MYRModel Year Report

2002 Nissan Sentra

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
2002 Nissan Sentra
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
318
Recalls
14

Campaigns on file for 2002

Investigations
1

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Engine and engine cooling

43% of complaints

Complaints per year

1982: 1 complaint 1982 1983: 1 complaint 1984: 3 complaints 1985: 6 complaints 1986: 6 complaints 1987: 38 complaints 1988: 38 complaints 1988 1989: 42 complaints 1990: 39 complaints 1991: 64 complaints 1992: 64 complaints 1993: 58 complaints 1994: 103 complaints 1994 1995: 118 complaints 1996: 141 complaints 1997: 108 complaints 1998: 58 complaints 1999: 59 complaints 2000: 171 complaints 2001: 236 complaints 2002: 318 complaints 2002 318 2003: 180 complaints 2004: 197 complaints 2005: 170 complaints 2006: 116 complaints 2007: 154 complaints 2008: 167 complaints 2009: 55 complaints 2010: 144 complaints 2011: 142 complaints 2012: 180 complaints 2012 2013: 638 complaints 2014: 380 complaints 2015: 351 complaints 2016: 269 complaints 2017: 231 complaints 2018: 184 complaints 2018 2019: 222 complaints 2020: 206 complaints 2021: 132 complaints 2022: 81 complaints 2023: 20 complaints 2024: 41 complaints 2024 2025: 30 complaints 2026: 16 complaints
1982: 1 complaint 1982 1983: 1 complaint 1984: 3 complaints 1985: 6 complaints 1985 1986: 6 complaints 1987: 38 complaints 1988: 38 complaints 1988 1989: 42 complaints 1990: 39 complaints 1991: 64 complaints 1991 1992: 64 complaints 1993: 58 complaints 1994: 103 complaints 1994 1995: 118 complaints 1996: 141 complaints 1997: 108 complaints 1997 1998: 58 complaints 1999: 59 complaints 2000: 171 complaints 2001: 236 complaints 2002: 318 complaints 2002 318 2003: 180 complaints 2004: 197 complaints 2005: 170 complaints 2006: 116 complaints 2006 2007: 154 complaints 2008: 167 complaints 2009: 55 complaints 2009 2010: 144 complaints 2011: 142 complaints 2012: 180 complaints 2012 2013: 638 complaints 2014: 380 complaints 2015: 351 complaints 2015 2016: 269 complaints 2017: 231 complaints 2018: 184 complaints 2018 2019: 222 complaints 2020: 206 complaints 2021: 132 complaints 2021 2022: 81 complaints 2023: 20 complaints 2024: 41 complaints 2024 2025: 30 complaints 2026: 16 complaints
1982: 1 complaint 1982 1983: 1 complaint 1984: 3 complaints 1984 1985: 6 complaints 1986: 6 complaints 1986 1987: 38 complaints 1988: 38 complaints 1988 1989: 42 complaints 1990: 39 complaints 1990 1991: 64 complaints 1992: 64 complaints 1992 1993: 58 complaints 1994: 103 complaints 1994 1995: 118 complaints 1996: 141 complaints 1996 1997: 108 complaints 1998: 58 complaints 1998 1999: 59 complaints 2000: 171 complaints 2000 2001: 236 complaints 2002: 318 complaints 2002 318 2003: 180 complaints 2004: 197 complaints 2004 2005: 170 complaints 2006: 116 complaints 2006 2007: 154 complaints 2008: 167 complaints 2008 2009: 55 complaints 2010: 144 complaints 2010 2011: 142 complaints 2012: 180 complaints 2012 2013: 638 complaints 2014: 380 complaints 2014 2015: 351 complaints 2016: 269 complaints 2016 2017: 231 complaints 2018: 184 complaints 2018 2019: 222 complaints 2020: 206 complaints 2020 2021: 132 complaints 2022: 81 complaints 2022 2023: 20 complaints 2024: 41 complaints 2024 2025: 30 complaints 2026: 16 complaints 2026

2002: 318 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19821
19831
19843
19856
19866
198738
198838
198942
199039
199164
199264
199358
1994103
1995118
1996141
1997108
199858
199959
2000171
2001236
2002318
2003180
2004197
2005170
2006116
2007154
2008167
200955
2010144
2011142
2012180
2013638
2014380
2015351
2016269
2017231
2018184
2019222
2020206
2021132
202281
202320
202441
202530
202616

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Engine and engine cooling

43% · 138 reports

Most commonly citing engine and manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe.

CRASHFIRE
Show complaint excerpts

Consumer states while driving the engine compartment caught fire. The dealer was contacted. Feel free to provide any further information.

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-05-30

Electrical system

17% · 55 reports

Most commonly citing module and wiring.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Air bags

10% · 32 reports

Most commonly citing frontal and sensor/control module.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

I was traveling to my new home when I realized the car in front of me was completely stopped to make a left hand turn. I slammed on my brakes, but hit the car in front of me. My air bags did not deploy.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-07-09

The vehicle was involved in a collision, and none of the air bags deployed.

NHTSA ODI report, 2003-04-03

The vehicle was involved in a frontal collision, and the air bags did not deploy.

NHTSA ODI report, 2003-03-07

Engine

8% · 27 reports
FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, there was a knocking noise coming from the engine. The contact noticed the vehicle was smoking and oil was leaking from the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI report, 2014-03-12

Vehicle speed control

7% · 21 reports

Most commonly citing accelerator pedal.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

While driving 15 MPH engine surged up to 30-35 MPH ,and consumer lost control, hitting telephone pole. Engine light was illuminating. Dealer contacted.

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-02-07

Safety timeline

14 recalls · 1 investigation · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. ▮
    2002Complaint volume 318 complaints filed for this model year.
  2. R
    2002-01-14Exterior lighting01V376000 Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These…

    Remedy: Dealers will install a tamperproof cap over the horizontal adjustment screw for both headlamps. Owner notification began January 14, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. R
    2002-03-18Unknown or other02V056000 On some passenger vehicles equipped with a Nissan-approved accessory floor mat that was installed either at the assembly plant or by the dealer, due to the length of the driver side floor mat, a…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the driver side floor mat and if it is a Nissan floor mat subject to this recall, the dealer will replace both the driver and passenger side floor mats. Owner notification…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. R
    2003-07-28Engine and engine cooling03V084000 On certain vehicles equipped with the 2.5 liter engine, the exhaust pipe hanger pin may catch debris from the road that could be ignited by contact with the main catalyst. Also on 2002 Altima and…

    Remedy: Dealers will remove the protruding portion of the exhaust pipe hanger pin. In addition to the corrective action, in order to reduce the risk of fire in the event of poor or improper maintenance…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. R
    2003-12-15Engine and engine cooling03V511000 On certain electric vehicles, the front suspension transverse link's ball joint bracket may break from stress concentration at a notch created by surface roughness and the shape of the material…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the bracket on these vehicles. Owner notification began December 15, 2003. Owners should contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2003-12-22Engine and engine cooling03V455000 On certain passenger vehicles, the circuit board for the crank position sensor or cam position sensor may have an improper solder joint due to solder deformation caused by heat stress accelerated by…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the crank position sensors. Camshaft position sensor(S), and in some cases, the variable timing control sensor(S). Vehicles involved in a previous recall campaign, 01V357, are…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    2003-12-22Electrical system03V477000 On certain passenger vehicles equipped with the QG18DE engine or QR25DE engines, the foam material used for the interior lining of the electronic control module (ECM) box emits sulfur as it cures.

    Remedy: Dealers will remove the inside lining material from the ECM box. Owner notification began on December 22, 2003. Owners should contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    2006-05-09Exterior lighting06E023000 Certain anzo combination headlamp assemblies sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles. Some combination lamps are not equipped with amber side reflectors which fail to…

    Remedy: Anzo will notify owners and replace the headlamps free of charge. The recall began May 9, 2006. Owners may contact anzo USA at 909-468-3688.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. R
    2007-12-31Engine and engine cooling07V527000 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.

    Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the ECM free of charge. Certain my 2006 altimas which have been previously remedied under recall campaign 06V223 (Nissan R0606) are not included in this recall since the…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  10. R
    2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    Remedy: Dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on July 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  11. R
    2015-06-15Air bags15V287000 Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2001-2003 Nissan Maxima, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4 and I35, 2003 FX35 and FX45, and 2001 I30 vehicles.

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 15, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  12. R
    2020-02-12Air bags20V008000 Nissan North America, Inc.

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators with alternate desiccated inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2020.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  13. R
    2021-01-22Air bags20V747000 Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2002-2006 Sentra vehicles whose passenger air bags were previously inspected and may have been released without replacing the Takata air bag inflator.

    Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been completed. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will re-inspect the vehicle and, if necessary, replace the air bag inflator, free of charge.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  14. I
    2021-09-17Engineering analysisOpen Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  15. R
    2022-09-23Air bags22E066000 Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain air bag inflator replacement service parts that may have been installed as part of a theft or collision repair.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the inflators as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 14, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  16. R
    Date not on fileExterior lighting06E064000 Certain tradesonic combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above listed passenger vehicles.

    Remedy: Tradesonic will notify owners and replace the lamps free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during July 2006. Owners may contact tradesonic at 626-934-8884.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2002 Nissan Sentra — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Engine and engine cooling: 138 reports on file for this year.
  • Electrical system: 55 reports on file for this year.
  • Air bags: 32 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 06E064000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 01V376000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 02V056000 · Unknown or other
  • Recall 03V084000 · Engine and engine cooling
  • Recall 03V511000 · Engine and engine cooling
  • Recall 03V455000 · Engine and engine cooling
  • Recall 03V477000 · Electrical system
  • Recall 06E023000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 07V527000 · Engine and engine cooling
  • Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 15V287000 · Air bags
  • Recall 20V008000 · Air bags
  • Recall 20V747000 · Air bags
  • Recall 22E066000 · Air bags
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2002 Nissan Sentra reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2002 Nissan Sentra is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Nissan Sentra?
The most-reported component is engine and engine cooling, accounting for 43% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2002 Nissan Sentra have?
14 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.