2002 Nissan Sentra Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe the engine quitting while driving — at highway speed, after braking, or at a stop — often traced by dealers to the engine control module or a crank/cam position sensor. A second frequent theme is heavy oil use, in some cases linked to pre-catalyst damage, and several owners say the passenger air bag inflator recall was never completed on their car. Reports range from low-mileage cars to vehicles well past 100,000 miles.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Engine shuts off while driving

   • 99 complaints (33%)
   • median 79,825 mi at 5.9 yrs old (78 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $449 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2003–2020

   Owners describe the engine cutting out without warning at highway speed, after braking off a ramp, or while idling at a light; sometimes it restarts, sometimes it will not. Many had the car towed and were told the dealer could not reproduce the problem, while others were given a diagnosis such as a failed engine control module, throttle control unit or crankshaft/camshaft position sensor. Several report that replacing the fuel pump, mass air flow sensor or spark plugs did not stop the stalling. Reported from a few thousand miles up to roughly 160,000, with most mentions between about 20,000 and 120,000 miles, on both highway runs and stop-and-go driving.

   Recall 07V527000Recall 03V4550002 related service bulletins

   What to check: During a test drive, watch for hesitation, a rough idle or any sudden loss of power, and have the car scanned for stored engine codes first. Ask for paperwork showing whether the engine control module, crank sensor and related campaigns were ever completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving my 2002 Nissan Sentra it shuts off no matter the speed now. Started only when I was at a stop light, sign,or going at a slow speed. This has been happening for 3 years, have the mass air flow sensor changed, fuel filter, and still stopping. Also the oil dip stick keep breaking off. Most recent sept 5, 2010 now car won't start.”

   NHTSA complaint #10354066, filed 2010-09, 160,000 miles

   “I have a 2002 Nissan Sentra. This vehicle will stop running in normal freeway driving conditions. Without warning my car stalled in heavy commute traffic. My car is only three years old, and I had a hard time starting it. Once it started, it stalled again only a few miles down the road. I have since found out that there is a recall on the foam surrounding the electronic control module. The recall states that the foam can contaminate the ECM. I took my car in to the dealership and they replaced the foam, but did not replace the ECM. The contaminated ECM is what is making the car stall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10136760, filed 2005-09, 86,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Engine control module (ECM) faults and stalling

   • 113 complaints (37%)
   • median 79,825 mi at 6.2 yrs old (88 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $600 (median of 11 quotes)
   • filed 2003–2017

   Complaints describe the car stalling or refusing to start and a dealer diagnosis of a failed or corrupted engine control module, sometimes after a trouble code was stored. Several owners link the failure to a recall covering foam lining inside the ECM box that was said to release sulfur as it cured; some say only the foam was replaced and the module itself was not, while others say they were told the recall was too old or the car was no longer eligible. Replacing the module or having it reflashed did not always stop the problem. Mileage ranges widely, from very low (under 10,000 in a few reports) to around 140,000, with many mentions in the 45,000 to 95,000 range.

   Recall 03V4770002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the ECM box lining recall was performed and whether the module itself was ever replaced, and keep the receipts. A scan tool check for engine codes and a cold-start test are worth doing before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My car stalled out on road twice. The mil came on; ECM failed. Nissan of union city, ga, diagnosed ECM failure; said needed replacement. I then found there is a recall concerning sulfur that could cause corrosion of ECM; Nissan never notified me of such. They told me they'd perform the foam and crank sensor recalls; they didn't as found out later. Advisor told me that the ECM replacement would be covered if there was burning or melting of the foam around ECM. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10206157, filed 2007-10, 123,051 miles

   “I'm not sure if the ECM reprogram that is out for my vehicle will remedy this by the dealer refused to fix it because I refused to pay for a recall! I was traveling low speed and decelerating to pull into my work and the car went into failsafe mode and almost caused me to crash and get hurt it was also on a city street when I was downshifting probably about 5-10 MPH then I tried to turn and there was no power and a truck from behind was flying up on me and barely swerved out of the way to not hit me and it was a super humid hot day when it first happened! …”

   NHTSA complaint #10991193, filed 2017-05, 27,885 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Excessive oil consumption and pre-catalyst damage

   • 47 complaints (15%)
   • median 97,050 mi at 6.8 yrs old (36 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2015

   Owners report using a lot of oil between changes, in some cases a quart every few hundred miles, often with a low oil light that never came on. Several describe the pre-catalyst breaking up and material being drawn into the engine, which they associate with the oil use; others mention black smoke, rough running and a check engine light. Some say a related recall was completed earlier but the problem returned or they have no record of the work. Mostly reported between about 65,000 and 160,000 miles, with a few reports at very low mileage.

   Recall 03V084000

   What to check: Check the oil level and condition before and after a test drive, look for blue or black smoke from the exhaust, and ask whether the exhaust manifold/pre-catalyst campaign was performed and whether the catalytic converter has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I began to have trouble with my car a couple of weeks ago. I have been going through a quart of oil a day and a tank of gas in a few days. I took it to my mechanic and he found out there is a recall for my vehicle. I was never notified of this recall. I was in the marines and was stationed at several different bases. My mother?s address was also used by Nissan but she never received any information on the recall. I contacted the Nissan dealer in norfolk ne. He told me I had to wait two weeks for them to look at it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10481065, filed 2012-10, 103,000 miles

   “This is pertaining to an existing campaign (#03v084000). I bought a used 2002 Nissan Sentra ser spec-v in may 2007. Shortly after my purchase (june 2007), I had this outstanding recall, including several others performed. The above recall states that the pre-catalyst could overheat and disintegrate, blowing particulate into the combustion chamber, scoring the cylinder walls, and cause excessive oil consumption and possible engine damage, requiring engine replacement. There was approx. 65,000 miles on the car at this point. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10317705, filed 2010-03, 108,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Crank and cam position sensor stalling

   • 44 complaints (14%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 8.0 yrs old (35 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $504 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2003–2020

   Complaints describe the engine stopping without warning and a dealer or mechanic pointing to the crankshaft or camshaft position sensor, sometimes with a stored P0335 code. Some owners say the sensor was replaced and the stalling returned, and a few note their car was not covered by the sensor recall or was told the VIN was not included. Reported from roughly 30,000 to over 180,000 miles, with several mentions between 30,000 and 90,000.

   Recall 07V527000Recall 03V455000

   What to check: Ask whether the crank and cam position sensors have been replaced and whether any sensor-related recall was applied to this VIN; a dealer or independent shop can check open campaigns by VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2002 Nissan Sentra w/ 1.8 engine started dying at low speeds. My mechanic said it was a known defect of the camshaft position sensor & a recall was issued for the 2.5l engine, but not for my 1.8l engine. It cost me $408 to fix. Here is the 2002 Nissan Sentra defect summary: on certain passenger vehicles equipped with a 2.5l engine, the crankshaft position sensor can overheat causing a brief interruption in the signal output from the sensor. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10248625, filed 2008-11, 32,000 miles

   “While both driving on the highway and in stop and go traffic, car shuts off entirely. Sometimes not starting again. Have had car towed to mechanic and mass air flow sensor replaced and on a different occasion the cam sensor reset. Problem still occurs. Never received a single recall notice; warranty period has expired.”

   NHTSA complaint #10165304, filed 2006-08, 44,900 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Passenger air bag inflator recall not completed

   • 31 complaints (10%)
   • median 69,500 mi at 9.7 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 11 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2026

   Owners describe open Takata passenger air bag inflator recalls — some say the dealer inspected the car but did not replace the inflator, or quoted a charge for a new air bag while an air bag warning light was on, and others report difficulty scheduling the work or getting callbacks. A few describe no air bag deployment in a crash, though those reports are not tied to the recall in the complaint text. Mostly reported between about 60,000 and 120,000 miles, often years after the vehicle was new.

   Recall 20V747000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 20V008000Recall 15V2870002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Before buying, have a dealer run the VIN for open safety recalls and confirm in writing that the passenger inflator recall is complete; also check that the air bag warning light behaves normally on startup.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I took my car in for NHTSA recall 13v-136 to premier Nissan of san jose, and the dealership service rep told me they inspected but did not replace the air bag. They claimed that they could tell whether or not the airbag needed replacement by inspection and that mine didn't need replacement. I am writing to see if it is appropriate that they did not replace my air bag, since the recall notice says dealer will replace the affected front passenger air bag inflator with a new one. My air bag light is on, and their diagnostic test indicated a fault with the passenger air bag. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10574208, filed 2014-03, 89,599 miles

   “While driving 50 MPH the driver swerved into another lane to avoid a table top which was dropped by an unknown vehicle. As a result the vehicle hit another vehicle. The impact caused the vehicle to spin around and become wedged between the vehicle and a guardrail. Neither of the air bags deployed. Dealer notified.”

   NHTSA complaint #10032067, filed 2003-09, 26,120 miles

Buying note. This model year has a long list of past campaigns, so ask for the VIN-based recall status and service records rather than relying on the seller's word. A pre-purchase inspection that includes an engine code scan, an oil level check and a highway test drive will surface most of what owners describe here.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 80 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.