2.0

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
80,000 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2002 Nissan Sentra:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #5

Jan 122010

Sentra

  • 75,000 miles
Bought Nissan brand new in 2002. This car is only 8 years old with 75,000 miles. First the car started jerking when it sits still at stop signs and traffic lights. Took the car to maintenance shop and paid to have the catalytic converter removed and replaced. However, after a few months, in April the car starts jerking again. Paid to have the ignition coils replaced by the dealership. Car engine light still on and car still jerking. Contacted Nissan corporation and was told that the car was not under recall. Now the dealership replaces the egr valve and 02 sensor. Car engine light still on and car still jerking as if possessed as of August 20, 2010. Money, money and more money.

- Mt Rainier, MD, USA

problem #4

Jan 012008

Sentra

  • 72,000 miles
I bought a 2002 Nissan Sentra SE-R with approximately 70K miles on it. At the time of purchase the engine was running fine, however, at approximately 72K miles it started burning oil and I had to put oil in the engine once a week. I took the car to the local dealership were they replaced the catalytic converted due to a recall, but did not state that the engine was damaged to that defective part. I asked about an engine recall but never received an answer from them as they said the car was not under warranty and had no warrants under recall.

- Downey, CA, USA

problem #3

Feb 212010

Sentra 4-cyl

  • 108,000 miles
This is pertaining to an existing campaign (#03V084000). I bought a used 2002 Nissan Sentra ser spec-V in May 2007. Shortly after my purchase (June 2007), I had this outstanding recall, including several others performed. The above recall states that the pre-catalyst could overheat and disintegrate, blowing particulate into the combustion chamber, scoring the cylinder walls, and cause excessive oil consumption and possible engine damage, requiring engine replacement. There was approx. 65,000 miles on the car at this point. Last February, I was driving along the highway when I suddenly lost power. I pulled over to the side of the road and found the engine would barely run and would not rev over 2000 RPM. I had this car towed 20 miles to my local Nissan dealership. Upon inspecting the vehicle they told me that the pre-catalyst that I had already had replaced on the recall, had disintegrated, plugging my exhaust, blowing chunks of debris into my engine, therefore destroying the engine. I was told I'd need to replace the entire engine at a cost of $4300. This car only had another 50,000 miles on it after the initial recall work was done. Since what happened to this vehicle was exactly what the original recall was supposed to prevent, I went to Nissan, requesting that they stand behind this obvious design defect and at the very least assist me in replacing this engine. I was given several different stories ranging from accusation that I did not maintain this vehicle (even though I do so religiously at Nissan dealerships) to stating the dealer I had the work performed at was at fault and I should pursue restitution from them, to the fact the car was no longer under warranty and I was sol and this was 'normal' wear and tear. Now, I can understand normal wear and tear but no catalytic converter should be designed so that it will destroy an engine if it fails and this was supposedly addressed in the above campaign.

- Fargo, ND, USA

problem #2

Sep 042009

Sentra

  • 145,000 miles
Catalytic converter deposits go back into engine scoring the cylinder walls. Engine burning oil, potential fire and engine seizure. Nissan says NHTSA campaign 03V084000 was performed. Recent diagnosis shows code po 420, problem not fixed. NHTSA needs to issue another recall.

- North Babylon, NY, USA

problem #1

Feb 152003

Sentra 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
I haven't had the car for a year yet and I have already had the catalytic converter replaced twice & the engine replaced because there was no oil in it. What kind of car has these kind of problems? the gears shift hard now to where it about jerks you and I drive an automatic. Not to mention the dealership wouldn't even give me a rental while they had to practically replace the entire engine.

- Fredericksburg, VA, USA