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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
57,000 miles · Dec 1, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

CAR DIED IN INTERSECTION, FOR THE SECOND TIME, DUE TO FAULTY SENSORS. MANY SENTRAS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM, MINE IS NOT ONE OF THEM. NISSAN WILL NOT REPLACE MY SENSORS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10048953

61,000 miles · Nov 24, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING IT STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIME, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED UNDER RECALL 01V357000. *AK THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS …

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WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING IT STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIME, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED UNDER RECALL 01V357000. *AK THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED 7 DAYS AFTER THE RECALL ENDED. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10044796

64,000 miles · Nov 13, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE CHECKING THE ENGINE OIL PART OF THE DIP STICK GOT STUCK INSIDE THE OIL COMPARTMENT, AND CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE STICK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10047900

32,000 miles · Oct 20, 2003
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 70 MPH. BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO REDUCE SPEED, BUT FAILED TO DO SO. VEHICLE STOPPED WHEN IT IMPACTED THE HIGHWAY'S MEDIUM. THE CAUSE OF THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION WAS UNDETERMINED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10044293

Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2003
Electrical System

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10042361

45,000 miles · Oct 2, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. BEFORE TOTAL SHUT DOWN STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES LOCKED UP, ALMOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO IN TURN INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE CRANK POSITIONING SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VEHI…

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WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. BEFORE TOTAL SHUT DOWN STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES LOCKED UP, ALMOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO IN TURN INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE CRANK POSITIONING SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE, BUT NOT FOR CONSUMER'S VIN NUMBER. THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE CONSUMER FOR RECALL REPAIRS. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10042193

35,000 miles · Oct 1, 2003
Tires

WHILE DRIVING FRONT TIRES WEAR PREMATURELY. CONSUMER STATES TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. *AK TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR.*MR

NHTSA ODI #10042042

Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2003
Tires

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. DRIVER PULLED OVER AND NOTICED A BUBBLE IN THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE, AND THE STEEL BELTS WERE COMING OUT OF TIRE. CURRENTLY, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE DEVELOPED THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10040547

27,000 miles · Sep 17, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED OF THE RECALL FOR THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR 01 V 357 000 AFTER THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE DEFECT. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10040134

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2003
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineService Brakes, Air

I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. . I HAVE HAD TO BRING IT IN FOUR TIMES FOR AN INOPERATIVE HORN. I WOULD DISCOVER THAT HORN WAS NOT WORKING, I'D BRING IT IN AND IT WOULD FUNCTION, THEN A COUPLE OF MONTHS WOULD PASS AND AGAIN IT WOULD BE INOPERATIVE. THEY FINALLY REPLACED THE HARNESS, AND IT HAS BEEN WORK…

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I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. . I HAVE HAD TO BRING IT IN FOUR TIMES FOR AN INOPERATIVE HORN. I WOULD DISCOVER THAT HORN WAS NOT WORKING, I'D BRING IT IN AND IT WOULD FUNCTION, THEN A COUPLE OF MONTHS WOULD PASS AND AGAIN IT WOULD BE INOPERATIVE. THEY FINALLY REPLACED THE HARNESS, AND IT HAS BEEN WORKING FOR 2 STRAIGHT MONTHS. THIS MIGHT NOT SEEM LIKE A BIG DEAL, BUT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE BROUGHT IT IN TWICE FOR A BROKEN IGNITION WIRE. THE FIRST TIME THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS RELEASED TO ME AND TWO DAYS LATER I HAD IT TOWED IN BECAUSE IT WAS DEAD. I HAVE HAD BREAK ISSUES, MY BREAKS WERE APPARENTLY WARPED AND NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY.THE LATEST THING TO GO WAS THE FUEL PUMP. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, IN THE MIDDLE LANE, DURING RUSH HOUR WHEN THE CAR JUST STOPPED. I HAD NO WHERE TO GO AND WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE. A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE. I AM NOW TOLD THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN MY CAR WILL BE FIXED, NOR ARE THEY WILLING TO PROVIDE ME WITH ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION. AM I JUST SUPPOSED TO ACCEPTT THAT ALL OF THIS GOES WRONG WITH MY 2001 CAR? I BOUGHT A NEW CAR SO I WOULD HAVE SAFE AND RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION. THIS HAS YET TO HAPPEN. THESE PROBLEMS HAVE PLAGUED ME SINCE THE BEGINNING AND ITS ONLY GETTING WORSE. I AM AT KELLY NISSAN WITH A MAJOR ISSUE AN AVERAGE OF ONCE EVERY 3 MONTHS. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS CAR IS SAFE TO OPERATE. WHAT ARE MY RIGHTS AS A CONSUMER?*AK

NHTSA ODI #10036710

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.