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KLUNK

2003 Nissan Sentra

The Verdict

58 Proceed with Caution

The 2003 Nissan Sentra has 179 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (117 complaints) and electrical (37 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 58/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Nissan Sentra, consider the 2023 model year which has 89% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2023 has 89% fewer complaints

View the 2023 Nissan Sentra dashboard →

58

Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution

About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
200047734817
20016121451117
200262107816914
2003163371176
2004188521136
20051912251104
200624435467
20075317403014
20084818533117
200916101892
2010271604412
20113613393815
2012475264755
2013668595117275
201453306375159
201561134977147
201643184658101
20174915485363
20184735342542
20195134662444
2020124243897
202158233374
20224342184
202372531
2024134644
2025172240

By Category

Engine
117
Electrical
37
Body
16
Transmission
6
Brakes
3

By Severity

1
84
2
81
4
14

Worst Problems

Compare Against

See how the 2003 Nissan Sentra stacks up against rivals.

Complaints

Body 2

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 cold that day. My husband met me in a nearby parking lot, cleaned up the glass, drove it home, and scheduled a replacement for the next day. I took his vehicle and made it to work on time.

4mo ago
Engine 2

Both my catalytic converters stopped up st same time.

25mo ago
Engine 2

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 .

48mo ago
Electrical 2

2003 NIssan Sentra. Consumer writes in regards to Airbag Safety Recall. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PARTS NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THE RECALL REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER WOULD NOT PROVIDE A LOANER VEHICLE FOR THE LENGTHY REPAIR.

62mo ago
Engine 1

FLOOR MAT HOLDER BROKE, FLOOR MAT SLIDES UP UNDER GAS PEDAL, CAUSING U.N. CONTROLLED ACCELERATION MULTIPLE TIMES

79mo ago
Transmission 1

I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR SHIFTED ITSELF FROM A LOW GEAR TO A VERY HIGH GEAR, LEAVING ME WITH NO TORQUE. THE NEXT GEAR WOULDNT LOCK-IN UNTIL RPMS HIT REDLINE, AND EVEN THEN IT WOULD FEEL LIKE ITS SLIPPING, OR MAYBE ITS IN OVERDRIVE GEAR(4TH) WHEN IT SHOULD BE IN 3RD.. AND ALSO THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT DOWN UNTIL I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP... THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOURE ON THE FREEWAY, BECAUSE THE CAR WILL ONLY MOVE 40 MPH. AND ALSO DANGEROUS WHEN CLIMBING HILLS/FREEWAY OVERPASS, BECAUSE THERES NO TORQUE TO GET UP THE HILL, AND THE TRANSMISSION WONT PUT ITSELF IN LOW GEAR UNTIL YOU COME TO A COMPLETE STOP... I THINK ITS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE BECAUSE IT HAPPENED SUDDENLY... IF IT WAS MECHANICAL, I WOULDVE FELT IT SLIPPING GRADUALLY, AND IT NEVER SLIPS. I JUST DROVE IT A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE TO THE BAY AREA AND IT CLIMBED THE HILLS SMOOTHLY, NO PROBLEM.. I HAVE NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, SO IDK WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE...

80mo ago
Transmission 1

THE COMPUTER ON THE CAR IS MESSED UP AND KEEPS TURNING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON FOR P0444 AND HAD A SHOP CHECK IT AND REPLACE THE PART AND IT'S STILL COMING ON. IT WIL TRIP THE CODE SITTING IN NEUTRAL AND OR DRIVING LESS THEN 5 MILES.

83mo ago
Electrical 1

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V287000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO DEALER NEARBY TO HAVE THE RECALL REMEDY PERFORMED. THE CONTACT MADE THE MANUFACTURER AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THAT SOMEONE WOULD CALL BACK. THE CONTACT WAS NOT CALLED BACK. THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNABLE TO BE COMPLETED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT

87mo ago
Engine 2

CAR WAS PARKED REFUELING . WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PUT GAS IN THE CAR AND IT KEPT SHUTTING PUMP OFF AND WAS LEAKING OUT UNDER THE CAR . ENGINE LIGHT IS CURRENTLY STAYING ON

90mo ago
Engine 1

VENT CONTROL VALVE/EVAP CANISTER I CAN NOT PUT GAS IN MY 2003 NISSAN SENTRA WHEN I TRY IT POURS OUT ON THE GROUND AND TAKES 15-20 MINUTES TO PUT MABE 50 CENTS OF GAS IN CAR . MY ENGINE LIGHT IS ALSO ON

90mo ago
Engine 2

CAR WON'T START DRIVE IT ALL DAY FRIDAY AND IT WAS FINE WENT TO START IT ON SATURDAY WOULDN'T START

100mo ago
Electrical 1

TAKATA RECALL , I GOT A RECALL LETTER FOR MY NISSAN SENTRA CAR

100mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE REPAIRING THE HEADLIGHTS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WIRES WERE CUT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER TO CONFIRM THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER MANUFACTURER RECALL: NTB13-062 (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 13V136000 OR 14V361000 (AIR BAGS) IN DECEMBER OF 2014. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

102mo ago
Electrical 1

TAKATA RECALL-- REPLACE AIRBAG HOWEVER, DEFECT WITH DEFROST CONTROL PRODUCES RECURRING CLICKING WHEN IT'S ON. GLENDALE (CALIFORNIA) NISSAN DEALER IS CHARGING $1000+ TO FIX THE ISSUE AND STATES THAT THEY THE NEW PROBLEM WAS NOT A RESULT OF THE AIRBAG CHANGE.

103mo ago
Engine 1

PCM ECM ECU ENGINEERING FLAW. ENGINE KICKS INTO SAFE MODE WHILE IN OPERATION OR COMPLETELY STALLS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, WHEN RESTARTS WILL MISFIRE. DIAGNOSED WITH FAULTY CONTROL MODULE (THE SECOND ONE IN THIS VEHICLE SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT)

104mo ago
Electrical 4

TAKATA RECALL I WAS DRIVING MY NISSAN SENTRA AND I HIT A DEER, MY PASSENGER AIRBAG DID NOT GO OFF.

104mo ago
Electrical 2

TAKATA RECALL. DEFECTIVE AIRBAG ON PASSENGER SIDE.

105mo ago
Engine 1

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON, CAR SUDDENLY CUTS OFF, AND DOES NOT RESTART IMMEDIATELY. RECALLED OTHER VIN'S BUT NOT ALL 2003 NISSAN SENTRAS. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL SENTRAS OF THOSE YEARS. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILURE/ENGINE STALL. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS WITH AS MANY OF THESE CARS THAT ARE OUT ON THE ROAD FOR IT TO JUST KEEP SHUTTING OFF WHILE IN TRAFFIC WHILE DRIVING. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL OPEN TO ALL SENTRAS WITH THIS PROBLEM.

109mo ago
Engine 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT CAMSHAFT SENSOR ONE AND TWO FAILED. THE CAMSHAFT SENSORS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. *TR

115mo ago
Engine 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED, LOST POWER, AND STALLED. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 407,000.

120mo ago

179 total

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