Problems · by component

2004 Nissan Sentra engine and engine cooling problems

59 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2004 Nissan Sentra cite engine and engine cooling, 30% of all 197 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
59
30% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH, the engine began to run roughly and the vehicle was shaking. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled off the road safely where the vehicle stalled. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle, but eventually had the vehicle towed to his residence. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched the failure online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 06V242000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 31, 2022Engine and engine coolingODI 11459124
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS,THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND THE "CHECK ENGINE" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT DIAGNOSTIC TEST DISPLAYED A CODE OF P0335, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR POTENTIALLY CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 12, 2014Engine and engine coolingODI 10632796
“MY CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING. I WAS GOING THE SPEED LIMIT OF 45 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING MY CAR JUST LOST POWER & STOPPED. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO COAST OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT. I WAS ON AN 8-LANE VERY BUSY ROAD IN A MIDDLE LANE. AT THE FIRST MOMENT, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THEN ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS AND THE CAR STOPPED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED. WHEN THE MECHANIC PUT IT ON THE COMPUTER IT SAID THAT THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR & CAMSHAFT SENSOR WAS THE PROBLEM. IT COST ME $ 376.00 FOR THE REPAIR. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH NISSANS. I READ ONLINE WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS HAPPENING TO MY MODEL AND THERE WAS A RECALL OF SOME. MY CAR IS A 1.8 MODEL, BUT NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS TOLD ME MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE EXACT MALFUNCTION HAPPENED TO MY CAR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE! I WAS LUCKY THAT THERE WAS NOT ANY OTHER CARS AROUND ME WHEN MY CAR STALLED AND I WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF THE ROAD. I HAVE RETAINED THE FAULTY PARTS THAT WERE REPLACED FOR EXAMINATION. I WAS OUT OF TOWN AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 27, 2014Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 10566294
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE FROM THAT STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT EVENTUALLY STARTED AND FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000. ...UPDATED 08-10-12 *BF”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 13, 2012Engine and engine coolingODI 10461637
“MOST OF THE TIME WHEN I TRY TO TURN ON THE CAR I HAVE TO TRY 2 OR 3 TIMES IN ORDER FOR IT TO TURN. THE CAR SOUNDS LIKE IT WILL TURN ON BUT IT WILL NOT, THEREFORE I HAVE TO CONTINUE TURNING THE KEY AND TRY AGAIN. SOMETIMES WHEN I ACCELERATE THE CAR WILL NOT RESPONSE, IT WILL TAKE A WHILE TO DO SO. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 4, 2011Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical systemODI 10438528
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE STALLED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, WHILE DRIVING 65 MILES PER HOUR. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART UNLESS THE ENGINE COOLED DOWN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FIVE TIMES, AND DURING THE FAILURE MOST OF THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR CIRCUIT MALFUNCTIONED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THE VIN DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER :06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT SUGGESTED THAT THE EXTREME HEAT ADVISORY MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,300. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,379.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 25, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10415044

Showing 6 of 59 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Engine and engine cooling

Free remedy

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.

Engine and engine coolingReported Jul 7, 2006NHTSA 06V242000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 8, 2026

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