2002 Nissan SENTRA: complaints, problems and recalls

VISIBLE TIRE SEPARATION ON FIREHAWK GTA 02 P195/55R16 86H M+S. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH MICHELIN ALL WEATHER HERE AT DR. TIRE, HWY 21, BEAUFORT, SC,29906. THESE TIRES WOULD NOT HAVE MADE THE TRIP TO CHARLESTON 80 MILES AWAY AT THE FIRESTONE DEALER. WE DID NOT KEEP THE TIRES. I AM ONLY OFFERING THIS INFO AS A COURTESY TO THE REST OF THE PLANET, WHO MAY HAVE THE SAME TIRES. FORTUNATELY FOR MY SON AND HIS FAMILY, HE ARRIVED FOR NEW YEAR'S WITHOUT INCIDENT. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE FAULTY TIRE. ALL TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE TIRE WAS SPLIT ABOUT…

Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000946 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING ON A PAVED HWY AT 50 MPH/REAR TIRE BLEWOUT. 2 DAYS LATER ON ANOTHER PAVED ROAD AT 30 MPH MY L/REAR TIRE BLEWOUT. SAME AREA ON BOTH TIRES. SAME TYPE OF BLOWOUT. I THINK THERE IS A MAJOR ISSUE HERE. I AM NOW SCARED TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE. DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS-----------770769. *AK *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 10,435 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006549 at NHTSA ↗

PAINT PROBLEMS... EXCESSIVE PAINT CHIPPING (FRONT BUMPER) AND SURFACE RUST AFTER 1 YEAR OF OWNING CAR! DEALER REFUSES TO REPAINT DAMAGED PANELS. THOUGH OPENLY ADMITS TO NISSAN PAINT PROBLEMS!

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008407 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CONSUMER WAS INJURED.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009131 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

WHILE ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AT 4:30PM DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR STUCK CAUSING THE 2002 NISSAN SENTRA SE-R TO ACCELERATE UNCONTROLLABLY. THE FLOOR MAT HAD COME LOOSE AND JAMMED THE ACCELERATOR. I HAD TO SHIFT TO AND KICK THE PEDAL LOOSE. VERY NEARLY CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THIS FAULT WAS THE SUBJECT OF AN EARLIER RECALL, BUT THE SOLUTION BY NISSAN DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE FLOOR MAT EASILY COMES OFF THE PUNY LITTLE PEG ON THE FLOOR. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 9,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010408 at NHTSA ↗

ENGINE FAILED IN SE-R SPEC-V FROM NISSAN CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 18,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010625 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2001-12-12 (December 12, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE VEHICLES WERE MISSING TAMPERPROOF CAPS THAT PREVENT HORIZONTAL HEADLAMP ADJUSTMENT.

Consequence: THESE CAPS ARE INSTALLED TO PREVENT MISADJUSTMENT OF THE HEADLAMPS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A TAMPERPROOF CAP OVER THE HORIZONTAL ADJUSTMENT SCREW FOR BOTH HEADLAMPS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 14, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Reported: 2002-02-15 (February 15, 2002)

ON SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A NISSAN-APPROVED ACCESSORY FLOOR MAT THAT WAS INSTALLED EITHER AT THE ASSEMBLY PLANT OR BY THE DEALER, DUE TO THE LENGTH OF THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR MAT, A SMALL AMOUNT OF MAT MOVEMENT COULD CAUSE THE MAT TO INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND NOT ALLOW THE PEDAL TO RELEASE AFTER IT IS DEPRESSED.

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS UNEXPECTEDLY, IT COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR MAT AND IF IT IS A NISSAN FLOOR MAT SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR MATS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 18, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Reported: 2003-03-11 (March 11, 2003)

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.5 LITER ENGINE, THE EXHAUST PIPE HANGER PIN MAY CATCH DEBRIS FROM THE ROAD THAT COULD BE IGNITED BY CONTACT WITH THE MAIN CATALYST. ALSO ON 2002 ALTIMA AND SENTRA VEHICLES, CERTAIN ENGINE OPERATING CONDITIONS MAY CAUSE THE PRE-CATALYST TO OVERHEAT AND DAMAGE THE CATALYST SUBSTRATE.

Consequence: EITHER OF THESE TWO CONDITIONS COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE PROTRUDING PORTION OF THE EXHAUST PIPE HANGER PIN. IN ADDITION TO THE CORRECTIVE ACTION, IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE IN THE EVENT OF POOR OR IMPROPER MAINTENANCE THAT COULD RESULT IN OIL SPILLAGE, HEAT SHIELD(S) WILL BE INSTALLED ON THE PRE-CATALYST AND EXHAUST TUBE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261. NISSAN RECALL NOS. R3007, R3014, R3015, R3016, R3017. ALSO ON 2002 ALTIMA AND SENTRA VEHICLES, CERTAIN ENGINE OPERATING CONDITIONS MAY CAUSE THE PRE-CATALYST TO OVERHEAT AND DAMAGE THE CATALYST SUBSTRATE. IF SUBSTRATE PARTICLES ENTER THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER, THEY COULD SCORE THE CYLINDER WALLS, RESULTING IN INCREASED OIL CONSUMPTION. IF THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL IS NOT CHECKED ON A PERIODIC BASIS AND DROPS BELOW THE LOW LEVEL, AND THE DRIVER CONTINUES TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE IGNORING NOTICEABLE ENGINE NOISE, ENGINE DAMAGE MAY OCCUR WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. THE PRE-CATALYST WILL BE TESTED TO ENSURE IT IS WORKING PROPERLY AND REPLACED IF NECESSARY. IF DAMAGE IS FOUND INSIDE THE PRE-CATALYST, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE ENGINE.

Reported: 2003-11-17 (November 17, 2003)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR OR CAM POSITION SENSOR MAY HAVE AN IMPROPER SOLDER JOINT DUE TO SOLDER DEFORMATION CAUSED BY HEAT STRESS ACCELERATED BY THE EXISTENCE OF FLUX RESIDUE DURING THE SOLDERING PROCESS.

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON, CREATE A NO START CONDITION, CAUSE REDUCED ENGINE POWER, OR CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRANK POSITION SENSORS. CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR(S), AND IN SOME CASES, THE VARIABLE TIMING CONTROL SENSOR(S). VEHICLES INVOLVED IN A PREVIOUS RECALL CAMPAIGN, 01V357, ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS NEW CAMPAIGN. THE REPLACEMENT SENSORS USED IN THAT CAMPAIGN ARE ALSO AFFECTED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.

Reported: 2003-11-14 (November 14, 2003)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE QG18DE ENGINE OR QR25DE ENGINES, THE FOAM MATERIAL USED FOR THE INTERIOR LINING OF THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) BOX EMITS SULFUR AS IT CURES.

Consequence: IF ONE OF THE RESISTORS INSIDE THE ECM HAS A CRACK ON THE SURFACE COATING, THE GAS MAY CAUSE CORROSION OF THE RESISTOR. THIS COULD CAUSE THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT TO COME ON, POOR DRIVABILITY (IDLE INSTABILITY, POOR ACCELERATOR), OR THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE INSIDE LINING MATERIAL FROM THE ECM BOX. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Reported: 2003-12-10 (December 10, 2003)

ON CERTAIN ELECTRIC VEHICLES, THE FRONT SUSPENSION TRANSVERSE LINK'S BALL JOINT BRACKET MAY BREAK FROM STRESS CONCENTRATION AT A NOTCH CREATED BY SURFACE ROUGHNESS AND THE SHAPE OF THE MATERIAL CUT-LINE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRACKET ON THESE VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 15, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Reported: 2007-11-14 (November 14, 2007)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5L ENGINE, THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CAN OVERHEAT CAUSING A BRIEF INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL OUTPUT FROM THE SENSOR.

Consequence: IF THE INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL FROM THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION 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.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ECM FREE OF CHARGE. CERTAIN MY 2006 ALTIMAS WHICH HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY REMEDIED UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN 06V223 (NISSAN R0606) ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL SINCE THE REPROGRAMMING FOR 06V223 ALSO INCLUDED THIS REPROGRAMMING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 31, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Reported: 2015-05-15 (May 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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2020-01-09 (January 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.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2020-12-01 (December 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.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: 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.