IllustrationREGARDING THE BROKEN OIL DIP STICK: 1- DRAIN THE OIL AND LEAVE THE DRAIN PLUG OUT. 2 - USE A SHOP VACUUM TO SUCK THE LOST DIP STICK OUT OF THE ENGINE. 3 - REPLACE OIL DRAIN PLUG, REFILL WITH OIL, REPLACE NEW DIP STICK. *TR
2001 Nissan Sentra
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Sentra years
Owner complaints for the 2001 Nissan Sentra are substantially higher than the model-year median of 116.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sentra years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
150–25K
3325–50K
2850–75K
1975–100K
15100–150K
11150K+
121 reports with mileage · 115 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 93 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
20 crash reports2 fire reports6 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
93 reportsTHE OIL DIPSTICK HANDLE BREAKS OFF AND THE BALANCE OF THE DIPSTICK IS UNABLE TO BE RETRIEVED OUT OF THE DIPSTICK CYLINDER UNLESS THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY IS TAKEN APART. THIS A VERY COSTLY PROCEDURE RANGING FROM $200-400. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONE TIME AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT NISSAN SHOULD PROVIDE A BETTER QUALITY DIPSTICK THA…
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THE OIL DIPSTICK HANDLE BREAKS OFF AND THE BALANCE OF THE DIPSTICK IS UNABLE TO BE RETRIEVED OUT OF THE DIPSTICK CYLINDER UNLESS THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY IS TAKEN APART. THIS A VERY COSTLY PROCEDURE RANGING FROM $200-400. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONE TIME AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT NISSAN SHOULD PROVIDE A BETTER QUALITY DIPSTICK THAT WILL NOT DETERIORATE AND BREAK FROM WHAT I PERCEIVE AS HEAT RELATED DAMAGE. WILL THEY PAY THE COSTS FOR THIS REPAIR? *TR
TOP OF DIPSTICK BROKE OFF, LEAVING METAL SHAFT UNRETRIEVABLE IN TUBE. *TR
THE DIPSTICK BROKE OFF IN THE TUBE ON MY 2001 NISSAN SENTRA. THE METAL STICK AND PLASTIC TOP TO THE STICK ARE ABOUT 3 INCHES IN THE TUBE AND ARE UNRETREIVABLE BY MYSELF. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE $250 TO GET THE STICK OUT AND REPLACE IT. *TR
THE OIL DIPSTICK HANDLE BROKE AND THE PASTIC ABOVE THE DIPSTICK IS WELDED TO THE METAL TUBE. THE DIPSTICK CANNOT BE REMOVED. I BOUGHT A REPLACEMENT DIPSTICK ONLINE, BUT THE NISSAN TECHNICIANS SAY IT COSTS $200 IN SERVICE TO REMOVE THE TUBE AND GET THE OLD ONE OUT. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EVERY SUMMER, SHE HAS TO REPLACE THE OIL DIP STICK. SHE STATED THAT THE PLASTIC TOP FAILS AND AS A RESULT, THE TECHNICIAN IS UNABLE TO CHANGE THE OIL. THE DIP STICK IS THE ONLY TYPE THAT IS MANUFACTURED FOR THIS PART. THE DEALER ADVISED HER TO PURCHASE THE STI…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EVERY SUMMER, SHE HAS TO REPLACE THE OIL DIP STICK. SHE STATED THAT THE PLASTIC TOP FAILS AND AS A RESULT, THE TECHNICIAN IS UNABLE TO CHANGE THE OIL. THE DIP STICK IS THE ONLY TYPE THAT IS MANUFACTURED FOR THIS PART. THE DEALER ADVISED HER TO PURCHASE THE STICKS. AFTER THE MOST RECENT FAILURE, THE DEALER STATED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $300. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 104,075 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONSUMER STATED THE INCIDENT HAPPENED 3 SEPARATE TIMES. UPDATED 09/05/07 *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTERWARDS, THE ENGINE RESTARTED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH THE STALLING PROBLEM DID NOT PERSIST, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHI…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTERWARDS, THE ENGINE RESTARTED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH THE STALLING PROBLEM DID NOT PERSIST, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE CRANK CAM SENSOR NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. AFTERWARDS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
NISSAN SENTRA 2001 SE. MOTOR STOPPED ON FREEWAY AT ONCE, FAILURE WAS CRANK SENSOR. COST ME 500 PARTS TOW AND LABOR, NO DEALER AROUND OR OPEN. NEW SENSOR FAILING NOW I THINK, SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ON AGAIN. ECM PROBLEMS , ALSO FRONT RIM BROKE AND CAUSED THE CAR TO GO IN DITCH, NEEDS BODY REPAIR NOW. BAD VIBRATION IN STEERI…
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NISSAN SENTRA 2001 SE. MOTOR STOPPED ON FREEWAY AT ONCE, FAILURE WAS CRANK SENSOR. COST ME 500 PARTS TOW AND LABOR, NO DEALER AROUND OR OPEN. NEW SENSOR FAILING NOW I THINK, SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ON AGAIN. ECM PROBLEMS , ALSO FRONT RIM BROKE AND CAUSED THE CAR TO GO IN DITCH, NEEDS BODY REPAIR NOW. BAD VIBRATION IN STEERING. HAVE TRIED TO GET THIS CAR FIXED AT DEALER NO LUCK ALSO TRIED NISSAN CONSUMER AFF. THEY ALSO HAD NO LUCK GETTING CAR IN FOR SAFETY FIXES. THEY DON'T HAVE PARTS AND NEVER RETURN MY CALLS. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NO PARTICULAR SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE "CHECK ENGINE SOON" LAMP REMAINED ILLUMINATED. INTERMITTENTLY, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED WITHOUT HAVING TO REMAIN IN THE OFF POSITION FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND REMAINS FOR ADDITIONAL TESTING.…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NO PARTICULAR SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE "CHECK ENGINE SOON" LAMP REMAINED ILLUMINATED. INTERMITTENTLY, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED WITHOUT HAVING TO REMAIN IN THE OFF POSITION FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND REMAINS FOR ADDITIONAL TESTING. A NHTSA RECALL, # 01V357000, WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING, THE ENGINE AND GASOLINE SEVERAL YEARS AGO; HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER A SECOND REPAIR WITHOUT CHARGE UNDER THE RECALL.
CONSUMER NISSAN SENTRA ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH BEFORE RECALL NOTICE. DIAGNOSTIC READ ECM HAD A FAILURE CODE FOR #4 CYLINDER MISFIRE P0304. *TS THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE THE ECM REPLACMENT PERFORMED. *JB
Official recalls
703V511000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Dec 10, 2003
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRACKET ON THESE VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 15, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
03V455000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Nov 17, 2003
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON, CREATE A NO START CONDITION, CAUSE REDUCED ENGINE POWER, OR CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
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.
03V477000 · Electrical System:ignition:module
Nov 14, 2003
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF ONE OF THE RESISTORS INSIDE THE ECM HAS A CRACK ON THE SURFACE COATING, THE GAS MAY CAUSE CORROSION OF THE RESISTOR. THIS COULD CAUSE THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT TO COME ON, POOR DRIVABILITY (IDLE INSTABILITY, POOR ACCELERATOR), OR THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
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.
01V376000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights
Dec 12, 2001
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THESE CAPS ARE INSTALLED TO PREVENT MISADJUSTMENT OF THE HEADLAMPS.
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.
01V357000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline
Nov 16, 2001
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE ENGINE STOPS RUNNING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, IT COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
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.
01V277000 · Wheels
Aug 29, 2001
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SEPARATION OF THE WHEEL FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE BEING OPERATED COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
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.
01V174000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm
May 23, 2001
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE BOLTS COULD FRACTURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.