121 complaints reported

2002 Nissan Sentra Engine

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

Reports
121
Crashes
2
Fires
3
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Apr 2011 Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HERE WAS A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AS IT STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE SINCE IT HAD FAILED AS A RESULT OF THE LINING FAILURE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE LINING UNDER NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 07V527000 ( ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED NOR WAS THE FAILURE CORRECTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 159,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2011
Oct 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP REGARDING RECALL 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE INSULATION IN THE ECM. THE CONTACT ASKED THE DEALER TO INSPECT THE ECM TO MAKE SURE IT WAS FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY AND WAS BILLED FOR THE INSPECTION; HOWEVER, THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD CALL HER BACK. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2010
Aug 2010

1. THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. I COULDN'T START THE ENGINE UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS COOLED OFF. 2. IT OCCURRED ONCE, BUT IT IS STRONGLY BELIEVED TO BE RELATED TO A PREVIOUS CAMPAIGN (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V527000 AND 06V223) THE CONDITION, EVENTS AND THE CONSEQUENCES ARE THE SAME. 3. A MECHANIC FIXED THE CONDITION BY REPLACING THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR, BUT I AM NOT SURE THE VEHICLE IS IN FAIR CONDITION. AIR FLOW METER WAS ALSO REPLACED ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT STRONGLY CORRELATED WITH THE I HAVE CONTACTED THE NISSAN USA AND A DEALER (DARCARS NISSAN), BUT I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NO CAMPAIGN FOR MY VEHICLE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2010
Aug 2010

BOUGHT NISSAN BRAND NEW IN 2002. THIS CAR IS ONLY 8 YEARS OLD WITH 75,000 MILES. FIRST THE CAR STARTED JERKING WHEN IT SITS STILL AT STOP SIGNS AND TRAFFIC LIGHTS. TOOK THE CAR TO MAINTENANCE SHOP AND PAID TO HAVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER REMOVED AND REPLACED. HOWEVER, AFTER A FEW MONTHS, IN APRIL THE CAR STARTS JERKING AGAIN. PAID TO HAVE THE IGNITION COILS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP. CAR ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON AND CAR STILL JERKING. CONTACTED NISSAN CORPORATION AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. NOW THE DEALERSHIP REPLACES THE EGR VALVE AND 02 SENSOR. CAR ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON AND CAR STILL JERKING AS IF POSSESSED AS OF AUGUST 20, 2010. MONEY, MONEY AND MORE MONEY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2010
Aug 2010

I BOUGHT A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA SE-R WITH APPROXIMATELY 70K MILES ON IT. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING FINE, HOWEVER, AT APPROXIMATELY 72K MILES IT STARTED BURNING OIL AND I HAD TO PUT OIL IN THE ENGINE ONCE A WEEK. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WERE THEY REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTED DUE TO A RECALL, BUT DID NOT STATE THAT THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED TO THAT DEFECTIVE PART. I ASKED ABOUT AN ENGINE RECALL BUT NEVER RECEIVED AN ANSWER FROM THEM AS THEY SAID THE CAR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND HAD NO WARRANTS UNDER RECALL. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2008
Aug 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK TUBE WOULD FRACTURE EVERY ONE TO TWO YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TUBE WAS REPLACED WITH A NEWER ONE AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT ON HOW TO REMOVE THE BROKEN DIPSTICK. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2006
Aug 2010

VEHICLE MOTOR STOPPED ABRUPTLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHILE CONTINUING TO COAST. VEHICLE ALSO STOPPED WHILE IDLING AT INTERSECTIONS. BATTERY MAINTAINED FULL CRANKING POWER, BUT RESTARTING THE ENGINE SUCCESSFULLY TOOK ANYWHERE FROM 5- 30 MINUTES. ABRUPT ENGINE STOP OCCURRED AT A RATE OCCURRING BETWEEN TWO MINUTES AND AN HOUR OF DRIVING. MOTOR CONTINUED TO STOP ON ROAD, LEAVING CAR TO COAST SLOWLY OR BE BRAKED WITHOUT POWER BRAKES FOR SEVERAL DAYS UNTIL VEHICLE WAS SERVICED. WHEN CAR STOPPED WHILE IDLED AT INTERSECTIONS, IT HAD TO BE PUSHED FROM BEHIND OUT OF THE INTERSECTION WHILE IN NEUTRAL GEAR. TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. THIS WAS THE SAME SENSOR THAT WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN 03V455000 DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. SINCE THE REPAIR, THE CAR NO LONGER STALLS AT HIGHWAY SPEED. I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF NISSAN NORTH AMERICA THAT THE RECALLED PART REPLACEMENT IS NOT UNDER RECALL AND THE BILL FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WILL NOT BE REIMBURSED. AS SUCH, THE REPLACED CRANKSHAFT SENSOR APPEARS TO HAVE THE SAME GROUNDS FOR RECALL AS THE ORIGINAL PART THAT WAS RECALLED. THE DEFECTIVE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WAS DISCARDED BY THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER SERVICE CENTER AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: May 2010
Aug 2010

THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THAT MY ENGINE HAS CUT OFF DUE TO A MALFUNCTION OF THE BUTTERFLY SCREWS ON THE INTAKE VALVE OF MY 2002 NISSAN SENTRA SE-R SPEC V. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN CORPORATE ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THEY HAVE ISSUED A RECALL ON THE 2003 AND UP MODELS BUT REFUSE TO ISSUE THE RECALL ON THE 2002 MODEL. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A HIGHWAY CRASH ON TWO OCCASIONS AS WELL AS CONTINUOUS DAMAGE TO MY ENGINE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2010
Aug 2010

THIS IS PERTAINING TO AN EXISTING CAMPAIGN (#03V084000). I BOUGHT A USED 2002 NISSAN SENTRA SER SPEC-V IN MAY 2007. SHORTLY AFTER MY PURCHASE (JUNE 2007), I HAD THIS OUTSTANDING RECALL, INCLUDING SEVERAL OTHERS PERFORMED. THE ABOVE RECALL STATES THAT THE PRE-CATALYST COULD OVERHEAT AND DISINTEGRATE, BLOWING PARTICULATE INTO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER, SCORING THE CYLINDER WALLS, AND CAUSE EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE, REQUIRING ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THERE WAS APPROX. 65,000 MILES ON THE CAR AT THIS POINT. LAST FEBRUARY, I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE HIGHWAY WHEN I SUDDENLY LOST POWER. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND FOUND THE ENGINE WOULD BARELY RUN AND WOULD NOT REV OVER 2000 RPM. I HAD THIS CAR TOWED 20 MILES TO MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PRE-CATALYST THAT I HAD ALREADY HAD REPLACED ON THE RECALL, HAD DISINTEGRATED, PLUGGING MY EXHAUST, BLOWING CHUNKS OF DEBRIS INTO MY ENGINE, THEREFORE DESTROYING THE ENGINE. I WAS TOLD I'D NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE AT A COST OF $4300.00. THIS CAR ONLY HAD ANOTHER 50,000 MILES ON IT AFTER THE INITIAL RECALL WORK WAS DONE. SINCE WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS VEHICLE WAS EXACTLY WHAT THE ORIGINAL RECALL WAS SUPPOSED TO PREVENT, I WENT TO NISSAN, REQUESTING THAT THEY STAND BEHIND THIS OBVIOUS DESIGN DEFECT AND AT THE VERY LEAST ASSIST ME IN REPLACING THIS ENGINE. I WAS GIVEN SEVERAL DIFFERENT STORIES RANGING FROM ACCUSATION THAT I DID NOT MAINTAIN THIS VEHICLE (EVEN THOUGH I DO SO RELIGIOUSLY AT NISSAN DEALERSHIPS) TO STATING THE DEALER I HAD THE WORK PERFORMED AT WAS AT FAULT AND I SHOULD PURSUE RESTITUTION FROM THEM, TO THE FACT THE CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND I WAS SOL AND THIS WAS 'NORMAL' WEAR AND TEAR. NOW, I CAN UNDERSTAND NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR BUT NO CATALYTIC CONVERTER SHOULD BE DESIGNED SO THAT IT WILL DESTROY AN ENGINE IF IT FAILS AND THIS WAS SUPPOSEDLY ADDRESSED IN THE ABOVE CAMPAIGN.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2010
Jul 2010

THE CAR JUST STARTED CUTTING OFF. FIRST MECHANIC SAID BAD GAS, DID COMPUTER CHECK NOTHING. WOULD CUT OFF TURNING, FULL IDLE TO SILENT CUT OFF. NOW DOES IT ON START UP. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2010
Jun 2010

WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 NISSAN SENTRA IT SHUTS OFF NO MATTER THE SPEED NOW. STARTED ONLY WHEN I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT, SIGN,OR GOING AT A SLOW SPEED. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR 3 YEARS, HAVE THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR CHANGED, FUEL FILTER, AND STILL STOPPING. ALSO THE OIL DIP STICK KEEP BREAKING OFF. MOST RECENT SEPT 5, 2010 NOW CAR WON'T START. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: May 2010
Apr 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA GXE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED RECALL 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND STATED THAT THE REPAIR WORK WAS PERFORMED IN 2004. HOWEVER, WHEN SHE WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. SHE COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD IT TOWED TO HER HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAM AND CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WERE DEFECTIVE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AFTER THE FIRST REPAIR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 176,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2010
Apr 2010

MY 2002 NISSAN SENTRA WILL STOP RUNNING, SHUT OFF WHEN IN LOW SPEED. THIS STARTED ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE IS NOT RECALL ON MY CAR. BUT I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, WHEN TRYING TO FIND A FIX FOR MY PROBLEM. I ALSO HAVE HAD THREE DIP STICK COME OFF INTO THE DIP STICK HOLDER. 12/4/08. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2009
Dec 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE FLUIDS LEAKED OUT THROUGH THE TAIL PIPE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE); HOWEVER, THE CONTACT HAS NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS REPAIR. THE FAILURE IS CURRENTLY WORSE THAN EVER. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,981.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2009
Nov 2009

CATALYTIC CONVERTER DEPOSITS GO BACK INTO ENGINE SCORING THE CYLINDER WALLS. ENGINE BURNING OIL, POTENTIAL FIRE AND ENGINE SEIZURE. NISSAN SAYS NHTSA CAMPAIGN 03V084000 WAS PERFORMED. RECENT DIAGNOSIS SHOWS CODE PO 420, PROBLEM NOT FIXED. NHTSA NEEDS TO ISSUE ANOTHER RECALL. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2009
Oct 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. AFTER THE FAILURE,THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. A MECHANIC CONCLUDED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED. SHE CONTACTED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL# 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING).HER VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND MILEAGES WERE 145,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2009
Oct 2009

2002 NISSAN SENTRA, 73000 MILES. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED-- AND HAVE PUMPED OUT LESS THAN 800 MILES BEFORE THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED TO ME. BASICALLY, THE CAR STALLS OUT, HAS LOW ACCELERATION BEFORE PARKING. HERE'S THE KICKER--- THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS EVERY WEEK... BUT NOT EVERYDAY. I TOOK THIS CAR TO THE BFIT A LOCAL CAR UNIVERSITY-- WHO LOOKED AT THE CAR INSIDE AND OUT... THEY NOTED THAT I SHOULD REPLACE THE MAST AIR HEAD FOR $600 WHICH I DID. BUT LESS THAN A DAY LATER-- SAME PROBLEM.. THE CAR STALLS OUT. I DECIDED THEN I NEEDED TO TAKE IT TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THING... I NEED A NEW MAST-HEAD! I TOLD THEM I HAVE A NEW MASTHEAD-- AND THEY SAID THEY WILL JUST "CLEAR OUT THE COMPUTER CODES." GUESS WHAT? A WEEK LATER THE CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN BOSTON TRAFFIC. THE BEAUTY OF THE PROBLEM, THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY IF YOU TURN OFF AND TURN BACK THE MACHINE ON. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND AT THIS POINT, THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT AS THEY KEPT IT THE DEALERSHIP FOR 1 AND A HALF WEEKS. BUT I KNOW THE PROBLEM: HTTP://WWW.ACTIVETUNING.COM/BLOG2/2006/02/28/NISSAN-ALTIMA-CRANK-SENSOR-RECALL-BEING-REVIEWED/ HELP== A NATIONAL RECALL MUST OCCUR BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2009
Aug 2009

OUR 2002 1.3L ENGINE NISSAN SENTRA SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS LEFT THE CAR UNCONTROLLABLE AND UNRESPONSIVE. POWER STEERING WAS IMPAIRED AND SAFE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPROMISED. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE ECM CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WAS IDENTIFIED AS "MIS-READING" THE CONDITION OF THE CAR. IT TURNS OUT THAT THIS INCIDENT IS IDENTICAL TO THE FAILURE OF THE 2002 2.5L NISSAN SENTRA CRANKSHAFT SENSOR UNDER RECALL 07V527000. OUR CAR IS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL, THOUGH THE PART, SYSTEM, AND FAILURE ARE THE SAME. THIS ISSUE WILL BE FIXED AT MY EXPENSE INITIALLY, BUT THIS ISSUE COULD CAUSE MANY SAFETY ISSUES AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2009
Jul 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED AND SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT BEGAN EXPERIENCING IDLING ISSUES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND INSPECTED BY A TECHNICIAN, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $370. THREE DAYS LATER, WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AND FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND DROVE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ECM WAS FAILING. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 75,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2009
Jul 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE FAILED ITS EMISSIONS INSPECTION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE O2 SENSOR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A PERSONAL MECHANIC AND HAD THE O2 SENSOR REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE STILL HAS NOT PASSED EMISSIONS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 153,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2008
Jun 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THERE WAS A LOW POWER RESPONSE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MISFIRE. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THAT THE VEHICLE BE INSPECTED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE POWER VALVE WITHIN THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 92,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2009
May 2009

2002 NISSAN SENTRA HAS A STALLING PROBLEM FOLLOWED BY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. *NJ THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED A RECALL EXISTED FOR THE STALLING HE EXPERIENCED. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE ECM, HOWEVER A YEAR LATER THE STALLING OCCURRED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE ECM SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED RATHER THAN REPROGRAMMED. RECALL # 07V527000. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2007
Mar 2009

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE DIPSTICK BROKE IN THE ORDINARY COURSE OF STANDARD MAINTENANCE OF THE OIL IN THE CAR AND THE BROKEN DIPSTICK FELL IN, RESULTING IN A $250-$300 REPAIR (TO RETRIEVE THE DIPSTICK FROM THE ENGINE AND REPLACE THE DIPSTICK). THE DIPSTICK IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE, AS A BRIEF INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS HUNDREDS OF NISSAN SENTRA OWNER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS EXACT PROBLEM, INCLUDING NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITER (OVER SEVERAL MODEL YEARS). THIS DIPSTICK, WITH ITS FLIMSY PLASTIC PART, IS CLEARLY NOT SUITABLE FOR ITS INTENDED PURPOSE AND CAN ULTIMATELY RESULT IN A DANGEROUS ENGINE FAILURE. NISSAN IS TRYING TO AVOID RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM BY SAYING THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE, IN MY CASE, THE DIPSTICK BROKE WHEN IT WAS BEING HANDLED BY AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE STATION, RATHER THAN BY NISSAN SERVICE. THIS RESPONSE IS ABSURD SINCE THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED EPISODE AND SINCE DIPSTICKS ARE MEANT TO BE USED IN GAS STATIONS AND IN CAR OWNERS' OWN GARAGES AND DRIVEWAYS. NOBODY TAKES THEIR CAR BACK TO THE CAR MANUFACTURER TO CHECK THE OIL. THAT IS LIKE SAYING THAT IF THE GAS TANK IS DEFECTIVE, NISSAN WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR BECAUSE GAS WAS PUT IN THE CAR AT A GAS STATION INSTEAD OF AT A NISSAN DEALER. APPARENTLY, EVEN JIFFY LUBE HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH NISSAN ON THIS FRONT AS WELL. IT WAS NECESSARY FOR US TO PROCEED WITH THE REPAIR IMMEDIATELY AND AT OUR OWN EXPENSE, SINCE THE BROKEN DIPSTICK IN THE ENGINE WAS OBSTRUCTING THE ENTRY OF A NEW DIPSTICK AND ALSO DISTORTING THE MEASUREMENT OF THE OIL. THUS, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW IF THE CAR NEEDED OIL, AND RUNNING THE CAR WITH INSUFFICIENT OIL WOULD HAVE FURTHER DAMAGED THE ENGINE. THIS COULD ULTIMATELY RESULT IN ENGINE FAILURE AND AN ACCIDENT. WE HAD THE DIPSTICK REPAIR DONE AT A LOCAL NISSAN DEALER AND ARE SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR (BUT, AS STATED ABOVE, NISSAN HAS REFUSED TO REIMBURSE US). THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2009
Dec 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA SE-R. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE OIL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT DROVE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM TO ADD MORE OIL IN THE VEHICLE. THE OIL LEAKAGE BECAME A PERSISTENT ISSUE. ONE YEAR LATER, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE PISTON RINGS, HEAD JOB, AND CRANKSHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 180,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2007
Dec 2008

MY 2002 NISSAN SENTRA W/ 1.8 ENGINE STARTED DYING AT LOW SPEEDS. MY MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A KNOWN DEFECT OF THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR & A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE 2.5L ENGINE, BUT NOT FOR MY 1.8L ENGINE. IT COST ME $408 TO FIX. HERE IS THE 2002 NISSAN SENTRA DEFECT SUMMARY: 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. DEFECT 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. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2008

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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.