Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2003 Nissan Sentra
NHTSA data on file today
The 2003 Nissan Sentra has 10 NHTSA recall campaigns and 180 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 #06E064000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06V242000 CRANK ANGLE SENSOR ENGINE STALL 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
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 86 complaints
- Electrical System 35 complaints
- Engine 24 complaints
- Air Bags 16 complaints
- Power Train 9 complaints
- Unknown or Other 9 complaints
Of the 180 complaints on file, 13 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 180 complaints, owners report 8 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $6,000–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2003 Nissan Sentra has a below-average rating due to significant issues with the engine and electrical systems, as indicated by numerous complaints. Frequent recall campaigns, particularly for the airbag system, further underline potential reliability concerns. However, the data is also limited in certain areas, making comprehensive reliability predictions challenging.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine cooling system | 90,000–120,000 miles | $500–$1,500 | very common |
| Electrical system | 70,000–100,000 miles | $300–$800 | common |
| Airbag system | Unknown | $800–$2,000 | occasional |
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 change
- Brake fluid replacement
- Transmission fluid exchange
- Coolant flush
- Timing belt inspection
- Tire rotation and balance
- Battery replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Engine overheating
- Electronics malfunction
- Airbag warning light
- Irregular idling
- Unexpected power loss
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2003 Nissan Sentra at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.