2003 Nissan Sentra

● Typical for this model
2003 Nissan Sentra
RENDERED 2026-08-02T12:04:24.670Z

This year's complaint volume is within 30% 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 PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Nissan Sentra Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2003 highlighted. 1982: 1 complaints 1982 1983: 1 complaints 1984: 3 complaints 1985: 6 complaints 1986: 6 complaints 1987: 36 complaints 1988: 37 complaints 1988 1989: 41 complaints 1990: 39 complaints 1991: 63 complaints 1992: 62 complaints 1993: 58 complaints 1994: 99 complaints 1994 1995: 117 complaints 1996: 141 complaints 1997: 108 complaints 1998: 58 complaints 1999: 59 complaints 2000: 171 complaints 2000 2001: 235 complaints 2002: 304 complaints 2003: 180 complaints 2003 2004: 197 complaints 2005: 170 complaints 2006: 116 complaints 2006 2007: 154 complaints 2008: 167 complaints 2009: 55 complaints 2010: 144 complaints 2011: 141 complaints 2012: 180 complaints 2012 2013: 638 complaints 2014: 380 complaints 2015: 347 complaints 2016: 266 complaints 2017: 228 complaints 2018: 183 complaints 2018 2019: 219 complaints 2020: 203 complaints 2021: 127 complaints 2022: 80 complaints 2023: 18 complaints 2024: 30 complaints 2024 2025: 25 complaints 2026: 8 complaints 2026
2003: 180 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19821
19831
19843
19856
19866
198736
198837
198941
199039
199163
199262
199358
199499
1995117
1996141
1997108
199858
199959
2000171
2001235
2002304
2003180
2004197
2005170
2006116
2007154
2008167
200955
2010144
2011141
2012180
2013638
2014380
2015347
2016266
2017228
2018183
2019219
2020203
2021127
202280
202318
202430
202525
20268

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 29%

29% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 53 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE MANUFACTURER SENT A TECHNICIAN TO REVIEW THE DAMAGES AND DETERMINED WHERE THE FIRE STARTED.

NHTSA ODI report, 20031124

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS AND NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS WAS FRACTURED WHILE PERFORMING THE REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ODI report, 20120403

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14%

14% of complaints: electrical system — 25 distinct reports on file.

ENGINE 13%

13% of complaints: engine — 24 distinct reports on file.

Show complaint excerpts

Both my catalytic converters stopped up st same time.

NHTSA ODI report, 20240611

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMP.

NHTSA ODI report, 20120529

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 9%

9% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 17 distinct reports on file.

CRASH
AIR BAGS 7%

7% of complaints: air bags — 12 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

TAKATA RECALL I WAS DRIVING MY NISSAN SENTRA AND I HIT A DEER, MY PASSENGER AIRBAG DID NOT GO OFF.

NHTSA ODI report, 20171206

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A TRUCK FAILED TO OBEY A RED LIGHT AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE TRUCK. THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ODI report, 20150625

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*JB VEHICLE INVOLVED IN COLLISION AND THE AIR BAG EQUIPMENT FAILED TO DEPLOY. *MR

NHTSA ODI report, 20030219

SAFETY TIMELINE

R 20031215 — engine and engine cooling

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 CUT-LI

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRACKET ON THESE VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 15, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Campaign 03V511000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20031222 — engine and engine cooling

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 T

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 A

Campaign 03V455000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20031222 — electrical system

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.

Campaign 03V477000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060920 — engine and engine cooling

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5L ENGINE, THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR IS AFFECTED BY TEMPERATURE VARIATIONS. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, THESE VARIATIONS IN TEMPERATURE CAN BE LARGE

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ECM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 21, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Campaign 06V242000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090728 — exterior lighting

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 CONF

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.

Campaign 09E025000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20150224 — EA (open)

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

R 20150615 — air bags

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.

Campaign 15V287000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20200212 — air bags

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.

Campaign 20V008000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20210122 — air bags

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.

Campaign 20V747000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20210917 — EA (open)

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

R 20220923 — air bags

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.

Campaign 22E066000 — check if this car was fixed

R Date not on file — exterior lighting

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.

Campaign 06E064000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

2003 Nissan Sentra — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for engine and engine cooling issues (53 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for electrical system issues (25 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for engine issues (24 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 06E064000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 03V511000 (engine and engine cooling) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 03V455000 (engine and engine cooling) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 03V477000 (electrical system) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06V242000 (engine and engine cooling) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E025000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 15V287000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 20V008000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 20V747000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 22E066000 (air bags) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2024 ▲ 1987 ▲ 1988

WORST YEARS

■ 2013 ■ 2014 ■ 2015

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 2003 Nissan Sentra reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2003 Nissan Sentra is rated "typical".

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Nissan Sentra?

The most-reported component is engine and engine cooling, accounting for 29% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2003 Nissan Sentra have?

10 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.