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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

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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

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

What owners actually said

236 reports
95,152 miles · Apr 28, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

ON A WAY HOME FROM A LONG TRIP (160 MILES EACH WAY), MY CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED RUNNING ON A HIGHWAY. IT STARTED AGAIN AND RAN FOR ANOTHER 30 MILES OR SO AND COMPLETELY STOPPED RUNNING AND DID NOT RESTART. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A NEARBY GARAGE WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED TO REQUIRE A NEW CAM POSITION SENSOR. I WAS TOLD TO HAVE THE CAR …

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ON A WAY HOME FROM A LONG TRIP (160 MILES EACH WAY), MY CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED RUNNING ON A HIGHWAY. IT STARTED AGAIN AND RAN FOR ANOTHER 30 MILES OR SO AND COMPLETELY STOPPED RUNNING AND DID NOT RESTART. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A NEARBY GARAGE WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED TO REQUIRE A NEW CAM POSITION SENSOR. I WAS TOLD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A NEARBY DEALERSHIP BECAUSE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. MY FAMILY HAD TO DRIVE 200 MILES TO GET ME HOME. RECENTLY, "SERVICE ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT CAME ON DURING TWO LONG TRIPS, BUT THE LIGHT WENT AWAY AFTER REPLACING OR TIGHTENING THE GAS CAP. AT THE TIME OF THE EVENT, NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. THE DEALERSHIP (HIGH POINT) CALLED LATER AND SAID THAT "THE GOOD NEWS" WAS THAT I DID NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THREE RECALLED PARTS, TWO OF WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED AND I DROVE 200 MILES TO GET IT HOME. I HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE RECALL UNTIL THIS INCIDENT EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL CAMPAIGN HAS STARTED BEFORE WE PURCHASED THE CAR AT A NISSAN DEALERSHIP AS A USED CAR ON FEB. 29, 2004. SHOULD THIS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED BEFORE THE PURCHASE, OR SHOULD WE HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, THE PROBLEM WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED. THERE WERE MUCH EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH TOWING, EXTRA ENGINE CHECK AS WELL AS PERSONAL TIME SPENT ON DRIVING BACK AND FORTH. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS IN VIOLATION OF A LAW. I RECENTLY SPOKE WITH A FRIEND WHO OWNS A SAME MODEL CAR. THEIR DEALERSHIP (SERVICE DEPARTMENT, MIGHT BE UNDER THE SAME OWNERSHIP) TOLD THEM THAT THEIR CAR WOULD NEED SOME SENSORS WHICH MAY SOMETIMES CAUSE THEIR "SERVICE ENGINE" LIGHT TO COME ON. YET NO INFORMATION OF RECALL OR POTENTIAL SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO THEM. THIS MAKES ME WONDER IF SOME DEALERSHIPS ARE NOT ONLY NEGLECTING RECALL CAMPAIGN BUT ALSO INTENTIONALLY AVOIDING THE RECALL REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10225913

Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 2008
Seat Belts

LEFT REAR SEAT BELT TENSIONER DOES NOT WORK. THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RELEASE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10221397

Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 2008
Seat Belts

THE LEFT-REAR SEAT BELT HAS MALFUNCTIONED IN THE "TIGHT" POSITION AND IS NOT USABLE. IT WILL NOT RELEASE FROM THE TENSION CONTROL DEVICE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10218713

Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

2001 NISSAN SENTRA. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED STALLING WHILE DRIVING AND STOPPING. RECALL FOR THE CRANK AND CAM SENSORS. DEALER DENIED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *KB NISSAN INFORMED THE LAWYER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT IN…

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2001 NISSAN SENTRA. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED STALLING WHILE DRIVING AND STOPPING. RECALL FOR THE CRANK AND CAM SENSORS. DEALER DENIED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *KB NISSAN INFORMED THE LAWYER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. RECALL# 01V357000 (LAWYER WROTE IN ON BEHALF OF CLIENT).*JB

NHTSA ODI #10215006

86,620 miles · Dec 19, 2007
Structure

OIL DIPSTICK IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND THE HANDLE BROKE OFF LEAVING THE STICK STUCK IN THE TUBE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10212358

Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

REGARDING 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

NHTSA ODI #10211465

75,000 miles · Nov 18, 2007
Electrical System

SEVERAL TIMES THE VEHICLE STARTS SHAKING, NOT STARTING AT ALL AND RUNNING ROUGH. IT WAS A ECM RECALL PERFORMED BUT AFTER THAT SEVERAL PROBLEMS OCCURRED AND RELATED TO THE SAME ECM. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR ALL THESE PROBLEMS. THE ECM WAS REPLACED BY THE TIME, THE PROBLEM IS STILL THE…

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SEVERAL TIMES THE VEHICLE STARTS SHAKING, NOT STARTING AT ALL AND RUNNING ROUGH. IT WAS A ECM RECALL PERFORMED BUT AFTER THAT SEVERAL PROBLEMS OCCURRED AND RELATED TO THE SAME ECM. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR ALL THESE PROBLEMS. THE ECM WAS REPLACED BY THE TIME, THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE, I AM GETTING THE SAME DIAGNOSTIC P0300 AND THE VEHICLE IS DEAD. POOR QUALITY ON THIS NISSAN. I HAVE A 1996 SENTRA WHICH IS BY FAR MORE RELIABLE THAN THIS JUNK! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10209273

99,469 miles · Sep 28, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

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 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

NHTSA ODI #10204369

24,312 miles · Sep 17, 2007
Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE WHILE STEERING THE VEHICLE. SIX MONTHS AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED, SHE HAD TO ADD POWER STEERING FLUID TO THE VEHICLE. ON JUNE 18, 2007, THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT NO LEAK WAS FOUND. ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2007,…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE WHILE STEERING THE VEHICLE. SIX MONTHS AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED, SHE HAD TO ADD POWER STEERING FLUID TO THE VEHICLE. ON JUNE 18, 2007, THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT NO LEAK WAS FOUND. ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2007, THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE FRONT WHEEL ALIGNED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,312 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,613. UPDATED 12/12/07

NHTSA ODI #10203800

Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

TOP OF DIPSTICK BROKE OFF, LEAVING METAL SHAFT UNRETRIEVABLE IN TUBE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10202542

Official recalls

7

03V511000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.