2003 Nissan SENTRA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
180 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
69,023 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 137 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 53 of 180 complaints (29.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 50 | 27.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 16 | 8.9% |
| Braking behavior | 12 | 6.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 11 | 6.1% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 5.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 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 | 53 |
| Electrical System | 25 |
| Engine | 24 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 17 |
| Air Bags | 12 |
| Unknown Or Other | 9 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 7 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 53; Electrical System: 25; Engine: 24; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 17; Air Bags: 12; Unknown Or Other: 9; Fuel/Propulsion System: 7; Vehicle Speed Control: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 24 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 19 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 36 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 23 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 29 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 24; 25,000 to 49,999: 19; 50,000 to 74,999: 36; 75,000 to 99,999: 23; 100,000 to 149,999: 29; 150,000 and above: 6
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (36). 43 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 16 |
| 2004 | 18 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 15 |
| 2008 | 19 |
| 2009 | 22 |
| 2010 | 13 |
| 2011 | 8 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 12 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2003: 16; 2004: 18; 2005: 8; 2006: 7; 2007: 15; 2008: 19; 2009: 22; 2010: 13; 2011: 8; 2012: 7; 2013: 5; 2014: 12; 2015: 9; 2016: 2; 2017: 5; 2018: 4; 2019: 5; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2024: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 50 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 16 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 12 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 10039888 · 2003-09-12 (September 12, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLS LEAVING THE CONSUMER STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY. AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE VEHICLE CAN BE STARTED AS IF NOTHING EVER HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER TO BE CHECKED OUT ONLY TO HAVE THEM TO SAY THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. 40 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039888 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043972 · 2004-03-31 (March 31, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER A NOISE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN COULD BE HEARD. ALSO, WHEN STOPPING VEHICLE STEERED TO THE RIGHT. DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH STEERING. VEHICLE, AT TIMES, HESITATED AND STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AT ABOUT 4,000 MILES, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *AK *MR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043972 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10064671 · 2004-04-20 (April 20, 2004)
WHEN VEHICLE WAS BEING STARTED EARLY IN THE MORNING IT WON'T START, AND WHEN IT DID, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND THE BATTERY, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10064671 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10151190 · 2006-02-25 (February 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…
Owner-reported narrative. 36,236 miles reported. Look up ODI 10151190 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10041353 · 2003-10-07 (October 7, 2003)
I PURCHASED MY SENTRA IN DEC OF 2002. ONE WEEK AFTER I BOUGHT IT, I HAD TO TAKE IT IN BECAUSE IT CLUNKED WHEN YOU TURNED THE WHEEL. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER AND FRONT SUSPENSION WAS LOOSE. FIXED THE CLUNK. STARTED TO NOTICE THAT 2 QTS OF ENGINE OIL WAS GONE AND THE COOLANT LEVEL KEPT DROPPING EVEN THOUGH I KEPT POURING MORE IN. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER, CLAIMED THERE WAS AIR BUBBLE IN ENGINE AND TO LET IT GO. STILL NOTICING ENGINE OIL SMELL AND COOLANT LEVEL LOW. DEALER CLAIMS NOTHING IS WRONG. PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW LEAKS, HAD RUN CHANNEL R…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10041353 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10068046 · 2004-04-29 (April 29, 2004)
1) I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT--THE FRIST CAR AT THE LIGHT--ON A TWO LANE DIVIVED HIGHTWAY IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GEREN I ACCLELRATED AND THE CAR TOOK OFF LIKE IT WAS IN OVERDRIVE. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE CAR DID A 360 DEGREE COUNTER-CLOCKWISE ROTATION. THE PASSENGER SIDE HIT THE MEDIAN AND DEFLATED BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR TIRERS. THE CAR NEVER STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO WOBBLE OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE AND EXIT THE HIGHWAY ON TO A DIRT ROAD WHICH WAS THE ENTRANCE TO A COOK COUNTY FOREST PRESER…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068046 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10059586 · 2004-02-23 (February 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
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10059586 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005669 · 2003-02-11 (February 11, 2003)
JUMPS FORWARD SOMETIMES WITHOUT FOOT ON ACCLERATOR, ESPECIALLY WHEN MAKING TURN FROM STOPPED POSITION. DEALERSHIP CAN NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. FALSE ALLIGNMENT AT TIME OF PURCHASE. DEALERSHIP STATES STEERING COLUMN WAS PUT IN OFF CENTER. THIS PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. CREAK AND POPS IN DASH ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP ON TWO OCCASIONS TO FIX PROBLEMS. NO LUCK YET.
Owner-reported narrative. 192 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005669 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10058308 · 2004-02-17 (February 17, 2004)
I OWN A 2003 NISSAN SENTRA S-ER SPEC V. WHEN I SHIFT FROM 1ST GEAR TO 2ND GEAR AT RPMS OF 2500 AND HIGHER, THE SHIFTER FEELS LIKE IT POPS OUT OF 1ST GEAR. ALSO, WHEN SHIFTING INTO 3RD GEAR YOU CAN HEAR AND FEEL A GRIND (WITH THE CLUTCH DOWN). THESE 2 PROBLEMS HAPPEN ON OCCASION, ESPECIALLY ON A COLD START. HOWEVER, I CAN ACTUALLY MAKE MY CAR GRIND GEARS BY HOLDING THE CLUTCH DOWN AND MOVING THE SHIFTER IN AND OUT OF 3RD GEAR. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10058308 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10075180 · 2004-06-10 (June 10, 2004)
ON MAY 15, TRAVELING TOGETHER ON A SIDE STREET AT 30-35 MPH, MY WIFE INADVERTENTLY TAPPED THE SHIFTER. THE TRANSMISSION IMMEDIATELY WENT FROM DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL. THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE DANGER AT THAT TIME AS THERE WAS NO CAR BEHIND ME, AND I WAS TRAVELING FAIRLY SLOWLY. I MOVED THE SHIFTER BACK INTO DRIVE AND CONTINUED HOME. THE MORE I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS EVENT, THE MORE WORRIED I BECAME. SUPPOSING I HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT 70 MPH, IN THE PASSING LANE, WITH A TRUCK BEARING DOWN ON MY REAR? IF THE CAR SUDDENLY WENT FROM DRIVE INTO N…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10075180 at NHTSA ↗