Used 2002 Nissan Sentra Sedan Consumer Reviews
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
243,000 miles and still running
This car was given to me to jump start my life again my grandfather bought it for $700 with 236,000 miles and I have had few problems the belt tensioner pully needs to be replaced and the front shocks need to be replaced, I replaced the brakes (someone didn't know what they were doing so I completely replaced everything). I love the way it drives , the brake feel is fantastic, it has cheap tires but you wouldn't guess that it does. The 4 cylinder engine is powerful the transmission shifts smooth but does jerk every now and again, Paint looks horrible. Overall it keeps my insurance cheap and its my daily driver, I plan on getting a newer vehicle but I will keep this car until it dies!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Don't even think to buy this car
In 3+ years I owned this car I had nothing but problems with engine. The Idle Control Valve, the Engine Control and the ignitions coils went down several times. The engine stalled many times, which makes this car very unsafe to drive. By the end A/C was down too. Never buy any Nissan again
Great Car Value
I've had 2 Sentras since 1985, this one being my second. I bought both my sons Sentras when they graduated college (1994 & 1998). The older one was sold in California by my son with 175,000 miles on it and it was still doing fine. My other son gave the 1998 to my sister, and that's still going strong with 185,000 miles on it. If you are looking for a reasonably-priced, easy-to-maintain car, this is the one!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
I am done with NISSAN
I purchased a 02 Nissan Sentra GXE in Dec of 2001 from our local dealer in Petaluma California. At the time, we also considered Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla but ended up with the Nissan because the interior of the Sentra looked much better than the rest. Big mistake! Our Nissan was ok for the first several years but it started falling apart as soon as it hit 100k. Everything from faded paint to the on board computer (ECM) went out at a cost of $700. Next the transmission went out as well as the seatbelts and etc... Now I understand why people buy Toyota's. Meanwhile, a friend of ours has a 02 Corolla with 200k and it's still running strong.
I LOVED MY SENTRA
I loved my sentra, so fun to drive and it never left me stranded. I've seen some bad reviews but mine was absolutely flawless. Inexpensive and great on gas. I flipped it 3 times and it still cranked right up. (of course it was totaled though)
BEWARE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACEMENT FTER 138000 MI
Am the first owner and engine went at 138,000 miles. ???? Very disappointed. We serviced this vehicle and no way this engine should have to be replaced at 138000 miles. ONLY OWNER ride locally. I would never buy a Nissan because of thiS
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Value
Problem-free
Owned this vehicle (GXE w/ cruise control package) from 2001-2008 and through 180K miles only recently showed problems (oil leakage). Prior to that, only repairs needed were for leaking AC (2 times), blocked radiator and oil leak. None of these occurred within the first 100K miles. Car provided 30 mpg this year. For the price, great car.
Love it
I bought my 2002 Sentra GXE 6 years ago. It has been great to me so far. I have had nothing go wrong with it and has been extremely reliable. The car saved my life when I was in an accident. I came out alive and in one piece-which meant that the Sentra did its job. It is far from a luxury vehicle, but it is very comfortable and fun to drive. I love my car and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a safe and reliable vehicle.
Honest review
I just wanted to make a honest review from first hand experience. Bought this car brand new in 2001. First problem I had was a flat tire with but that was a easy fix. I had the oxygen sensor fix, ECU unit replaced all under warranty with about 60,000 miles. At 130,000 miles had the rack and pinion replaced due to leaking. Stuck at the park gear and using the shift lock to release to other gears. Currently have 148,000 miles and still going. The paint on the hood is fading away. Its a 9 year old car. Will have to replace the timing belt soon. I tend to loose power going up hills. Hopefully reach the 200,000 miles. Other than that a reliable car.
Never another nissan
loved it until the ecu/ecm starts acting then mileage goes all over and the dealer starts licking his lips you soon learn to say it over and over never another Nissan.
Best car ever
i love my 2002 Nissan Sentra. I am the first owner and in 8 years i have not even had one problem. The car has 120,000 km on it.It burns so little gas. It is fast and powerful and very reliable. This year i am planing to buy a new 2010 nissian sentra. I also love the way the car looks with a spoiler. I have never had a better car. I've had a Ford Fairlane and a Ford Thunderbird. This car is the best, I even pull a small trailer.
Not Reliable
Only 85k miles. Sentra has mechanical problems. Recent dealer service quote: will need to replace head gasket, valve cover seal, front crank seal, exhaust manifold gasket, and the intake gasket and all spark plugs. Drive belts are heavily cracked. Timing chain stretched needs tensioner and guides. Past issues: Oil dip stick broke resulting in removal of oil pan with NTB and dealer service pointing fingers. Brake calipers malfunctioning causing abnormal pad wear and short rotor life on left front. After +$2,000 in repairs, the Sentra just is not worth it. Have owned a Geo Storm, Honda Accord, Chevy Blazer, Ford Mustang, and Jeep Cherokee. All lasted +130k miles.
I Love It!!!!!
I've had my car for 2 years now and it has been nothing but a dream. The only repair that has been done to the car was a hose that caused leakage but that's it. The car handles well, picks up speed fairly well, could be better. The car looks great inside and out, much better than other compacts! My only complaint would be that the driver's seat doesn't go back far enough. I'm a tall guy (6'2) and driving long distances can be a nuisance but for the price i don't think you can beat the value of this car. Oh, get the upgrade for the stereo that comes with the subwoofer....its worth the money!!!
Just on the way home
I just bought this car and the drive home was amazing. I am so excited about taking this baby for more rides. I'm so glad I bought it!
what a hunk of crap
Mine was a lemon, it was built with an alignment problem. The reason why I would give this review a negative one, is that the car company, should be more helpful in getting you into a car that built correctly, they are just interested more on how they are going to loose money rather than the safety of your family! Not that great on gas also...some other issues may be a problem (it gives too much power when pressing on the gas that the tires screech)........buyers TEST IT WELL before buying it
Miss my Sentra =(
Bought this Sentra, my first car, certified-used at a dealer. Aside from the fact that I paid way too much for it because of the financing, this is a solid car! Don't let anyone tell you it's bottom of the line! Not a whole ton of horsepower but it gets it done. Gave me no problems until just before 100K, then a couple little things popped up. (Spark plugs, fuel flush, nothing you can't do yourself) I drove this car everywhere. Florida and Canada were no problem! Kept up with oil changes and changed the brakes once. She never failed me. Got totaled just before Halloween, she might be the best car I'll ever have!
Excellent car, excellent value
I purchased this car because of the good reviews and the great value. I liked the interior of this car much better than any other small car. Everything is right where I need it and I never get uncomfortable in my hour long commute everyday. The build quality and reliability is excellent so far - no problems. I would recommend this car to anyone shopping for a small sedan.
Love My Sentra
So far I've got just under 600 miles on this car and I love it! It's peppy, fun to drive, comfortable, and looks great. I got mine with the Synergy Package (bigger wheel/tires, better radio, spoiler, fog lights, map lights, cruise control) and still got a great price. It's loaded with features. Compared it to a Corolla, an Elantra, a Focus and a Civic. In test drives, it blew them all away. Plus, Nissan's are reliable.
Good Car
I bought this car when I was in college because it was fairly inexpensive, and I thought it would be reliable. The car now has nearly 120,000 miles on it and still performs well. The gas mileage is goood, not great - I average around 30-33 depending on the season. The car has had very little maintenance problems. Early on, it had to be in the shop a few times for recalls, but other than replacing brake pads and tires, it has been really cheap to maintain. Performance is what one would expect from a small 4-Cyl. - it does just enough to not get run over by bigger cars. It does suffer from windy days, and it could be bigger, but really, it is a pretty good car.
2002 Nissan Sentra
I've been driving this car for the past eight months and I'm totally satisfied with this car. No problems, looks great and handles very well. I'd recommend this car to anyone, I intend to hand it down to my teenage son eventually and almost hate the thought of giving it up.
Great, fun, and cheap
After my Ford Ranger died, I wanted something that got more than 20 mpg and had cruise and air. The Sentra has this and more. Lots of fun to drive, GXE has lots of extras, and did I mention lots of fun to drive.
know what you want
I knew what I wanted and told the dealership exactly what I wanted and what I wanted to pay. It worked and it was the easiest process I had ever been through. Did my homework and it paid off. The Sentra is a nice looking car and it performs and looks like a more expensive vehicle.
Hate to See It Go
We are so sad to part with our Sentra. (We have to get a bigger car for kids and can't afford to insure two.) I bought it with 30K miles as a salvage and now have 100K on it. The only issue I ever had w/ the engine was fixed for free as a recall. I've replaced a few belts and the brake pads. This car has been 100% reliable. We've driven it, literally, across the country. I'm not into flashy cars, don't care about how "fun" they are to drive. My main concern has always been the bottom line. I really appreciate being able to rely on this car and that I've never had to spend a lot on it. Love this car!
Good, little car
This is the fourth Nissan I've owned ('83 Datsun 310gx, '95 Quest, '95 Sentra, '02 Sentra) and I am very pleased with this car. I'm a shorter person and the car fits me like a glove. My friends who are taller (6' and up) are quite amazed that they fit so well in the front seat. As for the back seat -- well, that is another story. But after test driving the Mazda Protege 5 and others, the price and quality were unbeatable. Get the Synergy package -- it's well worth it!
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.
Good value for money
After 9 months and 20,000 miles it has had no mechanical problems. I drive long distances all the time and the Sentra proved to be reliable and comfortable. For $14,500 drive out price, it's a great value.
Great price, great car
We were looking at the Sentra, Corolla, Civic, and Elantra. We decided on the Sentra for its great price, tasteful styling, and solid build. It's been a great car, handles well, and has adequate acceleration.
2002 Nissan Sentra GXE
Well I bought this car about 3 months ago and Im very pleased with it so far. I really like the exterior styling opposed to the older sentra's. One thing I dont like is the power, I wished it had more. I know there is the Se-r and Se-r spec V but 126hp in isnt a enough for the GXE. The 2000 sentra Se even had around 140hp. I think Nissan should have kept that horse power in the GXE for 2002. But overall its the most reliable car you can get. I would much rather have this car than a 2002 Honda Civic any day. I recomend this car to anyone who is thinking about getting a economical car that isnt over 20,000$
Awsome Car
What a great Ride. Very confort And great relaiablity. And for the price. Awsome
Excellent for the money!
I just bought my Sentra XE a month ago. I had a 1994 Mazda Protege which pretty much decided to fall apart on me at 70,000. For the money, you can't go wrong with the Sentra. I just wanted basic equipment at a good price. At $13,200 with A/C, AM-FM-CD Stereo, Armrest Console, Coin holder, All Cloth Seating, and Automatic Transmission, how could you beat that? The 1.8L DOHC has some good muscle because of the 126lbs torque at 2400rpms. As well the car is very comfortable on the highway with very little wind noise which most compact cars do have. I highly recommend this car to anyone.
great
this car is great, it has lots of power and is fun to drive. It cruises at 70 on the highway, but probably won't hold it's value like Civic. Under the hood is bizzarre, lots of strange wires everywhere.
go get one!
i've had this car over a year now. it is one great small car. the interior design , the best i've seen in any compact car. one reliable car!
Great value but minor issue with quality
This car is truely a great value, a similarly equipted toyota or honda cost at least $2000 more. However, I do have some issues with the quality of this car. My power window switch and the map light tend to get stuck and refuse to pop out quite often. Otherwise, I found this car a lot of fun to drive.
BAD EXPERIENCE
mY EXPERIENCE IS VERY BAD. I BROUGHT A NEW CAR AND IT IS UNDERGOING ITS SECOND MAJOR REPAIRS. FROM THE ENGINE TO THE IGNITION LOCKS TO LOW AIR PRESSURE IN TYRES.
Stunning reliability
Passed 150,000kms this week. Nothing has gone wrong with this car in nine years of continuous operation. While regular maintenance has helped, I'm astonished that I have done nothing but tires, oil changes, brake pads and a new oil dipstick the entire time. Nissan has been quick about recalls - the throttle issues seem limited to those who fail to heed the recalls. I don't baby the car at all - cars are meant to be driven. It's been on dirt roads to cottage country and through nine Canadian winters with salted roads without rust (save for one muffler bracket which was replaced for $60). While the design is showing its age and it's no luxury car, I am very impressed overall.
Nissan proven quality and reliability!
I bought this car new in the beginning of November 2002. I test drove the Protege', Civic, Spectra and Impreza. I must say that the Sentra fit like a glove. It is solidly built and very practical. I also own a 95' 200sx SE-R which I bought new and have never had a problem with it. My philosophy is if something works for you stick with it. Nissans are great cars and I encourage anyone in the market for a new car to check them out.
Best value car!
My sentra has about 24000 miles on it since last June. It is really fun to drive. I like the interior of Sentra better than any other compact cars. No problem at all so far and I just feel it could run forever trouble-free! I commute about 110 mile a day now and very comfortable with this car. Gas mileage is about 33 to 34 on highway with auto. This car really has the best overall value than any other comparable cars and its TCO (Total Cost to Own) is alos the lowest 5 years from now. If I had one more chance to choose, I would still pick Sental. 100% recommend!!!
2002 GXE w/Synergy Package = Fun
Super fun to drive. Excellent gas milage, no rattles or squeeks and nice to look at. Almost no road noise even up to 80 mph. The only problem I have had is the sticking map lights but it is a common problem with the car and it was fixed immediately. Excellent service from the dealer. At $13,000 it is a real bargin.
Nice Car
I test drove the Sentra, Corolla, Protege, and Civic. All were good cars. I got a really good deal on the Sentra and that's why I chose it. Now after 15,000 miles I've had no problems.
2002 Sentra GXE With Synergy Package
This is my second Sentra I have owned. The first one was a 1986 model and took me to 186,000 miles before the tranny gave out. Already that says something about the Sentra's reliability. So far, this car has been great!! It's very quiet on the highway, the ride is very comfortable and has enough power to get on the highway. The handeling on this car is great. We've driven the car from CT to VT and got there on just under half a tank of gas. The trip is about 260 miles!! Amazing! The styling of the car is just beautiful. It reminds me of a miniature Mazima (one of the reasons we bought this car). Overall, I would highly recommend this car to anyone.
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.
Sentra
Great car. 116mph. 40 mpg on highway. What more can u want?
2002 Nissan GXE
Quality & Value!!! Features found on high end luxury cars.
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!
Would buy again
I bought this car with 30 miles on it, and it now has 112,000. Unfortunately, a rear end collision is forcing me to give up a car I would have kept forever!! Very reliable, and just the right size, this 5-speed manual GXE has served me well. I kept up the maintenance like clockwork, and for that I have never had an engine problem. I am now looking to buy another Nissan Sentra regardless of the negative reviews I continue to see.
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. :-)
Surprising drive and quality
I test drove a GXE in April but was not impressed with it, however I was impressed with the SE-R. In July I found payments higher than I liked and was persuaded to test drive a GXE with the Synergy package. I was amazed that there was a difference in the driving and feel of the car. I was trading in a sport suspension car that hugged the road and wanted the same in a larger car. This drove almost the same. I had a power sunroof installed and am totally in love with this car. The hp could be more making it better but otherwise it's a great car. Don't quite understand how the "stone" color is tan though.
2001 Sentra GXE Review
I have found this vehicle to be comfortable, well built and fun to drive. So much better than my last 2000 Corolla.
NISSAN SENTRA GXE. TOTAL SATISFACTION
CARS TESTED: TOYOTA COROLLA, HONDA CIVIC, NISSAN SENTRA.RESULT: THE SENTRA PROVED TO BE THE BEST BUY. REASONS:BEST ENGINE PERFORMANCE,BEST FIT & FINISH, BEST SHIFTING, AND BEST CONTENT.