Nissan Sentra Complaints (2002)
318 consumer complaints on file.
- #10233108July 3, 2008ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NUMEROUS RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE WITH THE SAME FAILURE THAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY OF THE RECALLS; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD NOT BE REIMBURSED FOR ANY OF THE REPAIRS RELATED TO THOSE RECALLS. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT HIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS SINCE HE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURES. THE VIN AND RECALL NUMBERS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10229855June 4, 2008VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
THE ACCELERATOR FREEZES FREQUENTLY. WHEN IT BECOMES UNSTUCK, THE CAR LURCHES EITHER FORWARD OR BACKWARD DEPENDING ON WHICH GEAR IT'S IN. I HAVE HAD SOME NEAR MISSES WITH OTHER AUTOS AND STRUCTURES. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10229577June 2, 2008ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
2002 NISSAN SENTRA WITH ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO PRE-CATALYTIC CONVERTER. CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE. HE STATES THAT HE WASN'T EVEN INFORMED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED UNBURNED FUEL IS BURNED IN THE PRE-CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. WHEN THE UNBURNED FUEL WAS BURNED IT CAUSED DISINTEGRATION. IT WAS THEN SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING CYLINDER WALL DAMAGE, WHICH RESULTED IN THE ENGINE BURNING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL. THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM WHICH COST HIM THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10229233May 29, 2008ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
HI, MY NAME IS [XXX] . I HAVE A COMPLAINT/RECOMMENDATION ABOUT THE MANNER IN WHICH A VEHICLE RECALL IS BEING HANDLED/PERFORMED. I AM THE OWNER OF A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA SE-R SPEC V. THIS VEHICLE HAS/HAD A RECALL IN PLACE TO FIX A CONDITION THAT WOULD LEAD TO UNREPAIRABLE ENGINE FAILURE. THE CONDITION YOU MAY BE AWARE OF AS A PRE-CAT (CATALYTIC CONVERTER LOCATED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IN ADDITION TO THE MAIN ONE) FAILURE CONDITION. BASICALLY UNBURNED FUEL IS BURNED IN THE PRE-CAT RESULTING IN ITS DISINTEGRATION. IT IS THEN SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING CYLINDER WALL DAMAGE. THIS CONDITION RESULTS IN THE ENGINE BURNING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL, A FURTHER DEGRADE IN COMPRESSION OVER TIME AND OVERALL ENGINE FAILURE BEFORE IT SHOULD EXPIRE UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. THIS SITUATION HAPPENED TO ME AND I WAS NOTIFIED IN ANY MANOR AT ANY TIME ABOUT ANY RECALL EVEN DURING SERVICE FOR THE RECALLED ITEM. THIS REPAIR WAS IN EXCESS OF A THOUSAND DOLLARS. AT WHICH TIME I WAS TOLD NOTHING ABOUT THE PARTICLES BEING SUCKED INTO MY ENGINE CAUSING MY THE ENGINE WEAR WHICH CAUSED THE OIL CONDITION. AT THE VERY LEAST I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE RECALL AT THE TIME OF REPAIR AND OF MY OIL BEING CONTAMINATED. INSTEAD I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE FINE TO DRIVE 100+ MILES TO MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP. IT WOULD OF GREAT HELP IS YOU COULD LOOK INTO THIS MATTER OR MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW ELSE THIS WOULD BE BEST HANDLED? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10228353May 20, 2008ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE UP AN EXIT RAMP, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL. THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED COMPLETELY. THE CONTACT HAD TO WAIT FIVE MINUTES TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE HOME. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 15,000. UPDATED 07/10/08. *LJ UPDATED *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10226491May 2, 2008ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. WHEN THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, HE HAD THE OIL CONSUMPTION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM INSPECTED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BURNING LARGE AMOUNTS OF OIL, CAUSING THE PISTON RINGS TO WEAR DOWN. HE WAS ALSO INFORMED OF A RECALL WITH THIS IDENTICAL FAILURE, WHICH STATED THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO REPLACE THE PARTS AS WELL AS INSTALL A CATALYST. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER TO SEE IF HE COULD HAVE THIS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL, BUT THEY STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000. UPDATED 5/20/08 *CN UPDATED 05/20/08
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10223869March 31, 2008ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA S-ER. THREE YEARS AGO, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT IT COULD BE DUE TO VARIOUS COMPONENTS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED THE REST OF THE DAY. THE DEALER ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A CRACK IN THE WIRING HARNESS. THE COST TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS WAS $1,800, DOES NOT INCLUDE LABOR OR GUARANTEE THAT THE FAILURE WOULD BE CORRECTED. THREE YEARS LATER, IN MARCH OF 2008, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE ECM, WHICH STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD SHUT OFF. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL AS LONG AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE MECHANICS WERE NOT QUALIFIED THREE YEARS AGO. THEY LEFT BLOWN AND LOOSE FUSES IN THE ENGINE AND ALSO DISCONNECTED THE WIRING HARNESS. THE CONTACT PAID OVER $400 TO HAVE THE O2 SENSORS REPLACED AND THEY HAVE FAILED AGAIN. THE ECM REPAIR WAS ONLY GUARANTEED UNDER WARRANTY FOR 80,000 MILES; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 83,000 MILES. THE ECM REPAIR WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY THREE YEARS AGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS FOR A FAILURE THAT WAS IMPROPERLY DIAGNOSED THREE YEARS AGO. THERE ARE INVOICES AVAILABLE THAT INDICATE THE SAME COMPUTER READING THAT WAS DISPLAYED THREE YEARS AGO IS THE SAME READING THAT IS DISPLAYED TODAY. THE COMPLAINT IS RELATED TO HAVING TO PAY FOR A FAILURE THAT WAS COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY AND IMPROPERLY DIAGNOSED. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10222453March 27, 2008ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. OCCASIONALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, BUT SOMETIMES IT WOULD START, SHUT OFF, AND THEN FAIL TO RESTART. THE DEALER'S FINAL DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THERE WAS COMPUTER FAILURE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03477000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE) WAS REFERENCED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10222285March 25, 2008EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
MY TURNS SIGNALS AND HAZARDS FLASH UNIT INTERMITTENTLY WORK. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10221929March 21, 2008ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE FAILED AND THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A MECHANIC. NISSAN STATED THAT IT WOULD COST BETWEEN $400 AND $500 TO DISSECT THE ENGINE AND LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 107,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10221028March 13, 2008ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
MY CAR SUDDENLY STALLS AND I HAVE REDUCED ENGINE POWER. THE CAR TENDS TO STALL MORE AFTER IT RAINS AND IT COULD STALL FOR WEEKS OR MONTHS AND THAN IT WILL STOP BUT IT IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. I HAVE TAKEN FOR REPAIRS THREE TIMES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I SEE THERE ARE RECALLS FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS IN THE 2001 & 2003 NISSAN SENTRA DUE TO A DEFECTIVE CRANK SENSOR. I AM NOT SURE OF THE EXACT DATE THIS PROBLEM STARTED BUT I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS ENGINE FAILING PROBLEM ON AND OFF FOR SOMETIME. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10215799January 23, 2008ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING. THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE ECM WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS CORRECTED FOR TWO WEEKS. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CRANKSHAFT ALSO NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS AN EXCESSIVE OIL AND ANTIFREEZE LEAK THAT COULD ALSO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10214711January 14, 2008LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE DOORS HAVE "UNLOCKED" WITHOUT ANY REASON OR ACTION BEING TAKEN. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10214340January 9, 2008ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA SE-R. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN ILLUMINATING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE EXHAUST BEGAN SMOKING. THE MUFFLER WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM: MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE). THE DEALER STATED THAT BECAUSE THE MUFFLER WAS REPAIRED BY ANOTHER SHOP, THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING INCREASED OIL CONSUMPTION, EXCESSIVE SMOKING, AND MADE A KNOCKING SOUND. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 64,439.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10207361October 29, 2007ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY VEHICLE WOULD CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK IT TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE RECALLS R3022 (CRANK POSITION SENSOR) AND THE INSIDE LINING OF THE ECM BOX REMOVED. BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE ECM BOX FROM THE LINING BY ECM BOX HAS TO BE UNJUSTLY FIXED AT MY OWN EXPENSE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10206398October 20, 2007FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
THE OXYGEN SENSORS IN MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA COMPLETELY BROKEN AWAY FROM THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. (NOT AT THE BOLT, BUT AT THE WELDED OR FUSED END) THIS IS ALLOWING EXHAUST FUMES TO FILL THE INSIDE OF THE CAB OF THE AUTOMOBILE CAR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10205984October 17, 2007FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
CAR STALLS WHEN DRIVING. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10205986October 17, 2007ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR STALLS WHEN DRIVING. I FIRST BROUGHT THIS CAR IN AT 36K MILES STATING IT WAS DIFFICULT TO START. I WAS TOLD IT WAS FINE. THE DEALER NOTED IT WAS DIFFICULT TO START AT 65K MILES. I HAD NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR IN THE FIRST 36K MILES. THOSE APPEARED TO BE RESOLVED. AT 97K MILES IT BEGAN TO REFUSE TO START RANDOMLY. NOW IT TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER STATES THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ECM UNIT. I FEEL THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART THAT WAS INSTALLED WITH THE CAR. A CAR TURNING OFF WHILE IT IS DRIVING IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO EVERY CAR ON THE ROAD. THE DEALER REP TELLS ME THIS UNIT FREQUENTLY GOES OUT ON THESE CARS. THIS CREATES AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10206157October 17, 2007ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY CAR STALLED OUT ON ROAD TWICE. THE MIL CAME ON; ECM FAILED. NISSAN OF UNION CITY, GA, DIAGNOSED ECM FAILURE; SAID NEEDED REPLACEMENT. I THEN FOUND THERE IS A RECALL CONCERNING "SULFUR" THAT COULD CAUSE CORROSION OF ECM; NISSAN NEVER NOTIFIED ME OF SUCH. THEY TOLD ME THEY'D PERFORM THE FOAM AND CRANK SENSOR RECALLS; THEY DIDN'T AS FOUND OUT LATER. ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT THE ECM REPLACEMENT WOULD BE COVERED IF THERE WAS BURNING OR MELTING OF THE FOAM AROUND ECM. I ARGUED THAT "BURNING OR MELTING" IS NOT REQUIRED FOR ECM FAILURE SINCE RECALL STATED FAILURES WERE CAUSED BY FOAM RELEASING SULFUR GAS DURING CURING. I CONTACTED NISSAN NA AND TOLD THEM MY ARGUMENT THAT NISSAN SHOULD COVER THE ECM COST SINCE THEY NEVER NOTIFIED ME OF THE RECALL AND THAT THE DEALERS EXPLANATION FOR ECM FAILURE DIDN'T MAKE SENSE ACCORDING TO RECALL. IF THE ECM'S FAIL DUE TO SULFUR OUT GASSING DURING CURING, HE CANNOT HE SAY FAILURE OF THE ECM WAS NOT DUE TO THE RECALL DUE TO LACK OF BURNING OR MELTING OF THE FOAM. AFTER MUCH DELAY, NISSAN NA FINALLY TOLD ME ABOUT 16 DAYS LATER THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO COVER COST OF ECM REPLACEMENT BECAUSE DEALER SAID THE ECM FAILURE WAS DUE TO AGE AND MILEAGE. THIS IS NOT LOGICAL. I REPLACED ECM. WHEN I TOOK APART MY ECM BOX, I NOTICED THEY ONLY TOOK THE FOAM FROM ABOVE THE ECM AND NOT FOAM BELOW ECM AND VIDEO TAPED. RECALL CALLS FOR TAKING OUT BOTH FOAMS FROM ECM BOX. IT'S OBVIOUS THEY NEVER TOOK OUT ECM TO INSPECT TO SAY "THERE IS NO BURNING OR MELTING". THEY FAILED TO PROPERLY PERFORM THE RECALL. I CONTACTED NISSAN NA ABOUT THIS FAILURE, BUT THEY SAID MY CASE WAS CLOSED. JUST TODAY, MY CAR STALLED OUT AGAIN AFTER NEW ECM, AND IT HAD AN ERROR CODE FOR A CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR MALFUNCTION. THEY CLAIM TO HAVE PERFORMED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR RECALL. BUT CRANKSHAFT SENSOR IN MY CAR LOOKS AS OLD AS CAR. I BELIEVE THEY DIDN'T PERFORM THAT RECALL AS WELL. I THINK NISSAN IS USING FOAM RECALL TO COVER UP BAD ECM'S FROM 2000-2003 AND MAKE MONEY. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10205584October 13, 2007ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OIL DIP STICK BROKE ON 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. WITH ONLY ABOUT 60,000 MILES ON THE NISSAN SENTRA, THE PLASTIC OIL DIP STICK BROKE OFF INSIDE THE TUBE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A NISSAN DEALER FOR REPAIRS AT A AN OUT OUTRAGEOUS COST OF $380.63. CHECKING THE INTERNET, I FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. IT SURELY APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE DIP STICK AND NISSAN SHOULD INITIATE A RECALL TO REPLACE EXISTING OIL STICKS MADE OF PLASTIC. ADDITIONAL, NISSAN SHOULD REIMBURSE THE OWNERS WHO HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR THIS REPAIR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0