KnownCarProblems2005 Nissan Sentra Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 170 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Nissan Sentra, most often about the engine (46% of complaints, typically around 76,000 miles). It is 15th of 27 Sentra model years by number of complaints and has 5 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory1 recall for this car came with a do-not-drive warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2005 Nissan Sentra problems
Engine
78 complaints · 46%Half of these problems showed up before 76,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system, exhaust system.
Tl contact owns a 2005 Nissan Sentra. While driving approximately 35 MPH the contact noticed that the heat stopped blowing from the vents. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop where the contact was told that a head gasket had blown out. The head gasket was replaced. The failure mileage was 76,200 and…
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8 head gasket failure - car overheated on highway, antifreeze leaking in engine compartment. Had car towed to Nissan dealership and confirmed head gasket failure. Bought vehicle new, less than 36 months of ownership, but 76k miles. Attempted to work through customer relations at Nissan to recover…
Fuel system
37 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 87,000 miles. Parts named most often: storage, delivery.
After fueling car (I.e. Pump auto shuts off) and fuel pump is removed, a gurgling sound can be heard from within the car's fuel filler and then gasoline is pushed out and overflows, spilling out dangerously onto the ground. Car is stationary, turned off, at gas station with keys removed. Happens once or twice a year.
My car overheated, then I took it to a mechanic and the entire engine was blown and I had to pay $1200.00 to fix it and come to find out, there was a recall on my make and model and year on the water pump which would have caused my car to overheat and thus not having to have my engine blown. When I called to find out…
Air bags
21 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 130,500 miles.
Ar bags made by takata. Never fixed on recall. Represent damge to driver to kill them. Humidity can cause danger to drife to kill them. Never recalled by Nissan nj is the most humid state.
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Sentra. While driving 65 MPH, the contact depressed the brake pedal, which failed to engage and caused the contact to rear end another vehicle causing that vehicle to rear end another vehicle. The contact stated that no warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the front…
Electrical
17 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 86,500 miles. Parts named most often: horn, wiring, alternator/generator/regulator, instrument cluster/panel.
Front passenger side window will not go up or down, it is raining, snowing. This is second window to fail in this car. It is unsafe to have electric windows that are so shoddily made. I don't use that window much. I am sure they all will fail at this rate. All 4 of them.
Endless repairs contuing over headlights, which keep blowing out over and over and over again and where electrical connections all by themselves stop connecting swo that there is intermittent headlights. This happens over and over and over. Headlight bulb hardly work for long. This happens over and over and over again…
Brakes
12 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 25,500 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, foundation components, pedals and linkages.
I have a 2005 Nissan Sentra bought in april, 2005. It start making noise in the rear drum brakes when I press the brake pedal. The drums in the rear of my Sentra are grabbing and letting go and making a thud noise ( I think it's the brakes anyway given that it happens with the brakes on and at low speed from about 10…
I went to Nissan denville today and ws told my brakes are in bad shape. There is only about 37,500 miles on car. I am not hard on brakes, I am a 72 year old lady who lets the car roll to a stop when I can. There is absolutely no reason my brakes should be in such bad shape. What is going on with Nissan brakes?
Transmission
10 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 63,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
I brought my car into the dealership for service and they said it has a blown head gasket.they also said that it would cost $2500 and this car only has 64000 miles on it.the dealer said that this is a known issue with the 2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8 engine.
Driving on the highway. Engine check light came on. Car would only do 10 miles per hour on a superhighway - very very dangerous. I was able to drive 2 miles this way on very side of road to side road where I parked. When I started it up again it drove normally. This check engine light is very dangerous. I see there is…
Other or unspecified
6 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 62,000 miles.
Driving on the highway. Engine check light came on. Car would only do 10 miles per hour on a superhighway - very very dangerous. I was able to drive 2 miles this way on very side of road to side road where I parked. When I started it up again it drove normally. This check engine light is very dangerous. I see there is…
Cd took cd and would not eject cd. Cd player stopped working. Inner part of passenger side door (section used to pull door closed) comes apart
Speed control
5 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 89,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
My car overheated, then I took it to a mechanic and the entire engine was blown and I had to pay $1200.00 to fix it and come to find out, there was a recall on my make and model and year on the water pump which would have caused my car to overheat and thus not having to have my engine blown. When I called to find out…
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 failure. The failure…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2005 Nissan Sentra recalls
Air bags: inflator module
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: inflator module
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Engine: engine and engine cooling
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Fuel system: storage
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Air bag inflator rupture
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe14-016 in june 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.all six vehicles were operated in florida or puerto rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.during the course of pe14-016, odi determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.nonetheless, at odi's in
Air bag inflator rupture
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe14-016 in june 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.all six vehicles were operated in florida or puerto rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.during the course of pe14-016, odi determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.nonetheless, at odi's in
Questions about the 2005 Nissan Sentra
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Nissan Sentra?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (78 complaints, typically around 76,000 miles); fuel system (37 complaints, typically around 87,000 miles); air bags (21 complaints, typically around 130,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2005 Nissan Sentra have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from December 1, 2020 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2005 a bad year for the Nissan Sentra?
- It is 15th of 27 Sentra model years by number of complaints, with 170 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.