Is the 2004 Nissan Sentra a bad year?
197 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 80, 4× a quiet Sentra year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 58k–108k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2004 Sentra owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 76,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 78 (40%) | 58k–110k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Fuel system | 36 (18%) | 50k–124k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Air bags | 32 (16%) | 61k–162k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 28 (14%) | 37k–112k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 7 (4%) | 9k–76k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Brakes | 10 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 7 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exhaust | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 76,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 197 complaints: 20 mention a crash · 13 report an injury · 4 say the car was towed.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Dec 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Engine shuts off while driving. Started a month ago, has been happening once a week but getting more frequent.
(Se-r spec v) numerous instances of engine misfire, usually occurring on throttle tip-in after a tip-out from cruise conditions.
2004 Nissan sentra 1.8 I just hit 2 years with this car and still have another 2 years. Car does not start on first try.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 76,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2004 Nissan Sentra: 5
The parts include certain passenger-side air bag inflators designed to fit Infiniti 2002-2003 QX4, 2006-2010 M35 and M45; Nissan 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, and both driver and passenger-side inflators designed to fit 2007-2012 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback vehicles. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
In the event of a crash, Takata frontal passenger air bag inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with a 2.5L engine, the crank angle sensor is affected by temperature variations. Under certain driving conditions, these variations in temperature can be large enough to cause a brief interruption in the signal output from the sensor. If the interruption in the signal from the sensor is so brief that the electronic control module (ECM) logic does not have time to diagnose the condition…
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Nissan: 34
Repair instructions Nissan sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2004 Nissan Sentra. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Voluntary service campaign QR25DE power valve
Vehicle key not detected / authenticated, engine will not start
Radio intermittently reboots during audio playback via bluetooth connected iphone
Nissan; fuel tank is extremely difficult to fill
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Neighbouring years
2003 Sentra: 179 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2005 Sentra: 170 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
Every Nissan Sentra year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Sentra years side by side
Other Nissan models: Nissan 350Z · Nissan 370Z · Nissan Altima · Nissan Armada · Nissan Cube · Nissan Frontier · Nissan Juke · Nissan Kicks · Nissan Leaf · Nissan Maxima · Nissan Murano · Nissan Pathfinder · Nissan Quest · Nissan Rogue · Nissan Rogue Sport · Nissan Titan · Nissan Titan XD · Nissan Versa · Nissan Versa Note · Nissan Xterra. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2004 Nissan Sentra a bad year?
197 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 80, 4× a quiet Sentra year. At 76,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 58k–108k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Nissan Sentra?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (78), fuel system (36), air bags (32), electrical system (28), transmission and drivetrain (7). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 58k–108k miles.
How many recalls does the 2004 Nissan Sentra have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 22E066000), Air bags (NHTSA 20V-747), Air bags (NHTSA 20V-008), Air bags (NHTSA 15V-287) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.