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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

Equipment complaints

7 reports
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65,224 miles · Jul 12, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment

THIS COMPLAINT HAS TO DO WITH THE FAILURE OF THE OIL STICK FOR THE 2001 NISSAN SENTRA. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR LESS THAN FOUR YEARS AND HAVE HAD TWO DIFFERENT OIL STICKS BREAK IN THAT TIME. THE FIRST TIME THE OIL STICK WAS BROKEN IT WAS EASILY REMOVED FROM THE STEM IT RESTS IN. ON THE LATEST BREAK IT HAS BECOME LODGED INSIDE …

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THIS COMPLAINT HAS TO DO WITH THE FAILURE OF THE OIL STICK FOR THE 2001 NISSAN SENTRA. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR LESS THAN FOUR YEARS AND HAVE HAD TWO DIFFERENT OIL STICKS BREAK IN THAT TIME. THE FIRST TIME THE OIL STICK WAS BROKEN IT WAS EASILY REMOVED FROM THE STEM IT RESTS IN. ON THE LATEST BREAK IT HAS BECOME LODGED INSIDE THE STEM. FROM WHAT I CAN GATHER THE STANDARD FEE MOST MECHANICS AND DEALERSHIPS RANGE FROM $120.00 TO $300.00 FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE OIL STICK. THE PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN OF THE STICK IS THAT IT HAS A COMPLETELY PLASTIC HANDLE THAT EXTENDS FOR A WAYS BEFORE JOINING WITH THE METAL STICK. ON BOTH OCCASIONS THE STICK BREAKS WELL ABOVE WHERE IT JOINS WITH THE METAL COMPONENT THEREFORE MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE WITH A MAGNET. THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED NUMEROUS TIMES ONLINE AND I SEE IT AS A PROBLEM THAT NISSAN CONTINUES TO SELL THIS OIL STICK. FROM ONE ONLINE FORUM ALONE I CAME ACROSS OVER 60 REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING WITH A NISSAN OIL STICK AND ALMOST ALL OF THEM REFERRED TO EITHER A 2000 OR 2001 SENTRA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10234059

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2007
Equipment

MY 2002 NISSAN SENTRA GXE OIL DIP STICK BROKE WHEN I WAS PULLING IT OUT TO CHECK MY OIL LEVEL. I DID A SEARCH ONLINE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI #10201237

Mileage unknown · Apr 12, 2007
Equipment

OEM 6-DISC IN DASH CD CHANGER SHOWS ERR2, AND DOES NOT PLAY CDS. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER ON 4-9-07 THAT IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $79 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE DONE A LITTLE RESEARCH, AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS SEEMED TO BE A VERY WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM WITH THE NISSAN IN DASH CD CHANGER. ALSO, THAT NISSAN SEEMED TO BE…

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OEM 6-DISC IN DASH CD CHANGER SHOWS ERR2, AND DOES NOT PLAY CDS. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER ON 4-9-07 THAT IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $79 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE DONE A LITTLE RESEARCH, AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS SEEMED TO BE A VERY WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM WITH THE NISSAN IN DASH CD CHANGER. ALSO, THAT NISSAN SEEMED TO BE IGNORING OR DENYING THE PROBLEM. AK

NHTSA ODI #10187671

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2005
Equipment

I CHANGED MY OIL ON MY 2001 NISSAN SENTRA AND WHEN I REMOVED THE OIL DIPSTICK, THE PLASTIC HANDLE BROKE OFF LEAVING A PIECE OF THE PLASTIC HANDLE AND THE DIPSTICK LODGED INSIDE OF THE METAL TUBE. I HAVE SEARCHED OTHER SITES AND HAVE FOUND THAT MANY OTHER MOTORISTS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. IT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY FOR A REPAI…

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I CHANGED MY OIL ON MY 2001 NISSAN SENTRA AND WHEN I REMOVED THE OIL DIPSTICK, THE PLASTIC HANDLE BROKE OFF LEAVING A PIECE OF THE PLASTIC HANDLE AND THE DIPSTICK LODGED INSIDE OF THE METAL TUBE. I HAVE SEARCHED OTHER SITES AND HAVE FOUND THAT MANY OTHER MOTORISTS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. IT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY FOR A REPAIR SHOP TO REMOVE THE DIPSTICK. I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN USING A PLASTIC HANDLE ON AN OIL DIPSTICK.

NHTSA ODI #10106358

30,000 miles · Aug 2, 2004
EquipmentService Brakes, Hydraulic

VEHICLE WITH JUST OVER 30000 MILES HAS SEVERE BRAKING SYSTEM PROBLEMS, REQUIRING SIGNFICANT AND COSTLY REPAIRS. APPEARS TO BE COMMON WITH 2001 SENTRA.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10083188

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004
Air BagsEngine And Engine CoolingEquipmentCrash

MY ENGINE FAILED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING 70 MPHS ON THE FREEWAY, THE VERY DAY AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN REPAIRED FOR YET ANOTHER DEFECT SENSOR. IT WAS A MIRACLE I DID NOT CRASH AND KILL ANYONE INCLUDING MYSELF. EACH AND EVERY TIME I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN, I HAVE REQUESTED IT BE CHECKED FOR A SHORT IN THE WIRING. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD …

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MY ENGINE FAILED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING 70 MPHS ON THE FREEWAY, THE VERY DAY AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN REPAIRED FOR YET ANOTHER DEFECT SENSOR. IT WAS A MIRACLE I DID NOT CRASH AND KILL ANYONE INCLUDING MYSELF. EACH AND EVERY TIME I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN, I HAVE REQUESTED IT BE CHECKED FOR A SHORT IN THE WIRING. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD NO. I LATER LEARNED THAR MEANT IF IT DIDN'T SHOW UP ON THE COMPUTER, THEN THEY WOULDN'T LOOK FOR IT SPECIFICALLY. FOLLOWING THE LATEST HAZARD, I GOT IN NISSAN'S FACE. NISSAN FOUND A DEFECT OXYGEN SENSOR THIS TIME. UPON RETESTING THE VEHICLE, THE EMC (THE BRAIN OF THE VEHICLE) WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. I WAS ALSO TOLD HAD I DRIVEN THE CAR ANY LONGER, THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT WOULD HAVE BLOWN TOO. WELL, THAT EXPLAINS ALL THE LOUSY GAS MILEAGE THIS PAST YEAR. SO, HERE IT IS A WEEK LATER AND MY VEHICLE REMAINS IN THE SHOP WITH A BACK ORDERED EMC WITH NO AVAILABLE STOCK DATE IN SIGHT. I AM RENTING A VEHICLE AND AM RECEIVING VERY LITTLE ASSISTANCE FROM NISSAN AS TO GETTING A RENTAL VEHICLE IN THE MEANTIME. I AM QUITE CONCERNED I HAVE PURCHASED A BRAND NEW SPANKING YELLOW LEMON. I AM QUITE CONCERNED THIS VEHICLE, EVEN WITH A NEW EMC, WILL PRODUCE OTHER DEFECTIVE SENSORS ONCE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR FROM THE OLD ONE. THERE ARE 45 SENSORS IN THE VEHICLE AND ONLY 5-10 HAVE BLOWN SO FAR. I AM QUITE CERTAIN OTHERS ARE CLOSE TO FAILURE TOO. I AM JUST AS CONCERNED WHEN BOTH THE NISSAN REPRESENTATIVE AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THIS PART HAS BEEN ON BACK ORDER FOR A VERY LONG TIME AS SO MANY VEHICLES HAVE ENDURED THIS PROBLME, THAT THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN RECALLED.

NHTSA ODI #10070680

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2003
Equipment

I TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED AND IN THE PROCESS THE OIL DIPSTICK HANDLE BROKE. WHEN I NOTIFIED NISSAN, I WAS INFORMED BY A SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH NISSANS. WE TRIED TO RETRIEVE THE OIL DIPSTICK BUT TO NO AVAIL. SO I CALLED NISSAN AND SPOKE WITH A SERVICE TECHNICIAN AND HE INFORMED M…

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I TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED AND IN THE PROCESS THE OIL DIPSTICK HANDLE BROKE. WHEN I NOTIFIED NISSAN, I WAS INFORMED BY A SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH NISSANS. WE TRIED TO RETRIEVE THE OIL DIPSTICK BUT TO NO AVAIL. SO I CALLED NISSAN AND SPOKE WITH A SERVICE TECHNICIAN AND HE INFORMED ME, THE OIL PAN WOULD HAVE TO BE DROPPED AND "ONLY" A NISSAN SERVICE TECHNICIAN COULD PERFORM THE JOB. THE NISSAN SERVICE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THAT IT WOULD COST $200.00 TO REPAIR. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN ALSO INFORMED ME DURING OUR CONSERVATION, T THEY WERE DROPPING THE OIL PAN ON SEVERAL NISSAN'S WITH THE SAME PROBLEM , A BROKEN OIL DIPSTICK. I THINK IT IS UNFAIR FOR THE CONSUMER TO PAY $200.00 TO HAVE AN OIL DIPSTICK REMOVED WHEN THE MATERIAL OR PART IS SUBSTANDARD INITIALLY. BASICALLY WHAT NISSAN IS SAYING IS, WHEN I GET AN OIL CHANGE THERE IS A "GREAT" POSSIBILITY THE OIL DIPSTICK WILL BREAK. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10010803

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.