AN EMPLOYEE WHO COMMUTES 50 MILES OR SO EACH DAY TO SEE IF IT REPLICATES BEFORE THEY CAN RUN ANY OTHER DIAGNOSTIC (DYE) TEST. THE WRITE UP MANAGER WAS SURE THE MECHANIC HAD CALLED NISSAN AND THEY HAD NOT SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. TOMORROW, MAY 31, I SHOULD HAVE MORE INFORMATION FOR YOU ON THIS PROBLEM IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THE RESULT.*AK
Structure, Other or unspecified, Feb 8, 2000, crash
BACK BUMPER- ON 1/4/00 MY HUSBAND BACKED INTO A CONCRETE POLE. HE WAS NAVIGATING A TIGHT SPACE AND WAS PROCEEDING WITH EXTREME CAUTION. BOTH HE AND HIS COWORKER PASSENGER INDICATE THAT HE WAS GOING AT MOST 3 MPH AS HE KNEW A POST WAS THERE. KNOWING THAT IT WAS A TIGHT SPACE, HE WAS GOING TO USE THE SLOW SPEED AND THE POST TO INDICATE WHEN TO PULL FORWARD IF HE BUMPED IT. WHEN HE BACKED INTO THE POLE, MY HUSBAND PULLED FORWARD, GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO LOOK AT THE BUMPER. HE SAW THAT THE POLE HAD HIT THE BUMPER AT A LOCATION WHERE TWO PIECES MEET. THE BUMPER ON THE LEFT SIDE HAD COLLAPSED, SEPARATING FROM THE VEHICLE, AND THE POLE HAD HIT THE BODY. OBVIOUSLY, THIS DOES NOT MEET THE SAFETY STANDARDS FOR A REAR BUMPER. WE HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN OF CERRITOS, WHICH CLAIMS THAT IT IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MANUFACTURED PRODUCT, THEREFORE, THEY DID NOT FEEL A RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX IT. WE CONTACTED CUSTOMER SERVICE AT NISSAN ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS. THEY FINALLY LEFT A MESSAGE TODAY DENYING OUR CLAIM. MY HUSBAND TOOK THE CAR TO THE NISSAN BODYSHOP FOR AN ESTIMATE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BODY DAMAGE HAD OCCURRED BECAUSE HE HAD "HIT THE WEAK PART IN THE BUMPER." THE X-TERRA HAS AN UNIQUE BUMPER IN THAT THE METAL PART OF THE BUMPER DOES NOT RUN THE LENGTH OF THE REAR AND IS CAPPED WITH PLASTIC "BUMPERS" AT EACH END. FOR THE FRONT GRILL, THE PLASTIC HAS CRACKED ABOVE THE BUMPER FROM NORMAL DRIVING. PLEASE HELP US BECAUSE THE PEOPLE AT NISSAN HAVE NOT LISTENED TO US AND HAVE BEEN SARCASTIC ABOUT OUR CONCERNS. AT ONE POINT, THE OWNER/GENERAL MANAGER ACTUALLY ASKED ME IF I, "HAD BEEN IN FRONT OF THE CAR SINCE YOU BOUGHT IT." WE ARE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT THE REAR BUMPER AS PART OF THE REAR IS ONLY "PROTECTED" BY A PLASTIC FACADE. IF THIS HAD OCCURRED AT A HIGHER SPEED OR THE RESULT OF A REAR END ACCIDENT, SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE AND INJURIES COULD HAVE OCCURRED. *AK
Other or unspecified, Feb 5, 2000
I AM AN OWNER OF THE SUV OF THE YEAR. 2000 NISSAN SENTRA. JUST CURIOUS TO KNOW IF YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED TO FOLLOW UP ON A STORY OF A PROBLEM THAT I HAVE JUST DISCOVERED IN MY VEHICLE. IT SEEMS THAT NISSAN MAY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE PAINT. I HAVE JUST WASHED MY XTERRA AND NOTICED RUST SPOTS ON EVERY MAJOR PANEL OF THAT VEHICLE. IT JUST LOOKS UNBELIEVEBLE. WITHIN THE YEAR THIS WILL BE A RUST BUCKET !!!! NOT EVEN THINK OF THE LOSS OF POTENTIAL RESELL VALUE !!!! NISSAN WILL MOST LIKELY NOT BE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT. JUST A NOTE . THIS SUV WAS MANUFACTURED IN JUNE AND PURCHASED IN JULY OF 1999 !!!! I AM AVAILABLE TO SPEAK WITH YOU IF YOU NEED TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS . I CAN BE REACHED AT 315-637-7674 ANYTIME. THANKS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK