Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 182 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Nissan Sentra, and it carries 7 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 59 | 32% |
| Electrical system | 19 | 10% |
| Air bags | 12 | 7% |
| Suspension | 8 | 4% |
| Wheels | 8 | 4% |
| Power train | 8 | 4% |
| Equipment | 7 | 4% |
| Unknown or other | 7 | 4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 3% |
| Tires | 4 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owns a 2000 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated on several occasions while attempting to start the vehicle in the morning, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the engine failed to turn over how
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
WHEN DRIVING LONG DISTANCE THE CAR WILL JUST SHUT OFF AND THE BRAKES QUIT WORKING
NHTSA complaint: Engine
I AM ORIGINAL OWNER OF 2000 NISSAN SENTRA. MANIFOLD CATALYTIC FAILED SMOG CHECK. I TRIED TO PURCHASE PARTS WITH DEALER AND THEY TELL ME THAT THE PART IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE WITH THEM OR AFTERMARKET. I WANT TO HOLD THEM R
NHTSA complaint: Engine
TAKATA INFLATORS: MY CAR LOST POWER AND WILL NOT SHIFT INTO OD I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL ON IT OR WHATEVER IS WRONG WITH IT MY CAR IS A 2000 NISSAN SENTRA
NHTSA complaint: Power train
THE CAR SHUT OF WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH. THE CAR RESTARTED AFTER 10 MINUTES DROVE ABOUT 2 MILES AND IT SHUT OF AGAIN. THIS TIME I CALLED A MECHANIC AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO HIS SHOP. THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT IT WAS A
NHTSA complaint: Electronic stability control (esc)
THE CAR SHUT OF WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH. LUCKY IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT AND I WAS ABLE TO COAST THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER. THE CAR RESTARTED AFTER 10 MINUTES DROVE ABOUT 2 MILES AND IT SHUT OF AGAIN. THIS TIME I CALLED MY F
NHTSA complaint: Electronic stability control (esc)
2000 NISSAN SENTRA CRANKS BUT WILL NOT START. THE CAR WAS STARTING AND RUNNING GOT BACK TO MY PLACE AND . ABOUT A HOUR OR TWO LATER HAD SOME THING TO DO .GOT IN THE CAR TRIED TO START THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START.MOTO
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED, THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT W
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2000 Nissan Sentra. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPME
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE COOLING HOLES IN THE STEEL WHEEL MAY HAVE BURRS ON THEIR EDGES AS A RESULT OF IMPROPER MANUFACTURING. THESE BURRS CAN CAUSE CRACKS AS THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. CRACKS CAN PROPAGATE BETWEEN ADJACENT COOLING HOLES. IF ENOUGH CRACKS DEVELOP BETWEEN
Risk: SEPARATION OF THE WHEEL FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE BEING OPERATED COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR CRACKS AND REPLACE THE WHEEL IF CRACKS ARE DISCOVERED. OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BE CONDUCTED IN TWO PHASES. THE FIRST MAILING BEGAN OCTOBER 1, 2001, ASKING OWNERS TO BRING TH
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.
Risk: 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 (
Fix: 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.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR OR CAM POSITION SENSOR MAY HAVE AN IMPROPER SOLDER JOINT DUE TO SOLDER DEFORMATION CAUSED BY HEAT STRESS ACCELERATED BY THE EXISTENCE OF FLUX RESIDUE DURING THE SOLDERING PROCESS.
Risk: THIS COULD CAUSE THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON, CREATE A NO START CONDITION, CAUSE REDUCED ENGINE POWER, OR CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING DURING VEHICLE OPERATI
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRANK POSITION SENSORS. CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR(S), AND IN SOME CASES, THE VARIABLE TIMING CONTROL SENSOR(S). VEHICLES INVOLVED IN A PREVIOUS RECALL CAMPAIGN, 01V357, ARE A
| Reliability | 63 | average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 69 | good |
| Maintenance | 82 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 61 | average |
| Performance | 43 | below average |
| Efficiency | 47 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 182 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 59 of them (32%). There are 7 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 63/100 (average) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density, adjusted for how many were sold so a popular model is not penalised for having more owners.
AVOIR scores its longevity 69/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2000 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 64/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.