2005 Nissan Sentra Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Oct 27, 2025 · 170 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Sentra years
About as many complaints as other years 15th of 32 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 170 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Nissan Sentra. That ranks 15th out of 32 Sentra model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (48 complaints, 28%), typically at around 69,500 miles. Complaints mention 13 crashes, 4 fires, 13 injuries. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.

Nissan Sentra
Front view of a 2026 Nissan Sentra SR sedan. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Deathpallie325, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2005 Nissan Sentra problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Engine and Engine Cooling48 · ~69,500 mi
Engine33 · ~100,500 mi
Air Bags21 · ~130,500 mi
Fuel System, Gasoline21 · ~85,000 mi
Electrical System17 · ~86,500 mi
Fuel/propulsion System15 · ~122,770 mi
Power Train10 · ~63,141 mi
Service Brakes, Hydraulic8 · ~11,950 mi
Unknown or Other6 · ~62,104 mi
Vehicle Speed Control5 · ~89,000 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Engine and Engine Cooling4828%69,500——
Engine3319%100,500——
Air Bags2112%130,500——
Fuel System, Gasoline2112%85,000——
Electrical System1710%86,500——
Fuel/propulsion System159%122,770——
Power Train106%63,141——
Service Brakes, Hydraulic85%11,950——
Unknown or Other64%62,104——
Vehicle Speed Control53%89,000——
Service Brakes42%122,000——
Visibility42%69,000——
Electronic Stability Control (esc)32%138,000——
Seat Belts32%104,000——
Steering32%110,772——
Structure32%82,500——
Suspension32%21,500——
Equipment21%———
Latches/locks/linkages21%70,002——
Tires21%2,000——
Equipment Adaptive/mobility11%81,263——
Fuel System, Other11%34,300——
Seats11%14,000——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2011, with 20 complaints
2005: 8200582006: 772007: 132007132008: 13132009: 102009102010: 19192011: 202011202012: 11112013: 112013112014: 14142015: 132015132016: 12122017: 4201742018: 332019: 4201942020: 112021: 5202152023: 112025: 120251

n = 170 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2005 Nissan Sentra recalls (5)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleDo not driveDec 1, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V747000 · 3,930 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been completed. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will re-inspect the vehicle and, if necessary, replace the air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 22, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PM964.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleJan 9, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V008000 · 307,962 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators with alternate desiccated inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 888-737-9511 or Infiniti customer service at 888-810-3715.

Air bagsMay 15, 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V287000 · 1,090,569 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 15, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. Note: On December 18, 2015 Nissan informed NHTSA of an amendment of this recall to remove 2004-2005 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 vehicles.

Engine and engine coolingNov 14, 2007 · NHTSA campaign 07V527000 · 653,910 vehicles

Problem: On certain passenger vehicles equipped with a 2.5l engine, the crankshaft position sensor can overheat causing a brief interruption in the signal output from the sensor.

Risk: If the interruption in the signal from the crankshaft position 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. Certain my 2006 altimas which have been previously remedied under recall campaign 06v223 (nissan r0606) are not included in this recall since the reprogramming for 06v223 also included this reprogramming. The recall began on december 31, 2007. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Fuel system, gasoline:storageJun 7, 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V269000 · 44,000 vehicles

Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, a vapor hose located in the fuel tank may not have been formed correctly during the manufacturing process. When the vehicle is parked with a full fuel tank, fuel may flow into the vapor hose, which is connected to a vapor canister.

Risk: The vapor canister could become full, and excess fuel could spill out onto the ground. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.

Fix: Dealers will check the vapor hose connections in the fuel tank to determine if a poor seal exists. If a poor seal is identified, a new fuel tank will be installed free of charge. The recall began on august 15, 2005. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture (EA21002) — opened Sep 17, 2021, still open.
  • Air Bag Inflator Rupture (EA15001) — opened Feb 24, 2015, still open, led to recall 14V668.
  • Air Bag Inflator Rupture (PE14016) — opened Jun 11, 2014, closed Mar 2, 2015, led to recall 13V172000.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

I purchased a 2005 Nissan Sentra on [XXX] from TMZ Auto Sales. The front passenger and driver side calipers, rotors, brake pads, brake hoses, front driver side hub bearings and knuckle hook up, were replaced by me, and the left passenger side ball joint needs to be repaired. All repairs were done…

Service Brakes · received Oct 27, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11695823

Nissan Dealer locally will not repair my vehicle as per the recall for my air bags. Have driven out of town to a Nissan dealer and they said they did not have the part in stock and could not fix it. I would like to have my car fixed before the passenger air bag EXPLODES.

Air Bags · received Mar 1, 2023 · NHTSA complaint 11509719

The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving 30-35 mph, the vehicle revved up and accelerated without warning. The contact downshifted to slow the vehicle. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the…

Vehicle Speed Control · received Jul 27, 2021 · NHTSA complaint 11426687

I had an appointment for 10am I called ahead to confirm the estimated amount of time I was told it would take 2-4 hours. When I arrived they refused to service my vehicle they claimed they we're busy and refused to service my recall and treated me like a nuisance and with little respect. I spoke to…

Air Bags · received Jul 16, 2021 · NHTSA complaint 11425136

I was driving this car but had stopped to let traffic by (in a turn lane) when an oncoming truck barrelled toward me & hit me head-on, going about 40 mph. His truck bent in the whole front of my sentra but my neither my driver-side or passenger-side airbag went off to protect me & my daughter!…

Air Bags · received Apr 30, 2021 · NHTSA complaint 11414660

Other Nissan Sentra years

← 2004 Sentra · 2006 Sentra →

See all Nissan Sentra problems by year, every Nissan model, or the Nissan VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2005 Nissan Sentra?

Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, engine, air bags problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 48 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2005 Nissan Sentra?

Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2005 Nissan Sentra a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Sentra model years, the 2005 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.