NHTSA lists 7 safety recalls and 171 owner complaints for the 2000 Nissan Sentra. Most complaints involve engine and engine cooling (70) and electrical system (29). The EPA rates it 23–26 mpg combined.
CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
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.
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.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each Sentra model year we’ve synced.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 171 |
| 2001 | 245 |
| 2002 | 333 |
| 2003 | 180 |
| 2004 | 197 |
| 2005 | 170 |
| 2006 | 116 |
| 2007 | 154 |
| 2008 | 167 |
| 2009 | 55 |
| 2010 | 144 |
| 2011 | 142 |
| 2012 | 180 |
| 2013 | 638 |
| 2014 | 380 |
| 2015 | 352 |
| 2016 | 270 |
| 2017 | 231 |
| 2018 | 185 |
| 2019 | 223 |
| 2020 | 207 |
| 2021 | 133 |
| 2022 | 81 |
| 2023 | 20 |
| 2024 | 41 |
| 2025 | 31 |
| 2026 | 19 |
“The contact owns a 2000 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated on several occasions while attempting to start the vehicle in the morning, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the engine failed to turn over however, the vehicle was able to be started closer to the afternoon. The check engine warning light illuminated along with the “Service Engine Soon” message displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the crank position sensor had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact was then informed of NHTSA Campaign Number: 01V357000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able restart the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. An undisclosed dealer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.”
“TAKATA INFLATORS: MY CAR LOST POWER AND WILL NOT SHIFT INTO OD I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL ON IT OR WHATEVER IS WRONG WITH IT MY CAR IS A 2000 NISSAN SENTRA”
“I WAS SITTING AT THE RED LIGHT WHEN A SUBURBAN WAS SPEEDING AND WASN'T PAYING ATTENTION. HE HIT ME FROM THE BACK WHICH CASED A 4 CAR WRECK. MY TRUNK WAS LITERALLY PUSHED TO MY FRONT SEAT. THE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS UNDER THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MY CAR WAS TOTALED. I HIT MY SHOULDER ON THE STEERING WHEEL ALONG WITH MY NECK AND SHOULDERS. THIS WRECK MADE ME DISABLED. THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. IT WAS A MAJOR ACCIDENT WASN'T MUCH LEFT OF THE CAR AND MY AIR BAGS NEVER CAME OUT. THE AIR BAGS MORE THAN LIKELY WOULD HAVE SAVED ME FROM THAT HORRIBLE IMPACT. I AM NOW DISABLED FOR LIFE AND MY DOCTOR MENTIONED THE AIR BAGS WOULD HAVE TAKING THE FORCE OF THE INJURIES. *TR”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sentra Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 23 | 30 | 26 | $2,400 | 342 |
| Sentra Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 23 | 32 | 26 | $2,400 | 342 |
| Sentra Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 28 | 24 | $2,600 | 370 |
| Sentra Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 27 | 23 | $2,700 | 386 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
7 safety recalls as of Nov 10, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 171 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are engine and engine cooling (70), electrical system (29), air bags (16). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2000 Nissan Sentra at 23–26 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (4 versions rated).