The Lemon Index2002 Nissan Sentra.
The 2002 Nissan Sentra is about average by owner complaints: 123 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 113, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about engine, it has 14 recalls, and it gets 22 to 27 mpg combined. The best Nissan Sentra year is 2011.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 304 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Nissan Sentra year. 2002 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 28K to 112K miles on the car (209 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- engine complaints mostly came at 31K–109K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 35K–100K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 11K–124K miles
Recalls 14
- airbags 2022
Please see Nissan's recall report for the specific part numbers.
- airbags 2020
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.
- airbags 2020
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.
Show all 14 recalls
- airbags 2015
Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
- lights 2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
- engine 2007
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.
- lights 2006
CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES.
- lights 2006
CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES.
- engine 2003
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.
- engine 2003
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…
- electrical 2003
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE QG18DE ENGINE OR QR25DE ENGINES, THE FOAM MATERIAL USED FOR THE INTERIOR LINING OF THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) BOX EMITS SULFUR AS IT CURES.
- engine 2003
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.5 LITER ENGINE, THE EXHAUST PIPE HANGER PIN MAY CATCH DEBRIS FROM THE ROAD THAT COULD BE IGNITED BY CONTACT WITH THE MAIN CATALYST.
- unknown or other 2002
ON SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A NISSAN-APPROVED ACCESSORY FLOOR MAT THAT WAS INSTALLED EITHER AT THE ASSEMBLY PLANT OR BY THE DEALER, DUE TO THE LENGTH OF THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR MAT, A SMALL AMOUNT OF MAT MOVEM…
- lights 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE VEHICLES WERE MISSING TAMPER…
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Nissan told dealers about
Nissan sent dealers 73 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Engine; rough idle, hesitation when accelerating, or idle hunting
- Alternator noise after engine shut off.*mr
- Alternator drive belt noise
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenDesiccated air bag inflator rupture2021
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★☆ · side ★★☆☆☆ · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $2400–2900 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.8L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
Nissan Sentra 2002 the consumer experienced a squeaking noise from the engine.
2002 Nissan Sentra owner · NHTSA complaint 10113550
More owner reports
While driving 80 mph the vehicle stalled. Three weeks later, the consumer received a recall notice for the defect, however the dealer refused to inspect the vehicle.
NHTSA complaint 10061131
While driving on the interstate at 70 mph vehicle lost power and stalled. Also, the instrumental panel/ electrical system, and brakes failed. This forced the consumer to pull off the road, and waited an hour to restart.
NHTSA complaint 10046547
Quick answers
Is the 2002 Nissan Sentra reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew 1.1× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 113; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Nissan Sentra year by this measure since 2010 is 2023.
What are the most common 2002 Nissan Sentra problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (37%), electrical (18%) and transmission & drivetrain (11%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2002 Nissan Sentra have?
14 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2002 Nissan Sentra get?
22 to 27 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2002 Nissan Sentra problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 28,800 and 112,900 miles. The middle report was at 71,000 miles, from 209 complaints.
Does the 2002 Nissan Sentra have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 11% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2002 Nissan Sentra cost in fuel a year?
About $2400 to $2900 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2002 Nissan Sentra have?
1.8L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl.
What Nissan Sentra year is better than the 2002?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2011, 2017 and 2010.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works