Worst 2002 Nissan Sentra Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Engine & Cooling
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
Electrical Faults
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Nissan Sentra.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine & Cooling | 67 | — | 3 | 78,575 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 41 | 2 | — | 62,397 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 30 | — | 1 | 78,393 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 27 | — | 1 | 114,862 mi | |
| Airbags | 26 | 6 | — | 76,008 mi | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 17 | 1 | 1 | 82,002 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 15 | 2 | — | 84,237 mi | |
| Manual Transmission | 9 | — | — | 24,858 mi | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 8 | 1 | — | 26,580 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 7 | 1 | — | 117,898 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 6 | — | 1 | 41,130 mi | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 6 | — | — | 42,600 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 5 | 4 | — | 60,000 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 5 | — | — | 100,000 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 5 | — | — | 113,605 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 5 | 1 | — | 27,812 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Trunk Lid | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 2 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Nissan Sentra. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2002 Nissan Sentra
3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,402,461 vehicles.
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 may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
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 vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated, frontal passenger air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
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 internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Other Nissan Sentra Years
2002 Nissan Sentra — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2002 Nissan Sentra reliable?
What are common problems with the 2002 Nissan Sentra?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2002 Nissan Sentra?
How safe is the 2002 Nissan Sentra?
Does the 2002 Nissan Sentra have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2002 Nissan Sentra?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Nissan Sentra reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2002 Nissan Sentra
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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