Nissan Sentra · model year

2003 Nissan Sentra

239 NHTSA complaints, 17 crash reports, and 10 recall campaigns listed for this cohort. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

Complaints
239
Recalls
10

The verdict

The 2003 Nissan Sentra posts above-average complaint volume among its own model-year siblings.

27th pctile
complaint volume, own model years
10
recall campaigns

The 2003NissanSentra carries 239 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 17 crashes, 1 fire, 9 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 2003 Sentra is engine and engine cooling with 53 filings, followed by electrical system (25) and engine (24). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause. This cohort has 10 NHTSA recall campaigns listed below. Enter a VIN in NHTSA's official recall lookup to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 2003 Sentra, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.

239
Complaints
17
Crashes
1
Fires
9
Injuries
0
Deaths
F
PlainCars Safety Score
0/100
2003 Nissan Sentra

PlainCars' own composite of NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings and rollover-risk assessment, each dimension normalized against the federal scale or the full national model-year corpus. Not an official NHTSA figure, and not a substitute for a specific vehicle's VIN-level recall check.

NHTSA Overall Rating N/A
Not rated
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program overall crash-test rating.
Front Crash N/A
Not rated
Frontal barrier crash-test rating.
Side Crash N/A
Not rated
Side barrier and pole crash-test rating.
Rollover Resistance N/A
Not rated
Static stability factor + dynamic rollover test rating.
Rollover Risk N/A
Not reported
NHTSA single-vehicle rollover probability, dynamic test.

Total Complaints

239 filings

Crashes Reported

17 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume, review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING53
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM25
ENGINE24
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE17
AIR BAGS12
UNKNOWN OR OTHER8
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM7
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM5
STRUCTURE:BODY4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR4
POWER TRAIN4
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL3

Recalls (10)

03V45500017/11/2003

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 THE EXISTENCE OF FLUX RESIDUE DURING THE SOLDERING PROCESS.

06E06400017/07/2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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

15V28700015/05/2015

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. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may caus

03V47700014/11/2003

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

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.

09E02500011/05/2009

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

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

03V51100010/12/2003

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-LINE.

22E06600009/08/2022

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

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 2

20V00800009/01/2020

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

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

06V24200007/07/2006

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 ENOUGH TO CAUSE A BRIEF INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL OUTPUT FROM THE SENSOR.

20V74700001/12/2020

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

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 prop

Recent Complaints

20240611ENGINE

Both my catalytic converters stopped up st same time.

20220718ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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 .

20220718ENGINE

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 .

20220718FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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 .

20210527AIR BAGS

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.

20200114FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FLOOR MAT HOLDER BROKE, FLOOR MAT SLIDES UP UNDER GAS PEDAL, CAUSING U.N. CONTROLLED ACCELERATION MULTIPLE TIMES

Mileage: 270,000

20200114VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

FLOOR MAT HOLDER BROKE, FLOOR MAT SLIDES UP UNDER GAS PEDAL, CAUSING U.N. CONTROLLED ACCELERATION MULTIPLE TIMES

Mileage: 270,000

20200114UNKNOWN OR OTHER

FLOOR MAT HOLDER BROKE, FLOOR MAT SLIDES UP UNDER GAS PEDAL, CAUSING U.N. CONTROLLED ACCELERATION MULTIPLE TIMES

Mileage: 270,000

20191125POWER TRAIN

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...

Mileage: 76,500

20191125VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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...

Mileage: 76,500

20190917POWER TRAIN

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.

Mileage: 185,878

20190509AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V287000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO DEALER NEARBY TO HAVE THE RECALL REMEDY PERFORMED. THE CONTACT MADE THE MANUFACTURER AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THAT SOMEONE WOULD CALL BACK. THE CONTACT WAS NOT CALLED BACK. THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNABLE TO BE COMPLETED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT

20190217FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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

20190217UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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

20190216FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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

20190216UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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

20180430FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

CAR WON'T START DRIVE IT ALL DAY FRIDAY AND IT WAS FINE WENT TO START IT ON SATURDAY WOULDN'T START

20180402AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL , I GOT A RECALL LETTER FOR MY NISSAN SENTRA CAR

20180226AIR BAGS

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.

20180114AIR BAGS

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.

Compare 2003NissanSentra to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

Vehicle Safety Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2003 Nissan Sentra have?
The 2003 Nissan Sentra has 239 NHTSA complaints, 17 crashes, 1 fires, 9 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2003 Nissan Sentra?
Yes, the 2003 Nissan Sentra has 10 recall(s). The most common affected component is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Nissan Sentra?
The most-complained component for the 2003 Nissan Sentra is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING with 53 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and ENGINE.
Is the 2003 Nissan Sentra safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 2003 Nissan Sentra; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.