2004 Nissan Sentra Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2004 Sentra most often describe the engine shutting off while driving, frequently traced to the crankshaft or camshaft position sensor, and many of those complaints note the car was not covered by the 2.5L sensor recall. A second large group concerns the airbag system: an airbag warning light that keeps flashing after repeated repairs, and airbags that did not deploy in a collision. Refueling difficulty and fuel spillback, hard starting, and overheating or head gasket trouble round out the common reports.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Engine shuts off while driving (crank/cam sensor)

   • 70 complaints (36%)
   • median 83,742 mi at 6.7 yrs old (67 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $730 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2004–2022

   Complaints describe the engine quitting without warning at highway or in-town speeds, sometimes with all dash lights coming on and steering and braking becoming heavy, then restarting after a few minutes. Several owners say a shop traced the problem to the crankshaft or camshaft position sensor, sometimes with code P0335 or P0340, and that the same sensor failed more than once. Some were told their vehicle was not included in the 2.5L crankshaft sensor recall even though the symptom matched. Reported across a wide mileage range, from under 10,000 miles to well past 100,000, with many falling between roughly 45,000 and 120,000 miles.

   Recall 06V2420003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for service records showing whether the crankshaft and camshaft position sensors have been replaced, and check which recall campaigns the VIN has had done. Have a scan tool read stored codes such as P0335 or P0340 before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My car usually takes two tries to start. After it warms up and I've been driving, it stalls suddenly, and I'm stranded for several minutes. When it does start up again, it goes a short distance, and as soon as the engine warms up again, it stalls again. Today it stalled on the way home, three times, in less than 4 miles. I was left sitting on the side of the road, hoping I wouldn't get hit. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10850319, filed 2016-03, 186,000 miles

   “Car engine stalls while running.. It doesn't matter what speed I am driving, the car will just shut off and I lose power steering. Luckily the brakes still work so I was able to pull over. Once pulled over I turn the key off and start the car back up again and it works fine. This has happened a repeated number of times. I am sure it is the throttle position sensor or ECM like the 2006 recall of the altima's and sentras.”

   NHTSA complaint #10372079, filed 2010-12, 114,356 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Long cranking before the engine starts

   • 23 complaints (12%)
   • median 59,007 mi at 7.0 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • filed 2004–2016

   Owners report needing two or three key turns before the engine catches, both on a cold first start and when restarting a warm engine. Some complaints link the slow start to fuel pressure and describe a fuel pump diagnosis or replacement; others mention the engine cranking for several seconds before firing. Reported from very low mileage up to about 128,000 miles, with several under 20,000.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Start the car from cold and again after a warm shutdown and note how long it cranks. Ask whether fuel pump pressure or the ECM reprogramming described in service bulletins has been addressed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10438528, filed 2011-12, 16,000 miles

   “This 2004 Nissan Sentra 1.8s has had issues when refueling ... The tank is hard to fill as station nozzles do not permit refueling the engine maintenance light is on & diagnostic code is 1446. When fill in the fuel tank the gasoline start to overflow, therefore I have to go slowly which takes me 10-15 minutes to fill in the tank this will be the second time I will have to have this repaired on the Nissan engine does not start until after many cranks most of the times.”

   NHTSA complaint #10382785, filed 2011-02, 127,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Overheating and head gasket failure

   • 20 complaints (10%)
   • median 70,999 mi at 6.2 yrs old (20 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $1,200 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2006–2015

   Complaints describe unexplained coolant loss, the heater going cold, and the engine overheating, in some cases leading to a blown head gasket and engine replacement. Some owners also report rough running and cylinder damage after debris entered the engine, with repairs described as costly; one reference is to a power valve service campaign on 2.5L cars. Reported from about 40,000 miles up to 144,000, often after a period of unnoticed coolant loss.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check coolant level and condition, look for white exhaust smoke or a sweet smell, and ask whether the 2.5L power valve campaign was completed. A compression or combustion-gas test on the cooling system gives useful information.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2004 Nissan Sentra 1.8 I just hit 2 years with this car and still have another 2 years. Car does not start on first try. It over heats,it dies while in use,recently it started jerking really bad and RPM shot to 4,000 and wouldn't go past 20mph. I already had a new fuel pump put in and a new crankshaft sensor and new spark plugs. I just found out it has a blown head gasket. I cant afford this im a single mother of 3. Rack in pinion needs to be replaced even the mass air flow. Who knows what else?”

   NHTSA complaint #10340168, filed 2010-06, 108,000 miles

   “Please refer to Nissan campaign I.d. # p5202. I have a 2004 Nissan Sentra se-r spec v. At the end of august my car developed stalling and then outright cylinder (1) failure. Spark plug was removed and found to be extremely pitted and ground strap was hammered closed. Replaced plug, vacuumed cylinder and car ran fine for two weeks. The same problem developed on the way to work and spark plugs were removed and a second cylinder was found to have identical symptoms. The private mechanic I use advised me that there was a recall on this engine (ref. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10169970, filed 2006-10, 60,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light keeps flashing

   • 20 complaints (10%)
   • median 85,000 mi at 14.0 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2005–2025

   Owners describe an airbag warning light that flashes on and off, sometimes returning within weeks of a repair. Complaints mention repeated seat belt assembly replacements followed by a recommendation to replace the airbag control computer, with the dealer and owner working through parts one at a time. Other complaints describe airbags that did not deploy in a crash, and owners were later pointed to a Takata inflator campaign for the vehicle. Mostly reported between roughly 50,000 and 90,000 miles, though some appear at lower and higher mileage.

   Recall 20V747000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 20V008000Recall 15V2870003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the VIN against open Takata passenger airbag inflator campaigns and confirm the inflator was actually replaced, not just inspected. Verify the airbag light does a normal self-test at startup and stays off.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at an independent mechanic, the vehicle was diagnosed computer system failure, causing the vehicle to fail to start. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V287000 (Air Bags), which was associated with the VIN. The manufacturer had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The dealer informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11696056, filed 2025-10, 70,000 miles

   “The contact owned a 2004 Nissan Sentra. While driving approximately 45 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the contact's vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained chest and back injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was made aware that there was a recall related to the failure under NHTSA campaign number: 14v361000 (air bags). The failure mileage was 170,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10713660, filed 2015-04, 170,000 miles
5. 5
   Fuel system

   Hard to refuel / fuel sprays back

   • 21 complaints (11%)
   • median 95,000 mi at 7.1 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2016

   Complaints describe the fuel nozzle clicking off early, the tank taking many minutes to fill, and in some cases gasoline spraying back out of the filler neck with enough force to reach the owner. Owners report being told the vent control valve or fuel release valve needed replacement, and some link hard starting or low fuel pressure to the fuel pump. Generally reported between about 55,000 and 130,000 miles.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Fill the tank during a test drive and watch for nozzle shutoff or spillback, and ask whether the vent/control valve or fuel pump has been replaced. A stored EVAP code such as P1446 is worth reading.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When refueling my vehicle the gasoline would spray back out of the fuel fill neck. The first time it happened I removed the pump nozzle and the gasoline sprayed back with enough force to hit me in the face. Gasoline got in both my eyes and mouth. Being in need of contacts I had to rush into the gas station to take them out and from there I had to get myself and my car picked up and brought home since my contacts were ruined.”

   NHTSA complaint #10499489, filed 2013-02, 120,000 miles

   “Engine fuel pump failure. Driving on busy highway engine started to stall. Had to use clutch to keep engine running, nearly missing other vehicles trying to maintain control of vehicle trying to restart engine. Immediately took to dealer and fuel pump failure diagnosed. Fuel pump being replaced right now at $700.00.”

   NHTSA complaint #10903238, filed 2016-09, 53,300 miles

Buying note. Service history matters more than mileage on this model year: confirm the airbag inflator campaign is closed and ask about crankshaft/camshaft sensor replacements, fuel system work and any overheating episodes. A pre-purchase scan for stored codes and a cold-start check will surface most of the common complaints.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 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.