2002 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec-V from North America - Comments

The speakers stopped working.

The gas pedal sticks to the floor.

The key fob doesn't work right.

The trunk doesn't open from the inside handle.

The air conditioner button is stuck and won't blow cold air.

I bought this car because I wanted something I could rely on.

While it isn't a bad car, I don't like having to keep up on it the way I have been.

I cannot believe that Nissan would have so many problems. My parents have an Xterra and a Maxima and they run fine! In fact they are a joy to ride and drive when compared to my little Sentra!

I know this isn't just me. When I go in for a service I see people in there from time to time with the Sentra who have the same problems.= (and trust me I am in for a service A LOT!).

I personally wouldn't recommend this car to anyone who wants something that they can actually drive... but if you like your local service department; be my guest!

I don't know everything that has been wrong with your SE-R, but I have one and personally it has been a great car. Taking in mind I didn't get it brand new, my brother bought it and now we (my parents) are having to pay to get things fixed because he messed it up. Had it been bought brand new for me I would bet that it would run just fine. It is a good little car, you might want to take it to a close friend to have them look at it before you take it into the shop. Also be sure that you're going somewhere reliable. You don't want to be taken advantage of or have to continue to fix your car when nothing is really wrong with it.

The gas pedal sticks to the floor.???

LOL

that's not very good...

Specially with a light weight 180hp car lol.

I have a SE-R SPEC V 03 and the car holds strong even after 76000 miles in 3 years. I ask a lot of this car and the only complaint I could have is that it has a strange noise in the transmission once in a while. Other than that, it is still strong and useful.

I own a 2002 Nissan Sentra Se-R Spec V with 54,400 miles. I have had no problems at all just oil changes and breaks are coming up soon, but other than that its been a perfect little car with NO PROBLEMS AT ALL!!! I don't beat on it too bad no stiff shifting or red lining it, I've come close to red-lining it twice just to see what it really could do it makes sense that even if you over drive a BMW your going to have problems I've learned if you treat a car Right it will return to favor (little things like keeping the gas above the half mark, changing the oil between 2,800-3,200 and not beating on the gas pedal will keep the car running tight) it's called TLC!!! BY: 28 year old mechanic.

I own a 2002 Nissan Sentra Se-R Spec V with 54,400 miles. I have had no problems at all just oil changes and breaks are coming up soon, but other than that its been a perfect little car with NO PROBLEMS AT ALL!!! I don't beat on it too bad no stiff shifting or red lining it, I've come close to red-lining it twice just to see what it really could do it makes sense that even if you over drive a BMW your going to have problems I've learned if you treat a car Right it will return to favor (little things like keeping the gas above the half mark, changing the oil between 2,800-3,200 and not beating on the gas pedal will keep the car running tight) it's called TLC!!! "T"-gas "T"ANK "L"-oil "L"ube "C"-overall "C"are.

I own a 2002 Nissan Sentra SE-R. I have had a few problems with the car already at 66,000 miles. I have a loud noise from my transmission when the clutch is not engaged. I also have some problems with the interior. It doesn't seem to want to stay together. (broken glove box, broken sunglass holder/ light unit, amoung dash comparment falling out...) I take really good care of my car too. I drive it like its brand new.. I get on it from time to time, but nothing too extreme. I'm not sure why my car is falling apart. Anyone know any good so cal mechanics for nissans? thanks Jason So Cal.

I can understand why your having so many problems; the Sentra is assembled in Mexico. Not that it makes them all automatically bad, but compared to other Nissan models assembled in Japan or the United-States, the Sentra has had more recalls (nothing to major).

I bought a 2002, SER Spec-V which I have owned for one year. My car has 73,000 miles and has been through five mass air-flow sensors. At 61,000 miles I spun a rod bearing and had to get the motor replaced. My car has been to the service department seven times, three of which have been engine problems. Now my car is in service again due to overheating. I was told today that the engine has to be replaced again! I bought this car without doing any research and regret ever purchasing it. My car has spent more time in the shop than I have been able to enjoy it. My dome light and sunglass holder is broken, the a/c control lights turn on and off, and I also hear a strange noise coming out of the transmission. The service department claims they cannot hear anything. Also, the interior pieces keep falling off. I have two other friends that went out and bought two Spec-V's shortly after I bought mine. One is currently getting his engine torn down for overheating. The other one did some research and found out how many problems he had coming his way, took his tax money, put $3,000 into his car and traded it in. It was a shame for him to have taken such a great lost. The only good thing about all of this is that he got rid of it right before his warranty expired.

I have a 2002 Nissan Sentra Spec-V... I have had more problems with this car then any car I have ever owned.

I got it used, and not 1 month later had it in for service... the place I bought it from does not work on Nissan's, so it went to the Nissan dealership. The car was overheating.

1 Month later back in the shop again with the same problem.

2 months later back in again, this time they replaced the head-gasket.

4 months later back in again; losing oil some how.

2 months later back in again.

Nissan took the motor apart, then told me that they would not cover the problem (now the car was under factory warranty till the last 2 times it went in, but they never fixed the problem).

I bought a used engine with 6000 miles on it and had a shop rebuild it and put it in. Drove great for about 4 months... then problems started up again. Now the car starts and shut itself off...

I am done with this car now... I am paying for it to get fixed and trading it in. Now I have about 16 friends in florida that have Spec-V's and they all run great. It seems that there are crappy running, problematic Sentras out there, and I got the worst one in my area.

For me I will never buy a Nissan again... this experience has tainted me from ever owning a Nissan again.

So I say good luck to anyone who buys a Nissan Sentra... they're not all bad, but you are rolling the dice when you buy one...

I have a 2003 Nissan Sentra Se-R Spec-V with about 60,000 miles on it and I could honestly stand behind and it say that there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. I've installed a short ram air intake to get me up to about 185 horsepower and next is a new set of headers with a full down pipe. Then I will be able to take a Acura Rs-X type S. I can still take those damn cars, but yeah. Never been to the shop (thank GOD) I do my own oil change and brakes and rotor change and everything else. One thing though, the interior does wanna fall apart, my arm rest on the passanger side won't stay put and the clip broke so now when people get in, they pull on that and the whole unit comes off haha I love it. Overall a great car and I would recommend it. Thanks.

I bought my Spec V without knowing the full extent of the problems it can have, so far I've been threw 3 Mass Air flow's, the car has spastic idling and makes strange noises all the time. All the interior rattles, transmission is going, and I can't even get rid of it. I'll never buy a nissan ever again. My buddies sentra burst into flames twice, first time he stopped it, second time it burnt to the ground. What a piece of junk.

I have a 2003 SE-R spec v with 35,000 miles. I bought it used and have had it for 3 months so far. it has been to the Nissan dealer once already. I am getting ready to put in the 2nd mass air flow sensor today. that's 2 failures in 3 months! the glove box won't stay in place, the dome light works when it wants to, and when I down shift into 3rd...I get a grinding noise. Other than that, its been an OK car. if I had the chance to do it all over again... I wouldn't.

Hi, I own a 2002 Nissan Sentra SE-R (not spec V) I love this car. I put 111,000 miles on it in 41/2 years. I drove the hell out of it. It had to have the catalytic converter replaced, and I had to get the computer replaced, and although it's been driving rather nicely because of the milder weather, the trans started to slip recently, it struggles, to get into a higher gear sometimes (depending on the time of day) and my engine light is on. It also seems to be burning oil. I dump a few quarts into it when I hear the engine screaming. It sometimes takes a few times to start it... but I still love the car. I test drove a corolla, and compared to my car, even with all that is wrong with it, still has better pick up, and is prettier to look at. I found both the 2008 civic and corolla base models (1.8 liter engines) to be slow. I plan on taking my Sentra to get one last diagnosis to see if they can fix all that is wrong with it. And if so, I will keep my sentra 2002 SE-R. I've seen the more recent redesign, of the sentra. I wouldn't buy it because I think the 2002 is more appealing to look at.

Hi, I own a 2002 Nissan SE-R Spec V with 60,000 miles on it. Great car, lots of power.

I change the oil every 2000 miles. It has never been to the dealer for any problems. Great car.