Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Nissan Sentra owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
My 2000 Nissan Sentra completely stalled while driving on a surface street. First the radio cut out and the "air bag" light came on. When the car started to shake a bit, I noticed a burnt plastic smell and attempted to pull over to a side street and that's when the car lost all power--headlights, dashboard, engine, not even the hazards worked. I gently tried to accelerate forward and the car went into reverse instead, so I put the car in park and called triple a. They towed my car to my regular mechanic, who was closed at the time, and the next morning he was able to start the car right up and has not been able to locate any problem so far. This is not the first time the car has stalled. In 2007, I had the car stall on me a number of times (once on the freeway) before my mechanic replaced the mass airflow sensor. …
Vehicle shut off completely and without prior warning while traveling on the highway. This problem occurred on several occasions. Dealer was aware of the problem. Several repair attempts were made but none of them were successful. Noise came from the right wheel area while driving. The dealer replaced all wheels per a safety campaign. The inside door handle was loose. The dealer replaced the door pad but that didn't remedy the problem. The rear passenger side bumper was loose. The dealer secured it. The radio was inoperative. The dealer special order a new radio. The right front window was inoperative from the main switch.
While driving 55 MPH vehicle stalled. The consumer was able to pull the vehicle off of the road. The dealer and manufacturer had been notified. The service dealer couldn't find why the vehicle stalled so he concluded that the fuel pump was the problem. The vehicle still did not start even after a new fuel pump was installed. On another occasion the consumer was told that the ECM module was the problem. Recall# 03V477000. The vehicle pulled to the right, the A/C, horn, and the third brake light was inoperative. Recall# 01V174000 . The consumer also lost control of the vehicle and hit a guard rail. The front rotors were warped.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road before being towed home. The manufacturer was notified, and the contact was informed that the vehicle was included in the recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number 03V477000 (electrical system:ignition:module). The vehicle was then taken to an authorized dealer where they refused to repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the situation, and the contact was awaiting a response. The failure mileage was 100,150.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they advised him that they would repair the vehicle under NHTSA campaign id number: 03V477000 (electrical system:ignition:module). The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred a few months later. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where they advised him that the recall was never performed and that he had exceeded the mileage that was associated with the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 147,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Nissan Sentra . The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH, the vehicle stalled with the illumination of the check engine warning light. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the technicians were unable to diagnose the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing the same symptoms as the recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number: 03V477000 (electrical system:ignition:module). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 117,000 and the current mileage was 128,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while accelerating from a traffic stop, the vehicle lost power as the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact was informed of a recall for the failure under NHTSA campaign id number: 03V477000 (electrical system:ignition:module) however, the dealer informed him that the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified but offered no assistance. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure and current mileages were 165,000.
Tl contact owns a 2000 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that the horn stopped operating. The dealer stated that the wires for the horn were corroded and replaced the wires. The current mileage is 54,000 and failure mileage was 53,800. Updated 10/11/07.
Related recalls
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.
Electrical complaints in other Sentra years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2000 Nissan Sentra?
NHTSA has 29 complaints about the electrical system of the 2000 Nissan Sentra, 17% of the model year's 171 complaints. The component named most often is ignition (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Nissan Sentra electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 03V-477 (module, Nov 14, 2003). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2000 Nissan Sentra electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 87,000 miles, and 14% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 2 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.