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: fuel/propulsion system
8 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 14, 2016
VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN STARTING & STALLS OUT OR SHUTS DOWN WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR COMING TO A HALT. IF LET TO SIT FOR A WHILE IT WILL RESTART, BUT HAS LEFT ME STRANDED MULTIPLE TIMES. CRANK SENSOR REPLACED AS WELL AS ALL FLUIDS. HAVE HAD IT CHECKED FOR CODES, BUT NOTHING SHOWS UP. CAR WAS RECENTLY PURCHASED IN LATE MAY 2016. VENDOR REPAIRED SEVERAL ITEMS,BUT NOW CAR IS OUT OF VENDOR WARRANTY.
Steering, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 2, 2016
ENGINE FUEL PUMP FAILURE. DRIVING ON BUSY HIGHWAY ENGINE STARTED TO STALL. HAD TO USE CLUTCH TO KEEP ENGINE RUNNING, NEARLY MISSING OTHER VEHICLES TRYING TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE TRYING TO RESTART ENGINE. IMMEDIATELY TOOK TO DEALER AND FUEL PUMP FAILURE DIAGNOSED. FUEL PUMP BEING REPLACED RIGHT NOW AT $700.00.
Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 1, 2016
TOM WOOD NISSAN CARMEL IN REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL #REPORT RECEIPT DATE: JUL 07, 2006 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V242000 COMPONENT(S): ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Structure, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 10, 2015
AUGUST 2014:I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON A CITY STREET DOING ABOUT 45 WHEN THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. I WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO A PARKING LOT WITH THE RESIDUAL POWER THE CAR HAD. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS NEXT TO ME. THE STEERING WAS GONE SINCE THERE WAS NO POWER. AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS, I FINALLY GOT THE CAR STARTED BUT HAD TO PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL WHENEVER I WAS AT A LIGHT (BECAUSE THE RPM WAS AT 500 AND IT KEPT SHUTTING OFF WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE). MANAGED TO MAKE IT HOME. ENDED UP BEING THE CAM/CRANK SENSORS THAT WENT OUT. FAST FORWARD TO NOVEMBER 2015 AND I HAD TO REPLACE THE CAM SENSOR AGAIN!! CAR STILL IDLES AT 500 RPM AND ALWAYS FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO SHUT OFF. NEXT ISSUE IS THE POWER WINDOWS. DRIVERS SIDE GETS HALF-WAY DOWN, BUT YOU HAVE TO PULL THE SWITCH UP QUICKLY IN ORDER FOR IT TO ROLL BACK UP. CANNOT OPEN/CLOSE PASSENGER WINDOW FROM DRIVERS SIDE, ONLY PASSENGER SIDE. NEXT ISSUE IS RANDOM LEAK IN THE TRUNK WHERE THE SPARE TIRE IS STORED. ABOUT 1-2 MONTHS AFTER WE HAD GOTTEN SOME HEAVY RAINS, I NOTICED A SLIGHT MILDEW SMELL IN THE CABIN. I SNIFFED AROUND, DIDN'T SEE OR FEEL ANYTHING THAT WAS WET. FIGURED IT WAS A CABIN FILTER THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ANOTHER MONTH GOES BY AND I CAN STILL FAINTLY SMELL IT. I OPEN MY TRUNK AND IT'S COMING FROM THERE. I PULL EVERYTHING OUT OF THE TRUNK; NOTHING FEELS WET, NOTHING LOOKED WET, NOTHING HAD WATER STAINS ON IT (BOOKS, CLOTHES). I PULL BACK THE TRUNK CARPET, THE TRUNK STABILIZER AND I NOTICE THERE'S MOLD ON IT AND THE MDF COVERING THE SPARE IS WET. I PULL IT OFF AND THERE WAS ABOUT TWO INCHES OF WATER IN THE SPARE WHEEL WELL! WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO GET STUFF TO CLEAN IT, IT SOUNDED LIKE I HAD A KIDDIE POOL IN THE TRUNK! TO THIS DAY, I HAVE NO IDEA HOW IT GOT IN THERE - AGAIN NOTHING WAS WET OR WATER-STAINED IN THE TRUNK. ALSO EXPERIENCED MISFIRES, FUEL GAUGE (DUE TO FUEL PUMP). I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR AT TIMES.
Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 7, 2015
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE FUELING THE TANK, THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED TO PROVIDE ACCURATE READING FUEL LEVELS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V287000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 1, 2015
MY 2004 NISSAN SENTRA HAS JUST FAILED EMISSIONS TESTING FOR THE 3RD TIME. THE PAPERWORK I RECIEVED SAYS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS DETERIORATING FASTER THAN ANTICIPATED AND TURNING ON THE MIL. ALSO, THAT THE OWNER WAS NOTIFIED DEC. 5, 2005 HOWEVER, I DID NOT PURCHASE THE CAR UNTIL 2014.
Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 20, 2013
WHEN REFUELING MY VEHICLE THE GASOLINE WOULD SPRAY BACK OUT OF THE FUEL FILL NECK. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I REMOVED THE PUMP NOZZLE AND THE GASOLINE SPRAYED BACK WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO HIT ME IN THE FACE. GASOLINE GOT IN BOTH MY EYES AND MOUTH. BEING IN NEED OF CONTACTS I HAD TO RUSH INTO THE GAS STATION TO TAKE THEM OUT AND FROM THERE I HAD TO GET MYSELF AND MY CAR PICKED UP AND BROUGHT HOME SINCE MY CONTACTS WERE RUINED. *TR
Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 17, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN REFUELING, GASOLINE WOULD OVERFLOW AND THE SHUT OFF VALVE WOULD NOT STOP GASOLINE FROM POURING OUT OF THE FILLER NECK VALVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.