Let me start out by saying that I have gone above and beyond with keeping up on the maintenance on this car. I have done regular oil changes, preventative maintenance, everything. My problems started with the check engine light coming on without explanation around August of 2009. I took it into the mechanic and he couldn't figure out what was wrong with it. It then came on another two or three times over the next month- they could never find an explanation. In December 2009, I couldn't even get the car to turn over. I had it towed to the mechanic, and he did a diagnostic test, and full tune up for me. Everything cost around $300.

Then in January of this year, the check engine light was coming on again, and the car started to overheat for no reason. I found that it was completely out of coolant after I just had a full tune up, oil change and fluid flush. How could it possibly be out of coolant!? The mechanic replaced the thermostat and everything was working okay for two days or so. Then the heat stopped working, and the car started overheating again, especially when I was idle. The temperature gauge was going completely out of control, fluctuating between hot and cold, depending on how fast I was driving. (0-45mph, ok... 45mph+ VERY HOT, idle VERY HOT). Whenever I stopped at a light, I had to turn my car off, in fears of having it set on fire! I took the car back to the mechanic the following day, and he was stumped. He kept the car for two days straight, and took the car out on the highway to drive it for a couple of hours. After about 40 miles, the car stalled for no reason, but started right back up. He then replaced the thermostat AGAIN and everything was fine. Then he went to drive it around again, and after about an hour, the car stalled again and set off a code for the crank shaft- completely unrelated. I picked up the car, and he said that he hadn't had problems for a day with it overheating. I felt a little better hearing that.

I just started driving my car again, hoping it was okay. Then today, like before, the heat stopped working, and it began to overheat again. The mechanics have run several diagnostic tests on it, and can't find any evidence of a busted head gasket. They don't want me paying over a thousand dollars for something that may not fix the problem. I'm just so tired of this car failing. I need my car for everything! This car is only 5 years old!! A 5 year old car SHOULD NOT have these problems. I thought that nissan was a reputable company... apparently not!!!!!!!!!! They NEED to recall this vehicle and fix WHATEVER is wrong with it!!!!!

Update from May 6, 2010: I actually wrote a lengthy complaint letter to Nissan about the problem with the bad headgaskets. One of their representatives contacted me, and said I was being considered for repayment; however, I had to prove that I had the car diagnosed and fixed at a Nissan dealership. I sent over all of my proof, and two days later, they called me back and advised that because I do not have a warranty, that they would not be reimbursing me. Also, because the car was never recalled, they don't have to pay me. I said that that was perfectly fine; but just be aware- I have a voice and I won't stop until I see this car recalled.

The woman at Nissan also advised that Nissan does not do the recalls; the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does that. SO my advice to everybody who is fed up with the Nissan sentra is: GO TO WWW.NHTSA.GOV and file your complaint there. These are tracked by NHTSA by vin #. I have a feeling that if we turn up the heat on Nissan, this car WILL be recalled. I also encourage all of you to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org.

Thank you for listening!

After reading everyone else's complaints, they all describe my situation exactly. It takes 2 or three key turns to get the car started. On the first try it will try to start, have rough idle, then dye within a couple seconds. Temperature gauge recently started rocketing up to H. When I catch it I turn the car off while I'm stopped at the light or wherever. When I turn it back on it drops immediately then runs fine. I have filled the coolant twice now in about 3 weeks. Now I get to call the dealership which is a pain in itself to see if my extended warranty will cover it or if they will even be able to do anything since the check engine light has not come on.

Purchased car new in 2005. After 40,000 miles it started squeaking when shifting between 2nd and 3rd gear shifts (automatic) TSB added special something to make it go away but at 60,000 its back. Car started becoming hard to start after warming up but no service engine soon light came on. TSB said to replace a bad O-ring in fuel pump. Problem went away but now is back at 60,000 miles. Since I no longer have a warranty on this car I looked into why it was hard to start again. Using trouble code detector got a P0300 and P1138. Did online search and found this site which said exactly what I was experiencing. Hard to start, Temp gauge spiking hot at idle, and no heater (only in winter or cold days). I was replace fluid in coolant bottle regularly wondering where the water was going? Now I know its a leaking head gasket! This has been a horrible car. One other thing that happened was the rear driver window stopped going up and down (electric windows) because a metal part broke off that a bar slides on that pushes the window up.