2002 Nissan Sentra Spec V from North America - Comments

ECU went out about 1 year, covered under warranty (later there was a recall for this -- mine died before the recall notice was sent out)

Problem with temp control knob.

Had the butterfly valve issue; caused very rough running.

All items fixed under warranty.

I chalk the above issues to "so what?" The car is really fun to drive, cheap to maintain (well, some of the maintenance trips can be high -- $500+, which blows).

I've experienced the problem getting the thing into reverse, just need to be careful, let it roll forward an inch or two... shifter can still be a little crunchy, but I've learned where to shift on the RPM curve and this isn't much of an issue. Still love how smmmooooooth the engine is. Just a wonderful plant.

Great handling, great feel... good feedback through the steering wheel. The original Conti's are too slick for rain (hydroplane VERY easily) and impossible in the very infrequent ice/snow in Dallas... Fuzon's do much better in the rain.. MUCH better, but maybe a notch lower performance-wise on dry pavement.

Love the l-s differential (remember that, guys?) Only chagrin is: hey Nissan, you can tweak this baby for more horses/torque, afterall it's a 2.5l. Does anyone remember that idiotic 210hp *supercharged* v6 Exterra from a couple of years ago. I know, everyone dumbs down their engines, but they can do better by the Spec V and we ALL KNOW IT.

Incidentally, I drove this thing from Dallas to Reno and back in early 2004. No problems, no kinks in back or butt... very, very nice ride. And, I still think it looks great, preferring the more aggressive front end treatment. I did add a pair of tweeters in the front pillars... brought the front soundstage a little higher and closer to my ears (and added a little "crystal" to the sound).

I own a 2002 Nissan sentra spec-v. For the most part it has been a decent car. I had 1 major thing go wrong with this car, the ECU went out in it. The throttle quit working and all the engine would do is idle. That was a $700 fix.

I took the car into the dealer and had it checked out and they told me that the cat was on recall and it called for the engine to be replaced. So, I thought awesome a free brandnew engine. Well that was 28,000 miles ago.

Now my number one cylinder has something metal in the piston chamber and will not run. Took it back to the dealer who replaced the engine the first time and fought with nissan corp. for about 3 and a half weeks to try to get them to fix it. ya know since the engine only had 28,00 miles on it. Which isn't anything at all for a nissan. Got me no where. I am very disappointed with the service that I got and the way I was treated. In the end I feel as if I was just told why they would not fix the engine that they replaced, just to get me to quit bugging them.

I am curious to what your "butterfly valve" issue was. I wonder if that might be wrong with mine.

If anyone else has had the related problems with a recalled engine replacement or could tell me what the butterfly valve issue was that would be great. My e-mail address is aaronspecv@hotmail.com. Thank you for taking the time to read my review.