Problems · NHTSA complaints

2005 Nissan Sentra problems

Owners filed 170 complaints about the 2005 Nissan Sentra with NHTSA between Feb 2005 and Oct 2025. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (48).

Complaints
170
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
13
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
13
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling48
  2. Engine33
  3. Air bags21
  4. Fuel system, gasoline21
  5. Electrical system17
  6. Fuel/propulsion system15
  7. Power train10
  8. Service brakes, hydraulic8
  9. Vehicle speed control5
  10. Service brakes4
  11. Visibility4
  12. Suspension3
  13. Seat belts3
  14. Steering3

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
20058
20067
200713
200813
200910
201019
201120
201211
201311
201414
201513
201612
20174
20183
20194
20201
20215
20220
20231
20240
20251

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

48 reports1 crash2 fires1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE SERVICE ENGINE AND OIL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD, RESTARTED THE ENGINE, AND DROVE HOME AT A VERY LOW SPEED. THE CONTACT DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE HIMSELF AND LOCATED A 'P03355' FAILURE CODE REGARDING THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FIRST TEAM NISSAN (6520 PETERS CREEK ROAD, ROANOKE, VA 24019, (540)-362-4800) AND A FAILURE CODE WAS LOCATED AT THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 4, 2018Engine and engine cooling, EngineODI 11099562

Engine

33 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER NISSAN OF VACAVILLE (671 ORANGE DR, VACAVILLE, CA 95687, (707) 474-4846) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDING IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 126,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 22, 2021EngineODI 11397360

Air bags

21 reports7 crashes1 fire4 related recalls
“Nissan Dealer locally will not repair my vehicle as per the recall for my air bags. Have driven out of town to a Nissan dealer and they said they did not have the part in stock and could not fix it. I would like to have my car fixed before the passenger air bag EXPLODES.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 1, 2023Air bagsODI 11509719

Fuel system, gasoline

21 reports1 related recall
“WHILE HEADING TO WORK, MY CAR LOST POWER DUE TO A SCREW FROM A POWER INTAKE VALVE (BUTTERFLY VALVE AS THE DEALERSHIP REFERRED TO IT) COMING LOOSE AND FALLING INSIDE THE #1 CYLINDER CHAMBER. INSIDE THE CHAMBER, THE PISTON QUICKLY BENT THE SPARK PLUG ELECTRODES TOGETHER CAUSING THE CAR TO SHUT OFF AND LOSE POWER. I WAS INSIDE MORNING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT AND WAS NEARLY IN A REAR END COLLISION AS A RESULT. THE DEALERSHIP POINTED OUT INADVERTENTLY THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN COVERING THIS ISSUE. I RESEARCHED THESE BULLETINS AND FOUND BULLETIN NTB05-058B. THIS COVERS THE EXACT PROBLEM THAT HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE. THERE IS A CATCH WITH THIS BULLETIN. I OWN A 2005 NISSAN SENTRA SER SPECV MANUFACTURED IN OCT. 2004. THE COMPANY CLAIMS MY VIN FALLS OUTSIDE THE SERVICE BULLETIN BY MERE WEEKS. THIS PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY ADDRESSED AND MY ENGINE FAILED BECAUSE OF SUCH. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN CORP. DIRECTLY AND THEY PLACE ME IN THE HANDS OF NISSAN REGIONAL. I WAS GIVEN EXCUSE AFTER EXCUSE AS TO WHY MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED BY THE FACTORY. #1. VEHICLE FELL OUTSIDE THE SERVICE BULLETIN DATE RANGE. #2 AGE OF VEHICLE AND MILEAGE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 9, 2014Fuel system, gasoline, EngineODI 10597084

Electrical system

17 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. BANISTER NISSAN OF CHESAPEAKE (LOCATED AT 930 N BATTLEFIELD BLVD, CHESAPEAKE, VA 23320, (757) 214-6342) WAS CONTACTED AND A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED AND STILL PENDING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000. PIIR = Y.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 29, 2019Electrical system, EngineODI 11240250

Fuel/propulsion system

15 reports
“I PURCHASED MY 2005 NISSAN SENTRA FROM A PRIVATE SELLER IN 2007 WITH THE TOTAL MILEAGE OF 9,100. AFTER SIX MONTHS OF DRIVING THE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHOM I HAVE USED FOR ALL MY AUTOMOBILES. I WAS TOLD THE SEAL ON THE VAPOR HOSE WAS LOOSE AND HE COULD TIGHTEN IT, BUT IT WOULD ONLY BE A TEMPORARY FIX. THE COST TO REPAIR THE SEAL WAS OUT OF MY PRICE RANGE. SINCE 2007 THE SERVICE LIGHT ON MY DASH WOULD LIGHT UP INTERMITTENTLY WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION OR STATIONARY. I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE LIGHT TO SWITCH OFF BEFORE I COULD GO FOR AN INSPECTION STICKER. A COUPLE OF TIMES THE INSPECTORS AT THE STATION TOLD ME OF THE VAPOR LEAK AND WERE NICE ENOUGH TO TIGHTEN THE SEAL TO THE VAPOR HOSE SO THE CAR COULD PASS INSPECTION. TO DATE THE SEAL ON THE VAPOR HOSE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT A FIRE HAZARD. IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT THE VIN ON THIS SPECIFIC 2005 NISSAN SENTRA DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN #05V269000 FOR THE FUEL TANK VAPOR HOSE. WHAT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND IS WHY THIS VEHICLE IS HAVING THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM. AND IT IS A PROBLEM. STARTED 01/07/2010”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 13, 2018Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11151260
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.