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: engine
85 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 17, 2006
JUST PURCHASED MY 2004 NISSAN SENTRA TWO WEEKS AGO. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER I CAME HOME AND REMAINED ON. THE SALEMAN TOLD ME HE DIDN'T THINK MY CAR WOULD PASS AN EMISSION TEST. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE HE SOLD THE CAR KNOWING THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I AM TAKING INTO THE NISSAN DEALER IN OLYMPIA BUT I TOLD HIM I AM NOT PAYING ANYTHING PERIOD. THE CAR HAS ONLY 22,000 MILES AND IS UNDER WARRANTY BUT I FEEL HE DECEIVED ME. THE SALES PERSON IS JAY ROLFS FROM ASSOCIATE FLEETS IN SEATTLE, WA. *NM
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 4, 2006
PLEASE REFER TO NISSAN CAMPAIGN I.D. # P5202. I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN SENTRA SE-R SPEC V. AT THE END OF AUGUST MY CAR DEVELOPED STALLING AND THEN OUTRIGHT CYLINDER (1) FAILURE. SPARK PLUG WAS REMOVED AND FOUND TO BE EXTREMELY PITTED AND GROUND STRAP WAS HAMMERED CLOSED. REPLACED PLUG, VACUUMED CYLINDER AND CAR RAN FINE FOR TWO WEEKS. THE SAME PROBLEM DEVELOPED ON THE WAY TO WORK AND SPARK PLUGS WERE REMOVED AND A SECOND CYLINDER WAS FOUND TO HAVE IDENTICAL SYMPTOMS. THE PRIVATE MECHANIC I USE ADVISED ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS ENGINE (REF. ABOVE). I THEN DROVE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER WHERE THEY VERIFIED THAT THE POWER VALVE WAS MISSING TWO OF EIGHT SCREWS AND THIS WAS THE MOST PROBABLE CAUSE OF THE CYLINDER FAILURES. FILED CLAIM WITH NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS INFORMED BY REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE THAT MY VIN DID NOT FALL INTO THE VIN RECALL RANGE AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT HONOR THE RECALL ON MY ENGINE. AS SUCH, NONE OF THE RECALL TROUBLESHOOTING WAS PERFORMED ON MY ENGINE. I FEEL THAT MY EXPENSES SHOULD BE REIMBURSED AND, IF REQUIRED, MY ENGINE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE SINCE I HAVE ALREADY SUFFERED FROM THE FAILURE DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. I'M SURE THAT THE SERVICE LIFE OF THE PISTONS, VALVES, CYLINDER WALLS, AND ENGINE HEAD ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILED SPARK PLUGS HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED DUE TO THE POUNDING THEY TOOK FROM THE STEEL POWER VALVE SCREWS. I BELIEVE THAT NISSAN KNOWS THAT THEY HAVE THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM WITH OTHER VIN 2.5 LITER ENGINES AND ARE REFUSING TO FIX THEM BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO ACCEPT CORPORATE LIABILITY FOR A KNOWN DEFECT IN EVEN MORE OF THEIR ENGINES. I HAVE WRITTEN TO CARLOS GHOSEN AND GIVEN NISSAN AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND WITH NO RESULTS TO DATE. PLEASE HELP ME OBTAIN THE SAME RIGHTS AND BENEFITS OF OTHER NISSAN OWNERS WHO FELL UNDER THE PROTECTION OF RECALL CAMPAIGN P5202. THANK YOU. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 17, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS AT AN IDLE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED ASIDE OUT OF TRAFFIC, AND AFTER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE ENGINE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER WHO REPLACED THE CRANK SENSOR. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBELM. UPDATED 09/13/06. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 15, 2006
SITUATION RECURRING: LONG CRANK TIME BEFORE ENGINE TURNS OVER AND STARTS. THIS SITUATION OCCURS WHEN VEHICLE HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR THIRTY MINUTES OR MORE AND IS TURNED OFF AND TURNED RIGHT BACK ON AS WELL AS WHEN VEHICLE SITS OVERNIGHT AND IS STARTED IN THE MORNING. PROBLEM! *NM
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 15, 2006
1) CAR BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH/SURGING/STALLING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. 2) SOMETHING HAS ENTERED THE ENGINE CAUSING MARKS ON PISTON TOP/CYLINDER BORES AND DAMAGING THE SPARK PLUG. 3) BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD SPARK PLUGS AND AIR FILTER WERE TO BLAME. I CHANGED SPARK PLUGS AND AIR FILTER. THIS ALLOWED CAR TO RUN BETTER BUT STILL RUNS ROUGH/SURGES/WON'T IDLE PROPERLY. BROUGHT CAR TO LOCAL GARAGE AND THEY INSPECTED CYLINDER BORES AND FOUND DAMAGE TO PISTON AND A 2ND PISTON/SPARK PLUG. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR SENTRA'S BUT THAT MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED. THIS RECALL COVERS SCREWS FALLING INTO MOTOR. CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE CAR NEEDS TO BE RESET BECAUSE OF THE AIR FILTER WAS NOT AN ORIGINAL REPLACEMENT BRAND FILTER. WHEN TOLD ABOUT DAMAGES IN MOTOR THERE WAS NO REPLY. WHEN ASKED IF THERE IS A RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE I WAS TOLD THERE WASN'T ONE. CALLED NISSAN AND WAS TOLD ABOUT A RECALL AND THAT MY CAR IS COVERED BUT AFTER FURTHER REVIEW THEY CHANGED THEIR MIND AND SAID THAT MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED. MY CAR IS THE SAME MAKE/MODEL/ENGINE SIZE AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES. I'M TRYING TO GET MY CAR INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *NM
Engine and engine cooling, May 4, 2005
I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN SENTRA (1.8 ENGINE, AUTO TRANS). ON TWO OCCASIONS I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY REVVING UP WHILE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND NOT THE ACCELERATOR. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, CAR IN DRIVE, FOOT ON BRAKE. THE ENGINE BEGAN STEADILY INCREASING THE IDLE SPEED AND THE ENGINE REVVED (WITH MY FOOT TON THE BRAKE THE WHOLE TIME) TO I WOULD GUESS 2500-3000 RPMS. JUST AS QUICKLY, REVVING CEASED AND THE ENGINE RETURNED TO A NORMAL IDLE SPEED. THE INCREASE AND DECREASE IN IDLE SPEED PROBABLY OCCURRED OVER ABOUT 5-8 SECONDS. ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, I HAD A SIMILAR EPISODE, AGAIN WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT, WITH THE CAR IN DRIVE AND MY FOOT ON THE BREAK. THIS TIME, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV AT AN EVEN HIGHER RPM RATE. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THE CAR REVVED VIOLENTLY AT A RATE THAT MUST HAVE BEEN APPROACHING FULL THROTTLE. IT SORT OF REVVED FULL AND THEN BACKED OFF SLIGHTLY SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. ONCE THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, I RESTARTED THE CAR AND EVERYTHING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEY ADJUSTED THE IDLE BUT I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE THAT THE PROBLEM IS RESOLVED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, IT IS MY DAUGHTER'S CAR, AND I AM CONCERNED. I SUSPECT A COMPUTER FAILURE OF SOME KIND. NISSAN MUST BE PRESSURED TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Electrical system, Jul 22, 2004
2004 NISSAN SENTRA 1.8S: PURCHASED NEW ON 3/13/2004. MILEAGE 2060 - JERSEY CITY, NJ: SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON, BROUGHT TO DEALER, ECM REPROGRAMMED, DEALER DID NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE LIGHT TO COME ON. ERRATIC/ROUGH IDLING STILL PERSISTS, VEHICLE SHUT OFF ONCE WHILE REFUELING. MILEAGE, APPROX. 4725 - JERSEY CITY, NJ: SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT OFF INTERMITTENTLY, DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR DUE TO "NO HARD CODE IS STORED." ERRATIC/ROUGH IDLING PERSISTS. VEHICLE SHUT OFF SECOND TIME WHILE PARKED. BEGAN LEMON LAW PROCEEDINGS IN NEW JERSEY. MILEAGE, 5370 - MYRTLE BEACH, SC: SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS ON. CAR IS BUCKING IN 1ST GEAR (AUTOMATIC), "MAPP" GAS OR ROTTEN EGG SMELL (POSSIBLY EXCESS SULFUR) COMING FROM EXHAUST. ERROR CODE P0171/P0174, AIR FLOW METER REPLACED WITH NO FURTHER FAILURES. MILEAGE, 5637 - CHARLOTTE, NC: SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS ON. VEHICLE NOW BUCKS AT HIGH SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN LETTING UP ON THE ACCELERATOR. AFTER PROLONGED HIGHWAY DRIVING, VERY ERRATIC IDLE, AT TIMES ALMOST REACHING 0 RPMS WHILE PARKED. DEALER RESET ECM, COULD NOT DETECT ANY FAILURES. ARRANGED TO CHANGE FUEL PUMP BUT FINALLY FUEL PUMP WAS NOT CHANGED. VEHICLE DRIVEN BACK TO NEW JERSEY WITH SAME FAILURES AS LISTED ABOVE. SINCE CHARLOTTE, NC SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT HAS COME ON TWO TIMES, AND HAS GONE AWAY JUST AS FAST. I DO NOT HAVE MUCH TIME TO KEEP MY ONLY CAR (AND NEW CAR) IN AND OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP, SINCE THEY REFUSE TO PROVIDE A RENTAL. MY RECOMMENDATION: WANT TO STAY ALIVE, STAY AWAY FROM NISSAN CARS AND TRUCKS. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, May 24, 2004
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AFTER HAVING THE CAR REPAIRED TWICE ALREADY AND THEN BOLTS FELL OUT OF THE ENGINE. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO STALL THE SAME AS WHEN THE CATALYST WAS BURNED UP. THE CATALYST HAD BEEN REPLACED ALONG WITH THE ENGINE. I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS TO THIS DAY WITH FUNNY SMELLS AND RATTLES.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 16, 2004
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ENGINE STALLED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE LOST POWER.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 16, 2004, crash
2004 NISSAN SENTRA. BORN ON DATE OF APRIL 2003. BOUGHT IN OCT 2004. CURRENTLY HAS 4495 MILES. CAR STALLED TWICE. BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP ON 04/02/2004 TO CHECK FOR PROBLEM (4331 MILES). NO FAILURE CODES INDICATED IN MEMORY OF COMPUTER. ON APRIL 8TH THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. SON HAS MEMORY LOSS FROM STOP SIGN TO WHEN CAR CAME TO REST. HE DOES NOT HAVE FULL MEMORY RECALL. IT IS COMING BACK BUT IS SPOTTY. HE CURRENTLY RECALLS TALKING TO A PARAMEDIC, A SMALL BUMPING SENSATION AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS COMING ON (LIKE WHEN THE CAR STALLED BEFORE). IS THERE ANY OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THESE CARS? I KNOW THERE IS A RECALL FOR CARS BUILT FROM JAN 2000 TO MARCH 2003 FOR CASES OF STALLING. WE GOT THIS CAR BRAND NEW. ONLY NISSAN HAS PERFORMED ANY MNTC. OIL CHANGE. *AK