2005 Nissan Sentra: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2005 Nissan Sentra: 5 recalls, 170 owner complaints and up to 27 mpg combined.
Recalls
5 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 1 equipment/tire recall that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #05V269000 · 2005 · 44,000 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain passenger vehicles, a vapor hose located in the fuel tank May not have been formed correctly during the manufacturing process. When the vehicle is parked with a full fuel tank, fuel May flow into the vapor hose, which is connected to a vapor canister.
Why it matters: The vapor canister could become full, and excess fuel could spill out onto the ground. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
The fix: Dealers will check the vapor hose connections in the fuel tank to determine if a poor seal exists. If a poor seal is identified, a new fuel tank will be installed free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2005.
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #07V527000 · 2007 · 653,910 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain passenger vehicles equipped with a 2.5l engine, the crankshaft position sensor can overheat causing a brief interruption in the signal output from the sensor.
Why it matters: If the interruption in the signal from the crankshaft position sensor is so brief that the electronic control module (ECM) logic does not have time to diagnose the condition, the engine May stop running without warning while the vehicle is driven at a low speed increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the ECM free of charge. Certain my 2006 altimas which have been previously remedied under recall campaign 06v223 (Nissan r0606) are not included in this recall since the reprogramming for 06v223 also included this reprogramming. The recall began on December 31, 2007.
Airbags Vehicle recall #15V287000 · 2015 · 1,090,569 vehicles
What's wrong: Nissan north america, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2001-2003 Nissan maxima, 2002-2004 pathfinder, 2002-2006 sentra, 2002-2003 Infiniti qx4 and i35, 2003 fx35 and fx45, and 2001 i30 vehicles. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure May cause the inflator to rupture.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 15, 2015.
Airbags Vehicle recall #20V008000 · 2020 · 307,962 vehicles
What's wrong: Nissan north america, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2001-2003 maxima, 2002-2006 sentra, 2002-2004 pathfinder, 2007-2011 versa sedan and versa hatchback, 2001-2004 Infiniti i30 and i35, 2002-2003 inifiniti qx4, 2003-2008 Infiniti fx35 and fx45 and 2006-2010 m35 and m45 vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated, frontal passenger air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (psan)…
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators with alternate desiccated inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2020.
Airbags, Airbags Vehicle recall #20V747000 · 2020 · 3,930 vehicles
What's wrong: Nissan north america, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2002-2006 sentra vehicles whose passenger air bags were previously inspected and May have been released without replacing the takata air bag inflator. 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…
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been completed. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will re-inspect the vehicle and, if necessary, replace the air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 22, 2021.
1 aftermarket equipment / tire recall replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Airbags, Airbags Equipment recall #22E066000 · 2022 · 375 vehicles
What's wrong: Nissan north america, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain air bag inflator replacement service parts that May have been installed as part of a theft or collision repair. 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…
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the inflators as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 14, 2022.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 4 mention a fire, 13 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Engine & cooling (48): the most common themes are warning light on (14), stalls / loses power (11), overheating (8).
- Engine (33): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (11), warning light on (7), overheating (3).
- Airbags (21): the most common themes are fails to deploy (4), warning light on (2).
- Fuel system (21): the most common themes are warning light on (3), stalls / loses power (3), fire / smoke (2).
The 2005 Nissan Sentra has 170 owner complaints, ranking #15 of 37 Sentra model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 158). Complaints peaked in 2011 (20 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 76,200 miles. Neighboring years: 2004 (197 complaints, 4 recalls), 2006 (116 complaints, 5 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 | 31 | 27 | Regular |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 | 32 | 27 | Regular |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 | 27 | 23 | Regular |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 | 26 | 22 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2005 Nissan Sentra.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/moHeads up: we may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Prices checked 2026-10 and can change. We never host or link to pirated manuals. Disclosure
FAQ
Does the 2005 Nissan Sentra have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 vehicle recalls for the 2005 Nissan Sentra, plus 1 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2005 Nissan Sentra problems?
Owners have filed 170 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are engine & cooling (48), engine (33), airbags (21).
What gas mileage does the 2005 Nissan Sentra get?
EPA ratings run up to 27 mpg combined (1.8 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 4 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2005 Nissan Sentra repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.