2004 Nissan SENTRA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
197 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
77,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 149 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 35 of 197 complaints (17.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 41 | 20.8% |
| Braking behavior | 18 | 9.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 17 | 8.6% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 5.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 3.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 2.5% |
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 | 35 |
| Air Bags | 29 |
| Engine | 26 |
| Electrical System | 22 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 19 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 16 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 35; Air Bags: 29; Engine: 26; Electrical System: 22; Fuel System, Gasoline: 19; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 16; Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Vehicle Speed Control: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 20 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 15 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 35 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 32 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 37 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 20; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 35; 75,000 to 99,999: 32; 100,000 to 149,999: 37; 150,000 and above: 10
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (37). 48 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 19 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 18 |
| 2009 | 22 |
| 2010 | 26 |
| 2011 | 16 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 11 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 16 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2025 | 3 |
2004: 19; 2005: 5; 2006: 8; 2007: 8; 2008: 18; 2009: 22; 2010: 26; 2011: 16; 2012: 8; 2013: 11; 2014: 9; 2015: 16; 2016: 10; 2017: 10; 2018: 2; 2020: 1; 2022: 3; 2023: 2; 2025: 3
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 41 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 18 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 17 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 10066291 · 2004-04-16 (April 16, 2004)
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 STA…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,490 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066291 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067294 · 2004-04-16 (April 16, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ENGINE STALLED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE LOST POWER.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 4,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067294 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073894 · 2004-05-19 (May 19, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BRAKE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10073894 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10099085 · 2004-11-01 (November 1, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 2,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10099085 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10082487 · 2004-07-22 (July 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 PROCE…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,060 miles reported. Look up ODI 10082487 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10166492 · 2006-08-24 (August 24, 2006)
EXPERIENCED DELAY IN STARTING. ENGINE TOOK FOREVER TO TURNOVER. DIAGNOSTIC DETAILS REVEALED NOTHING WRONG, IN FACT THE CAR WOULD START NORMALLY WHENEVER THE DEALER TRIED. PROBLEM CONTINUED AND AFTER TWO TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP--THEY REFUSED TO BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM--I WAS TOLD TO LEAVE IT OVERNIGHT. THEY FINALLY EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM THEMSELVES. THEY PIN-POINTED THE PROBLEM--THE FUEL PUMP WAS FAULTY. IT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AND PROBLEM CEASED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10166492 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10240352 · 2008-08-30 (August 30, 2008)
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR AT SLOW SPEEDS THE ENGINE DIED. THIS RESULTED IN REDUCTION IN STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY. NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY OCCURRED THOUGH. ENGINE WOULD CRANK, BUT NOT SPARK PLUGS WOULD NOT FIRE, SO CAR COULD NOT BE STARTED AND HAD TO BE PUSHED TO THE CURB TO GET IT OUT OF TRAFFIC. CAR WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE CAMSHAFT TIMING DETECTOR AND REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER WHICH SOLVED THE PROBLEM. OLD PART WAS DISPOSED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10240352 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10082701 · 2004-07-26 (July 26, 2004)
PURCHASED A 2004 NISSAN SENTRA BRAND NEW WITH 137 MILES ON IT, 2 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE, HEARD NOISE COMING FROM CAR WHENEVER CHANGING INTO GEAR, (AUTOMATIC TRANS) REPORTED IT TO LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP, SCHEDULED SERVICE APPOINTMENT, TOOK IN FOR SERVICE, FOUND THAT TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE, REPLACEMENT UNIT WAS ORDERED, WAS INSTRUCTED TO CONTINUE TO USE THE VEHICLE UNTIL PARTS ARRIVED, CAR HAS STALLED IN TRAFFIC, WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD AT 45MPH, AND HAS ALSO STALLED SITTING STILL AT A LIGHT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIO…
Owner-reported narrative. 450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10082701 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10126359 · 2005-06-23 (June 23, 2005)
I OWN A 2004 NISSAN SENTRA, ONLY A FEW MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED IT BRAND NEW, I BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. THEY HAVE SINCE PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION AND JUST TODAY THE CAR BROKE DOWN AGAIN, THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO HAVE FAILED YET AGAIN.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126359 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10056327 · 2004-02-02 (February 2, 2004)
THE KEYLESS REMOTE DOES NOT WORK UNLESS THEY TAKE OUT A FUSE BECAUSE OF A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - THAT PARTICULAR FUSE CONTROLED THE LIGHTS IN THE VANITY MIRROW - THEY SAID THEY HAVE TO ORDER A PART TO FIX IT - AND THAT ALL 2004 MODELS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. ALSO THE PASSENGER SIDE BACK DOOR DOES NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE! MAYBE DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM - WAITING TO HEAR FROM DEALERSHIP. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10056327 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10102683 · 2004-12-11 (December 11, 2004)
AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR WILL ENGAGE (A/C WILL TURN ON) REGARDLESS OF AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE, WHEN ONE OR BOTH OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET: 1. WHEN THE INTERIOR CABIN TEMPERATURE DIAL IS SET TO ANY TEMPERATURE, INCLUDING HOT (RED AREA ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT), AND THE WINDSHIELD DEFROST OPTION IS NOT SET (A/C SHOULD NOT BE ON, BUT WILL TURN ON), OR 2. THE WINDSHIELD DEFROST OPTION ON THE AIR HANDLER DIAL IS SET ONCE, THE AIR CONDITIONING WILL TURN ON, AND STAY ON REGARDLESS OF ANY TEMPERATURE DIAL CHANGE OR OTHER SETTING CHANGE THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10102683 at NHTSA ↗