2003 Nissan Sentra Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 86 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the 2003 Nissan Sentra, 48% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 69,321 miles. The words owners use most often: “position sensor” (13% of reports).
- 86engine and engine cooling complaints
- 69,321median miles at failure
- 5mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- $1,100typical repair cost reported by owners
- 34%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Position sensor: mentioned in 11 of 86 complaints (13%)
- Catalytic converter: mentioned in 9 of 86 complaints (10%)
- Included engine engine: mentioned in 8 of 86 complaints (9%)
- Nothing wrong: mentioned in 6 of 86 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine and engine cooling repair on the 2003 Nissan Sentra at $1,100, and half of them between $450 and $2,550.
Based on 9 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2007–2009), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 77 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 86 complaints, 5 mention a crash, 1 a fire.
Nissan Sentra engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Sentra | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2015 Sentra | 1 | 0% | 50,000 |
| 2014 Sentra | 3 | 1% | 38,125 |
| 2013 Sentra | 4 | 1% | 3,200 |
| 2012 Sentra | 1 | 1% | 60,000 |
| 2011 Sentra | 4 | 3% | 24,850 |
| 2010 Sentra | 8 | 6% | 51,938 |
| 2009 Sentra | 2 | 4% | 9,070 |
| 2008 Sentra | 10 | 6% | 37,500 |
| 2007 Sentra | 11 | 7% | 48,697 |
| 2006 Sentra | 14 | 12% | 66,500 |
| 2005 Sentra | 48 | 28% | 69,500 |
| 2004 Sentra | 59 | 30% | 69,000 |
| 2003 Sentra | 86 | 48% | 69,321 |
| 2002 Sentra | 127 | 42% | 72,000 |
| 2001 Sentra | 93 | 39% | 54,230 |
| 2000 Sentra | 72 | 42% | 62,020 |
| 1999 Sentra | 6 | 10% | 88,000 |
| 1998 Sentra | 4 | 7% | 83,000 |
| 1997 Sentra | 6 | 6% | 38,000 |
| 1996 Sentra | 9 | 6% | 30,000 |
| 1995 Sentra | 12 | 10% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Engine and engine cooling
Problem: 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.
Risk: If the interruption in the signal from the sensor is so brief that the electronic control module (ecm) logic does not have time to diagnose the condition, the engine may stop running without warning while the vehicle is driven at a low speed increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the ecm free of charge. The recall began on august 21, 2006. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Engine and engine cooling
Problem: 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.
Fix: Dealers will replace the bracket on these vehicles. Owner notification began december 15, 2003. Owners should contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Engine and engine cooling
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 nissan sentra. While driving approximately 30 mph, the engine stalled and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that camshaft sensor one and two failed. The camshaft sensors were replaced, but the…
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 nissan sentra. While driving at 35 mph, a loud abnormal noise was heard and the engine stalled. The contact was concerned that the failure could result in a crash. The vehicle was unable to restart on the first attempt. The failure occurred several times. The vehicle was…
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 nissan sentra. While driving less than 10 mph, a loud popping noise was heard from the engine. The check engine warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel and the vehicle stalled in the middle of the road. The vehicle restarted after approximately five minutes…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2003 Nissan Sentras have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 86 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the 2003 Nissan Sentra (48% of the 180 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Nissan Sentra engine and engine cooling?
Yes: 3 safety recalls list engine and engine cooling. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems start?
The median reported mileage is 69,321 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine and engine cooling problems on the 2003 Nissan Sentra?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,100 (half paid between $450 and $2,550), from 9 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the 2003 Nissan Sentra?
The most frequent phrase is “position sensor”, in 11 of 86 complaints, followed by “catalytic converter” (9).
See all 2003 Nissan Sentra problems or engine and engine cooling problems across all Sentra years.