Most common 2000 Nissan Sentra problems
Share of the 171 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Nissan Sentra complaints by model year
Best Sentra years: 2023, 2024. Years to avoid: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2020, 2016. Compare all years →
2000 Nissan Sentra recalls (6)
Engine and engine cooling
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the bracket on these vehicles. Owner notification began December 15, 2003. Owners should contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Engine and engine cooling
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 residue during the soldering process.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the crank position sensors. Camshaft position sensor(s), and in some cases, the variable timing control sensor(s).
Electrical system › Ignition › Module
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.
Remedy: Dealers will remove the inside lining material from the ECM box. Owner notification began on December 22, 2003. Owners should contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with a 1.8 liter engine. The engine could stop running while being driven due to a defective crank position sensor. This could also result in the "service engine soon" warning light coming on or reduced engine power.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the crank position sensors. Owner notification began December 10, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy…
Wheels
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The cooling holes in the steel wheel May have burrs on their edges as a result of improper manufacturing. These burrs can cause cracks as the vehicle is being driven. Cracks can propagate between adjacent cooling holes.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect for cracks and replace the wheel if cracks are discovered. Owner notification will be conducted in two phases.
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower arm
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. One or more of the three bolts used to attach each front suspension lower control arm to the body on the left and right sides May not have been properly manufactured.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the lower control arm attachment bolts. Owner notification began June 30, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free…
What 2000 Nissan Sentra owners say
Engine & cooling all 77 →
The contact owns a 2000 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated on several occasions while attempting to start the vehicle in the morning, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the engine failed to turn over however, the vehicle was able to be started closer to the afternoon. The check engine warning light illuminated along with the "Service Engine Soon" message displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the crank position sensor had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact was then informed of NHTSA Campaign Number: 01V357000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able restart the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. An undisclosed dealer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. …
We had a 2000 Nissan Sentra gxe, with 83245 miles on the odometer. There were no issues with car and it had always been regularly serviced. On July 29, 2010 after a normal day's activities which involved driving to and from work and a short trip within town to and from the local swimming pool, it was as usual parked in the driveway of our home at 8 pm. We locked the car and went into the house and were sitting down to dinner when at 8:20 pm we noticed a large plume of smoke drift by the dining room window. When we went out to investigate we saw thick billowing smoke blowing out of the hood of the car. We could also see flames under the hood. The engine was on fire. We dialed 911 and the fire trucks rolled in. The firemen had difficulty opening the hood because the heat had fused the hood to the body and they had to punch holes in the side and use crowbars to pry the hood open. …
Electrical system all 29 →
Ref: Nissan Sentra gxe year 2000, VIN# [redacted]. Since purchase of this used car in August 2003, over a period of 8 months I have had many problems with "check engine light" coming on often and rattling of axle/suspension on left side. After bringing to dealer for repair under warranty and each time the problem comes up next day or 2 weeks later. I have had the special-order from Japan ECM module replaced 3 times after 3 month wait each time. I also have had front wheel axle and/or suspension replaced 3 times in the past year. I have had 2 or more recalls performed on the car in 2004. As of 12/14/04, there is a problem of poor or slow engine performance and raggedness when driving. Refer to NHTSA campaign id # 01V174000 and 03V477000 and 03V455000 for references. I have copies of service records for this car if you would like to receive them. Please advise. …
I just bought the car used on 6-22-13. The gauges on my dashboard stopped working intermittently - I will be driving and there is no speedometer, odometer, tachometer, gas gauge or temperature gauge. They all stop working together for various lengths of time, and then just "click" on again. The gauges seem to be stuck in place on the gas meter but the speedometer would just fall to the corner (left or right depending on the angle it is on when it stops working. The tachometer sometimes falls in the corner an other times it just freezes when it stops working. The temperature gauges does the same as the tachometer. I do not know what makes it stop or comes back on. The odometer disappears when it goes out and reappears when it comes back on but does seem to maintain the mileage when showing or not. Let me know if there was a recall on the car or Nissan responsible to repair the issue. …
Air bags
I was on a four lane public highway and was boxed into the far right lane as I was attempting to switch lanes to avoid traffic. Another car sped up and boxed me into the right lane. I slammed on the brakes and decreased my speed from 45 MPH to approximately 20-30 MPH. I crashed into a completely stopped Jeep cherokee. My Nissan sustained heavy frontal damage and would later be totaled. The airbags failed to deploy. The car I ran into was a Jeep so the bumper ran through my engine and upward. Had I been going faster this action would have continued through the windshield. The only thing that saved myself from injury was the fact that I was wearing my seatbelt. I sustained the typical whiplash and sore back but thankfully wasn't severely injured in the crash. …
I was sitting at the red light when a suburban was speeding and wasn't paying attention. He hit me from the back which cased a 4 car wreck. My trunk was literally pushed to my front seat. The front of my car was under the car in front of me. My car was totaled. I hit my shoulder on the steering wheel along with my neck and shoulders. This wreck made me disabled. The air bags never deployed. It was a major accident wasn't much left of the car and my air bags never came out. The air bags more than likely would have saved me from that horrible impact. I am now disabled for life and my doctor mentioned the air bags would have taking the force of the injuries.
2000 Nissan Sentra engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 23 / 30 / 26 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 23 / 32 / 26 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 21 / 28 / 24 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 27 / 23 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2000 Nissan Sentra a good car?
Based on 171 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2000 Sentra rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Sentra at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2000 Nissan Sentra?
The engine & cooling — 77 complaints, 45% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the electrical system (29) and air bags (16).
How many recalls does the 2000 Nissan Sentra have?
There are 6 recalls for the 2000 Nissan Sentra, the most recent from December 10, 2003 (engine and engine cooling). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Nissan Sentra?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2023 and 2024. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2020 and 2016. See the full Nissan Sentra years comparison.
At what mileage do 2000 Nissan Sentra problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 57,000 miles; 35% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.