2002 Nissan SENTRA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
304 owner complaints analyzed
10 distinct recall campaigns
71,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 209 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 67 of 304 complaints (22.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 74 | 24.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 23 | 7.6% |
| Braking behavior | 22 | 7.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 16 | 5.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 11 | 3.6% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 3.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 67 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 40 |
| Electrical System | 30 |
| Engine | 27 |
| Air Bags | 25 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 17 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14 |
| Unknown Or Other | 12 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 67; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 40; Electrical System: 30; Engine: 27; Air Bags: 25; Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 17; Vehicle Speed Control: 14; Unknown Or Other: 12
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 44 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 37 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 28 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 34 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 47 |
| 150,000 and above | 19 |
Under 25,000: 44; 25,000 to 49,999: 37; 50,000 to 74,999: 28; 75,000 to 99,999: 34; 100,000 to 149,999: 47; 150,000 and above: 19
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (47). 95 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 48 |
| 2004 | 40 |
| 2005 | 34 |
| 2006 | 25 |
| 2007 | 22 |
| 2008 | 27 |
| 2009 | 12 |
| 2010 | 19 |
| 2011 | 12 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 15 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2002: 1; 2003: 48; 2004: 40; 2005: 34; 2006: 25; 2007: 22; 2008: 27; 2009: 12; 2010: 19; 2011: 12; 2012: 7; 2013: 9; 2014: 15; 2015: 8; 2016: 6; 2017: 10; 2018: 2; 2019: 1; 2020: 4; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 74 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 23 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 22 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10027233 · 2003-08-01 (August 1, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED. *AK THE ENGINE LIGHT SOMETIMES ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR WAS BROKE. *TS *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 24,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10027233 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10041315 · 2003-10-06 (October 6, 2003)
I LEASED A SENTRA SE-R IN NOV 2002. SINCE GETTING THE VEHICLE I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. THE CAR RANDOMLY DOES NOT START. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE CAR WANTS TO TURN OVER, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THERE IS NO PATTERN TO IT. THE CAR STARTS FINE SOME DAYS, AND THEN SOMETIMES IT JUST DOESN'T WANT TO START. I'VE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER AT LEAST TWICE - THE DEALER COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. IN JUNE, WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, THE DEALER HAD THE NERVE TO TELL ME THAT THE CAR WOULD HAVE TROUBLE STARTING WHEN IT RAINS OUT - AND THAT …
Owner-reported narrative. 35,920 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041315 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034208 · 2003-10-01 (October 1, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHED A SPEED OF 60 MPH A WHISTLING NOISE COULD BE HEARD FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS AT LEAST TEN DIFFERENT TIMES AND THEY ALL TOLD HIM THAT THE NOISE WAS NORMAL WITH THIS VEHICLE TYPE . THE CONSUMER SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER A FEW TIMES BUT CURRENTLY THEY DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND THE DEALER REPLACED ALL THE ELECTRIC CABLES. THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AT 10000 MILES AND AT 20000 MILES THE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034208 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046547 · 2003-11-07 (November 7, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. ALSO, THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL/ ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND BRAKES FAILED. THIS FORCED THE CONSUMER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, AND WAITED AN HOUR TO RESTART. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10046547 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016732 · 2003-04-30 (April 30, 2003)
MY EMERGENCY BRAKE HAS BEEN ALMOST NON-EXISTENT SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. MY DRIVEWAY IS A STEEP HILL SO ITS A MUST THAT I USE IT. ON 2 OCCASIONS WHERE SOMEONE ELSE PARKED MY CAR AND ONLY USED THE E BRAKE AND DIDNT PUT IT IN GEAR, WE FOUND MY CAR HALFWAY IN THE ROAD (STOPPED) AND THEN ACTUALLY WATCHED IT AS IT STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS ONE NIGHT. WHEN I GET IN MY CAR TO START IT BEFORE PUSHING IN THE CLUTCH I HAVE TO MAKE SURE MY FOOT IS FIRM ON THE BRAKE OR THE CAR WILL START ROLLING BACKWARDS. I HAD IT TIGHTENED AT THE DEALER AND HAVE DONE IT A…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,186 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016732 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016737 · 2003-04-30 (April 30, 2003)
NOW AT 20,800 MILES I THINK MY CAR MAY BE BURNING OIL.LOST 2 QUARTS IN 3000 MILES. DIP STICK ACTUALLY CAME UP DRY BUT NO OIL LIGHT. IM TAKING IT IN TOMORROW TO HAVE THE TRANNY REPLACED ALONG WITH SOME O2 SENSORS THAT WENT BAD. ALSO IM HAVING IT CHECKED BECAUSE THE TRUNK AND DRIVERS/FRONT PASSENGER DOOR LEAKS. ALSO THE E BRAKE IS FAILING AGAIN, THERE IS RATTLING COMING FROM THE DRIVERS DOOR AND A SQEAUKING NOISE WHEN I RELEASE THE CLUTCH. PLUS MY SIDE SKIRTS ARE STILL WARPED, ILL HAVE TO REMIND THEM OF THAT. JUST WANTED TO ADD THIS ONE EVEN THOU…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016737 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010390 · 2003-03-13 (March 13, 2003)
I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2002 SENTRA SE-R SPEC V IN FEB OF 2002. I HAVE HAD MAJOR ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, BEFORE THE CAR WAS EVEN A YEAR OLD I HAD TO TAKE IT IN FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS 3 TIMES. THEY REPLACED MY TRANSMISSION 2 TIMES. THE SECOND TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT WAS WITH A 2003 TRANSMISSION. I HAVE ALSO TAKEN MY CAR IN 2 TIMES FOR THE ENGINE. MY ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED 2 TIMES. BOTH TIMES MY ENGINE WAS FOUND WITH NO OIL IN IT EVEN THOUGHT IT WAS FAR FROM BEING DO FOR AN OIL CHANGE. MY CAR CONSUMES OIL AND I AM CONSTANTLY HAVING…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010390 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016736 · 2003-04-30 (April 30, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION (6SPD OF THE SPEC V MODEL) IS DEFECTIVE. 3RD GEAR SYNCHROS GO BAD, SHIFTING FEEL CLUNKY/KNOTCHY TO WHERE ITS HARD TO GET IN GEAR ESPECIALLY WHEN ITS COLD. TOOK IT IN THE FIRST TIME ON 3/26/02 AND THEY DECIDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. DEALER PULLED TRANSMISSION 1. WITHOUT DISCUSSING IT WITH ME AND 2. WITHOUT HAVING THE PART IN STOCK. TOOK 2 WEEKS TO GET THE NEW TRANSMISSION IN WHICH IF WE HADNT FOUGHT WITH THEM THEY WERENT PLANNING ON GIVING US A RENTAL. NOW IM TAKING IT IN AGAIN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. GRINDING AS IT GOES INT…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016736 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009083 · 2003-02-24 (February 24, 2003)
THE VEHICLE RAN OUT OF GAS, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE GAS TANK CONTAINED A HOLE.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 17,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009083 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016787 · 2003-04-30 (April 30, 2003)
I BOUGHT A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA SE-R SPEC-V AND IN THE ONE YEAR THAT I HAD THE VEHICLE, I'VE HAD A COUPLE OF THINGS REPLACED DUE TO DEFECTIVE PARTS. FIRST, I HAD PROBLEMS STARTING THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. THEN THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH BEARING BECAUSE OF SOME NOISE WHILE SHIFTING. THEN THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE CAM SENSOR AS THE VEHICLE DID NOT START ONE DAY. THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY LOSES OIL AND ONE TIME IT WAS BONE DRY AFTER 3,500 MILES. THIS SEEMS LIKE A CONSTANT PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL BASED ON PREVI…
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016787 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021070 · 2003-06-05 (June 5, 2003)
STEERING COLUMN BLASTING COLD AIR DOWN TO THE BRAKE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021070 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025277 · 2003-07-02 (July 2, 2003)
I HAVE A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. I WAS GOING ABOUT 25 MPH ON A HWY. RAMP,IT WAS WET OUT, AND THE RAMP CURVED. I APPLIED MY BRAKES AND THEY SEEMED TO LOCK. I HAD NO STEERING AND THEY WOULD NOT STOP BRAKING.I CRASHED HARD INTO THE CURB. I WATCHED OTHER CARS GO BY AND THEY WERE FINE. THEN ANOTHER NISSAN SENTRA CAME AND THE SAME THING. HE ALSO CRASHED INTO THE CURB . MY DAMAGE IS ABOUT $650. AND THIS MAN'S IS OVER $2000. I HAD MY TIRE ARM REPLACED AND MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE. WE SWAPPED NUMBERS AS I WITNESSED HIS ACCIDENT. I HAVE HAD MY LOCAL DEALER HERE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10025277 at NHTSA ↗