Nissan Sentra Complaints (2002)

318 consumer complaints on file.

#10167535September 7, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10167298September 4, 2006
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
STEERING IS STIFF WHEN TURNING ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER. TOOK TO WINDSOR, CANADA DEALERSHIP AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS RACK AND PINION. DID STEERING FLUID FLUSH TO SEE IF IT WOULD CLEAR UP. IT IMPROVED SLIGHTLY (WEATHER IS WARM NOW) BUT IS STILL A PROBLEM. I AM 60, DO NOT DRIVE ON BAD ROADS, DO NOT ABUSE CAR. REGULAR CHECK UPS AND OIL CHANGES HAVE BEEN DONE. WAS ASSURED CAR WOULD STILL BE SAFE TO DRIVE, JUST BE CAREFUL WHEN TURNING. HAVE NEGOTIATED WITH COMPANY FOR A DISCOUNT AS THIS IS EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND CANNOT AFFORD AT THIS TIME. WILL GET 10% DISCOUNT WHEN I CAN AFFORD TO DO IT. CAR HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT AND I WONDER WHY A MAJOR PART HAS GONE WRONG AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE. THIS BRAND WAS RECOMMENDED AS A LOW REPAIR CAR AND I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED. I BOUGHT CAR IN DEARBORN, MI.....LATER MOVED TO CANADA. DEALERSHIP IN WINDSOR, ON, CANADA IS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166247August 22, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
JUNE 15 , 2006 - I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND ALL OF SUDDEN , CAR STALLED . TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THEY REPLACED THE EMC. IT RAN FINE FOR 2 MONTHS . TODAY AGAIN IT STALLED . LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. TAKING IT TO THE DEALER FOR CHECKUP ON THURSDAY. TALKED TO THE DEALER, AS OF TODAY NO RECALL IS DUE ON MY CAR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165304August 12, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE BOTH DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, CAR SHUTS OFF ENTIRELY. SOMETIMES NOT STARTING AGAIN. HAVE HAD CAR TOWED TO MECHANIC AND MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR REPLACED AND ON A DIFFERENT OCCASION THE CAM SENSOR RESET. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. NEVER RECEIVED A SINGLE RECALL NOTICE; WARRANTY PERIOD HAS EXPIRED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165193August 10, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY 2002 NISSAN SENTRA SE-R EXPERIENCED A POWER VALVE SCREW LIBERATION CONSISTENT WITH NISSANS VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN # 5202. THE ISSUE IS THAT THE CAMPAIGN IS WRITTEN TO ONLY COVER 2004 AND 2005 MODELS. OBVIOUSLY THIS MANUFACTURING ISSUE PREDATES THE DATES COVERED IN THE VSC. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163433July 25, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I OWN A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA SE-R. IT HAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000 MILES ON IT. ONE DAY LAST MONTH, ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK, MY CAR STALLED AT A RED LIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT STARTED AND DRIVE IT THE 15 MILES TO MY DEALERSHIP, BUT IT STALLED AT LEAST TWICE ON THE WAY. THE ENGINE ALSO WAS NOT RUNNING SMOOTHLY AND THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" WAS ON. WHEN I GOT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME THAT A "POWER VALVE SCREW" HAD COME LOOSE AND WORKED ITS WAY INTO ONE OF MY CYLINDERS WHERE IT THEN PROCEEDED TO SMASH A SPARK PLUG. ALSO, I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN RECALL ISSUE ON THE 2003 AND 2004 NISSAN SENTRA SE-RS AND ON THE ALTIMA'S, BUT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ISSUED FOR 2002 SENTRA SE-RS. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY (75,000 MILES) HAD JUST RUN OUT AND MY DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED THAT I CONTACT NISSAN CORPORATE TO SEE IF THEY WOULD INTERVENE AND HELP, SINCE ALL OF THE PARTS INVOLVED AND THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM EXACTLY MATCHED WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE '03 AND '04S. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE WAS THAT MY CAR WAS AN '02. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, NISSAN CORPORATE BASICALLY TOLD ME THAT SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL ISSUED FOR MY MODEL YEAR AND SINCE MY WARRANTY HAD RUN OUT, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WERE OBLIGATED TO DO FOR ME. THEY ALSO SAID, "DON'T WORRY. WE ARE CONSTANTLY ASSESSING THE STATUS OF RECALLS AND IF A RECALL IS ISSUED FOR THE 2002 MODEL YEAR, WE WILL REIMBURSE YOU." I ENDED UP PAYING OVER $600 (AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE, HAD MY DEALERSHIP NOT TAKEN PITY ON ME AND GIVEN ME A DISCOUNT) TO GET SOMETHING FIXED ON MY CAR THAT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THE 2 MODEL YEARS FOLLOWING 2002, BUT THAT (FOR SOME REASON) DIDN'T INCLUDE MY CAR. AS I STATED ABOVE, MY DEALERSHIP VERIFIED THAT ALL OF THE PARTS THAT WERE AFFECTED WERE THE SAME AS THOSE INVOLVED IN THE RECALL, AND THAT THE ACTUAL PROBLEM WAS THE SAME AS THE RECALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163448July 25, 2006
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS A NOISE WAS OBSERVED COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO REPLACED THE TIRE. THE TIRE PRESENTED TREAD SEPARATION. THE WARRANTY OF THE TIRE DID NOT IDENTIFY THE MILEAGE COVERED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162466July 15, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AT 6:30 AM, I WAS DRIVING, TRYING TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS WITH THE DEFROSTER AT A LIGHT AND THE CAR STARTED A JERKING MOTION AND OVERHEATED. I PARKED THE CAR AT FAMILY MEMBER'S RESIDENCE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE REPLACEMENT WAS COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. NISSAN NEEDED TO BE CONTACTED AND THEY WERE. MY CASE WAS IN THE WARRANTY DEPARTMENT FOR 3.5 WEEKS, MEAN WHILE I WAS WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION I WASN'T APPROVED TO HAVE A VEHICLE SUPPLIED BY NISSAN. NISSAN MADE A DECISION NOT TO REPLACE THE ENGINE IN MY 4 YEAR OLD CAR THAT RECEIVED REGULAR MAINTENANCE; BUT TO REPLACE THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS (WHICH FROM WHAT I AM TOLD IS A TEMPORARY FIX). THIS IS BECAUSE I AM AT 58,000 MILES AND MY WARRANTY IS UP AT 60,000 MILES. BEWARE OF NISSAN AND THEIR WARRANTIES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10161543July 6, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
EARLY MARCH, I NOTICED ON CONSUMER REPORTS WEBSITE THAT THERE WERE RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH MY 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. ENGINE SENSORS. NISSAN DID NOT SEND ME A RECALL NOTICE EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD MY NAME AND ADDRESS. I REGISTERED THE CAR WHEN I BOUGHT IT USED. MARCH 16 2006 MY NISSAN HAD 115754 KMS ON IT WHEN I TOOK IT INTO NISSAN VICTORIA FOR THE RECALLS. THEY REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT/CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSORS (3 IN TOTAL) RECALL R86. REMOVED ECM CASE HOLDER FOAM R87. JUNE 20, 2006 I WAS HEADING TO THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY ENGINE STARTED RACING AND JERKING, I DROVE IT HOME. THE CAR DIED AND I HAD IT TOWED TO AN AUTOMOTIVE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER FROM MY HOUSE. I WAS SO LUCKY I WASN'T GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH LOTS OF TRAFFIC! THE MECHANIC CAME TO THE CONCLUSION FAIRLY QUICKLY THAT IT MIGHT BE THE COMPUTER AND HE CALLED THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD HIM THAT THEY HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE COMPUTERS. I RENTED A CAR IN THE MEANTIME TO GET TO WORK. THE MECHANIC GOT A USED COMPUTER FROM THE AUTO WRECKER AND THE CAR STARTED RIGHT UP. APPARENTLY THE FOAM ON THE ECM DAMAGED THE COMPUTER (SOME KIND OF GAS-FUMES) WHILE IT WAS CURING. THIS IS WHY NISSAN REMOVED THE FOAM. MAYBE THEY ARE TRYING TO AVOID ANOTHER RECALL LIKE FOR THE SENSORS...TOO LATE... I HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ECM. I DON'T TRUST THE USED ECM I HAVE IN THE CAR BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT. BUT I FEEL THAT NISSAN SHOULD EITHER REBUILD OR GIVE ME A NEW COMPUTER. IF THIS HAPPENS AT 123,000 KMS WHAT CAN I EXPECT FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD? I HAVE THE OLD COMPUTER, NOT SURE WHAT TO DO WITH IT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10161106June 29, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THEIR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS UNDER A RECALL BUT THEIR VEHICLE MANUFACTURER STATES IT IS NOT. THERE ARE NO OTHER CONSEQUENCES THAT THIS HAS CAUSED, THE CONTACT JUST WANTS THE DEALER TO PAY THE BILL SO THEY CAN PASS THEIR STATE INSPECTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10160363June 21, 2006
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DIP STICK OF A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA GXE HAS SNAPPED OFF AT THE PLASTIC HANDLE AND IS NOW LODGED IN MY OIL TANK. FROM WHAT I HAVE RESEARCHED, THIS IS A PRETTY COMMON OCCURRENCE, RESULTING IN HIGH DEALERSHIP CHARGES AND SEVERE ENGINE PROBLEMS, INCLUDING ENGINE FAILURE. GREAT WORK NISSAN! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156055April 25, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
02/2003 CAR STALLED AND DID NOT RESTART,CALLED NISSAN THEY ADMITTED THERE WAS RECALL ON CRANK SENSOR. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND ALSO RECALL ON ECM COVER,FOAM RIPPED OUT AS "QUICK" FIX. NOW THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE IS THUMPING THE COMPUTER IS BUMPING WHEN ACCELERATING AND STOPPING; NOISE IS AUDIBLE INSIDE CAR. WENT TO DEALER TO HAVE PART FIXED DEALER WILL NOT FIX. CALLED NISSAN (NMAC) THEY CONSIDER THE RECALLED PART FIXED. THIS IS CAUSING DAMAGE TO COMPUTER UNIT AND IS DANGEROUS BEING THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE IS LOCATED THERE. CAR HAS SURGING IDLE. NISSAN WILL NOT FIX WHAT THEY DAMAGED, ENGINE CONTROL MODULE IS NOW COMPROMISED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10155246April 12, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
WENT TO GET AN OIL CHANGE TODAY AND THE MECHANIC PULLED THE DIPSTICK AND DISCOVERED THAT THE HALF OF THE PLASTIC HANDLE THAT THE DIPSTICK WAS ATTACHED TO HAD BROKEN OFF. WE LUCKILY WERE ABLE TO REMOVE THE DIPSTICK FROM HOME WITH A PENCIL AND TAPE, HOWEVER THIS SIGNIFIES A MORE COMMON PROBLEM THAT THIS VEHICLE IS MADE OF SHOTTY PARTS. I HAD TO GET A TUNE-UP AT 25,000 MILES, MY BATTERY HAS CORROSION PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED MULTIPLE TIMES TO THE DEALER WITH NO FIX, AND MY COMPUTER DIED AT 40,000 MILES AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WILL NOW HAVE TO PURCHASE A DIPSTICK SINCE THEY USED A SHOTTY PLASTIC PART THAT CORRODED AND BROKE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. IT MAY NOT BE A SAFETY HAZARD, HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURE NEEDS TO BE HELD LIABLE. HERE IS A LINK TO MANY OTHER NISSAN CONSUMERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM: HTTP://WWW.BROOMEMAN.COM/MT/ARCHIVES/001156.HTML. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154414April 3, 2006
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
BOTH FRONT POWER WINDOW REGULATORS FAILED AT THE EXACT SAME TIME ON THE EXACT SAME DAY. THE CAR IS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA WITH ONLY 55000 MILES. I AM THE THIRD PERSON IN MY FAMILY TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN WITH THEIR 2002 NISSAN. I CONTACTED NISSAN AND NOTHING WAS DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDNT HELP MY SITUATION BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE PART. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150964February 22, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHEN MY 2002 SENTRA WAS BROUGHT INTO HABBERSTAD NISSAN FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE OIL DIP STICK WAS BROKEN AND THE BOTTOM WAS STUCK IN THE BOTTOM. I WAS TOLD BY NISSAN THAT THE OIL PAN HAD TO BE REMOVED TO GET IT OUT AND THAT IT WOULD COST $290.00. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE SERVICE PERSON ALSO MENTIONED THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON SEVERAL 2002 SENTRAS, HOWEVER NISSAN HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. I HAVE SINCE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 MODEL. IF ANYTHING, THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER NISSAN'S WARRANTY AND SHOULD PROBABLY BE INCLUDED AS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. NISSAN SHOULD RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER SINCE THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THE PLASTIC DIPSTICK BREAKING APART.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149942February 10, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM, THE CONTACT BELIEVES IT TO BE THE FUEL PUMP. UPDATED 03/03/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149862February 9, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE DRIVER DOOR ON 2002 NISSAN SENTRA GXE WILL NOT OPEN UNLESS I LET DOWN THE WINDOW AND OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. IT MUST BE IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149350February 3, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BUTTERFLY VALVE ON THE 2002 NISSAN SENTRA THE CAR STARTED TO IDLE VERY ROUGH WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON & THE ENGINE VIBRATION BECAME WORSE. THE CAR STALLED & I WAS ALMOST KILLED TRYING TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR & DRIVE A FEW MORE MILES TO WORK. THE CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY FOUND SPARK PLUG #1 SMASHED BECAUSE A SCREW WAS FOUND IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE DEALER SAID THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS WITHIN INTAKE MANIFOLD. NISSAN NORTH AMERICA REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS IN THE 2002 AND 2003 MODELS AS I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO WORK WITH THEM IN A REASONABLE MANNER. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY FATAL ISSUE AS NOTED IN DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH ENGINES CATCHING ON FIRE OR CAR STALLING AND LOCKING UP IN TRAFFIC. INTERESTED IN PURSUING A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149077January 30, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
MY 2002 NISSAN SENTRA SE-R STALLED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE THROTTLE CONTROL UNIT. THEY REPLACED THE UNIT TWICE BECAUSE THE FIRST ONE WAS DEFECTIVE. I HAVE SINCE TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO NISSAN 4 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS NOT BEING FIXED PROPERLY. THEY ALSO REPLACED THE COMPUTER AND CHARGED ME $1200 FOR WHAT WAS BASICALLY AN OIL CHANGE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT JUST CAME ON AGAIN TODAY AND I WILL TAKE IT BACK TO NISSAN TOMORROW. THERE IS SOMETHING DEFINITELY WRONG WITH THIS CAR AND IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AS IT STALLS OUT WHILE I AM DRIVING. I AM NOT GOING TO RISH MINE OR MY CHILDRENS LIFE BECAUSE NISSAN CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM! THEY KEEP BLAMING IT ON OTHER THINGS LIKE THE BRAND OF GAS I USE! IT'S DISGRACEFUL HOW DEALERSHIPS DO THIS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147684January 13, 2006
STEERING:RACK AND PINION, STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DT*: THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND JUMPED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY DETERMINED THE RACK AND PINION AND POWER ASSIST SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB THE HEAD GAKET WAS LEAKING, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WAS I NOPERATIVE, THE OIL STICK WAS BROKEN. UPDATED 02/24/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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