2003 Nissan Sentra Service and Repair Manual
This 2003 Nissan Sentra factory service and repair manual is built around the exact engine, trim and model-year combination on your title, which means the torque figures, wiring diagrams and diagnostic steps inside track what Nissan actually published for the 1.8L (QG18DE) or 2.5L (QR25DE) Sentra you own instead of a generic B15-platform substitute.
Engines covered
- 2.5L inline-four (152 cu in) — DOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline
- 1.8L inline-four — DOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline
Body styles covered
- 4-door sedan
Trims covered
- GXE
- GXE Sport
- LE
- Limited Edition
- SE-R
- SE-R Spec V
- XE
Known issues on the 2003 Sentra. Ten recalls are on federal record for this model year. Four of them trace to air bag inflators that can explode and throw sharp metal fragments at occupants: three affect the passenger frontal inflator module, where Takata propellant degraded by long-term heat and humidity exposure can rupture on deployment, and one covers replacement inflators for driver and passenger positions installed after a theft or collision repair. On the 2.5L engine, the crank angle sensor can be thrown off by temperature swings, briefly interrupting its signal and stalling the engine at low speed before the ECM logic can flag the fault. A separate issue on QG18DE and QR25DE cars traces to sulfur emitted by the ECM's interior foam lining, which can corrode an internal resistor and trigger the malfunction light, rough idle, or an unexpected stall. A soldering defect on the crank or cam position sensor circuit board has also produced no-start conditions and unexpected engine shutdown. Two further recalls cover aftermarket combination corner and headlamp assemblies missing the amber side reflectors required under FMVSS No. 108, reducing visibility to other drivers. A tenth recall lists an engine and engine cooling related component with no further detail on federal record. Owners have filed 180 complaints for the year, and no technical service bulletins are logged. The factory diagnostic and repair procedures behind each of those systems are here.
From an intermittent no-start to an air bag inflator inspection or a routine service interval, it keeps you on the OEM procedure and the correct specification for your specific 2003 Sentra.
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 an
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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. Owners may contact
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 p
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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,
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 fro
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 inj
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 15, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. N
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 SIGNA
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, THE ENGINE MAY STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING W
DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ECM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 21, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE S
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD N
LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.
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.
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 (
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
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
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
ON CERTAIN ELECTRIC VEHICLES, THE FRONT SUSPENSION TRANSVERSE LINK'S BALL JOINT BRACKET MAY BREAK FROM STRESS CONCENTRATION AT A NOTCH CREATED BY SURFACE ROUGHNESS AND THE SHAPE OF THE MATERIAL CUT-LINE.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRACKET ON THESE VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 15, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
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 Infin
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Dealers will inspect and replace the inflators as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 14, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at
CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement Certification Label or VIN Plate/Label may be needed. HINT: Certification Label = FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehi
CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement Certification Label or VIN Plate/Label may be needed. HINT: Certification Label = FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehi
VEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
WINDOW GLASS WARRANTY INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
REMOVING FOREIGN MATERIAL FROM THE WINDOW GLASS This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
WINDSHIELD CRACKING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
DIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT) AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF-CENTER This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
SILICONE-BASED LUBRICANT OR GREASE CAN DAMAGE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SERVICE INFORMATION Do not apply Silicone-based lubricants or grease to, or around, any interior electrical components. To avoid the risk of death or severe personal injury
Showing the 8 most recent of 68 technical service bulletins on file with NHTSA.
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH CONSUMER T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE DUE TO THE OTHER VEHICLE NOT STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
MY 2003 NISSAN SENTRA WAS REAR-ENDED BY A DRIVER TRAVELLING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. THE REAR SEAT VIRTUALLY COLLAPSED AND IF THERE WERE ANYONE SITTING THERE THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. MY WIFE AND I WE
CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT HIT A TREE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS NOT
I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT ON JUNE 25, 2004. A LADY REAR-ENDED ME AND AS A RESULT MY ENTIRE BACK SEAT CAME LOOSE. MY CAR IS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE TRUNK FROM THE INTERIOR S
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*JB VEHICLE INVOLVED IN COLLISION AND THE AIR BAG EQUIPMENT FAILED TO DEPLOY. *MR
TAKATA RECALL I WAS DRIVING MY NISSAN SENTRA AND I HIT A DEER, MY PASSENGER AIRBAG DID NOT GO OFF.
CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER, WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, NOR DID AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT APPEAR PRIOR TO THE CRASH. DRIVER WAS WEARING
1. HEAD GASKET AND CRANK POSITION SENSOR PROBLEM CAUSED ENGINE STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE PAST 3 MONTH, ONCE ON A HIGHWAY, ONCE ON A LOCAL EXPRESSWAY. 2. AFTER FIXING
Showing the 8 most serious of 180 complaints filed with NHTSA.
