30 complaints reported

2002 Nissan Sentra Air Bags

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
30
Crashes
11
Fires
0
Injuries
8

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Feb 2026

The contact called regarding the ownership of the 2002 Nissan Sentra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V008000 (Air Bags); and would like the address to be removed from the vehicle recall distribution list because the vehicle owner does not live at the contact’s address. The manufacturer was contacted.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2026
Jul 2025

Unknown

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2025
Apr 2020

NO LONGER OWN THIS CAR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2020
Sep 2019

TAKATA RECALL. WENT TO DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE RECALLED AIRBAG. THEY INSPECTED THE AIRBAG INFLATOR, SAID IT DOES NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THEY DID NOT DO ANY REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT WORK ON THE TAKATA AIRBAG DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE RECALL NOTIFICATION STATING THAT THE NISSAN DEALER WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG INFLATOR WITH A NEW ONE. *DT VIN AVAILABLE *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2019
Aug 2018

I WAS NOTIFIED OF AIR BAG RECALL BY NISSAN. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY AGREED TO FIX BUT WANTED ME TO RELEASE THEM OF RESPONSIBILITY IF THEY CRACKED MY DASH BOARD DURING THE REPAIR. I REFUSED TO GIVE PERMISSION TO DAMAGE MY VEHICLE. AS INSTRUCTED BY THE DEALERSHIP I CALLED 1800 NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND REPORTED AND THEY ALSO CONFIRMED THEY COULD REPAIR BUT SAID I WOULD HAVE TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE CAUSED BY/DURING THE REPAIR. MY VEHICLE CURRENTLY IS NOT DAMAGED AND I REFUSE TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE THEY MAY CAUSE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2018
Oct 2017

TAKATA RECALL CENTRAL HOUSTON NISSAN DEALERSHIP NUMBER (713) 661-9955 X 5355 IS BUSY, DOES NOT CALL ME BACK TO SCHEDULE BAG REPLACEMENT. NISSAN CUSTOMER CARE (KAYLA (615) 725-7543, CASE # 28688503) HAS NOT HELPED AND DOES NOT CALL ME BACK. I CALLED 1-888-327-4236 AND MADE A COMPLAINT, BUT HAVEN'T HEARD BACK.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2017
Oct 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V287000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. CENTRAL HOUSTON NISSAN (2901 S LOOP W, HOUSTON, TX 77054, (713) 277-7566) WAS CONTACTED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT DUE TO THE PARTS NOT BEING AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. *BF CONSUMER STATED LEFT VEHICLE FOR UNSCHEDULED REPAIR 11/17/17 AT CENTRAL HOUSTON NISSAN. UPDATED 7/31/18*JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2015
Sep 2017

TAKATA RECALL......IVE BEEN ADVISED BY A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT NOTICE THAT MY VEHICLE MAY HAVE INFLATORS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO RECALL BUT I HAVENT HEARD ANYTHING FROM THE MANUFACTURER AS TO WHETHER MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE IS AFFECTED OR NOT. I WOULD LIKE TO BE CONTACTED TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT MY VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE CHECKED OR REPAIRED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2017
Jul 2017

ON OCTOBER 25, 2017 I RECEIVED 2 LETTERS REGARDING A VEHICLE RECALL FOR MY NISSAN SENTRA 2002 CONCERNING ISSUES WITH MY AIRBAG THAT IS DEFECTIVE AM REPORTING THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE I WILL LIKE TO KNOW WHAT WILL BE MY NEXT STEP AND HOW CAN I FIX THIS ISSUE THAT CONCERNS ME.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2017
Jul 2017

ON OCTOBER 25, 2017 I RECEIVED A LETTER ABOUT AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAY SAFETY AND MOTOR VEHICLE REGARDING AN URGENT REQUEST FROM NISSAN MANUFACTURER CONCERNING SAFETY ISSUES AFFECTING MY VEHICLE. THERE INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM MY NISSAN 2002 SENTRA THAT IS CURRENTLY REGISTERED UNDER MY NAME. I AM FILING THE COMPLAINT TO VERIFY WHAT WILL BE MY NEXT STEP TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION AND HAVE THIS ISSUE REPAIRED FOR FREE. I AM CONCERN FOR MY SAFETY !

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2017
Aug 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V287000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SUPPLY THE PART TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2016
May 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V287000 (AIR BAGS), BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2016
Dec 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED, WHILE THE DRIVER WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V287000 (AIR BAGS) WAS PERFORMED IN JULY 28, 2014 HOWEVER, THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2015
Jul 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V136000 (AIR BAGS) BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2015
Jun 2015

2002 NISSAN SENTRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE AIRBAG RECALL ISSUES. *SMD THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THEY COULD NOT PERFORM THE RECALL, BECAUSE THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT ORIGINAL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW AND SHE WAS NEVER INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2015
Mar 2014

I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR NHTSA RECALL 13V-136 TO PREMIER NISSAN OF SAN JOSE, AND THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE REP TOLD ME THEY INSPECTED BUT DID NOT REPLACE THE AIR BAG. THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY COULD TELL WHETHER OR NOT THE AIRBAG NEEDED REPLACEMENT BY INSPECTION AND THAT MINE DIDN'T NEED REPLACEMENT. I AM WRITING TO SEE IF IT IS APPROPRIATE THAT THEY DID NOT REPLACE MY AIR BAG, SINCE THE RECALL NOTICE SAYS "DEALER WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG INFLATOR WITH A NEW ONE." MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, AND THEIR DIAGNOSTIC TEST INDICATED A FAULT WITH THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE ME AROUND $800 TO CHANGE THE AIR BAG, AND I REFUSED AS I DON'T THINK I SHOULD PAY FOR A DEFECT THAT IS DUE TO THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2014
Aug 2013

I RECEIVED A NOTICE OF A RECALL FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG OF MY 2002 NISSAN SENTRA IN THE MAIL, WHICH INSTRUCTED ME TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS MADE FREE OF CHARGE. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND APPEARED AT THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE DEALER IS TELLING ME THAT THEY CANNOT COMPLETE THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE RECALL IS NOT YET ARCHIVED IN THEIR SYSTEM, AND THAT THE SYSTEM WILL TAKE ONE BUSINESS DAY TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THIS DIFFICULTY CONTRADICTS THE VERY NATURE OF A RECALL: TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. BECAUSE OF AN INADEQUACY OF THEIR "SYSTEM"--THEY ARE FULLY EQUIPPED MECHANICALLY TO DO THE REPAIR--I'M EXPECTED TO DRIVE HOME AND RETURN A DIFFERENT DAY WITH AN UNSAFE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2013
Sep 2012 Crash Injury

I WAS TRAVELING TO MY NEW HOME WHEN I REALIZED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN. I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES, BUT HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE THE CRASH CAUSED 4 FRACTURES IN MY RIGHT ANKLE AND FOOT.HAD THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, WOULD THEY HAVE HELD ME BACK IN MY SEAT AND LESSONED THE CRASH IMPACT ON MY FOOT/ANKLE? *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2012
Aug 2007 Crash Injury

ON AUGUST 14, 2007 AT 5:35 PM I WAS DRIVING NORTH ON SPARTA AVENUE IN A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. I WAS TRAVELING AT AN ESTIMATED 35 MILES PER HOUR. A JEEP CHEROKEE ON PINE TERRACE FAILED TO YIELD TO AT A STOP SIGN AND PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF MY CAR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT ONTO SPARTA AVENUE CAUSING A COLLISION. THE COLLISION RESULTED IN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF MY CAR THAT WAS IRREPARABLE; HOWEVER, MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2007
Jul 2006 Crash Injury

I WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH ON THE MENTIONED DATE. A LADY RAN A RED, YELLOW, OR A GREEN YIELD LIGHT. I SMASHED THE FRONT END OF MY CAR GOING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH INTO HER FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FENDER TOTALING MY CAR VALUED AT $10500. THE CAR WAS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA SER. MY MAIN COMPLAINT IS THE AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT ANY HEAD ON COLLISION GOING 10 MPH OR ABOVE, THE AIR BAGS SHOULD DEPLOY. PLEASE INFORM ME IF THIS IS TRUE AND WHAT MY OPTIONS ARE. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2006
Dec 2005 Crash Injury

AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING REAR-END HIGH SPEED IMPACT ACCIDENT. IN ADDITION, THE REAR WINDSHIELD GLASS EXPLODED SPRAYING THE INTERIOR WITH SMALL PIECES OF GLASS. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2005
Jun 2004 Crash Injury

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED LOWER BACK INJURIES. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2004
Oct 2003 Crash Injury

AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IMPACT AT 45 MPH FULL FRONTAL IMPACT CAR ELECTRONIC SYSTEM (COMPUTER) REGISTERED THAT THE BAGS HAS BEEN ACTIVATED. NO ELECTRIC/ELECTRONIC CONNECTION REGISTERS ON THE DASH BOARD INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IS OPERATIONAL. NOR DRIVER OR PASSENGER BAGS WERE ACTIVATED. *LA

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2003
Jul 2003 Crash

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: May 2003
Mar 2003

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2003

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2002 Nissan Sentra has 30 Air Bags complaints on file. 11 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.