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2004 Nissan SENTRA: complaints, problems and recalls

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.

Owner-reported patterns

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.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation4120.8%
Braking behavior189.1%
Fuel system concerns178.6%
Steering behavior115.6%
Transmission and shifting63.0%
Electrical and battery issues52.5%

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.

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
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine And Engine Cooling35
Air Bags29
Engine26
Electrical System22
Fuel System, Gasoline19
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine16
Fuel/Propulsion System8
Vehicle Speed Control7

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.

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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00020
25,000 to 49,99915
50,000 to 74,99935
75,000 to 99,99932
100,000 to 149,99937
150,000 and above10

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.

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
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
200419
20055
20068
20078
200818
200922
201026
201116
20128
201311
20149
201516
201610
201710
20182
20201
20223
20232
20253

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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

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 10062752 · 2004-03-21 (March 21, 2004)

PURCHASED CAR BRAND NEW WITH 7 MILES ON IT. ON 3/15/04 AT 495 MILES ON THE COMPUTER DIED - LOST ENGINE POWER IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. DEALER REPLACED COMPUTER UNDER WARRANTY AND I ACCEPTED DELIVERY OF REPAIRED VEHICLE ON 3/19/04. ON 3/31/04 AT 720 MILES - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, LOST ALL ENGINE POWER AGAIN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. MADE IT TO DEALER - WAS TOLD 'NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME' AND ALTHOUGH THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, CONSTANTLY LOSING POWER IN TRAFFIC - THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT AWAY, OR LEAVE IT THERE AND WALK…

Owner-reported narrative. 705 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062752 at NHTSA ↗

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 10066548 · 2004-04-20 (April 20, 2004)

THE CAR WAS EQUIPPED WITH THE FIRESTONE FIREHAWK GTA-02 TIRES. IT WAS FORTUNATE THAT THE TIRE WHEN FLAT WHEN I WAS PARKING. THE TIRE EXHIBIT THE SAME PROBLEM WITH PREVIOUS RECALL DATED FEBRUARY 20, 2001. THE BELT WAS SEPARATING AND AIR IS LEAKING OUT.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10066548 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 10073056 · 2004-05-24 (May 24, 2004)

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AFTER HAVING THE CAR REPAIRED TWICE ALREADY AND THEN BOLTS FELL OUT OF THE ENGINE. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO STALL THE SAME AS WHEN THE CATALYST WAS BURNED UP. THE CATALYST HAD BEEN REPLACED ALONG WITH THE ENGINE. I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS TO THIS DAY WITH FUNNY SMELLS AND RATTLES.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10073056 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 10081114 · 2004-07-15 (July 15, 2004)

WHILE BACKING INTO A PARKING SPOT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE, SIDE-VIEW MIRROR STUCK A POST. THE MIRROR EXPLODED, PROJECTING SHARDS OF GLASS THROUGHOUT THE CAR. I, THE DRIVER, RECEIVED A NEAR-BLINDING PUNCTURE TO THE LEFT EYE. A LARGE PIECE OF GLASS FROM THE MIRROR STUCK THE LEFT EYE, LEAVING A LACERATION. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10081114 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

06V242000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
15V287000 · Air Bags

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
20V008000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
20V747000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module | Air Bags

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗