Used 2002 Nissan Sentra Sedan Consumer Reviews
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I love my Nissan!
I've had my Nissan for over a year. I *LOVE* it. I have a GXE with the Synergy Package and rear spoiler. I put on about 16,000 miles this last year. It's a spunky car... so much fun to drive. It's great on long-distance drives. The customer service at the dealerships are wonderful.
This car is terrible....
I bought this car in 5/02 and the second day I had it the flashers started blinking very fast. Brought to the dealer the next day they told me there was nothing wrong. Happened again and brought it back the next day. Took them until 10/02 to repair it. THen in 11/02 the heater stopped working and they did not repair that until 1/02. Then on 2/02 the car died in a parking lot and the dealer said the radio was draining the battery and replaced it. The car has been at the dealership more then 60 days of the time I have had it and only has 7000 miles. I have never had it in my possession when it was in working order without awaiting a part.
2002 Nissan GXE
Quality & Value!!! Features found on high end luxury cars.
Awsome Car
What a great Ride. Very confort And great relaiablity. And for the price. Awsome
Great Car
Same quality as a Corolla or Honda Civic, but less expensive. I've owned my car for 20 mths and I've driven it 21000 miles and I haven't had one problem with it. It has many great features such as compact disc, auto, air it has enough zip to get you where you need to go safely and comfortably. The best thing about the car is it's affordability. I paid $12,300.00 total out the door for my brand new Sentra. I can't say enough good things about the car!
AWESOME LIL CRUISER
BOUGHT THIS LIL GEM FROM A PRIVATE PERSON AT 12K WITH ONLY 7800 MILES. I HAVE DRIVEN HER HARD FOR 2.5 MONTHS NOW AND AM JUST A PLEASED CUSTOMER COMFORTABLE AND EFFICIENT. GREAT STYLING. THE ONLY THING SHE LACKS IS A LITTLE BIT O JAM WHEN I STOMP DOWN ON THE GAS. ONCE UP TO SPEED THOUGH THIS BABY ROCKETS JUST FINE. DAMN THE MAP LIGHTS THOUGH!NISSANS RUN FOREVER TOO!
Great car at a great price
I bought my 2002 Nissan Sentra XE in April '03 used with 11,000 miles on it from a dealer. I really love the car. It drives great and is very comfortable. I drove it to New York and it was a very comfortable ride. It also handle the tough New York streets beautifuly. I heard this car was good but I didnt think I would get such a wonderful car for a good price. Its basic, no power windows or locks but it does have AC, CD, and AM/FM. Basically, it has everything that I need and nothing that I dont. :-)
Honest assessment
This is my favorite car ever. I have had cars of varying makes and for some unknown reason, I love this car more than any of them. I have a nearly bare- bones '02 XE (CD, spoiler and A/C are the only options) and I'm just as comfy as can be with it. This isn't to say all is perfect. The seat fabric in the XE is just embarassing - some weird triangulation thing going on there, but the cloth is extremely durable. Overall, an excellent car. I wish it were still built in the US of A (built in Mexico), but at least the engine and trans are still built in Japan.
Solid dependable car
This version of the Sentra combines nimble handling, quiet ride, plush interior, and great gas mileage. Zero mechanical problems in 20 months of driving. The improved engine is problem-free and provides plenty of power.
dependability on 4 wheels
I've had my 02 GXE for 20 months. Other than having the o2 sensor replaced 5 months ago, I had absolutely no other problems and this car is the perfect around town commuter car. Been getting 25 miles city and 35+ highway. Has good torque at low speeds and handles quite well. A good financial investment.
I love my car!
This has been an incredibly reliable car for me. I've used the heck out of it, skipped oil changes, bounced over some roads I shouldn't have, and driven the poor thing at over 120 mph on back roads in Colorado. It's been on two cross-country trips. It will be four years in December that I've owned it, and it's been fantastic. The only problems I've ever had with it were caused by other drivers! It has good pickup for a 4-cylinder and handles beautifully. It also has a great, small turning radius, which makes it very maneuverable when necessary.
Good Value; Commuter Car
Less than a month of ownership. Overall a good value in the market. Older design as compared with the makes. Avg. 35 mpg overall. Closer to 40 mpg would be nice. Responsive handling, good brakes, good headlight illumination, good overall visibility (sans the rear spoiler). The seats were a deal maker for me, great!(1.8/automatic)
Decent Econobox - GXE Synergy Package
I've had my Sentra for almost one year now. I recently had a Nissan dealer do a 25 pt inspection. I was told my rear motor mount was torn, my throttle body needed cleaning as well as a few other minor issues. I have had the car since 55,000 miles and I am at 76,000 now. The thermostat went out at around 73,000. Basically, it is a decent decade old econobox. The factory battery is still in there working fine. I get high 20s in town mid 30s highway gas mileage. A/C kills a lot of engine power but its got a sunroof. Engine noise is not too bad. Road noise can get frightening if it is a nice pot hole. Be careful on windy highways. Performs better than expected in the snow with allseason tires
great car great buy
this car to me is the best car for the buck. i do alot of driving and i get good gas mileage and a good ride. i will probably buy another.
Sound, fun car for the price!
Bought this car used with low miles almost 2 years ago. It's been reliable and fun to drive. Good pickup for a 4 cylinder! But fuel mileage is poor for a compact. I get between 25-30mpg at best. The build quality and comfort could do with a little improvement. Overall, I'm very satisfied with it.
FUN, FAST AND CHEAP
BADASS RIDE THAT FLOATS AROUND TOWN
Awesome Car!!!
I love my car. It has been nothing but dependable and reliable. And I love the way it looks. I am 19 years old and I had 3 cars before I bought my Sentra and all three of them were nothing but trouble. I had a 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlas Ciera, a 1991 Chrysler Lebaron, and a 1995 Pontiac Sunfire. The Sunfire was the worst I had it for 6 months and put almost $1000 into fixing the problems that came up with it. I love my Sentra and I would recommend everyone to have a Nissan!!
Intermittent Cruise Control
I love Nissan.Leased a 98 before buying.Had problems from day 1.The inside is often noisy,the rattles vary in volume,frequency and location. The cruise is intermittent & they can't find the problem.It works on restart but is a concern.A rear speaker has blown repeatedly w/o resolve.Also the entry remotes work off/on. Otherwise, the car is great.Their lack of competency & empathy is disappointing.If resolved,I'd have bought another Nissan.The fact that I've had problems in a new car over 2 years, makes it hard to trust Nissan. Would like to know if others are having this happen, Nissan says no.
First and last Nissan
My sentra was my first car and I was at first excited because I had limited means and the Sentra is an affordable car. I have had the car for nearly two cars and have had to replace the transmission take it for at least two recalls. They replaced the transmission because it had a piece of metal in it and yet I still hear grinding noises when I accelerate. BEWARE
maybe for a bit, but not for long
I have always liked this car, not for it's exterior looks, but for the interior design, the comfort of the drivers seat, and all the cool little features that come along with the car. I have never liked the dorky way the car looks. Of course, I am used to mid-sized coupes and big trucks. But it holds its own, for sure. When called upon, the 126 horses wake up and pull the car forward with a surprising aggression. Great for highway driving. I don't like the way the plastic interior scratches so easily, and the door mouldings tend to fall off if you look at them funny. Build quality is poor, as far as I am concerned.
THIS CAR BLOWS
I HATE THIS CAR NOT ONLY IS IT POORLY MADE BUT IT TAKES THE DEALERSHIP WAY TO LONG TO FIX THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH IT MAKE IT MORE RELIABLE AND BUILT IT TO LAST 2 MONTHS AFTER DRIVING THE CAR OF THE LOT THE AC NO LONGER WORKED AND IT TOOK ME 4 TRIPS TOT HE DEALER AND 3 MONTHS AND THREATS OF A LAW SUIT TO GET IT FIXED. AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE AC BROKE THE SHIFT KNOW CAME OFF AND HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED
Nissian Sentra
Its a great car for one person. or maybee two. I took it on a 3000 mile trip and it was fine. I also took for friends on a weekend trip for 600 miles and it was a bit small. Great car.
You get more than you pay for!
Purchase this car new at $14000 with auto-trans, spoiler, alloy wheel, cruise control, fog lights, 180w + 7 speakers stereo, leather wheel. So far, I never had any problems until the ECU recall. Nissan dealer did the recall service, after that I had replace the Oxygen senser under warranty. Later Nissan replace the entire on-board computer. I think they short-out my chip while they fix the ECU recall. The car runs great. After 40k, the car still run like a new car. The paint still shine even I park the car outside all the time. I am 6-3 still fit into the driver seat nicely. I gived this car to my girlfriend. She really like the shape and the handling.
Great Car!
I have owned several Nissan vehicles (Maxima, 2 Sentra's) and love them. They are definitely built to last long miles. The only problem with my current Sentra is with a clutch plate. I have had it replaced once (under warranty), and it has gone bad again. I need to take it in to the dealer again for repair.
computer replacement at 46,000 miles
This is a fast, fun car to drive but I was unhappy to find that one dealer said a sensor was out causing the transmission to malfunction and then they replaced the sensor again because I didn't make it around the block without the check engine light coming on again. Two days later after the second fix it happened again. I took it to another dealer who correctly diagnosed it as the computer itself and replaced it under warranty. I hope the new computer will last longer than another 46,000 miles!
It OK
My AC went out. It Left me stranded once, but had a recall so Nissan fixed the probelm for free "ECU and oxygent sensor had to be replaced". Besided that I runs like a champ.
A good bet
I bought this car in Jan. 2003, and it was a former rental. I was going from an '88 Honda civic to this one, so I was pretty impressed. It's a good looking car. A bit small, but my family of four fits just fine. A few things broke: front pwr. windows wont roll, AC works only on high. I am bummed, but still happy with my choice.
Love my '02 Sentra
I love this car! We've had this car for a year and a half and have put 35,000 miles on it and we couldn't be happier. It runs like a top, it is a charm to drive. It is my third Nissan, and I won't be shopping anywhere else from now on!
Great car
I've put 18000 miles per year on my 2002 and have had NO problems. Replaced the breaks and put new tires on it...that's it besides oil changes. Great, reliable vehicle with plenty of zip.
Love my Sentra!
I bought this care new with the upgraded Synergy Package and used it for service, I have had it 4 years and have 150k plus miles on it. I have no no problems with it, but the transmission does chirp from second to third gear shifts up and down both, but it hasn't affected the performance of it. I run it hard and its been a wonderful car, I haven't even changed the plugs in it yet. It eats front brakes up about every 35k but I want to keep it and put 400k on it!
Okay car--I just expected better
Like other reviewers, I passed up a civic for this car. I thought it would be a good choice. I'm not pleased with the gas mileage (22 mpg in the city, and 30 mpg on the highway). My heat also works only on the highest setting so I'm either really cold or really hot. I've also noticed that this car handles really poorly in the wind--I was blown into oncoming traffic once!! And who can forget the paint job--the top coat is peeling in several locations.
Nothing flashy, but great reliable ride
Bought back in 09/02 and the only issue I've come across is the parking brake light won't go out (happened around 50k mi) - Other than that it's been extremely reliable. It was -30 degrees here in MN not to long ago for about a week and it started fine every morning like a champ. Ride is smooth.
This stinks!!!
I don't know what's going on w/ Nissan, usually their car is reliable but my car has been a problem car since I bought it brand new. First, its hose was loose when I got it from the dealer. The radiator fluid leaked. Then recently, the bumper paint started to chip out. And finally, this really blew my mind, the car would not start!!! I don't think it's the battery because the lights can be turned on. Now it's going to end up this car being towed to the dealer for service, this is crap because I need a car everyday, I thought Nissans are reliable, guess not...This stinks!!!
This is a great car
I bought this sentra XE for saving money. It does not have keyless entry, power windows, but has CD and AC. Runs well, has 5 passenger seat, great fuel economy, so I guess this is perfect for some money saver? Wow!
Built to Last
This is my 2nd Sentra, my 1st, a 1991 2-Dr model, lasted until it was totalled in a collision in '02. When I purchased this one, it was a definite upgrade in terms of weight, acceleration, comfort and style. The mileage could be a little better these days (avg 25-30), the leg room in the back is too little for people over 5' tall, and it is very sensitive to the wind. I am overall very happy with the car, it's very reliable and can handle it's own. Other than the above issues, it's a great car for long term owners.
The smart choice!
Bought the car new 9/02, ripped 25k out of it as of 6/03 and it's as good as new. Mechanically very sound little car, classy interior that blows Civic and Saturn away. Can't beat the price either and at 38mpg highway, it's environmentally sound as well. Drove it from Charlotte NC to Washington DC during Presidents' Day Storm and the traction is GREAT, I passed spun-out SUVs left and right. Worth your money.
2002 Sentra - Nothing but problems
I bought my New 2002 Sentra in December 2001 & I have had nothing but problems with it since then. I am dissappointed with the performance of the vehicle. At 200 miles the service engine light came on, and they had to replace my thermostat & gasket. Once the problem was fixed my service engine light came on again at 427 miles. Only this time the dealership had my car for 18 days. I have also had trunk release problems and the radio stations get bad reception. I don't know if I just got a bad seed or that Nissan isn't making quality products, but I am very unhappy with the car and would not recommed this car to anyone.
Fun and reliable
I bought my 02 Sentra with 25 miles on it. I now has 140,000 and has only seen the shop for tires, brakes, and oil. It gets wonderful gas mileage with the 1.8 L 4 cyl but the car is light weight enough that it is peppy and fun. The only downsides are the seats are not that comfortable for long rides and it could definitely be quieter at highway speeds.
Fun car
Sporty features and better than average performance, for a car of it's class, have made this a fun car to drive. Both interior and exterior features are well designed and give this car a feel bigger than the compact cars of only a few years ago. My only complaint is that the suspension got much softer after driving it for 3000 miles than it was during the test drive.
Great Car
Great car that has many good qualities.
Piece of Junk
I bought my Sentra from a man on Craigslist. He had all the paperwork to prove he had taken care of the car. The paint on the hood and roof was fading already, which is on 99% of all the 2002 Sentras. In the last year the computer has gone out, the AC has gone out and the gas mileage and power has gone down to almost nothing. Stay Away from these cars, I have only had bad things happen. Everyone I know that has ever owned a 2002 Nissan Sentra has had pure hell.
Automatics should never stall
My parents got me this care when i learned how to drive, it was a rentl before and had 30,000 miles on it. Within 6 months the car started to die on me when i would be sitting at a light. I have taken it to the dealership more than 6 times in the past 6 months and they never seem to fix it. The car will be ok for a while and then start stalling again and its an automatic! Its a total Lemon and i absolutly hate it!