2003 Nissan Sentra Electrical System
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
I BOUGHT MY CAR AND THE DASHBOARD DOESN'T WORK ALL THE TIME. IT SUDDENLY STOPS AND GIVE 0 INFORMATION ABOUT SPEED, GAS, AND HEAT. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME 1000$ WHICH I CAN'T AFFORD. I THINK THIS IS A CAR PROBLEM NOT MY PROBLEM AND I WANT THEM TO FIX IT. CAN YOU HELP FOR MY SAFETY? *TR
WHILE DRIVING INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL SHUTS OFF THEN COMES BACK ON REPEATEDLY, SPEEDOMETER, OIL GAUGE, RPMS, WATER TEMP., ETC. CAR STAYS RUNNING BUT YOU CAN'T TELL WHAT YOUR SPEED OR RPMS ARE. BROUGHT TO NUMEROUS SHOPS AND DEALERS KNOW ONE CAN FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. *TR
MY CAR HAS STALLED 3 TIMES OVER THE PAST YEAR. ONE MINUTE I AM DRIVING, THE NEXT I AM COASTING. THANKFULLY, I WAS ALWAYS DRIVING SLOWLY WITH NO ONE BEHIND ME. IT STARTS RIGHT UP. NO "CODE" SHOWING UP FOR DIAGNOSTICS. I CALLED NISSAN RE: MULTIPLE RECALLS FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT CAN CAUSE STALLING, BUT THEY SAID MY CAR WASN'T PART OF THE RECALLS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN SENTRA GXE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD REPEATEDLY STALL ONCE RESTARTED. IN ADDITION, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BACK LIGHT WOULD FAIL ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED WITH ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO ADVISED THAT THE CENTRAL COMPUTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE THERMOSTAT AND THE IGNITION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED A RECALL PERTAINING TO THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V477000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT TO START. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE WHILE DRIVING AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PERSONAL MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS THEN INFORMED OF A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V477000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE) HOWEVER AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 97,000.
2003 NISSAN SENTRA HAD A RECALL ON A SENSOR, TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID IT WAS FINE THEY DIDN'T REPLACE IT. THREE WEEKS LATER THE CAR STOP RUNNING WHILE MY SON WAS DRIVING IT, WE HAD IT TAKEN TO THE SHOP AND THE SENSOR WAS THE PROBLEM IT COST ME 340.00. TWO YRS LATER THE SENSOR IS ACTING UP AGAIN SO I'M GOING TO HAVE TO FIX IT AGAIN IT WILL COST ANOTHER 340.00. *TR
WHILE DRIVING IN ROUTINE TRAFFIC, I FELT A JOLT, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON AND THE RPMS DROPPED RESULTING IN THE ENGINE STALLING. THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER ON THE FREEWAY TO THE SHOULDER. THE 2ND TIME THIS OCCURRED, I DIDN'T PULL OVER IN TIME AND THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WENT OUT MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE CAR TO TURN OFF. I AM USUALLY ABLE TO TURN THE CAR ON AFTER A MOMENT WITHOUT ISSUE. AT FIRST IT OCCURRED ONCE A WEEK AND NISSAN DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DIAGNOSE OR "RECREATE" THE ISSUE. THEN IT DIDN'T HAPPEN FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, AND NOW IT'S BEEN HAPPENING EXTREMELY FREQUENTLY AND SOMETIMES VERY DIFFICULT TO START THE CAR UP. MY SAFETY IS AT RISK BECAUSE THE ENGINE WILL JUST STOP, AND I'VE FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO GET OVER TO A SHOULDER, AND ON SOME PARTS OF THE FREEWAY THERE IS NO SHOULDER. I'VE TAKEN TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND EVEN WHEN THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON, THEY CLAIM THE COMPUTER DOES NOT PRODUCE ANY CODES AND CANNOT RECREATE THE ISSUE. I SUGGESTED A RECALL ON THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR AND THEY CLAIMED IT WAS NOT FOR MY CAR OR ENGINE TYPE. I'VE HAD TUNE UPS, OIL CHANGES, AND THEY DID A REPAIR INVOLVING A CARBON BUILD UP AND NOTHING HAS SOLVED THE ISSUE. I PERSONALLY RAN THE DIAGNOSTICS TODAY AND THE COMPUTER ISSUE A TROUBLE CODE FOR P0335 CRANKSHAFT SENSOR MALFUNCTION CIRCUIT A. I'D SAY THE CAR HAS STALLED ABOUT 20-25 TIMES IN ALMOST A YEAR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN SENTRA. THE " CHECK ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT BECAME ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM BE RESET. THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED THAT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM BE REPAIRED AT AN EXPENSE OF$1,000.00. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V477000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULES). THEY FURTHER STATED THAT THE FAILURES WERE DUE TO A CRACK ON THE SURFACE COATING ON ONE OF THE RESISTORS INSIDE THE ECM. THE GAS COULD CAUSE CORROSION OF THE RESISTOR, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR TO ILLUMINATE. IN ADDITION, THE FAILURE COULD CAUSE POOR DRIVABILITY (IDLE INSTABILITY, POOR ACCELERATION) OR THE ENGINE COULD STOP RUNNING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. UPDATED 12/16/08 *CN AT 32,000 MILES THE ODOMETER WAS REPLACED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF AND THE COAST FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS AND THE RETURN TO NORMAL. UPDATED 12/18/08. *JB *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE TACHOMETER FELL TO ZERO AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE IN GEAR THUS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DECREASE SPEED QUICKLY, THE ONLY WAY TO RESTART THE CAR WHILE IN MOTION IS TO BUMP START USING THE CLUTCH. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AFTER THIS INCIDENT. AFTER THIS MANY MISFIRES OCCURRED WHILE DRIVE INCLUDING STALLS WHILE DRIVING WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WILL STOP QUICKLY. I RESEARCHED ONLINE TO FIND THAT OTHER NISSAN MODELS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM THE SENTRA/ALTIMA. I ALSO CHECK SOME RECALLS AND IT DOES SHOW SOME SENTRAS AND ALTIMAS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED. HOWEVER WHEN I CONTACT BOTH THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND NISSAN NORTH AMERICA THEY SAID THAT THE 2003 NISSAN SENTRA SE-R SPEC V WAS NOT AFFECTED, AND THAT IT WAS REGULAR MAINTENANCE. I WILL TAKE MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND HAVE ALMOST CRASH 3 TIMES. I SUGGEST ALL WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM NOT TO DRIVE THEIR VEHICLE. *TR
I HAVE RECEIVED LETTERS OF "IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL NOTICE" STATING THAT MY VEHICLE HAS A DEFECT WHICH RELATES TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY. MY VEHICLE HAS STOPPED MORE THAN TWICE AND HAS COST ME MORE THAN $300.00 TO FIX. I HAD TAKEN IT TO THE MILLER NISSAN IN VAN NUYS CITY (818-787-8400) AND THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED BUT THEN THE "CHECK ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON AND CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO STOP IN THE FREEWAY ON MY WAY TO WORK. MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE SHOP FOR THE SAME REASON IT STOPPED ABOUT A YEAR AGO. I RECENTLY TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE MILE'S NISSAN IN VAN NUYS CITY BUT NOW THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME FOR A DEFECT ON THE CAR THEY SOLD TO ME. I AM CONSULTING WITH MY LAWYER TO TAKE FURTHER ACTIONS. *TR
VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING AT LOW SPEEDS AUTHORIZED NISSAN DEALER CONFIRMED FAILURE TO CRANK SENSOR DEALER REPLACED CRANK SENSOR AND COMPLETED ECM REFLASH I DO NOT HAVE THE OLD PART. HOWEVER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RUNNING FINE EVER SINCE THE REPAIR. NISSAN ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE SAME CONCERNS WHICH HAVE THE SAME REPAIR BUT STATES THAT ONLY 2002,2005,AND 2006 MODELS ARE AFFECTED. MY CAR IS A 2003 SENTRA SER AND WAS SUPPOSEDLY NOT AFFECTED. I DO NOT BUY INTO THAT RESPONSE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN SENTRA. EVERY TIME THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST SIX TIMES PER DAY WITHIN THE LAST YEAR. NISSAN STATED THAT HER VIN DID NOT FALL UNDER ANY RECALLS. THE PURCHASE DATE AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 79,586.
A FEW MONTHS AGO THE CARS RPM'S WOULD FLUCTUATE AND THE CAR WOULD BEGIN TO DIE. IF IT WAS STOPPED OR AT A SLOW SPEED IT WOULD DIE OUT. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN MANY ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS. I HAD THE PART REPLACED AND IT STILL DOES IT. NISSAN REFUSES TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY. IT HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES DURING THE DAY. *JB
I HAVE A 2003 NISSAN GXE SENTRA THAT CONTINUES HAVE PROBLEMS CRANKING. I HAVE ALREADY TAKEN THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND NISSAN REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP. NISSAN SAID IT WAS NOT A RECALL, IT WAS A BULLETIN. NOW I'M HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN JACKSON, MS WHERE I RECIEVED IT FROM. GRAY DANIELS NISSAN SOUTH JACKSON, MS. EVERY OIL CHANGE I TELLED THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM I'M HAVING. THE LAST TIME I TOOK MY CAR FOR SERVICE WAS ON A FRIDAY MORNING, I ADVISE THEM THAT I WAS PLLANNING TO GO OUT OF TIME THAT DAY, BEFORE I LEFT MY CAR WITH THEM. I ASK THEM SPECIFICALLY IF THEY WERE GONNA BE ABLE TO SERVICE MY CAR. THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD. I CALL BACK AROUND LUNCH AND NISSAN SAID THEY STILL HAVEN'T GOT TO MY CAR YET, DUE TO HIGH VOLUME OF RECALLS FOR THE NISSAN MURANO. I ADVISE NISSAN AGAIN THAT I WAS PLANNING ON GOING OUT OF TOWN TODAY. I RECEIVE NO CALL. I CALLED THEM AGAIN AT 4:00 PM. AND THEY STILL HAVEN'T SERVICE OR LOOK AT MY CAR. THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO LEAVE IT WITH THIM. I TOLD THEM EARLY THAT MORNING THAT I WAS PLANNING A ROAD TRIP FOR THAT DAY. I'M CONTINUING TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I ALSO RECEIVE A CALL FROM THERE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IF I WAS SATISFIED WITH THE SERVICE I RECEIVED. I REPLIED NO, BECAUSE THEY HAD MY CAR FROM 0730 TO 4:00 PM WITHOUT SERVICING MY CAR OR CALLING ME TO LET ME KNOW THAT IT WOULD NOT BE SERVICE. *AK
I CURRENTLY DRIVE A 2003 NISSAN SENTRA GXE, 1.8L 4CYL. CAR. (PURCHASED IN OR AROUND APRIL 2003 FROM UNIVERSAL NISSAN) ALMOST A YEAR AFTER BUY THE SENTRA I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WOULDN'T START OR IF IT DID START IT WOULD TAKE A WHILE TO START...MEANING I WOULD HAVE TO HOLD DOWN THE KEY WHILE IT TRIES TO CRANK ITSELF ON. I DO THIS ALL THE TIME & AT TIMES WHEN I FINALLY GET THE CAR TO START 3 TO 5 SECONDS WILL GO BY AND THE CAR WILL TURN OFF & I HAVE TO RESTART IT. SO I TOOK THE CAR INTO NISSAN OR ORANGE, CA AND THEY TOTALLY BLEW ME OFF, TELLING ME THAT THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE I DIDN'T NOTICED IF THE ENGIN LIGHT COME ON. WHICH LEADS ME HERE TODAY. MY CAR IS GETTING WORST...I NOTICED A NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #03V455000, NISSAN RECALL #R3022 AND A NUMBER FOR NISSAN I CALL NISSAN (JAN. 26, 2005) AND I'M TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR MY CAR BECAUSE I DRIVE A 1.8L 4 CYL CAR AND NOT THE CAR THEY HAVE ON THEIR RECALL LIST WHICH IS 2.5L 4CYL. THE GUY ONLY MAKES A FILE FOR ME AND UPDATES MY ADDRESS. THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME EXCEPT UPDATE MY PERSONAL INFORMATION. I TELL THE REP. THAT I NOTICED ON ANOTHER WEBSITE THAT MY CAR MAKE AND MODEL WAS AFFECTED BY THE RECALL AND THEY DIDN'T EVEN RESEACH IT. THE INFORMATION WAS FOUND ON WWW.ALLDATA.COM TSB NUMBER 03-124 ISSUED DECEMBER 2003 - SAFETY RECALL - TSB TITLE RECALL- ENGIN SENSOR REPLACEMENT FOR 2003 NISSAN SENTRA 1.8L 4 CYL CARS. I MEAN IT'S THE SAME TYPE OF RECALL THAT'S ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP.*AK
WHILE DRIVING THE LIGHT, HORN AND HAZARD LIGHTS FAILED. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NLM
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Quick Summary
The 2003 Nissan Sentra has 18 Electrical System complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.