Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2002 Nissan Sentra
NHTSA data on file today
The 2002 Nissan Sentra has 14 NHTSA recall campaigns and 318 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #22E066000 Replacement Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V747000 Frontal Passenger Air Bag Inflators May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V008000 Frontal Passenger Air Bag Inflators May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V287000 Passenger Air Bag Inflator may Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E025000 FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS/AMBER REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07V527000 CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILURE/ENGINE STALL NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E064000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E023000 FMVSS 108/HEADLAMP/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V511000 NISSAN/ELECTRIC VEHICLES/BALL JOINT BRACKET NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V455000 NISSAN/CRANK/CAM POSITION SENSOR WELD NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V477000 NISSAN/ECM MATERIAL NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V084000 NISSAN/DEBRIS AND CATALYST SUBSTRATE/FIRE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #02V056000 NISSAN/FLOOR MAT NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #01V376000 NISSAN/FMVSS 108/HEADLAMP CAP NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 131 complaints
- Electrical System 55 complaints
- Air Bags 32 complaints
- Engine 27 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 21 complaints
- Power Train 20 complaints
Of the 318 complaints on file, 22 report a crash and 8 a fire; across all 318 complaints, owners report 22 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $7,000–$13,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2002 Nissan Sentra has a below-average reliability rating, with 318 NHTSA complaints and 14 recalls, particularly involving the engine and airbag systems. While the number of engine-related complaints is significant, there's limited data on exact failure mileage. Frequent airbag recalls highlight potential safety concerns. Overall, the evidence points to notable mechanical issues that could affect ownership costs and reliability.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 70,000–100,000 miles | $500–$2,500 | common |
| Electrical system | 80,000–110,000 miles | $300–$1,500 | occasional |
| Air bags | Unknown | $800–$2,500 | rare |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake pad replacements
- Transmission fluid service
- Coolant flush
- Tire rotations
- Spark plug replacement
- Battery check and replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Engine misfires
- Electrical shorts
- Airbag warning light
- Inconsistent throttle response
- Unusual engine noises
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2002 Nissan Sentra at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.