Model year

2003 Nissan Sentra

NHTSA lists 7 recalls and 180 complaints for the 2003 Nissan Sentra (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). 1 recall marked do not drive. The components listed on the most complaints are ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (53), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (25), ENGINE (24). NHTSA lists 2 investigations with no close date in the file. NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here. EPA rates it 22–28 mpg combined depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $2,400–$3,050, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.

ABOUT THIS DATA

Recalls

20V747000 · Dec 1, 2020

Do not drive

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE; AIR BAGS

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2002-2006 Sentra vehicles whose passenger air bags were previously inspected and may have been released without replacing the Takata air bag inflator. In the event of a crash, Takata frontal passenger air bag inflators…

20V008000 · Jan 9, 2020

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2007-2011 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback, 2001-2004 Infiniti I30 and I35, 2002-2003 Inifiniti QX4, 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 and 2006-2010 M35 and M45…

15V287000 · May 15, 2015

AIR BAGS

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2001-2003 Nissan Maxima, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4 and I35, 2003 FX35 and FX45, and 2001 I30 vehicles. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive…

06V242000 · Jul 7, 2006

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5L ENGINE, THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR IS AFFECTED BY TEMPERATURE VARIATIONS. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, THESE VARIATIONS IN TEMPERATURE CAN BE LARGE ENOUGH TO CAUSE A BRIEF INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL OUTPUT FROM THE SENSOR.

03V511000 · Dec 10, 2003

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

ON CERTAIN ELECTRIC VEHICLES, THE FRONT SUSPENSION TRANSVERSE LINK'S BALL JOINT BRACKET MAY BREAK FROM STRESS CONCENTRATION AT A NOTCH CREATED BY SURFACE ROUGHNESS AND THE SHAPE OF THE MATERIAL CUT-LINE.

03V455000 · Nov 17, 2003

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR OR CAM POSITION SENSOR MAY HAVE AN IMPROPER SOLDER JOINT DUE TO SOLDER DEFORMATION CAUSED BY HEAT STRESS ACCELERATED BY THE EXISTENCE OF FLUX RESIDUE DURING THE SOLDERING PROCESS.

03V477000 · Nov 14, 2003

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE QG18DE ENGINE OR QR25DE ENGINES, THE FOAM MATERIAL USED FOR THE INTERIOR LINING OF THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) BOX EMITS SULFUR AS IT CURES.

Complaints

180 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 13, fire flag on 1, injury field 8, deaths field 0. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING53
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM25
ENGINE24
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE17
AIR BAGS12
UNKNOWN OR OTHER9
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM7
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM5

Investigations

Investigations in the NHTSA file (2). "No close date" means the file has no close date. It is not a statement that the investigation is still active.
Action	Subject	Opened	Closed
EA15001	Air Bag Inflator Rupture · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL; AIR BAGS	Feb 24, 2015	No close date in the file
EA21002	Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE; AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE	Sep 17, 2021	No close date in the file

Safety ratings

NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here.

Fuel economy

EPA configurations. Electric rows show MPGe in the combined column and kWh/100 mi separately. Annual fuel cost is EPA's published fuelCost08 figure.
Configuration	Fuel	City	Hwy	Comb	kWh/100 mi	Range	Annual fuel cost
Sentra · 1.8L · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	24	32	27	—	—	$2,500
Sentra · 1.8L · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	25	33	28	—	—	$2,400
Sentra · 2.5L · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	20	25	22	—	—	$3,050
Sentra · 2.5L · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	21	27	23	—	—	$2,900
Sentra · 2.5L · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	20	27	23	—	—	$2,900

Open this model year in the fuel-cost calculator. The calculator starts with no fuel price filled in.

Check a vehicle

This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2003 Nissan Sentra at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.

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