2003 Nissan Sentra
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine and engine cooling is the leading concern among 180 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 13th highest complaint count among 26 Sentra model years with reports.
Of the 2003 reports, 13 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 8 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator moduleAug 9, 2022
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 long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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.
Campaign 22E066000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleDo not drive until repairedDec 1, 2020
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.
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.
Campaign 20V747000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleJan 9, 2020
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 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.
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.
Campaign 20V008000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bagsMay 15, 2015
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.
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.
Campaign 15V287000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, headlightsMay 11, 2009
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.
DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
Campaign 09E025000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lightingJul 17, 2006
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.
TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.
Campaign 06E064000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine coolingJul 7, 2006
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.
DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ECM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 21, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Campaign 06V242000 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
Representative owner complaints: fuel system
11 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Mar 24, 2010
THE ENGINE STOPS RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fuel system, Other, Equipment, Mar 18, 2009
MY CAR STARTED TO HAVE A VERY LONG CRANKING PERIOD WHEN STARTING THE BACK IN 6/2007, TOOK THE CAR TO DEALERSHIP THEY NOTHING WAS WRONG. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP THREE TIME BETWEEN 6/2007 AND 10/2007 AND EVERYTIME THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. IN 11/2007 I TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP, THEY REPLACED IT UNDER WARRANTY. A YEAR LATER IN 11/2008 THE STARTED HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND ONCE AGAIN THEY FIXED THE ISSUE, NOW IN 3/2009 THE CAR IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN. WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS YOU WOULD THINK NISSAN WOULD DO SOMETHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS GETTING VERY OLD BECAUSE NOW THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Mar 4, 2009
THERE APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM RELATED TO THE FUEL PUMP. CAUSING LONG CRANK TIME AND CODE P0300 CYLINDER MISFIRES. THIS CAUSE DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION. A BULLETIN WAS RELEASED #NTB05-052A. *TR
Fuel system, Other, Electrical system, Feb 19, 2009
I HAVE A 2003 NISSAN SENTRA GXE 1.8 L. MY CAR HAS CUT OFF OR WILL NOT STOP PROPERLY SINCE THE INCIDENT DATE. I TOOK THE CAR TO AUTOZONE AND THE ERROR THAT CAME UP WHERE P0462 AND P0335. I CHECKED THE WITH THE HAYNES BOOK AND TO CORRECT THE P0462 PROBLEM I HAVE TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP AND P0335 IS THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. I HAVE NOTICED THAT MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS OF THE WEBSITE ARE THE FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS I AM HAVING. I ALSO CALLED NISSAN CONSUMER HOTLINE WAS TOLD MY VIN DOES NOT FALL WITHIN THE RECALL AND I HAVE SAME SIZE ENGINE FOR THE RECALL. I FEEL BECAUSE MY SENTRA IS CHEAPEST MODEL OF THE SENTRA'S THAT IS REASON IT IS NOT APART OF THE RECALL. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Oct 2, 2006
CAR BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH, HAD TROUBLE STARTING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. DIDN'T DRIVE MUCH AFTER PROBLEM. TOOK TO DEALER (LEITZINGER IMPORTS) WHERE I ATTEND COLLEGE, PENN STATE UNIVERSITY. PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AS P0462 - FUEL/SENSOR CIRCUIT, AS PER TSB. ENGINE CONTROL UNIT NEEDS REPROGRAMMED WHICH WAS DONE. MY FATHER PICKED UP AFTER FIXED & SERVICE PERSONNEL MENTIONED IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. NISSAN NORTH AMERICA WAS CONTACTED & MY FATHER SPOKE WITH A HELPFUL REP SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR WORK. FILE NUMBER WITH NISSAN IS 5463960. NO KNOWN RECALLS, REIMBURSEMENT DENIED BUT MIGHT HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT IF WE OWNED MORE NISSANS. WAS MENTIONED TO REP THAT NO PARTS WERE REPLACED WHICH INDICATES IT WAS A COMPUTER/PROGRAM MALFUNCTION & NOT FAULT OF OWNER. *NM
Fuel system, Gasoline, Feb 25, 2006
THIS IS A 2003 NISSAN SENTRA GXE, LESS THAN 2 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY AND UNDER 300 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. THE FIRST SERVICE DATE AFTER THE END OF WARRANTY, THE DEALER RECOMMENDED A NEW FUEL PUMP FOR THE NON-STARTING PROBLEM. THE DATES BELOW SHOW THIS PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL LINE WAS WELL-DOCUMENTED LONG BEFORE THE WARRANTY WENT OUT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER 6 TIMES IN THE PAST 18 MONTHS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. 06/11/04-- CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, DEALER REPLACED SPARK PLUGS 08/09/04-- CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, DEALER REPLACED COIL ASSY-- IGNITION 06/25/05-- CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, NO ACTION BY DEALER-- BUT DEALER SAID NEXT TIME THE LIGHT CAME ON, A NEW FUEL PUMP WOULD BE REQUIRED. THIS HAPPENED OUT OF TOWN, SO I ONLY WENT TO THIS DEALER ONCE. 07/26/05-- CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, NO ACTION BY DEALER BECAUSE PREVIOUS DEALER DID NOT RECORD HIS DIAGNOSIS IN FILE. 08/19/05-- CAR TURNING OVER BUT NOT STARTING. AAA CHECKED BATTERY AND SAID THE BATTERY WAS FINE. TOWED CAR TO DEALER. DEALER SAID CAR WAS FLOODED, CLEANED OUT SPARK PLUG TUBES, BUT DID NOT FIX CAUSE OF THE NON-STARTING. 10/21/05-- CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, NO ACTION BY DEALER 12/23/05-- WARRANTY RUNS OUT ONCE IN JAN. AND ONCE IN FEB. 2006, THE CAR DID NOT TURN OVER. WHEN I TOOK CAR IN FOR ROUTINE OIL CHANGE ON FEBRUARY 16, 2006, ADVISOR RECOMMENDED A NEW FUEL PUMP AT COST OF $695. THE DEALER CALLED AND ASKED NISSAN USA FOR A GOODWILL CLAIM WHICH WAS DENIED. ON MONDAY, FEB. 20, 2006, I CALLED NISSAN USA TO FILE A REQUEST FOR THIS TO BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, CONSIDERING THE LONG RECORD OF THIS PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS TO HEAR BACK IN 24 HOURS. I MADE MULTIPLE CALLS THROUGH THE WEEK AND RECEIVED NO ANSWERS AND ONLY ONE PHONE CALL BACK-- ON THURSDAY-- TO TELL ME THAT THE FILE HAD BEEN MISDIRECTED AND THAT I SHOULD HEAR LATER. ON FRIDAY, FEB. 24, 2006, I CALLED AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THE CLAIM WAS DENIED. THE SERVICE REP. COULD NOT TELL ME WHY AND THE ADVISOR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *JB
Fuel system, Gasoline, Oct 5, 2005
PURCHASED A NEW NISSAN SENTRA IN JAN. 03'. STARTED NOTICING LONG ENGINE CRANK BEFORE START BY MAR. 04'. DEALER VISIT IN MAR. 04' FOUND NO PROBLEM. PROBLEM PERSISTED UNTIL SEP. 04'. TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER, PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FUEL PUMP ISSUE. FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED AT THAT TIME UNDER WARRANTY. A NISSAN TECHNICAL BULLETIN/SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED IN JUN. 05' DETAILING THE SPECIFIC ISSUE. IN SEP. 05' LONG CRANK PROBLEM RETURNED. MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER GENERAL WARRANTY AND THE FUEL PUMP IS NO LONGER UNDER PARTS WARRANTY AND NISSAN IS REFUSING TO HELP. THE REPLACEMENT FUEL PUMP HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE ORIGINAL AND NOW NISSAN EXPECTS ME TO PAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THE ISSUE VIA THEIR OWN TECHNICAL BULLETIN/SERVICE BULLETIN. THIS MAKES NO LOGICAL SENSE. *NM
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Electrical system, Jul 8, 2005
DT: AT 32,000 MILES THE CONSUMER HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 15 TIMES FOR REPAIRS. THE MAIN ISSUE WAS AT 15,000 MILES. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. AFTER THAT, THE CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WHEN TURNING, WHEN HE TOOK HIS FOOT OFF THE GAS THE VEHICLE SPUTERED. THE SERVICE MANAGER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND SAID IT WAS NORMAL. THE CONSUMER NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS UNTIL THE FULE PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS SUCH AS 2 NEW FAN BELTS, TRUNK FLOODED ONCE. THE HEATER CONTROL WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES. THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. *JB
Fuel system, Gasoline, Feb 23, 2004
WHILE REFUELING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL FILLER NECK. PREVIOUSLY CONSUMER NOTICED THAT FUEL SEEMED TO BE EVAPORATING FROM THE FUEL TANK. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Other, Visibility, Structure, Jan 4, 2004
I PURCHASED MY 2003 NISSAN SENTRA GXE ON JUNE 10, 2003. SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE 7 WORK ORDERS ON MY VEHICLE AND THAT DOESN'T COUNT EACH TIME I HAD TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SHOW THE PROBLEM AND THEN MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND WINDOW, A DING THEY PUT IN THE HOOD, NOT EVEN CLOSE TO STICKER GAS MILEAGE AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON FOR NO REASON FOUND AND NOW THERE'S A RECALL ON THAT I HAVEN'T BEEN NOTIFIED OF YET. *LA
Fuel system, Gasoline, Electrical system, Jan 28, 2003
ONCE APPROACHING A STOP (CROSSWALK), THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE ALMOST HIT A PEDESTRIAN. ANOTHER TIME, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MOVE OUT OF PARKING SPACE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS THE VEHICLE AS OF 01-28-2003 WITH CAUSE NOT IDENTIFIED YET. THE OWNER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE AND REPAIR OF VEHICLE AND THE SAFETY OF THOSE AROUND IF FAILURE OCCURS AGAIN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TS