Nissan · Sentra · 2003
10
Recalls
180
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2003 Nissan Sentra has 10 recalls and 180 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: engine and engine cooling (62 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
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. The parts include certain passenger-side air bag inflators designed to fit Infiniti 2002-2003 QX4, 2006-2010 M35 and M45; Nissan 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, and both driver and passenger-side inflators designed to fit 2007-2012 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback vehicles. Please see Nissan's recall report for the specific part numbers. These replacement inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Remedy Status
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.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2007-2011 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback, 2001-2004 Infiniti I30 and I35, 2002-2003 Inifiniti QX4, 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 and 2006-2010 M35 and M45 vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated, frontal passenger air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Remedy Status
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. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 888-737-9511 or Infiniti customer service at 888-810-3715.
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. In the event of a crash, Takata frontal passenger air bag inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Remedy Status
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. The recall began January 22, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PM964.
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 CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy Status
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.
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 ENOUGH TO CAUSE A BRIEF INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL OUTPUT FROM THE SENSOR.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ECM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 21, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
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-LINE.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRACKET ON THESE VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 15, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
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 Status
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.
CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy Status
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.
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. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Remedy Status
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. Note: On December 18, 2015 Nissan informed NHTSA of an amendment of this recall to remove 2004-2005 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 vehicles.
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 THE EXISTENCE OF FLUX RESIDUE DURING THE SOLDERING PROCESS.
Remedy Status
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 ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS NEW CAMPAIGN. THE REPLACEMENT SENSORS USED IN THAT CAMPAIGN ARE ALSO AFFECTED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
My rear windshield make a loud bang, and shattered and fell into pieces during a short and otherwise non-eventful commute to work. I had no knowledge of prior cracks or damage, or being hit with anything. There was a light frost that morning and I had used the rear defrost for a short time. It was not exceptionally cold that day. My husband met me in a nearby parking lot, cleaned up the glass, drove it home, and scheduled a replacement for the next day. I took his vehicle and made it to work on time.
Both my catalytic converters stopped up st same time.
The car quits as I’m driving it , The headlights and the dome lights go dim and radio light flickers then it goes completely out and when I’m driving the car it has a rough idle and in order to keep the car running when I get to a stop light or stop sign is to put the car in park .
2003 NIssan Sentra. Consumer writes in regards to Airbag Safety Recall. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PARTS NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THE RECALL REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER WOULD NOT PROVIDE A LOANER VEHICLE FOR THE LENGTHY REPAIR.
FLOOR MAT HOLDER BROKE, FLOOR MAT SLIDES UP UNDER GAS PEDAL, CAUSING U.N. CONTROLLED ACCELERATION MULTIPLE TIMES
I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR SHIFTED ITSELF FROM A LOW GEAR TO A VERY HIGH GEAR, LEAVING ME WITH NO TORQUE. THE NEXT GEAR WOULDNT LOCK-IN UNTIL RPMS HIT REDLINE, AND EVEN THEN IT WOULD FEEL LIKE ITS SLIPPING, OR MAYBE ITS IN OVERDRIVE GEAR(4TH) WHEN IT SHOULD BE IN 3RD.. AND ALSO THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT DOWN UNTIL I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP... THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOURE ON THE FREEWAY, BECAUSE THE CAR WILL ONLY MOVE 40 MPH. AND ALSO DANGEROUS WHEN CLIMBING HILLS/FREEWAY OVERPASS, BECAUSE THERES NO TORQUE TO GET UP THE HILL, AND THE TRANSMISSION WONT PUT ITSELF IN LOW GEAR UNTIL YOU COME TO A COMPLETE STOP... I THINK ITS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE BECAUSE IT HAPPENED SUDDENLY... IF IT WAS MECHANICAL, I WOULDVE FELT IT SLIPPING GRADUALLY, AND IT NEVER SLIPS. I JUST DROVE IT A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE TO THE BAY AREA AND IT CLIMBED THE HILLS SMOOTHLY, NO PROBLEM.. I HAVE NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, SO IDK WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE...
THE COMPUTER ON THE CAR IS MESSED UP AND KEEPS TURNING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON FOR P0444 AND HAD A SHOP CHECK IT AND REPLACE THE PART AND IT'S STILL COMING ON. IT WIL TRIP THE CODE SITTING IN NEUTRAL AND OR DRIVING LESS THEN 5 MILES.
VENT CONTROL VALVE/EVAP CANISTER I CAN NOT PUT GAS IN MY 2003 NISSAN SENTRA WHEN I TRY IT POURS OUT ON THE GROUND AND TAKES 15-20 MINUTES TO PUT MABE 50 CENTS OF GAS IN CAR . MY ENGINE LIGHT IS ALSO ON
CAR WON'T START DRIVE IT ALL DAY FRIDAY AND IT WAS FINE WENT TO START IT ON SATURDAY WOULDN'T START
TAKATA RECALL , I GOT A RECALL LETTER FOR MY NISSAN SENTRA CAR
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE REPAIRING THE HEADLIGHTS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WIRES WERE CUT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER TO CONFIRM THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER MANUFACTURER RECALL: NTB13-062 (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 13V136000 OR 14V361000 (AIR BAGS) IN DECEMBER OF 2014. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TAKATA RECALL-- REPLACE AIRBAG HOWEVER, DEFECT WITH DEFROST CONTROL PRODUCES RECURRING CLICKING WHEN IT'S ON. GLENDALE (CALIFORNIA) NISSAN DEALER IS CHARGING $1000+ TO FIX THE ISSUE AND STATES THAT THEY THE NEW PROBLEM WAS NOT A RESULT OF THE AIRBAG CHANGE.
PCM ECM ECU ENGINEERING FLAW. ENGINE KICKS INTO SAFE MODE WHILE IN OPERATION OR COMPLETELY STALLS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, WHEN RESTARTS WILL MISFIRE. DIAGNOSED WITH FAULTY CONTROL MODULE (THE SECOND ONE IN THIS VEHICLE SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT)
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON, CAR SUDDENLY CUTS OFF, AND DOES NOT RESTART IMMEDIATELY. RECALLED OTHER VIN'S BUT NOT ALL 2003 NISSAN SENTRAS. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL SENTRAS OF THOSE YEARS. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILURE/ENGINE STALL. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS WITH AS MANY OF THESE CARS THAT ARE OUT ON THE ROAD FOR IT TO JUST KEEP SHUTTING OFF WHILE IN TRAFFIC WHILE DRIVING. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL OPEN TO ALL SENTRAS WITH THIS PROBLEM.
CAR WAS PARKED REFUELING . WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PUT GAS IN THE CAR AND IT KEPT SHUTTING PUMP OFF AND WAS LEAKING OUT UNDER THE CAR . ENGINE LIGHT IS CURRENTLY STAYING ON
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED, LOST POWER, AND STALLED. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 407,000.
PURCHASED A VEHICLE FROM A USED CAR DEALER IN BOISE, ID. THE VEHICLE HAD AN UN-ADDRESSED CLOSED RECALL ON THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED THE MOTOR TO BLOW UP TWO MONTHS LATER. NOW THE USED CAR DEALER WILL NOT FIX THE CAR, OR REFUND ANY OF MY MONEY. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
TAKATA RECALL I WAS DRIVING MY NISSAN SENTRA AND I HIT A DEER, MY PASSENGER AIRBAG DID NOT GO OFF.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN SENTRA. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND PLACED INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL STRUT TOWER FAILED AND THE TIRE NEARLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEEL HAD EXCESSIVE RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. MA 08/13/15 UPDATED 12/1/2015 *JS
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. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,325.
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2003 Nissan Sentra has 10 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 180 owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Nissan Sentra.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2003 Nissan Sentra.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2003 Nissan Sentra are engine and engine cooling (62 reports), electrical system (18 reports), engine (16 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 10 recalls on record for the 2003 Nissan Sentra. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.