Nissan Sentra Problems - Car Forums

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34 messages, Last post on Sep 21, 2002 at 12:20 PM

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What is this discussion about? Nissan Sentra

#24 of 34 Never Again... by girl_racer

Jul 21, 2002 (12:46 pm)

I bought my 2001 Sentra GXE new, in April of 2001. It was a PROBLEM from the start. First off I bought the car from Bennington Motor Car, where I got screwed with the price, and the techicians couldnt not fix a car to save their lives. The first 12 months were a nightmare...it was in the shop 26 TIMES. I tried to get the lemon law but nissan has so many loop holes in their contract that there is no way to do it, not even with legal advise.
Here are some of the problems I had with it....

-2 days after I bought it.....clicking noise coming from drivers side, front wheel
they said it was nothing but there was a recall that finlly took care of the problem about 3 months later.

-Trunk WOULD NOT CLOSE this was an on going problem. it would bounce back a good 3 or 4 times before it caught.
garage said it was a latch problem and was replaced....funny........it didnt work.
trunk was "misalligned"

-Breaks pulsated....which I brought the car to the shop and I signed a paper, (which i asked what it was and was told it was just for permission to work on the car, when in fact it was a warrenty waiver) SCREWED AGAIN BY NISSAN.
Rotors were worn, but not the break pads *intresting* machanics said it was warp from highway driving when the car heats up and than hitting a puddle and it cools quickly *rolls eyes*
anyways, it was covered under the lil thing they like to call "warrenty" and I was told they had replaced the rotors, but when in fact i found out that they had only been turned down, not replaced when the breaks went again (see below)

-wouldnt start......

-after a long road trip the hubcap melted to the rim.

-belt squeeled. Took to Bennington Motor Car, and they tighted it, but apparently to much cuz when I got to Massachusetts, it broke off cuz it was TOO TIGHT!!! Car had to be towed.

-belt tensioner broke

-belt to loose, fell off

-starter went at about 14,000 miles

-breaks went again- had to replace rotors, no break shoes though.......this time it wasnt under warrenty and you can only get them through NISSAN MOTOR INC....so I was screwed with those prices...
$340 for new rotors.

-seat belt broke

-lost lighting to dashboard, what told it was an "out bulb". Replaced worked fine, but lost shifter lights about 5 hrs after driving it off the garage lot. Replaced that too....than 2 days after getting that replaced, the radio lost its lighting, and the dome light wasnt working now. GOOD JOB!!! They deined it was ever an eletrical problem.

-Factory CD players EJECT button broke off...GOD DAMN IT!!

-Alarm would go off randomly. This is intresting seeing as the ALARM SYSTEM NEVER WORKED IN THE FIRST PLACE

-trasmission was sticking...seemed to always get stuck in 2nd gear

-Over drive broke...

-Oil leak...faulty seals

-motor in passengers side door broke

and than there was the RECALLS....
I think that there was about 4 or 5 of them on my car, which I hear issnt that bad considering FORD FOCUS has about 7.....which BENNINGTON MOTOR CAR ALSO SELLS.

I have owned a Ford Escort, and it was a POS but I dont think that it compared to the Nissan.

Luck would have it that i totalled it with 38,000 miles on it when I plowed into a car stopped in front of me at about 65mph. THANK GOD ITS GONE!!

Oh yeah, and in the accident....NO AIRBAGS!!!!!!
Not a single one. Lemme remind you that I hit a stopped object head on, at 65mph. Smashed the frame to hell, along with the entire front end, nope no airbags, no airbag light, no nothing, but an ambulace ride to the hospital and pounding headaches, and a $500,000 lawsuit on NISSAN.

One other thing that turned me off to nissan was the fact that I was just ignored everytime I tried to call NISSAN OF AMERICA....no returned phone calls, no updates, no nothing. I can be sure of one thing. Never again will I own another nissan.....anyone considering this car, i strongly advise against it, and trust me, im not the only one....a friends sister, as just as many issues with her 2001 sentra gxe.

Closing I will say this.....Your better off buying an American Product, but personally....id rather buy the New 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GT.

(at the same price, better warrenty, leather, moonroof, cd, cruise, power everything, awesome sound system, much much more, and much sportier, and betting looking than the ghetto boody nissan sentra)

#25 of 34 SEVERAL comments by carlmoorejr

Aug 05, 2002 (1:08 pm)

#1 My 94 sentra trunk leaked. dealer repaired it with black goo around tail lights 3 years ago. it is leaking again.#2 I have replaced alternator,starter,c.v. joints,all sorts of parts partaining to drivers window not rolling up in cold weather{electric windows},front oil seal,and front brakes,front brakes,front brakes,front brakes,front brakes!!!!!!OH and finally the rotors.105,000 on the clock. uses no oil & still 28mpg city/hwy. All in all I am very happy with it still. I do believe girl racer got a lemon.

#26 of 34 Engine miss by rpp1957

Aug 16, 2002 (9:34 pm)

I have a 94 Sentra 1.6 that misses off the line under a light load. It also misses when cruising between 40 and 50 MPH, or when driving on the freeway and letting off the gas. The car doesn't miss until it is warmed up. The Ignition system seems intact (new plugs, wires, cap, and rotor) even though it feels like an ignition miss. The Kicker is that when the vacuum supply to the EGR valve is removed and plugged the car runs perfect (Except for the Check Engine Light being on). I replaced the Egr valve, the vacuum control seloniod, and the back pressure transducer all with no change in the symptoms. Any advice or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

#27 of 34 Engine miss by carlmoorejr

Aug 17, 2002 (1:45 am)

You might check for a cracked,broken vaccum hose. Or one that has come loose. I have several on mine that need replacing,because they are weather cracked. Also when I wash the engine,water gets in by the spark plug and grounds out. But When it does this it is more than just a miss. I can not recall having similar problem with mine. It sure sounds like plug wire rotor D-cap etc.problem. Really look over those V-hoses though,cause there is lots & lots of them all under the hood. You have to inspect them quite closely because they will fool you. GOOD LUCK!

#28 of 34 Engine miss by garrickt

Aug 18, 2002 (6:04 pm)

Sounds like it might be the PCV valve. The PCV valve comes off of the engine right next to the oil filler cap. It is on a line that runs to the fuel injection system. Remove the hose and take off the valve. The valve should allow you to blow air in the direction from the engine to the fuel injection system. If it doesn't, it needs to be replaced. If it allows air to blow in both directions, it also needs to be replaced. A new one will set you back about $15. I would try this before looking for a vacuum leak. Vacuum leaks can take an eternity to find. I am currently having the same problem. I am going to replace the PCV valve tomorrow and if that isn't it, I will start looking for a leaking vacuum hose.

Garrick

#29 of 34 01 Sentra SE Fuel Odor by donald9113

Aug 20, 2002 (9:41 am)

Has anyone experienced this. When my 01 Sentra SE, with 28,000 miles, is at idle and the heater fan is on a strong odor of gasoline comes thru the vents. I have had the car back to the dealer on 2 occasions, but they have been unable to find any leaks. Can anyone enlighten me before the end of the warrenty period?

#30 of 34 Knocking noise when the car on P or N shift by techno1

Sep 02, 2002 (12:14 pm)

I have a 2000 Sentra GXE with automatic trans. Recently it has the problem as this: when the car is in P or N shift, there is a knocking noise either from engine or transmission, but if put the car in D or R shift, the noise gone (step on the brake, the car is not moving). When the car is in move, everything seems fine, no noise and runs smooth. Anyone had experience this or know what cause the problem?

#31 of 34 Buy A Japanese car! Except NISSAN Sentra. Maybe an ALtima. by curramba1

Sep 07, 2002 (12:08 am)

Hi, I do not mean to be rude. But, haven't you heard of HONDA.

I had my Civic Coupe EX 2000 for 72,000 miles. I drive 80 miles a day 5days/week.

NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. Nock on wood.

Only a flat tire once.
Tires were slick at around 50K miles. I installed 17" wheels and high performance tires.

Also installed an MP3 player, and new speakers.

This car will have about 120K miles by the time it's mine. I hope to be able to enjoy it for at least 4 more years after that.

I believe girl_racer should be awarded for her valor an patience. I do believe she got a freaking orange, not a lemon.

Please girl_racer DO NOT GET A HYUNDAI ELANTRA GT. See, my rationale is as follows:

If you get a HYUNDAY, you get an excellent warranty. If the rotors, or the water pump break you get a replacement for free. It sounds great, but what are you going to do when your SPIRIT and HEART break as the enginee in the little HYUNDAY does not perform?
Listen, just test drive a 2000 Civic, or Corolla, then try the Hyunday.

Get an older Camry. I'm getting my wife a 2000 Camry LE for $9K. (I should not say I'm getting her a Camry. She's paying for it, but I did all the homework)
It only has 30,000 miles on it, and it drives great.

This is a great time to get a car you though was unreachable. I never though my wife and I could afford a second vehicle, but after much research, we did.

Well, just take your time, and chose wisely.

#32 of 34 94 Sentra XE by cmaneval

Sep 07, 2002 (7:08 pm)

I have one and i can't wait to get rid of it. I have had the car less than a year and I have had lots of problems. First it was the brakes - got them fixed - or so I thought and now I am having problems again with them. Now the belts are going and I was told that it would be almost $200 to replace - mostly because they are hard to get at. ...and I think the A/C is starting to go. Does anyone have any of these problems ? Does anyone have any idea what I could get for my car as trade in or selling to a private party ?

#33 of 34 Gas tank noise by piecekeeper

Sep 20, 2002 (3:16 pm)

I have a 02 GXE with about 8500 miles. Every time I park the car I hear a humming noise coming from the gas tank filler cap. The dealer tells me this is normal because I park the car in my garage. My wife who drives the car the most, tells me she also hears the sound when she parks on parking lots. Anyone else have this problem? The dealer tells me its pressure from the gas tank but I've never had another car that made the
noise.

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