2001 Nissan Sentra: problems, recalls and reliability
8 recalls and 236 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine and engine cooling (35% of complaints); the 1999 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · 1 new complaint in the last 90 days · latest recall Mar 2006
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 236 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Gas pedal sticks at idle that have to press hard to get moving g again and the vehicle surges forward once the pedal is unstuck. Happens when stopped at stop lights waiting for green signal or stop signs.”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2017
“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 nissan sentra. While driving 35 mph, the vehicle stalled and the ignition failed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed and repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 164,000. *cn”Owner report · Electrical System · Feb 2017
“The car is jerking and the engine light is one and the place where I took it show a recall of the crank position sensor issue. I put in my VIN on your site and it said that there is no issue but yes its showing up. What is need to be done to get this corrected by nissan? *tr”Owner report · Engine · Dec 2016
Show 7 more owner reports
“Car constantly shuts off while driving, steering and brakes lock up as well. It does this idling at lights and while driving making turns. Very dangerous! I have replaced several sensors (at my expense) to try to keep the car going, but I'm terrified to drive it as I fear it will stall again in traffic and potentially kill me and my family. Checked my VIN against the many recalls that would cause these problems and states that none of these recalls apply to this car! Nissan used to be a good company, now it's just a lemon factory! Not to mention their dealership service is absolutely useless! I don't see how such dangerous and potentially deadly issues do not have recalls on them!!!”Owner report · Electrical System · Mar 2016
“Was driving with children in the car on the highway home from work, and car shut off and stalled. Losing all power, and making it hard to steer off the road. Took it to a local car shop, they had told me there was a recall regarding this issue. And call nissan consumer affairs and they had told me there were no open claims . *tr”Owner report · Engine · Apr 2015
“Randomly while driving in a highway at 60 mph the engine suddenly stops running and then turns back on. This could result in a crash since I lose control of the vehicle at that speed. I noticed there is a recall issued by NHTSA id # 03v455000 for nissan sentra 2001 regarding this issue. I contacted nissan by phone and they informed there are no recalls pending on my vehicle. I also contacted nissan by e-mail if my vehicle was or was not included in this recall. If not, I would like to know if safercar.gov can include my vehicle in the recall and have it fixed. *tr”Owner report · Engine · Mar 2015
“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 nissan sentra. The contact stated that the air bag warning lamp flashed and remained illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,200. Ma 8/10/15”Owner report · Air Bags · Feb 2015
“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 nissan sentra. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 mph, the brake pedal was depressed and the vehicle stalled without warning. The failure recurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the fuel injectors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 01v357000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Nov 2014
“Was traveling eastbound on pa st rd 31, at 45mph, around 6pm, november 10. 2014, a 2006 chevy malibu darted out from a side street without yielding in front of my vehicle. As the other vehicle when darting out from intersection, the vehicle was directly in front of mine, therefore was unable to stop to prevent crash. Swerved right to try to avoid collision but was unable to avoid contact. Contact was made from the front driver side of my vehicle, as well as the rear driver side of the other vehicle involved. There was no air bag deployment and my vehicle is equipped with driver and passenger air bags. *tr”Owner report · Suspension · Nov 2014
“Car was driven the day before, ran just fine. Next morning, after driving about 1 mile, began running terrible. The ecu (ecm) is no longer sending a signal to the number 2 ignition coil. I know that these cars had a recall on the foam covering the ecu, that recall was done and foam removed. Car only has about 60,000 miles on it because in belong to a 90 year old lady, she bought it new. I have found that hundreds of these cars now have bad ecu, time for a recall!! *tr”Owner report · Electrical System · Sep 2014
When filing, owners marked a crash in 20 of these complaints and injuries in 12 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 8 campaigns
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR OR CAM POSITION SENSOR MAY HAVE AN IMPROPER SOLDER JOINT DUE TO SOLDER DEFORMATION CAUSED BY HEAT STRESS ACCELERATED BY THE EXISTENCE OF FLUX RESIDUE DURING THE SOLDERING PROCESS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRANK POSITION SENSORS. CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR(S), AND IN SOME CASES, THE VARIABLE TIMING CONTROL SENSOR(S). VEHICLES INVOLVED IN A PREVIOUS RECALL CAMPAIGN, 01V357, ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS NEW CAMPAIGN. THE REPLACEMENT SENSORS USED IN THAT CAMPAIGN ARE ALSO AFFECTED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE QG18DE ENGINE OR QR25DE ENGINES, THE FOAM MATERIAL USED FOR THE INTERIOR LINING OF THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) BOX EMITS SULFUR AS IT CURES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE INSIDE LINING MATERIAL FROM THE ECM BOX. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 1.8 LITER ENGINE. THE ENGINE COULD STOP RUNNING WHILE BEING DRIVEN DUE TO A DEFECTIVE CRANK POSITION SENSOR. THIS COULD ALSO RESULT IN THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" WARNING LIGHT COMING ON OR REDUCED ENGINE POWER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRANK POSITION SENSORS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 10, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. ONE OR MORE OF THE THREE BOLTS USED TO ATTACH EACH FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM TO THE BODY ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY MANUFACTURED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ATTACHMENT BOLTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 30, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Remedy: ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.
ON CERTAIN ELECTRIC VEHICLES, THE FRONT SUSPENSION TRANSVERSE LINK'S BALL JOINT BRACKET MAY BREAK FROM STRESS CONCENTRATION AT A NOTCH CREATED BY SURFACE ROUGHNESS AND THE SHAPE OF THE MATERIAL CUT-LINE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRACKET ON THESE VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 15, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE VEHICLES WERE MISSING TAMPERPROOF CAPS THAT PREVENT HORIZONTAL HEADLAMP ADJUSTMENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A TAMPERPROOF CAP OVER THE HORIZONTAL ADJUSTMENT SCREW FOR BOTH HEADLAMPS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 14, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE COOLING HOLES IN THE STEEL WHEEL MAY HAVE BURRS ON THEIR EDGES AS A RESULT OF IMPROPER MANUFACTURING. THESE BURRS CAN CAUSE CRACKS AS THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. CRACKS CAN PROPAGATE BETWEEN ADJACENT COOLING HOLES. IF ENOUGH CRACKS DEVELOP BETWEEN THE COOLING HOLES, THE WHEEL COULD FAIL AND SEPARATE FROM THE MOUNTING HUB WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR CRACKS AND REPLACE THE WHEEL IF CRACKS ARE DISCOVERED. OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BE CONDUCTED IN TWO PHASES. THE FIRST MAILING BEGAN OCTOBER 1, 2001, ASKING OWNERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES IN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION OF THE WHEELS. ANY WHEELS WITH CRACKS WILL BE REPLACED. A SECOND OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN IN EARLY DECEMBER, AT WHICH TIME NISSAN WILL HAVE AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF REPLACEMENT WHEELS, REQUESTING OWNERS TO RETURN TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE WHEELS REPLACED. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2001 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Sentra by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Nissan Sentra reliable?
NHTSA has 236 owner complaints and 8 recall campaigns on record for the 2001 Nissan Sentra. The most complained-about area is engine and engine cooling (35% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2001 Nissan Sentra problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 61,150 miles or less.
Does the 2001 Nissan Sentra have open recalls?
8 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning engine and engine cooling. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.