2003 Nissan Sentra Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 86about this part
- Share
- 48%of 180 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 69,321miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 86 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2003 Nissan Sentra, 48% of the 180 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 69,321 miles. 5 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers. 3 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I have an 03 Nissan Sentra, there is a problem with the cat converter, I have taken it to the Nissan dealer and they said the recall had been performed on my car, the car will still not pass my state emission testing and the engine has already been replaced once ( may of 08 ) due to losing oil and now the engine is blown again so I will again need a new engine.”
NHTSA complaint #10285195, filed 2009-09, 96,000 miles“2003 Nissan Sentra engine quit and check engine light came on. Would not start. Nissan had a recall 03v455000 but my VIN is not included in the recall even though it is a 2003 Nissan Sentra. I had to pay for the repair- around $280.00 out of pocket.”
NHTSA complaint #10232390, filed 2008-06, 76,000 miles“The vehicle has very heavy oil consumption. The vehicle currently consumes 1qt per week. I did not notice the problem as it has progressed since 40,000 miles where it was only 2-3 quarts between changes. I have meticulously maintained the vehicle (I was trained by a master volvo technician). He has over seen the maintaining of my vehicle since mile 1. I noticed that oil consumption was becoming an issue around 65,000 miles. Nissan recall nos. R3007, r3014, r3015, r3016, r3017. …”
NHTSA complaint #10174114, filed 2006-11, 48,000 miles“2003 Nissan Sentra se-r has been giving me problems. The engine would just shut down while driving twice on me now, which is so dangerous when driving on highway. The engine lights come on at all times, take it to dealer and they said it sensors, did this about 5 times now within a year. Now the engine wont start, again take to dealership this time engine is flooded cause the sensor weren't working, they just reset the sensor. I am in constant worry when driving this car never know when the engine will stop running when driving.”
NHTSA complaint #10265419, filed 2009-04, 62,777 miles“I bought a used 2003 Nissan Sentra for just a little more than a year ago from a used car dealer. Less than a month later I found some listed recalls on the web for the on board control unit which was causing the computer to miss read the crank case positioning sensor, and oxygen sensors, & causing cars to stop running for anywhere from split second to several seconds. This could cause an accident for this on board computer was making error codes show up when doing smog test and there was nothing wrong with these sensors. …”
NHTSA complaint #10229648, filed 2008-06, 84,000 milesRelated recalls
- 06V242000Jul 7, 2006On certain passenger vehicles equipped with a 2.5l engine, the crank angle sensor is affected by temperature variations. Under certain driving conditions…Covers: Nissan Sentra 2003–2004, Altima 2003–2004
- 03V511000Dec 10, 2003On certain electric vehicles, the front suspension transverse link's ball joint bracket may break from stress concentration at a notch created by surface…Covers: Nissan Sentra 2000–2003
- 03V455000Nov 17, 2003On certain passenger vehicles, the circuit board for the crank position sensor or cam position sensor may have an improper solder joint due to solder…Covers: Nissan Sentra 2000–2003, Maxima 2002–2003, Altima 2002–2003 +6 more
Related service bulletins
- 10039804Oct 1, 2010Nissan: the engine cranks longer than 3 seconds when starting. 2002-2006 sentra.
- 10024146Dec 18, 2009Nissan service campaign: see document search button for owner letter. Voluntary emissions recall campaign - 2003-2005 sentra / 2005-2006 frontier ecm reprogramming. Csc was…
- 10015991Sep 8, 2006Long engine crank time before start.
- 10019613Mar 31, 2006Mil on with dtc u1000 or u1010 stored in engine control unit.
- 10019300Feb 8, 2006Malfunction indicator lamp on with diagnostic trouble code u1000 or u1010 stored in engine control unit.
- 10018243Dec 7, 2005Voluntary recall campaign catalytic converter/front tube replacement.
- 10017405Sep 22, 2005Alternator drive belt noise.
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 | 0% |
| 2015 | 1 | 0% |
| 2014 | 3 | 1% |
| 2013 | 4 | 1% |
| 2012 | 1 | 1% |
| 2011 | 4 | 3% |
| 2010 | 8 | 6% |
| 2009 | 2 | 4% |
| 2008 | 10 | 6% |
| 2007 | 11 | 7% |
| 2006 | 14 | 12% |
| 2005 | 48 | 28% |
| 2004 | 59 | 30% |
| 2003 | 86 | 48% |
| 2002 | 127 | 42% |
| 2001 | 93 | 39% |
| 2000 | 72 | 42% |
| 1999 | 6 | 10% |
| 1998 | 4 | 7% |
| 1997 | 6 | 6% |
| 1996 | 9 | 6% |
| 1995 | 12 | 10% |
| 1994 | 11 | 11% |
| 1993 | 5 | 9% |
| 1992 | 11 | 18% |
| 1991 | 4 | 6% |
| 1990 | 8 | 21% |
| 1989 | 9 | 22% |
| 1988 | 10 | 27% |
| 1987 | 5 | 14% |
| 1986 | 1 | 17% |
| 1985 | 2 | 33% |
Other parts of the 2003 Nissan Sentra
35 complaintsEngine
24 complaintsFuel system
18 complaintsAir bags
16 complaintsOther or unknown
9 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
9 complaintsBrakes
7 complaintsBody and structure
7 complaintsVehicle speed control
6 complaintsEquipment
3 complaintsExterior lighting
3 complaintsSuspension
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Nissan Sentra
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology