2002 Nissan Sentra Engine
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH OR STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SHUTOFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP, THE SPARK PLUGS, THE FUEL FILTER AND THE EXHAUST PIPES. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
I WAS MADE AWARE RECENTLY( MARCH 2020) THAT THE CAM SENSOR IN MY CAR IS DEFECTIVE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PART IN 2004. AFTER CONTACTING THE NISSAN CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS, THEY INFORM ME THAT THEIR RECORDS SHOW THE RECALL REMEDY WAS SATISFIED IN 2004. I DO NOT REMEMBER BRINGING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP NOR DOES THE DEALERSHIP HAVE ANY RECORD THE RECALL WAS SATISFIED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE CODE: P0335 (CRANK SENSOR) ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CRANK SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY LOOSE POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS LOW SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS IDENTICAL TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE FLUCTUATED FROM HOT TO COLD AND THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMING OIL EXCESSIVELY AND HE COULD HE HEAR A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD ALLOWED DEBRIS TO ENTER THE PISTONS AND AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 121,000. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,686.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V527000(ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR FLOW SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 138,000.
NISSAN DENIES VEHICLE IS PART OF AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH OIL ISSUES THAT EFFECT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD A THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED AT 14,000 MILES, AND MULTIPLE RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED. NHTSA HAS THIS CASE ALREADY ON RECORD FOR THE CONTINUE PROBLEMS WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. DEFECTIVE ENGINE BUILD, NISSAN ATTEMPTS TO DEFLECT THE ISSUE TO THE DEALERS AND THEN BACK AGAIN. NISSAN CASE # [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
ENGINE STOPS RUNNING SUDDENLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON, AND WITH NO WARNING. THIS MAY HAPPEN WITHIN SECONDS OF STARTING THE ENGINE, AFTER A FEW MINUTES, AND SOMETIMES EVEN AS MUCH AS AN HOUR AFTER STARTUP. THE ENGINE RUNS SMOOTHLY WHEN IT RUNS, AND THERE IS NO WARNING WHEN IT STOPS RUNNING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS NOT ILLUMINATED (EXCEPT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING STARTUP), AND MY LOCAL SERVICE STATION CANNOT ISOLATE A PROBLEM THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS BEHAVIOR. *TR
THE CAR ENGINE STOPS WHEN AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AND EVERY TIME THAT I STOP . I HAVE TO RESTART IT TO PROCEED AND THIS HAPPENS VERY OFTEN AND VERY FRUSTRATING.. THANKS GOD THAT I HAVEN'T HAD ANYONE REAR-ENDED ME SO FAR. *TR
CAR STALLED AFTER COMING UP TO STOP SIGN. THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES. I HEARD IT COULD BE A CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILURE. ARE THERE ANY RECALLS ON THIS PARTICULAR PART? JULY 1ST 2013, MY BLOWER KNOB DID NOT TURN ON UNTIL I REACHED POSITION #4--THE REST DO NOT WORK, SO I CANNOT CONTROL HEATING, COOLING OR DEFROSTING. ANY RECALLS ON A BLOWER HEAT RESISTOR FAILURE? SEPTEMBER 2010, INTERMITTENT SPEED CONTROL ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN--ONGOING PROBLEM. JULY 3RD 2013, HEAT SHIELD BROKE IN TWO. ARE ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS ON A RECALL LIST? IF SO, WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE, SO I CAN GET THEM FIXED? ARE THERE ANY OTHER RECALLS, SUCH AS AIRBAGS, ETC.? *TR
I BEGAN TO HAVE TROUBLE WITH MY CAR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. I HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH A QUART OF OIL A DAY AND A TANK OF GAS IN A FEW DAYS. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE FOUND OUT THERE IS A RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS RECALL. I WAS IN THE MARINES AND WAS STATIONED AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT BASES. MY MOTHER?S ADDRESS WAS ALSO USED BY NISSAN BUT SHE NEVER RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION ON THE RECALL. I CONTACTED THE NISSAN DEALER IN NORFOLK NE. HE TOLD ME I HAD TO WAIT TWO WEEKS FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT. THE PEOPLE I DEALT WITH WERE RUDE AND UNPROFESSIONAL AND ACTED LIKE I WAS AN INCONVENIENCE. I DID NOT HAVE ANOTHER VEHICLE AND I AM IN SCHOOL AND HAVE WORK SO I CONTACTED NISSAN USA. AFTER SEVERAL PHONE CALLS I WAS ABLE TO GET AN APPOINTMENT IN SIOUX CITY IA. I HAD TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED AT MY EXPENSE TO SIOUX CITY. THEY LOOKED AT MY CAR AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WERE SHREDS OF METAL IN THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THEY STATED THEY WERE NOT GOING TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THEY STATED I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT TO BE REPLACED. IN THE RECALL THEY SAID IT WOULD BE REPLACED AT NISSANS EXPENSE, A TOW IF NECESSARY WOULD BE PAID AND A RENTAL VEHICLE WOULD BE PROVIDED. NONE OF THIS HAS HAPPENED. I WOULD LIKE ASSISTANCE WITH THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THE ENGINE SHOULD BE REPLACED BY NISSAN. I TOLD THEM WHAT WAS WRONG AND MY MECHANIC CALLED AND TOLD THEM AS WELL. THEY HAVE STILL ARE NOT WILLING TO PAY FOR THE ENGINE. *TR
CYLINDER HEAD GASKET BLOWN. CAR 100 MILES AWAY FROM HOME AND WILL NOT START. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC THAT DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WITH THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY REPLACING TWO SENSORS LOCATED AT THE TOP AND BOTTOM HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MECHANIC THEN ADVISED THAT THE REMEDY WAS TO REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 8/6/12 *CN UPDATED 08/14/2012 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE). THE CONTACT LATER BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE ISSUES WITH THE ENGINE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE BUT REFUSED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN FIRST STARTING THE VEHICLE, EXHAUST FUMES WOULD ENTER THE INTERIOR CABIN WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ECM NEEDED REPLACING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HAVING THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST CONFIRMED THAT THE ECM WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER THEN ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND NO ASSISTANCE WOULD BE PROVIDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NON-DRIVABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,500.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 15 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FAIL TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT AT THE DEALERS FOR FIVE MONTHS FOR EXTENSIVE DIAGNOSIS BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 2/28/11 *CN UPDATED 05/04/11
HELLO- I WANT TO KNOW WHY NISSAN DONT RECALLS THE SENTRA 2002 WITH 2.5L WITH THE SAME ENGINE AND CATALYST WITH THE SAME RECALL FROM 2006 SENTRA, BECAUSE MY CAR HAPPEN THE SAME PROBLEM OF OIL CONSUMPTION, I KNOW THEY CHANGE THE CATALYST FOR ANOTHER ONE BUT IS THE SAME THAT THE OLD ONE,NOT A RE-DESIGN CATALYST? THIS IS THAT RECALL FROM THE SENTRA 2006 THAT HAPPEN IN MY CAR 2002 1. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V223000 RECALL DATE: 2006-06-21 SUMMARY: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L ENGINES MAY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION AS A RESULT OF IMPROPER PERFORMANCE OF THE PISTON RINGS. CONSEQUENCES: IF THE OIL IS NOT MAINTAINED AT LEAST AT THE MINIMUM LEVEL, ENGINE DAMAGE CAN OCCUR AND IN EXTREME CASES RESULT IN AN ENGINE FIRE. REMEDY: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM OR ENGINE COMPUTER). YOUR VEHICLE WILL ALSO BE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE IF IT HAS BEEN CONSUMING ENGINE OIL AT A HIGHER THAN NORMAL RATE. IN A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF VEHICLES, ENGINE REPLACEMENT WILL BE NEEDED. ON JUNE 9, 2006, NISSAN NOTIFIED OWNERS OF THE POSSIBILITY OF EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING THE OIL AT A PROPER LEVEL. FOLLOW-UP LETTER TO OWNERS ADVISING THEM OF THE STATUS OF THE RECALL WAS SENT DURING AUGUST 2006. FOLLOWUP LETTER TO OWNERS WAS SENT ON NOVEMBER 15, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261. COMPONENT AFFECTED: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING POTENTIAL CARS AFFECTED: 85,000 NOTES: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC *TT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRANK AND CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,034 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,060.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY FAIL TO START AND WOULD OFTEN STALL WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND ABOVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ECM WAS FAULTY AND REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,650.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) BUT TO NO AVAIL AS THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSORS. THE LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSORS AND THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,191.
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Quick Summary
The 2002 Nissan Sentra has 121 Engine complaints on file. 2 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.