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2000 Nissan Sentra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2000 Nissan Sentra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 116.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

69 reports with mileage · 102 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 72 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

20 crash reports4 fire reports8 injury reports

What owners actually said

171 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2004
Unknown Or OtherCrash

CONSUMER HANDLING CLAIM ON BEHALF OF SON RELATIVE TO DAMAGES RESULTING FROM AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. (NAR) *PH *CB

NHTSA ODI #10071627

42,375 miles · Apr 23, 2004
Air Bags

MY SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WAS ON FOR OVER A WEEK. THE DEALER TOLD ME BY PHONE TO PULL OVER IF IT STARTED FLASHING. AFTER THE CAR WAS CHECKED, IT TURNED OUT IT NEEDED A " NEW MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR". IT WAS A SATURDAY SO THE SERVICE WRITER COULDN'T REACH NISSAN MOTOR CORP TO SEE IF I HAD TO PAY. I DID CALL NISSAN MOTOR CORP MYS…

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MY SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WAS ON FOR OVER A WEEK. THE DEALER TOLD ME BY PHONE TO PULL OVER IF IT STARTED FLASHING. AFTER THE CAR WAS CHECKED, IT TURNED OUT IT NEEDED A " NEW MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR". IT WAS A SATURDAY SO THE SERVICE WRITER COULDN'T REACH NISSAN MOTOR CORP TO SEE IF I HAD TO PAY. I DID CALL NISSAN MOTOR CORP MYSELF BECAUSE THE SERVICE WRITER TOLD ME TUESDAY THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID I HAVE TO PAY. THE REP AT NISSAN MOTOR CORP SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AND NTHING WAS SOLVED. SINCE I HAD A COUPON, I DID SAVE OVER $200 BUT STILL HAD TO PAY $534.07 ON A 2000 CAR. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFTY FEATURE THAT NISSAN SHOULD NOT OF MADE ME PAY FOR. I DIDN'T PURCHASE THE CAR FROM THIS DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10067739

Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 2004
Air BagsEngine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. AIRBAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE IDLE PULLEY HAD CAME OFF. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10067322

8,000 miles · Apr 11, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE LOOKED AND FOUND NO RECALL ON THIS POORLY DESIGNED ENGINE COMPONENT. PLASTIC DIPSTICK HANDLE BREAKS. MY CAR IS A NISSAN 2000 SENTRA GXE 1.8: THE PLASTIC ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK HANDLE BROKE OFF, LEAVING THE STAINLESS STEEL STICK INSIDE THE TUBE. I CALLED MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR A METHOD OF EXTRACTIN…

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I HAVE LOOKED AND FOUND NO RECALL ON THIS POORLY DESIGNED ENGINE COMPONENT. PLASTIC DIPSTICK HANDLE BREAKS. MY CAR IS A NISSAN 2000 SENTRA GXE 1.8: THE PLASTIC ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK HANDLE BROKE OFF, LEAVING THE STAINLESS STEEL STICK INSIDE THE TUBE. I CALLED MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR A METHOD OF EXTRACTING THE DEFECTIVE PART. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE 'VERY EXPENSIVE' FOR THE SERVICE SHOP TO DO, THAT I SHOULD TRY TO 'FIGURE IT OUT' MYSELF AND 'LET ME KNOW HOW YOU DID IT' IF I WAS SUCCESSFUL. THE ONLY OEM REPLACEMENT PART FOR THIS ITEM IS AN EXACT DUPLICATE OF THE PLASTIC HANDLE TYPE THAT BROKE, SO I AM NOT USING THAT AGAIN! THIS PLASTIC COMPONENT IS POORLY DESIGNED AND CAN PERMIT THE STAINLESS STEEL 'STICK' TO BE FORCED INTO THE OIL PAN. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10065913

31,367 miles · Apr 9, 2004
Wheels

TWO WHEEL LUGS, NUTS AND STUDS WERE BROKEN IN THE PROCESS OF TIRE ROTATION SERVICE THAT WAS PERFORMANCED BY THE RIVERSIDE NISSAN DEALER. HAD THIS HAPPENDED DURING DRIVING, IT WOULD HAVE INCURED AN ACCIDENT. THIS VEHICLE HAD NO IMPACT OR ACCIDENT BEFORE THAT COULD POTENTIALLY DAMAGE THAT PART. AND THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEING USE…

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TWO WHEEL LUGS, NUTS AND STUDS WERE BROKEN IN THE PROCESS OF TIRE ROTATION SERVICE THAT WAS PERFORMANCED BY THE RIVERSIDE NISSAN DEALER. HAD THIS HAPPENDED DURING DRIVING, IT WOULD HAVE INCURED AN ACCIDENT. THIS VEHICLE HAD NO IMPACT OR ACCIDENT BEFORE THAT COULD POTENTIALLY DAMAGE THAT PART. AND THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEING USED OFF-ROAD. SO, I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT OF THE PART, WHICH SHOULD BE RECALLED TO AVOID ANY POSSIBLE ACCIDENTS IN SIMILAR VEHICLES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10065809

106,000 miles · Apr 5, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

I BROUGHT MY 2000 NISSAN SENTRA GXE TO SEARS AUTO CENTER FOR NEW TIRES ON SATURDAY MORNING. WHEN THE MECHANIC ASKED IF MY CAR NEEDED AN OIL CHANGE, I SAID SURE. WHEN I RETURNED TO PICK UP MY VEHICLE, THE MECHANIC HANDED ME TWO PIECES, THE PLASTIC "O" RING AND A BIT OF STEM FROM MY DIPSTICK, AND TOLD ME THAT THE REST OF MY DIP…

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I BROUGHT MY 2000 NISSAN SENTRA GXE TO SEARS AUTO CENTER FOR NEW TIRES ON SATURDAY MORNING. WHEN THE MECHANIC ASKED IF MY CAR NEEDED AN OIL CHANGE, I SAID SURE. WHEN I RETURNED TO PICK UP MY VEHICLE, THE MECHANIC HANDED ME TWO PIECES, THE PLASTIC "O" RING AND A BIT OF STEM FROM MY DIPSTICK, AND TOLD ME THAT THE REST OF MY DIPSTICK HAD SLID DOWN ABOUT SIX INCHES INTO THE TUBE. BECAUSE PLASTIC WAS STILL ON ONE END, HE COULD NOT GET THE STICK OUT AND SENT ME TO MY NISSAN DEALER. THE MECHANIC AT NISSAN SEEMED SURPRISED AT WHAT HE SAW. I ASKED HIM WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE WITHOUT MY TELLING HIM WHAT SEARS HAD SAID. THE NISSAN MECHANIC AND THE SEARS MECHANIC CONCURRED: NOT ONLY WAS GETTING THE DIPSTICK OUT GOING TO BE A PROBLEM, BUT AS IT BOUNCED AROUND IN THE TUBE, IT COULD DRIVE ITS WAY THROUGH MY OIL PAN AND BUST MY CRANKSHAFT OR CAUSE THE OIL TO BACK OVER THE ENGINE. EITHER WAY, THE PROSPECT IS DIM. HOW MUCH TO GET THE DIPSTICK OUT? DUE TO NISSAN'S DESIGN, THE MECHANIC SAID THAT PART OF MY ENGINE WAS IN THE WAY OF THE OIL PAN AND THE LABOR ALONE WOULD COST $300, AN EXORBITANT SUM FOR SOMEONE'S STUPIDITY. WHAT HAPPENED TO METAL DIPSTICKS? WHEN I CONTACTED NISSAN HEADQUARTERS ABOUT THIS, I WAS TOLD THAT MY WARRANTY PERIOD WAS OVER. I WAS VERY UPSET AT THIS NEWS CONSIDERING THAT THIS PROBLEM WOULD NOT MANIFEST WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD! PLASTIC TAKES A BIT OF TIME TO BE HEAT-DAMAGED AND SNAP LIKE THAT, BUT WHEN SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO THE ENGINE MANIFOLD...WELL, DUH! RIGHT NOW, I AM STUCK WITH A BROKEN DIPSTICK, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT MAKE MY CAR A FIRE-BREATHING DEATH TRAP. APPARENTLY MY GRIPE WITH NISSAN IS NOT ISOLATED--JUST CHECK OUT THE GRIPED FROM THIS WEBSITE, ALSO ATTACHED BELOW. HTTP://WWW.BROOMEMAN.COM/MT/ARCHIVES/001156.HTML HELP! I DON'T THINK THIS SHOULD BE MY PROBLEM, BUT NISSAN DOESN'T THINK SO. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10064564

Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

COMPUTER HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO OVER HEATING BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE LINING MATERIAL USED IN THE CASING HOUSING THE COMPUTER. *PH THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL TO REPLACE THE LINING ON THE COMPUTER HOUSING, THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE TO THE COMPUTER DUE TO THE OVERHEATING. *J…

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COMPUTER HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO OVER HEATING BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE LINING MATERIAL USED IN THE CASING HOUSING THE COMPUTER. *PH THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL TO REPLACE THE LINING ON THE COMPUTER HOUSING, THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE TO THE COMPUTER DUE TO THE OVERHEATING. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10064779

53,205 miles · Mar 23, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE DEFECT AS STATED IN THE RECALL PERTAINING TO THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ILLUMINATING. *PH THE RECALL WAS FOR A DEFECTIVE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) WHICH MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #10064979

57,110 miles · Mar 18, 2004
Unknown Or Other

DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL NOTICE BY NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10062490

Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 2004
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

CONSUMER BELIEVED SOME OF THE BURDEN OF COST FOR REPLACING THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR SHOULD BE BORNE BY NISSAN. *PH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD STICK. THE DEALER CLAIMED TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM BUT IT STILL OCCURRED. THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR WAS GOING BAD AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE T…

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CONSUMER BELIEVED SOME OF THE BURDEN OF COST FOR REPLACING THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR SHOULD BE BORNE BY NISSAN. *PH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD STICK. THE DEALER CLAIMED TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM BUT IT STILL OCCURRED. THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR WAS GOING BAD AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE VEHICLE MADE A CHIRPING SOUND SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED. *SC

NHTSA ODI #10065121

Official recalls

6

03V511000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Dec 10, 2003

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRACKET ON THESE VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 15, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

03V455000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Nov 17, 2003

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON, CREATE A NO START CONDITION, CAUSE REDUCED ENGINE POWER, OR CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRANK POSITION SENSORS. CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR(S), AND IN SOME CASES, THE VARIABLE TIMING CONTROL SENSOR(S). VEHICLES INVOLVED IN A PREVIOUS RECALL CAMPAIGN, 01V357, ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS NEW CAMPAIGN. THE REPLACEMENT SENSORS USED IN THAT CAMPAIGN ARE ALSO AFFECTED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.

03V477000 · Electrical System:ignition:module

Nov 14, 2003

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF ONE OF THE RESISTORS INSIDE THE ECM HAS A CRACK ON THE SURFACE COATING, THE GAS MAY CAUSE CORROSION OF THE RESISTOR. THIS COULD CAUSE THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT TO COME ON, POOR DRIVABILITY (IDLE INSTABILITY, POOR ACCELERATOR), OR THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE INSIDE LINING MATERIAL FROM THE ECM BOX. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

01V357000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline

Nov 16, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 1.8 LITER ENGINE. THE ENGINE COULD STOP RUNNING WHILE BEING DRIVEN DUE TO A DEFECTIVE CRANK POSITION SENSOR. THIS COULD ALSO RESULT IN THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" WARNING LIGHT COMING ON OR REDUCED ENGINE POWER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE ENGINE STOPS RUNNING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, IT COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRANK POSITION SENSORS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 10, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

01V277000 · Wheels

Aug 29, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE COOLING HOLES IN THE STEEL WHEEL MAY HAVE BURRS ON THEIR EDGES AS A RESULT OF IMPROPER MANUFACTURING. THESE BURRS CAN CAUSE CRACKS AS THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. CRACKS CAN PROPAGATE BETWEEN ADJACENT COOLING HOLES. IF ENOUGH CRACKS DEVELOP BETWEEN THE COOLING HOLES, THE WHEEL COULD FAIL AND SEPARATE FROM THE MOUNTING HUB WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SEPARATION OF THE WHEEL FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE BEING OPERATED COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR CRACKS AND REPLACE THE WHEEL IF CRACKS ARE DISCOVERED. OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BE CONDUCTED IN TWO PHASES. THE FIRST MAILING BEGAN OCTOBER 1, 2001, ASKING OWNERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES IN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION OF THE WHEELS. ANY WHEELS WITH CRACKS WILL BE REPLACED. A SECOND OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN IN EARLY DECEMBER, AT WHICH TIME NISSAN WILL HAVE AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF REPLACEMENT WHEELS, REQUESTING OWNERS TO RETURN TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE WHEELS REPLACED. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

01V174000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

May 23, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. ONE OR MORE OF THE THREE BOLTS USED TO ATTACH EACH FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM TO THE BODY ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY MANUFACTURED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE BOLTS COULD FRACTURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ATTACHMENT BOLTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 30, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.