CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2005 Sentra earned its clunker status after numerous reports of blown head gaskets.

8.6

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$1,310
Average Mileage:
76,800 miles
Total Complaints:
95 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. replace head gasket (78 reports)
  2. not sure (15 reports)
  3. replace head gasket & bolts (1 reports)
  4. resurface head at machine shop (1 reports)
2005 Nissan Sentra engine problems

engine problem

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2005 Nissan Sentra Owner Comments (Page 1 of 5)

problem #95

Jul 242019

Sentra 1.8 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 139,025 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Avoid Nissan after 2000. They don't make them like they did in the 90's. This car should have gone straight to the junkyard after leaving the assembly line. I have no remorse seeing this thing get crushed hopefully into something better the next time around. Disappointing.

- Anthony R., Vista, US

problem #94

Apr 012017

Sentra 1.8L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,500 miles

Any one who has the problem with a blown head gasket on this car needs to ensure two things when repairing. Do not use dealer brand parts! And do not re-use the same head bolts. Both the bolts and gasket are flawed in material and design. Notice that some of the previous complaints re-occur. Now you know why.

- Curtis M., Warrenville, US

problem #93

Mar 102010

Sentra

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,430 miles

The car had 89,206 kms when the engine light went on and I took it to a Nissan dealership to be advised the head gasket was gone. This problem was well documented on the intranet with several complaints and cars of the same model up for sale at a very low price indicating 'you replace the headgasket'. Nissan washed their hands of this problem knowing full well it was a defect in the manufacturing.

After having to pay the ransom of $2,075.56 at $98 per hour I would NEVER think of buying another Nissan. I gave the car to my daughter and bought a Toyota Corolla, best move I ever made. from know on it is Toyota all the way with me.

I would love to see a class action suit brought against these crooks and would be happy to sign up and write a cheque. The service center in Ajax, Ontario is run by a bunch of bandits.

- Carolyn P., Ajan, ON, Canada

problem #92

Oct 092016

Sentra S 1.8L V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

86 and #87 are the best comments of all time. 👏

Basically overheated all crazy while on the e-way, pulled over and white smoke... Fudge, I know enough to know that white smoke is bad. Piston resurfaced, became bent, damaged cam (I believe is the head of the engine) and got that replaced. . Took forever and pretty sure from what I have read it will happen again. 2005 was a bad year for Nissan Sentra.

- timmytebow, Chicago, IL, US

problem #91

Jul 192016

Sentra 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 145,000 miles

This is not the first time that the head gasket blew on this vehicle. It happened about a year after I had purchased it and had to do a full replacement. Luckily that was covered under the extended warranty that I had at the time and the work was done at the Nissan dealership. So that was at around 72000 miles. Now the vehicle at 145000 miles, blew ANOTHER GASKET! I have maintained the recommended maintenance and I have the service records to prove it, This is ridiculous and seems like a major design flaw.

- crazycarl, Puyallup, WA, US

problem #90

May 132016

Sentra 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,000 miles

Bought the car with approx 70K miles on it for college aged son to commute back and forth daily (approx 60 miles/day). Check engine light came on; thermostat blew out; replaced thermostat. Two days later engine seized up; mechanic says blown head gasket. But check engine light did not come back on after thermostat replaced. Can't decide if better to replace engine or car??

- zenab, Twin Lakes, WI, US

problem #89

Apr 082016

Sentra S 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 160,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Again blown head gasket on a 2005 1.8 nissan sentra and everyone already know Nissan is not going to recall it

- James K., Charleroi, PA, US

problem #88

Mar 092015

Sentra 1.8s

  • Automatic transmission
  • 98,965 miles

Another typical story ... 3/15, engine light on ... diagnosed head gasket failure ... cylinder frozen or something ... mechanic bandaged it ... fast forward, 1/16 ... engine light on again ... don't want to and can't afford a car payment ... car has had no issues other that the crappy heater sometimes ... really upsetting ... torn between replacing engine or buying another car .... reading all the complaints regarding the repair of engine ... trouble happening all over again ... think it's best if I run from Nissan ... so sad, I bought a 1998 Altima and it's still on the road ... been through 3 kids driving it ... youngest has it now ... still running strong ... so upsetting ... Nissan's were always my first choice ...

- Rhonda H., Phoenix, AZ, US

problem #87

Oct 202015

Sentra SE 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 79,880 miles

So purchased this vehicle at under 80,000 miles. 2 days later started having problems starting it. After lots of lost time and $300 later for diagnostics confirmed blown gasket😱Haven't owned a vehicle for 2 weeks...

- Ekaterina S., Williamsburg, VA, US

problem #86

Oct 142015

Sentra

  • Automatic transmission
  • 117,000 miles

This is the second time the head gasket went out. The first time was 5 years ago. This time the cylinder was sent to be machined. I took the car home, 2 days later, smoke was coming from under the hood. I pulled into the Nissan place, and they said they had failed to tighten down a bolt and cleaned off the manifold. Off I went, 1 day after that, the car started making a horrible, horrible noise and the oil light came on. Nissan sent a tow truck for the car and told me the oil pump had blown and caused a problem with the timing cover. They fixed it. I picked up the car, got down the street about 3 blocks, the car made a horrible noise, oil light came on and car stopped in the middle of rush hour traffic.

Nissan sent a technician to pick me up and drive the car back to the dealership. They replaced the oil pump with a "brand new oil pump fresh off the line". When I went to pick up the car, they had pulled it under the carport at the dealership and turned it off. I got in and started it up, the engine made a horrible loud noise, and the oil light is back on. No oil getting to the engine. wow.....really!!! 2 new oil pumps later (1 fresh off the Nissan manufacturer line, not sure where the other new one came from) and a head gasket and milling, no Nissan for me. I have no words to tell you how I feel.

One of the Nissan service guys indicated to me that people often blame them for problems after they've worked on a car and that stuff just happens and its not their fault. He said they weren't in that area, even though they took the engine apart. Really! Well, I likened that statement to putting my hand down in a mans pants and squeezing the bloody hell out of his balls, but I did NOT touch the penis. so therefore, I'm not responsible for the excruciating pain in his now useless penis and his other extremities that cause him to faint and thus strike his head on the table as he falls causing a brain injury. Not my fault, man. I wasn't in that area. Sorry for being dramatic, but I feel dramatic and traumatized and pissed off about my "Nissa". OMG! I'm just saying!

- omg2015, Denver, CO, US

problem #85

Jun 152010

Sentra

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My car started over heating and found out the head gasket was cracked. No machine milling was done at that time. Unfortunately, the car had the head gasket go out again in Oct 2015. Cost me plenty to fix it. And right after that was fixed, 2 days later, my oil light on, loud screeching noises and the broke down. Nissan has tried to repair the car 3 times with no success. Today, my Nissan is at the dealer waiting its fate.

- omg2015, Denver, CO, US

problem #84

Jun 302014

Sentra SE 1.8L L4

  • Manual transmission
  • 111,163 miles

It is fixed now. It is my 3rd Sentra and I never had head gasket issue before. Very disappointed. Only upside, the head didn't warp, neither the engine block needed any corrections.

- Will B., Boisbriand, QC, Canada

problem #83

Aug 212015

Sentra ES 1.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120 miles

My car has had ALL services performed by MOSSY NISSAN, San Diego since purchase. The head gasket was replaced at 92,000 and it's now at 120,000 - less than 30K and it is gone @$!!! Complete and utter bullsht - and NISSAN needs to be responsible. Dealer only covers 12K and said have a great day.

Gave the 1-800-CALL NISSAN if they care - well then I ask you all to call NISSAN and complain. This is completely unacceptable with being one of the most expensive fixes. Just replaced my thermostat $800 two days later, the engine light comes on and 'oops your head gasket is kaput!!! Gee thanks - but you replaced it and I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT!!!!

- D L., San Diego, CA, US

problem #82

Jul 202015

Sentra LX 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

The 2005 Nissan Sentra has been the worst car I ever owned. The head gasket crack 3 times. I replaced the engine twice with 2005 engines and they all cracked. When I called the dealer, he referred me to the Nissan corp. which said it wasn't under warranty and refused to do anything. Why is there not a recall on these cars. The dealer gave me the same line of bull. How many 2005 Nissan Sentras have had the same problem. This car was a lemon and should have been recalled. Three motors and three cracked head gaskets. Come on! There must be a lawyer out there who would like to take this case.

- Nina P., El Paso, TX, US

problem #81

Jul 272015

Sentra 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 149,000 miles

Pathetic that manufacture does not solve problem!hope they loose customers because there product is so bad. They lost me now that this happened. I've maintained this vehicle under severe maintenance .

- Rodney V., Albuquerque, NM, US

problem #80

Jan 052015

Sentra S 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 71,000 miles

APPEARS TO BE SAME PROBLEM ON THE SAME MODEL SAME YEAR.

- Chris C., Niceville, FL, US

problem #79

Jun 102010

Sentra SE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 52,000 miles

Nissan knew that this was a problem but never tried to fix it. We had no choice but to have it replaced. The car is great and we've never had any other problem with it. 2015 and still running strong. (knock on wood).

- Teri W., Cincinnati, OH, US

problem #78

Apr 112013

Sentra Special Edition 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 67,000 miles

Misfire #3 cylinder, blown head like everybody else. No more Nissans for me. 67000 mi

- Austin O., Hendersonville, NC, US

problem #77

Oct 152014

Sentra 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

At 75k miles had a blown head gasket, took it to the dealer and they recommended I replaced the engine of course. 3 days later same issue, all work was done at a Nissan dealer by the way. 4 days later I get a new head installed, no problems now. 1 yr later 65k miles, stuck out in the boonies with the same issue, blown head gasket again. Another wonderful bill. As of today at 200k, cylinder number 4 misfire. WTH is going on with this Sentra crap...Disappointing

- yourheroek9, Corona, CA, US

problem #76

Dec 012014

Sentra SE 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 125,517 miles

I've read the other complaints and that is exactly the problem for my 2005 Nissan Sentra SE with 1.8 L engine...a blown head gasket. This problem first appeared about 3 years ago. Cost of repair was $1,900 CDN. I now have the Service Engine light appearing again and the problem was P0128, so it looks like the problem may be re-occurring. HELP!!

- hansenmanitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, canada

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