Problems · by component

2002 Nissan Sentra engine problems

27 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Nissan Sentra cite engine, 8% of all 333 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
27
8% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM WHEN I RECALL DATA REFRESHED ON NOV 04,2020 1UNREPAIRED RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VIN JAN 09,2020 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBERPM684 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER20V-008 RECALL STATUSRECALL INCOMPLETE SUMMARY TAKATA HAS DETERMINED THAT A DEFECT RELATED TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY MAY ARISE IN SOME OF THE SUBJECT NON-DESICCATED AMMONIUM NITRATE INFLATORS DUE TO PROPELLANT DEGRADATION OCCURRING AFTER PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO HIGH ABSOLUTE HUMIDITY, HIGH TEMPERATURES AND HIGH TEMPERATURE CYCLING THIS CAR.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 4, 2020Unknown or other, EngineODI 11373048
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 18, 2020EngineODI 11359850
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 17, 2020EngineODI 11318374
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 9, 2017Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 10959864
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 26, 2016EngineODI 10861601
“MY NISSAN SENTRA DECIDED TO STALL OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION. WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE NISSAN AFTER ABOUT 15 SECONDS. LATER THAT DAY I WAS UNABLE TO START MY CAR. BATTERY WAS JUMPED AND THE CAR WAS RUNNING UNTIL I TURNED MY HEADLIGHTS ON. I HAD TO BE TOWED HOME. I BELIEVE MY CAN SENSOR AND CRANK SENSOR NEED TO BE REPLACED AND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS COMPLAINT BEFORE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 6, 2016Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 10824649

Showing 6 of 27 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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