2004 Nissan Sentra
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine and engine cooling is the leading concern among 197 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 10th highest complaint count among 26 Sentra model years with reports.
Of the 2004 reports, 20 involved a crash. 18 people were injured and 1 person died.
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
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
Representative owner complaints: air bags
32 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Feb 12, 2010
THIS IS A NEW UPDATE AND SEE #10301656 . LESS THAN 3 WEEKS SINCE MY LAST REPAIR, MY 2004 SENTRA AIRBAG LIGHT IS FLASHING AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY ARE NOW SAYING THE COMPUTER IS BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR $667. I ASKED THE SERVICE ADVISER HOW DID HE KNOW THE PREVIOUS THREE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE BAD AND HE SAID THE ERROR CODE TOLD HIM SO. I ASKED HIM WHAT LED HIM TO BELIEVE THE COMPUTER IS BAD THIS TIME, AND HE SAID THEY HAVE TO TRY SOMETHING ELSE AND WORK UPSTREAM SINCE THE LAST THREE FIXES DID NOT WORK. I ASKED HIM IF HE IS SURE THE COMPUTER IS THE PROBLEM AND HE CAN NOT SAY OR GIVE ME A GOOD ANSWER. I TOLD HIM I WILL NOT BE KEEPING THE CAR ONCE IT IS FIXED AND SO THEY BETTER DO A THROUGH JOB TO PROTECT THE NEXT BUYER NOW THAT THE CAR HAS (4) REPAIR RECORDS DUE TO AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILURE. I CALLED THE NISSAN HQ FOR ASSISTANCE AND THEY IN TURN CONTACT THE LOCAL DEALER FOR INFORMATION. THE ONLY DISCREPANCY I CAN DETERMINE IS NOW THE SHOP CLAIMS TO HAVE ERROR CODES THAT PIN POINT THE PROBLEM. NISSAN HQ SAID THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT I TOLD THEM THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED UNDER THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND IT TOOK THEM (4) TIMES AND STILL COULDN'T GET IT RIGHT. I BELIEVED THE NISSAN AIRBAG RESTRAINT HAS SOME DESIGN FLAW BECAUSE ALL OF THE REPLACED ASSEMBLIES ARE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND I AM THE LONE DRIVER. +++++++ I AM REPORTING A SAFETY CONCERN TO NHTSB BECAUSE THE SAME SEAT BELT COMPONENT FOR MY 2004 NISSAN SENTRA 1.8L SEDAN HAS FAILED THREE TIMES WITHIN A SPAN OF 5,209 MILES . THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER HAS NO EXPLANATION FOR THE REPEATED FAILURES: 12/23/2008 @ 46,401 MILES; 8/13/2009 @ 48,000 MILES; 1/19/2010 @ 51,610 MILES. NISSAN DEALER CORRECTED THE PROBLEMS EACH TIME UNDER WARRANTY WITH BELT ASSY - TONGUE #86884-6Z604 . THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED FLASHING EACH TIME UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS CORRECTED. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE ENTIRE SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM ITSELF HAS BEEN COMPROMISED WITH A SINGLE CO. *TR
Air bags, Jan 20, 2010
I AM REPORTING A SAFETY CONCERN TO NHTSB BECAUSE THE SAME SEAT BELT COMPONENT FOR MY 2004 NISSAN SENTRA 1.8L SEDAN HAS FAILED THREE TIMES WITHIN A SPAN OF 5,209 MILES . THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER HAS NO EXPLANATION FOR THE REPEATED FAILURES: 12/23/2008 @ 46,401 MILES; 8/13/2009 @ 48,000 MILES; 1/19/2010 @ 51,610 MILES. NISSAN DEALER CORRECTED THE PROBLEMS EACH TIME UNDER WARRANTY WITH BELT ASSY - TONGUE #86884-6Z604 . THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED FLASHING EACH TIME UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS CORRECTED. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE ENTIRE SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM ITSELF HAS BEEN COMPROMISED WITH A SINGLE COMPONENT FAILURE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IS RARELY OCCUPIED AS I AM THE LONE DRIVER OF THIS CAR AND CARRY NO PASSENGER. I HAVE WRITTEN TO NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS, P.O.BOX 685003, FRANKLIN TN 37068-5003 LAST AUG 22, 2009 ABOUT THIS SAFETY CONCERN AND NISSAN HAS NOT RESPONDED. *TR
Air bags, Jun 21, 2009, crash
THE CAR WAS INVOLVED A FRONT IMPACT ACCIDENT WHICH WAS HARD ENOUGH TO RESULT IN THE VEHICLE BEING DEEMED AS A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. IN THIS ACCIDENT NEITHER THE PASSENGER NOR THE DRIVER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *TR
Air bags, Jan 29, 2008, crash
DRIVE A 2004 NISSIAN I CRASHED MY CAR ..I BROKE..THE AXEL ON MY CAR AND THE AXEL OF A FORD FOUCES 2003 THE AIR BAGS NEVER WENT OFF AND THE SEAT BELT NEVER HELD.THE LAWYER OD SOUTH DAKOTA SAID THEY WERE TO SMALL OF A STATE TO GO THREW AND.TO TRY OUT SIDE STATES. FOR AIR BAGS AND SEAT BELTS. I HAVE THE POLICE REPORT AND HOSPITAL BILL. PLUSS I TOOK PICTURES IF YOU WOULD LIKE THEM SENT VIA E-MAIL I CAN.. THANK YOU. *CN
Air bags, Dec 22, 2005, crash
I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON AN INTERSTATE, THE IMPACT WAS AT ABOUT 70 MPH TO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE IN A NISSAN SENTRA. THE IMPACT WAS HARD ENOUGH TO DAMAGE THE SHIFT THE DASHBOARD ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE FRONT OF THE CAR. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *NM
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Air bags, Dec 3, 2004, crash
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND BRAKES FAILED. CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS NOT DETERMINED. *AK
Steering, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Air bags, Nov 1, 2004, crash
20 FEET AFTER PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, SUDDENLY THERE WAS A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING, THE BRAKES FAILED TO FUNCTION, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT AND WENT INTO A DITCH AND IMPACTED A SEWER DRAIN. THE DRIVER WAS SEVERELY BURNED BY THE AIRBAGS WHEN THEY DEPLOYED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE ABOVE FAILURES IS UNDETERMINED. *JB