VehicleVerdict

2003 Nissan Sentra electrical system problems

The 2003 Nissan Sentra has 37 electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA — 15% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

37

Electrical System complaints

15%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Electrical System complaints by year

Sentra electrical system complaints by model year69 complaints1984: 1 complaints1986: 1 complaints1987: 2 complaints1988: 2 complaints1989: 1 complaints1990: 3 complaints1991: 8 complaints1992: 15 complaints1993: 9 complaints1994: 8 complaints1995: 9 complaints1996: 12 complaints1997: 11 complaints1998: 4 complaints1999: 14 complaints2000: 34 complaints2001: 50 complaints2002: 60 complaints2003: 37 complaints2004: 30 complaints2005: 22 complaints2006: 14 complaints2007: 12 complaints2008: 14 complaints2009: 6 complaints2010: 58 complaints2011: 50 complaints2012: 17 complaints2013: 58 complaints2014: 46 complaints2015: 29 complaints2016: 54 complaints2017: 38 complaints2018: 39 complaints2019: 69 complaints2020: 42 complaints2021: 38 complaints2022: 24 complaints2023: 8 complaints2024: 7 complaints2025: 3 complaints
Sentra electrical system complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

03V477000Electrical SystemNovember 14, 2003 · 276,000 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

IF ONE OF THE RESISTORS INSIDE THE ECM HAS A CRACK ON THE SURFACE COATING, THE GAS MAY CAUSE CORROSION OF THE RESISTOR. THIS COULD CAUSE THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT TO COME ON, POOR DRIVABILITY (IDLE INSTABILITY, POOR ACCELERATOR), OR THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

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.

What owners report

“MY CAR HAS STALLED 3 TIMES OVER THE PAST YEAR. ONE MINUTE I AM DRIVING, THE NEXT I AM COASTING. THANKFULLY, I WAS ALWAYS DRIVING SLOWLY WITH NO ONE BEHIND ME. IT STARTS RIGHT UP. NO "CODE" SHOWING UP FOR DIAGNOSTICS. I CALLED NISSAN RE: MULTIPLE RECALLS FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT CAN CAUSE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · June 3, 2013

Common questions

How many electrical system complaints does the 2003 Nissan Sentra have?

NHTSA has 37 complaints about the 2003 Nissan Sentra electrical system — 15% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2003 Nissan Sentra electrical system?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the electrical system: 03V477000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.