There are 50 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2002 Nissan Sentrain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
I WAS MADE AWARE RECENTLY( MARCH 2020) THAT THE CAM SENSOR IN MY CAR IS DEFECTIVE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PART IN 2004. AFTER CONTACTING THE NISSAN CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS, THEY INFORM ME THAT THEIR RECORDS SHOW THE RECALL REMEDY WAS SATISFIED IN 2004. I DO NOT REMEMBER BRINGING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP NOR DOES THE DEALERSHIP HAVE ANY RECORD THE RECALL WAS SATISFIED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH OR STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SHUTOFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP, THE SPARK PLUGS, THE FUEL FILTER AND THE EXHAUST PIPES. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE CODE: P0335 (CRANK SENSOR) ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CRANK SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS LOW SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS IDENTICAL TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY LOOSE POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000.
WHILE DRIVING UP A STEADY GRADE THE 'SERVICE ENGINE SOON', BATTERY, AND OIL LIGHTS ALL CAME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY. A FEW SECONDS LATER, OR POSSIBLY AT THE SAME TIME, THE ENGINE STALLED AND ALL FORWARD POWER WAS LOST WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING (EXCEPT FOR THE WARNING LIGHTS A COUPLE OF SECONDS EARLIER). I STEERED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD USING THE EXISTING MOMENTUM. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE HAD BEEN NORMAL UP UNTIL THE INCIDENT BUT SHOWED AN OVERHEATED ENGINE AFTER TURNING OFF THE CAR AND TURNING ELECTRICITY BACK ON (THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AT THIS TIME). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V527000(ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
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. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER, WHO ADVISED THAT THE PRE-CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,500. *TR
NISSAN DENIES VEHICLE IS PART OF AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH OIL ISSUES THAT EFFECT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD A THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED AT 14,000 MILES, AND MULTIPLE RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED. NHTSA HAS THIS CASE ALREADY ON RECORD FOR THE CONTINUE PROBLEMS WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. DEFECTIVE ENGINE BUILD, NISSAN ATTEMPTS TO DEFLECT THE ISSUE TO THE DEALERS AND THEN BACK AGAIN. NISSAN CASE # [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMING OIL EXCESSIVELY AND HE COULD HE HEAR A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD ALLOWED DEBRIS TO ENTER THE PISTONS AND AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 121,000. *TR
ENGINE STOPS RUNNING SUDDENLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON, AND WITH NO WARNING. THIS MAY HAPPEN WITHIN SECONDS OF STARTING THE ENGINE, AFTER A FEW MINUTES, AND SOMETIMES EVEN AS MUCH AS AN HOUR AFTER STARTUP. THE ENGINE RUNS SMOOTHLY WHEN IT RUNS, AND THERE IS NO WARNING WHEN IT STOPS RUNNING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS NOT ILLUMINATED (EXCEPT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING STARTUP), AND MY LOCAL SERVICE STATION CANNOT ISOLATE A PROBLEM THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS BEHAVIOR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,686.
THE CAR ENGINE STOPS WHEN AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AND EVERY TIME THAT I STOP . I HAVE TO RESTART IT TO PROCEED AND THIS HAPPENS VERY OFTEN AND VERY FRUSTRATING.. THANKS GOD THAT I HAVEN'T HAD ANYONE REAR-ENDED ME SO FAR. *TR
I BEGAN TO HAVE TROUBLE WITH MY CAR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. I HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH A QUART OF OIL A DAY AND A TANK OF GAS IN A FEW DAYS. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE FOUND OUT THERE IS A RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS RECALL. I WAS IN THE MARINES AND WAS STATIONED AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT BASES. MY MOTHER?S ADDRESS WAS ALSO USED BY NISSAN BUT SHE NEVER RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION ON THE RECALL. I CONTACTED THE NISSAN DEALER IN NORFOLK NE. HE TOLD ME I HAD TO WAIT TWO WEEKS FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT. THE PEOPLE I DEALT WITH WERE RUDE AND UNPROFESSIONAL AND ACTED LIKE I WAS AN INCONVENIENCE. I DID NOT HAVE ANOTHER VEHICLE AND I AM IN SCHOOL AND HAVE WORK SO I CONTACTED NISSAN USA. AFTER SEVERAL PHONE CALLS I WAS ABLE TO GET AN APPOINTMENT IN SIOUX CITY IA. I HAD TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED AT MY EXPENSE TO SIOUX CITY. THEY LOOKED AT MY CAR AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WERE SHREDS OF METAL IN THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THEY STATED THEY WERE NOT GOING TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THEY STATED I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT TO BE REPLACED. IN THE RECALL THEY SAID IT WOULD BE REPLACED AT NISSANS EXPENSE, A TOW IF NECESSARY WOULD BE PAID AND A RENTAL VEHICLE WOULD BE PROVIDED. NONE OF THIS HAS HAPPENED. I WOULD LIKE ASSISTANCE WITH THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THE ENGINE SHOULD BE REPLACED BY NISSAN. I TOLD THEM WHAT WAS WRONG AND MY MECHANIC CALLED AND TOLD THEM AS WELL. THEY HAVE STILL ARE NOT WILLING TO PAY FOR THE ENGINE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE FLUCTUATED FROM HOT TO COLD AND THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC THAT DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WITH THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY REPLACING TWO SENSORS LOCATED AT THE TOP AND BOTTOM HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MECHANIC THEN ADVISED THAT THE REMEDY WAS TO REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 8/6/12 *CN UPDATED 08/14/2012 *JS
CYLINDER HEAD GASKET BLOWN. CAR 100 MILES AWAY FROM HOME AND WILL NOT START. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN FIRST STARTING THE VEHICLE, EXHAUST FUMES WOULD ENTER THE INTERIOR CABIN WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ECM NEEDED REPLACING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HAVING THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST CONFIRMED THAT THE ECM WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER THEN ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND NO ASSISTANCE WOULD BE PROVIDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NON-DRIVABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,500.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HERE WAS A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AS IT STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE SINCE IT HAD FAILED AS A RESULT OF THE LINING FAILURE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE LINING UNDER NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 07V527000 ( ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED NOR WAS THE FAILURE CORRECTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 159,000.
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026