NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2005 Nissan Sentra. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
I HAD A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AND WIRE PROBLEM BUT I ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 19 MONTH IN BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE THAN I HAVE HAD THE CAR. *TR
LOST HORN FOR THIRD TIME. A HORN IS SAFETY EQUIPMENT. THE NISSAN SENTRA I OWN SEEMS TO BE FALLING APART AT 20,000 MILES. I HAD HORN TROUBLE, BRAKES SQUEAK LIKE MAD, WINDOWS SQUEAK WHEN UP AND DOWN - HARDLY GO UP AND DOWN, ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE. *JB
I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN SENTRA BOUGHT IN APRIL, 2005. IT START MAKING NOISE IN THE REAR DRUM BRAKES WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE DRUMS IN THE REAR OF MY SENTRA ARE GRABBING AND LETTING GO AND MAKING A THUD NOISE ( I THINK IT'S THE BRAKES ANYWAY GIVEN THAT IT HAPPENS WITH THE BRAKES ON AND AT LOW SPEED FROM ABOUT 10 TO 0 MPH). AT AROUND 10 MPH IT THUMPS - QUICKLY AND THE THUMPS ARE SPACED OUT LONGER AS THE CAR SLOWS. *JB
WHILE TRAVELING ON I-95 IN S.C. AT ABOUT 75 MPH A VEHICLE I WAS PASSING ENTERED THE PASSING LANE. I SWERVED SLIGHTLY ONTO THE LEFT SHOULDER & BRAKED. THE REAR WHEELS LOCKED BEFORE THE FRONT WHEELS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL & ACROSS BOTH LANES OF TRAFFIC ONTO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. THE DEALER IN SC DID NOT SEEM TO THINK THE REAR WHEELS LOCKING BEFORE THE FRONT WAS A PROBLEM. AS WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO AVOID BEING STRUCK BY ANY OTHER VEHICLES THE ONLY DAMAGE WAS FLAT SPOTS ON ALL 4 TIRES WHICH CAUSED A VIBRATION PROBLEM UNTIL THEY WERE REPLACED. NONREPORTABLE CRASH, NO INJURIES AN VEHICLE COULD BE DRIVEN FROM THE SCENE- THIS TIME! *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER SPILLING COFFEE ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT POSITION INDICATOR, THE SHIFT BUTTON STAYED DEPRESSED WHEN SHIFTING. WHEN THE BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED THE KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER, WHO SUGGESTED REPLACING THE GEAR SHIFT POSITION INDICATOR. *AK
WE BOUGHT OUR NISSAN SENTRA 1.8S WITH 126 HORSE POWER MOTOR AND WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BRAND NEW IN JANUARY 2005. AFTER THE FIRST 14000 MILES THE CAR BEGAN EXHIBITING WEAK RESTARTING PROBLEMS AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN AMPLY WARMED UP AND SAT FOR ONE HOUR OR LONGER WITH THE MOTOR REMAINING IN THE WARM TEMPERATURE RANGES TO SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE COLD. *AK
THE PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR IN MY 2005 NISSAN SENTRA SE-R WAS ALWAYS HANGING DOWN ABOUT AN INCH LOWER THAN DRIVER'S SIDE. THE PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR BECAME COMPLETELY LOOSE AND IS NOW DANGLING TO WHERE I HAVE ISSUES SEEING TOWARDS THE RIGHT TO SEE IF IT IS SAFE TO MAKE A TURN. MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH SUN VISORS AND NISSAN FROM AN INTERNET SEARCH. *TR
DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE VEHICLE RUNNING ROUGHLY. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY CHANGED THE SPARK PLUGS AND RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND THIS TIME THE DEALER CHANGED THE IGNITION COIL. SHE HAD THE VEHICLE BACK THREE DAYS WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND THE VEHICLE STARTED RUNNING ROUGHLY. NO FURTHER REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE . THE DEALER NOTED ON THE CONTACT'S INVOICE THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO CYLINDER NUMBER THREE MISFIRING. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO INDICATION ON EITHER SERVICE INVOICE HOW THE CYLINDER MISFIRE WAS CORRECTED BY THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SPARK PLUGS OR THE IGNITION COIL. *AK UPDATED 1/19/2006 - *NM
SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUES TO TURN ON, AFTER MULTIPLE SERVICE VISITS WITH MULTIPLE MIS FIRES IN THE SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WILL SHAKE VERY HARD AND RAPIDLY. THERE WERE NO ACCELERATION. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WILL STALL ON A GEAR WITH THE R.P.M. REFERRING ON HIGH FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, ALSO WHEN GOING FROM BRAKE TO GAS OR VICE VERSA IT WILL STALL THEN ACCELERATE. ALL THESE MALFUNCTIONS HAPPENING WITHIN A 6 MONTH. PERIOD OF PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW. VEHICLE RECENTLY SHUT OFF ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE THE FOLLOWING MORNING, I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THE ENGINE MOTOR, CARBURETOR & THROTTLE BODY ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE FIXED DUE TO NISSAN NOT HAVING THE PARTS. ALL THIS HAPPENING WITHIN A 6 MONTH. PERIOD OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. *NM
OUR 2005 NISSAN SENTRA WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS WENT OFF AND A CHARGE IN THE FRONT SEAT BELT WENT OFF LOCKING THEM AND REQUIRING THAT THEY BE REPLACED. WE WERE TOLD 7/25 THAT THERE WILL BE NO BELTS AVAILABLE IN THIS COUNTRY UNTIL 8/19-25. I HAVE TALKED TO BOTH THE DEALER AND NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS. NISSAN SAYS THEIR ONLY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO REPLACE THE BELTS WHEN THEY CAN GET THEM. I AM GOING TO BE FORCED TO EITHER PARK THE CAR OR DRIVE WITHOUT SEAT BELT BECAUSE THEY CAN NOT PROVIDE THEM. *NM
DT: THE CALLER SAID THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AND TRYING TO SLOW DOWN BRAKES FAILED. . WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES NOTHING HAPPENED. APPLIED THE BRAKES A FEW TIMES AND FINALLY RAN INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. CALLER SAID THE LAST TIME HE APPLIED THE BRAKES THEY LOCKED ANDVEHICLE SKIDDED AND THAT WAS WHEN HE HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE. CALLER'S CHILD WAS INJURED. THE POLICE WAS NOT CALLED. THE CALLER SAID AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE BRAKES WORKED FINE. DEALER REPAIRED THE DAMAGE DONE IN ACCIDENT. DEALER DID NOT KNOW WHY BRAKES FAILED. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. THE CALLER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE COMPUTER.*AK
I OWN A 2005 NISSAN SENTRA WHICH MY DAUGHTER DRIVES. THIS CAR HAS FRONT AIRBAGS AS WELL AS SIDE AIRBAGS. MY DAUGHTER HAD AN ACCIDENT 2 YEARS AGO. SHE HIT THE BACK OF ANOTHER CAR. THERE WAS $4,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. I WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ON SATURDAY SHE WAS DRIVING TO NY FROM VA AND WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH AND A CAR STOPPED SUDDENLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. SHE TRIED TO SWERVE OUT OF THE WAY, BUT ENDED UP SLAMMING INTO THE BACK OF THE OTHER CAR. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED THE CAR YESTERDAY....AGAIN NON OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND IT ALSO SMASHED THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, FRONT OR SIDE. *TR
THIS CAR HAS BEEN HORRIBLE FROM THE START. THE LATEST PROBLEM INVOLVED THE TIMING CHAIN SLIPPING AND REQUIRING A NEW ENGINE, THIS WAS THE 3RD ENGINE THAT HAS BEEN IN THE CAR. THE 1ST ENGINE HAD A HEAD GASKET FAILURE THAT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THERE WA S A SECOND TRANSMISSION, THE FIRST ONE MADE NOISES WHEN SHIFTING AT CERTAIN RPMS. BE WARNED, NISSAN QUALITY HAS GONE DOWN, WAY DOWN. *AK
THE CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON (APRIL 13, 2005). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT A REPLACEMENT PART WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALERSHIP ON APRIL 15, 2005, AND THE PART WAS REPLACED. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 55 MPH ON APRIL 16, 2005, SMOKE FILLED THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE GAS STATION OFF OF THE FREEWAY AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE MECHANIC EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES, AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE ENGINE. *AK THE #3 CYLINDER HAD MISFIRED DUE TO THE HEAD GASKET LEAKING INTERNALLY. *SC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER REFUELING, FUEL WOULD OVERFLOW AND SPLASH ALL OVER THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
WITH REGARD TO ODI# 10110307 MENTIONED ABOVE: I AM A CURRENT OWNER OF A 2004 NISSAN SENTRA, THERE IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM THAT EVEN NHTSA IS FAILING TO ACKNOWLEDGE WITH REGARD TO THE 1.8L ENGINE AND/OR ASSEMBLY PLANTS IN MEXICO THAT PRODUCE THESE UNITS. I HAVE FOUGHT NISSAN TOOTH AND NAIL OVER THIS, THE LAST TIME I WAS AT THE SALES DEALER FOR SERVICE, THEY REFUSED TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE, AND ACTUALLY ASKED ME TO LEAVE THEIR PROPERTY. REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE FROM NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. IN NEW JERSEY WAS CONTACTED IMMEDIATELY, THAT INDIVIDUAL SIDED WITH THE DEALER WITH RESPECT THAT I SHOULD GO TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR SERVICE. ENGINE STILL PINS IN COLD WEATHER, AND RATTLES IN HOT WEATHER. WATER STILL LEAKS UNDER THE HOOD ONTO THE DRIVE BELT. HAVE WRITTEN TO NISSAN MOTORS LTD. IN JAPAN WITH NO RESPONSE. WILL BE LOSING APPROXIMATELY $6,000 WHEN I TRADE OUT OF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO GET SECURE AND RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION, WHICH WILL DEFINITELY NOT BE ANOTHER NISSAN. NISSAN NORTH AMERICA REFUSES TO GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION TO CONTACT A "HIGHER UP" ON THE CORPORATE CHAIN, THEY SAY THAT INFORMATION CANNOT BE DISCLOSED. TO ALL CURRENT OWNERS OF NEW NISSANS, I SAY CHEERS AND GOOD LUCK! *JB
THE 2005 NISSAN SENTRA THAT I PURCHASED HAS CONTINUED TO STALL WHILE DRIVING OVER 6 TIMES DURING THE PAST 18 MONTHS. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 6 TIMES WITH THE COMPLAINT OF SLUGGISH AND/OR STALLING. THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX IT AND CLAIMS IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, HOWEVER, THERE IS A POTENTIAL RISK TO BE REAR-ENDED WHEN IT APPEARS I AM MOVING FORWARD AND SUDDENLY STOP! THE STALL HAS HAPPENED AS I LEAVE A SITTING POSITION EITHER GOING FORWARD OR REVERSING. THE FIRST STALL HAPPENED AFTER THE CAR WAS ONLY ONE WEEK OLD. WHEN WE CALLED TO COMPLAIN TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THEY MENTIONED THAT HAPPENS SOMETIMES WITH NEW CARS WORKING OUT THE KINKS. THE DEALERS MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO FIX IT HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL AND THE CAR IS CURRENTLY WITH THE DEALER-ONCE AGAIN. *JB
BOUGHT CAR IN OCTOBER 2004, AND BY DECEMBER WAS CONTINUALLY HEARING A LOUD, CREAKING SOUND WHEN GOING OVER ANY KIND OF IMPERFECTION IN THE ROAD. WHEN RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP, PROBLEM BLAMED ON FACTORY BLOWN STRUTS. WAITED A MONTH FOR THE PART (BECAUSE IT WAS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER) AND PART WAS FINALLY REPLACED. WITHIN THREE DAYS, THE SAME SOUND COULD BE HEARD. BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND ORDERED MORE STRUTS. A MONTH LATER (NOW MARCH 1ST) WHEN PICKED UP THE CAR FOR THE SECOND TIME, THE DAY AFTER REPLACING THE STRUT SAME SOUND WAS HEARD AGAIN. ON TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE THIRD TIME, SOUND BLAMED ON CONTROLL ARM BUSHINGS. APPT. NEXT WEEK TO SEE IF THIS PRBLEM IS CORRECT.*AK
CONCERN: ENGINE LOST ALMOST ALL OF ITS POWER. THE HEAD WAS CRACKED, AND THE #4 CYLINDER WAS MISSING ONE OF THE 2 COMPRESSION RINGS. CAR WAS IN SHOP FOR OVER 40 DAYS.*AK CORRECTION: WAITED 30 DAYS FOR PARTS, ENTIRE ENGINE, EXHAUST SYSTEM, AND INTAKE WERE REPLACED. CAR STILL RUNS HORRIBLE, AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT LIKE TO SHIFT WHEN IT IS COLD. THE CAR OVER HEATED AND POSSIBLY CAUSING A FIRE
2005 NISSAN SENTRA ENGINE LIGHT RECALL. ON*CW THE CONSUMER STATED IT TOOK SIX MONTHS FOR THE PART TO ARRIVE. THE DEALER CLAIMED THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED EMISSIONS DUE TO THE RECALL PROBLEM NOT BEING RESOLVED. *JB