2003 Nissan Sentra problems and complaints

Owners have filed 180 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Nissan Sentra. The most-reported areas: Engine And Engine Cooling (86), Electrical System (35), Engine (24).

Key takeaways

  • 180 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
  • 13 involve a crash, 1 a fire, 8 reported injuries.
  • Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
Complaints by component
ComponentComplaintsShare
Engine And Engine Cooling8648%
Electrical System3519%
Engine2413%
Air Bags169%
Fuel System116%
Unknown Or Other95%
Power Train95%
Gasoline84%
Fuel/Propulsion System74%
Structure74%
Service Brakes74%
Hydraulic74%

One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

NHTSA 5-Star crash ratings
VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
2003 Nissan Sentra 4-DR.Not ratedNot ratedNot ratedNot rated

Latest complaints, as filed

Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.

Unknown Or Other - filed 2026-03-04

My rear windshield make a loud bang, and shattered and fell into pieces during a short and otherwise non-eventful commute to work. I had no knowledge of prior cracks or damage, or being hit with anything. There was a light frost that morning and I had used the rear defrost for a short time. It was not exceptionally ...

Engine - filed 2024-06-11

Both my catalytic converters stopped up st same time.

Electrical System,engine,fuel/Propulsion System - filed 2022-07-18

The car quits as I’m driving it , The headlights and the dome lights go dim and radio light flickers then it goes completely out and when I’m driving the car it has a rough idle and in order to keep the car running when I get to a stop light or stop sign is to put the car in park .

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More for the 2003 Nissan Sentra

Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.