2003 Nissan SENTRA: complaints, problems and recalls

ONCE APPROACHING A STOP (CROSSWALK), THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE ALMOST HIT A PEDESTRIAN. ANOTHER TIME, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MOVE OUT OF PARKING SPACE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS THE VEHICLE AS OF 01-28-2003 WITH CAUSE NOT IDENTIFIED YET. THE OWNER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE AND REPAIR OF VEHICLE AND THE SAFETY OF THOSE AROUND IF FAILURE OCCURS AGAIN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004838 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*JB VEHICLE INVOLVED IN COLLISION AND THE AIR BAG EQUIPMENT FAILED TO DEPLOY. *MR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008730 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING THE LIGHT, HORN AND HAZARD LIGHTS FAILED. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009834 at NHTSA ↗

I BOUGHT A NEW NISSAN SENTRA GXE BACK ON FEB. 2, 2003. WHEN I TOOK THE TEST DRIVE, I DID NOT REALIZE THERE WAS A BIG DISTANCE BETWEEN THE GAS PEDAL AND THE BREAK PEDAL. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON THE STREET OR THE HIGHWAY, IT IS TOO DIFFICULT TO SWITCH YOUR FEET FROM THE GAS PEDAL TO THE BREAK PEDAL. THE SHOE ITSELF, CAN GET STUCK BETWEEN THE GAS AND THE BREAK PEDAL CAUSING A SERIOUS CRASH. ALSO MY FEET AND ANKLE CAN DEVELOP A SERIOUS PAIN AND INJURY CAUSING JOINT PAIN AND SOME BONE INJURIES. THEREFORE, DRIVER CAN'T REACT ON TIME TO AVOID AN ACC…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010898 at NHTSA ↗

INTERMITTENTLY THE HEAD LIGHTS FAILED TO FUNCTION , AND WHEN THEY FAILED IT RESULTED IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS BEING INOPERATIVE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 8,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019312 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATES TIRE ON THE FRONT RIGHT PEALING OFF.THIS PROCESS IS HAPPENING ON THE OUTSIDE TREAD. THE TIRE HAS NOT GONE FLAT YET, BUT IS AFRAID THAT IT WILL. ALSO, CALLED MANUFACTURER, AND THEY HAVE AGREED TO REPLACE THE TIRE, BUT HAVE NOT DONE SO. CONTINENTAL CONTI SPORT CONTACT TIRES, 215 45 R 17 WITH 253 MILES ON THEM. EVENTHOUGH THERE IS NO RECALL CONSUMER THINKS THAT TEHRE SHOULD BE ONE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10029672 at NHTSA ↗

MY CAR MOVES FORWARD WHILE IN PARK. MY REAR BUMPER IS BEGINNING TO FALL OFF. TWO LOUD AND ANNOYING GRINDING NOISES IN THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. BROUGHT IT IN TO TWO NISSAN DEALERSHIPS AND ONLY ONE PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED SINCE THEN. *PH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030994 at NHTSA ↗

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: 2006-07-07 (July 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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ECM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 21, 2006. 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.