Problems · NHTSA complaints

2000 Nissan Sentra problems

Owners filed 171 complaints about the 2000 Nissan Sentra with NHTSA between Feb 2000 and Oct 2023. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (70).

Complaints
171
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
20
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
11
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling70
  2. Electrical system29
  3. Air bags16
  4. Equipment11
  5. Suspension11
  6. Vehicle speed control10
  7. Service brakes, hydraulic10
  8. Wheels9
  9. Power train8
  10. Engine5
  11. Tires5
  12. Steering4
  13. Electronic stability control (esc)3
  14. Fuel system, gasoline3

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200010
200116
200233
200316
200437
200515
20066
20074
20085
20094
20107
20113
20123
20132
20143
20152
20160
20171
20181
20190
20202
20210
20220
20231

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine and engine cooling

70 reports1 crash2 fires3 related recalls
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 2, 2023Engine and engine coolingODI 11547839

Electrical system

29 reports1 crash2 fires1 related recall
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 7, 2018Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 11076586

Air bags

16 reports12 crashes
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 12, 2014Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10610090

Equipment

11 reports1 crash
“I HAVE A 2000 NISSAN SENTRA AND TWICE NOW THE "PLASTIC DIP STICK HANDLE" HAS BROKEN OFF WHEN A MECHANIC PULLED IT OUT TO CHANGE THE OIL... THEY COULDN'T GET IT OUT AND I HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER... WHO CHARGES AN OUTRAGEOUS PRICE TO GET IT OUT AND REPLACE IT WITH ANOTHER PLASTIC HANDLED DIP STICK THAT BROKE, AGAIN...... WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND PUT A PLASTIC HANDLE ON A METAL DIP STICK? HOW STUPID. THE ENGINE HEATS UP AND COOLS AND PLASTIC UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS WILL BECOME BRITTLE.. I'D RATHER USE A POT HOLDER TO PULL OUT A UNIFORM "METAL" HANDLE PART OF A SOLID METAL STICK THAN HAVE IT BREAK ALL THE TIME WITH A PLASTIC HANDLE. JUST LIKE THAT BP OIL SPILL... ENGINEERS COMPLICATE THINGS WHEN THE SOLUTION IS SO SIMPLE .... PLEASE, HAVE NISSAN RECALL THIS STUPID PLASTIC HANDLED DIP STICK AND REPLACE IT WITH AN ALL METAL ONE,.... I'LL SUPPLY THE POT HOLDER OR RAG TO PULL OUT THE HOT DIP STICK MADE OF METAL.... THANK YOU! *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 7, 2010EquipmentODI 10334950

Suspension

11 reports2 crashes1 related recall
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 23 MPH OR GREATER, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE ATTACHMENT BOLTS FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS DISPLEASED TO KNOW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL, IN WHICH HIS VIN WAS EXCLUDED. HE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE THAT WAS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS 01V174000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 07/31/08. *LJ UPDATED 08/05/08. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 10, 2008SuspensionODI 10233827

Vehicle speed control

10 reports2 crashes
“VEHICLE "JERKS" WHEN UNDER LOAD & THROTTLE IS APPLIED. REPLACED 4 IGNITION COILS, & THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. NO CHANGE IN VEHICLE'S PERFORMANCE. VEHICLE WILL ALSO NOT ACCELERATE OVER 3000 RPM'S. MECHANIC SAID I NEEDED TO CONTACT NISSAN REGARDING APPLICABLE SAFETY RECALL THAT WAS LIKELY THE PROBLEM, WHICH I DID. NISSAN SAID THERE WAS NO SAFETY RECALLS APPLICABLE TO MY VEHICLE. I TOLD MECHANIC THIS, & HE INSISTS THAT THERE MOST CERTAINLY IS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 3, 2011Engine and engine cooling, Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 10438449
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.