YearToAvoid

2005 Nissan Sentra Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

5/100

#20 most-complained of 21 Sentra years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2005 Nissan Sentra has 170 owner complaints and 5 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 5 out of 100 — #20 highest of 21 Sentra model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is engine (81 complaints, 48% of the total). Complaints report 13 crashes, 4 fires, and 13 injuries.

Complaints
170
Recalls
5
incl. Do Not Drive
Crashes / fires
13 / 4
Injuries / deaths
13 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
25
22 city / 29 hwy

Top 2005 Nissan Sentra problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine81 (48%)
  2. Fuel System37 (22%)
  3. Airbags21 (12%)
  4. Electrical System17 (10%)
  5. Brakes15 (9%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain10 (6%)
  7. Other9 (5%)
  8. Structure & Body5 (3%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (3%)
  10. Seat Belts3 (2%)
2005 Nissan Sentra complaints: complaints filed per quarter92005 Q12007 Q12009 Q12011 Q22013 Q32015 Q32018 Q22023 Q1
210 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2005 Q1 to 2025 Q4; peak 2007 Q4 (9).

2005 Nissan Sentra recalls

5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V747000Dec 1, 2020Airbags3,930 vehiclesDo Not Drive

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    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 cycling.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: 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. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PM964.

  2. NHTSA 20V008000Jan 9, 2020Airbags307,962 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    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) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: 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 customer service at 888-737-9511 or Infiniti customer service at 888-810-3715.

  3. NHTSA 15V287000May 15, 2015Airbags1,090,569 vehicles

    Air bags

    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.

    Risk: 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.

    Remedy: 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. Note: On December 18, 2015 Nissan informed NHTSA of an amendment of this recall to remove 2004-2005 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 vehicles.

See all 5 recalls for the 2005 Nissan Sentra →

2005 Nissan Sentra fuel economy and fuel cost

City
22 MPG
Highway
29 MPG
Combined
25 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,600
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2005 compared with other Sentra years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Caution51705 !25
2006Caution101165 !25
2007Caution55154126.5

All Nissan Sentra years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2005 Nissan Sentra a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2005 Nissan Sentra ranks #20 of 21 among Sentra model years (Complaint Index 5/100, verdict: Caution). It has 170 complaints and 5 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Nissan Sentra?
The most reported problem areas are engine (81 complaints), fuel system (37 complaints), and airbags (21 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 76,200 miles.
Does the 2005 Nissan Sentra have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2005 Nissan Sentra, most recently reported 2020, covering airbags, engine, and fuel system. At least one carries a Do Not Drive advisory.
What is the fuel economy of the 2005 Nissan Sentra?
EPA rates the 2005 Nissan Sentra at 25 MPG combined (22 city / 29 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,600. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.