2004 Nissan Sentra Reliability
The 2004 Nissan Sentra has 197 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine & cooling and air bags. Compared with nearby Sentra model years (2002–2006), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Sentra's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
197
NHTSA owner complaints
5
Recall campaigns
20
Complaints citing a crash
0
Complaints citing a fire
2004 Nissan Sentra complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2004 model year, filed between 2004 and 2025. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine & cooling | 59 | 30% |
| Air bags | 32 | 16% |
| Electrical system | 28 | 14% |
| Fuel system | 28 | 14% |
| Engine | 26 | 13% |
| Service brakes | 10 | 5% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 8 | 4% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 7 | 4% |
2004 Nissan Sentra recalls
5 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2004 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06V242000 | Jul 7, 2006 | Engine & cooling | 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… |
| 15V287000 | May 15, 2015 | Air bags | 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… |
| 20V008000 | Jan 9, 2020 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | 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… |
| 20V747000 | Dec 1, 2020 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | 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…NHTSA park-it advisory: do not drive until repaired. |
| 22E066000 | Aug 9, 2022 | Air bags — frontal / driver side / inflator module | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain air bag inflator replacement service parts that may have been installed as part of a theft or collision repair. The parts include certain passenger-side air bag inflators designed to fit Infiniti… |
How the 2004 compares with nearby Sentra years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Sentra analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 333 | 14 | Engine & cooling | Avoid |
| 2003 | 180 | 10 | Engine & cooling | Caution |
| 2004 (this page) | 197 | 5 | Engine & cooling | Caution |
| 2005 | 170 | 6 | Engine & cooling | Avoid |
| 2006 | 116 | 6 | Air bags | Caution |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2004 Nissan Sentra
- Engine & cooling: look for coolant leaks or low coolant, watch the temperature gauge on a long test drive, and check for overheating history.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Fuel system: smell for fuel around the car, watch for hesitation or stalling, and check for a lit check-engine light.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 5 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2004 Nissan Sentra can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2004 Nissan Sentra reliability FAQ
Is the 2004 Nissan Sentra reliable?
The 2004 Nissan Sentra has 197 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine & cooling and air bags. Compared with nearby Sentra model years (2002–2006), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Sentra's typical year.
What are the most common 2004 Nissan Sentra problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2004 Nissan Sentra are engine & cooling (59), air bags (32), electrical system (28), fuel system (28). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2004 Nissan Sentra have recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2004 Nissan Sentra, including 06V242000 (engine & cooling) and 15V287000 (air bags). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2004 Nissan Sentra compare with the 2003 and 2005 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2003 has 180 complaints and 10 recalls (caution); the 2005 has 170 complaints and 6 recalls (avoid). The 2004 has 197 complaints and 5 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2004 Nissan Sentra?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Nissan Sentra research
Other Nissan Sentra model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2004 Sentra, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.