2001 Nissan Sentra
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine and engine cooling is the leading concern among 245 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 6th highest complaint count among 26 Sentra model years with reports.
Of the 2001 reports, 21 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 14 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Exterior lighting, headlightsMar 13, 2006
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."
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
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.
Campaign 06E023000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine coolingDec 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.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRACKET ON THESE VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 15, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Campaign 03V511000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine coolingNov 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 03V455000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, ignition, moduleNov 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 03V477000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, headlightsDec 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.
THESE CAPS ARE INSTALLED TO PREVENT MISADJUSTMENT OF THE HEADLAMPS.
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.
Campaign 01V376000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engine, gasolineNov 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.
IF THE ENGINE STOPS RUNNING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, IT COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
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.
Campaign 01V357000 on NHTSA.gov
WheelsAug 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.
SEPARATION OF THE WHEEL FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE BEING OPERATED COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
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.
Campaign 01V277000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, front, control arm, lower armMay 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.
THE BOLTS COULD FRACTURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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.
Campaign 01V174000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: suspension
15 reports, newest first. Show all
Suspension, Exterior lighting, Air bags, Structure, Nov 18, 2014, crash
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
Suspension, Dec 13, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 10 MPH, THERE WAS A NOISE FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AND VIBRATION WAS FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. A NHTSA RECALL # 01V174000 WAS FOUND ON THE MANUFACTURER'S WEBSITE, FOR THE SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER ARM. THE VIN # FELL WITHIN THE VIN NUMBERS FOR THE RECALL, BUT THE MANUFACTURER DENIED THE CONTACT OF THE RECALL REPAIR, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL.
Steering, Suspension, May 6, 2003
THE STEERING WHEEL MADE NOISE. ON ONE OCCASION THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND SHAKE WHILE MAKING A TURN WHICH RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE HITTING A CURB. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASION BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK *NLM
Steering, Suspension, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 27, 2003
MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH 2001 SENTRA. STEERING HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY TIGHTER. DEALER CLAIMS NO PROBLEM. CRUNCHING NOISE FROM SHOCKS/STRUTS WHEN DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMPS OR WHEN EXITING DRIVEWAY ONTO ROAD (UNEVEN PAVEMENT). WORSE WHEN COLD. DEALER CLAIMS NO PROBLEM. BRAKES MAKE SCRAPING NOISE WHEN APPLIED. WORSE WHEN COLD. CAR HAS BECOME VERY UNCOMFORTABLE TO DRIVE - TIGHT/DIFFICULT STEERING AND NOISY SUSPENSION. DRIVES LIKE A 10 YEAR OLD CHEVY INSTEAD OF A 2 YEAR OLD JAPANESE CAR. I SHOULD HAVE KEPT MY HONDA!!!*JB
Suspension, Feb 12, 2003
REAR STRUT NOISE/VIBRATION CONTINUES AFTER SEVERAL SERVICE ATTEMPTS. FIRST SERVICE IN FEBRUARY 2001 DEALER REPLACED RIGHT REAR STRUT. NOISE/VIBRATION CONTINUES. IN, 2003 NOISE GET LOUDER GOING OVER BUMPS AND ROUGH ROAD. DEALER REPLACED REAR STRUT MOUNT 2/6/2003. THIS WAS INEFFECTIVE AS NOISE/VIBRATION CONTINUES. UNSURE OF VEHICLE SAFETY AT THIS POINT.
Suspension, Wheels, Jan 13, 2003, crash
11/28/2002 ABOARD CAMP PENDLETON DRIVING APPROX. 25MPH, RIGHT FRONT OEM ALLOY RIM BLEW OFF "UNIFORMATIVELY" 1 INCH OUTWARD FROM CENTER OF RIM, LOWER SUSPENSION BALL JOINT CAME APART, VEHICLE SMASHED DOWN IN ROAD. (I HAVE A VIDEO TAPE OF ACCIDENT TO SHOW MY CAR FELL IN THE ROAD, WITH NO OUTSIDE FORCE CAUSING ACCIDENT LIKE MANUFACTURE CLAIMS)
Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, Wheels, May 1, 2002
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WAS NOT GETTING ENOUGH ENGINE POWER.*JB CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF CONCERN FOR POTENTIAL ACCIDENT OR CRASH. *JG
Suspension, Feb 7, 2002
DRIVER CONTACTED DEALER ABOUT RECALL ON LOWER CONTROL ARM BOLTS. DEALER STATED PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *AK
Suspension, Jan 30, 2002
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE ON REPLACING ALL ATTACHMENT BOLTS FOR THE FRONT SUSPENSION, DEALER DID NOT HONOR RECALL, STATING NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE.*JG
Suspension, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Visibility, Structure, Wheels, Seats, Jan 4, 2002
HEADREST WILL NOT STAY IN DOWN POSITION, IT KEEPS RISING UP, BLOCKING CONSUMER'S VIEW ONCOMING TRAFFIC. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Suspension, Dec 11, 2001
YOUR DATABASE WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO ENTER ALL OF MY VISITS TO THE NISSAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS OVER AND OVER. THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD ME THE CAR TRIED TO GET ME TO PAY FOR THE INHERENT PROBLEMS, BY SAYING THEY ARE NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. SO I TOOK MY CAR TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. THEY READILY REPLACED THE RIGHT WHEEL BEARING. THEY SAID IT WAS COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. I TOOK ALL MY COMPLAINTS TO THE BBB IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND. ARBITRATION TOOK PLACE WITH NISSAN. THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID, " ALL MY COMPLAINTS WERE COMMON FOR THE NISSAN SENTRA. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!" I HAVE BEEN NOTICING THAT MY COMPLAINTS ARE BEING CALLED "RECALLS" ONE BY ONE. THIS IS A TOTALLY UNSAFE CAR ON THE ROAD. IT IS ALSO MY 3RD NISSAN SENTRA OVER THE YEARS. THEIR PRODUCT HAS GONE DOWN HILL.*AK
Suspension, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Nov 20, 2001, crash
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH AND WHEN TURNING BRAKE CALIPER LOCKED UP, AND CONSUMER HIT CURVE AND DROVE OVER IT. CONSUMER WAS COMPARING THE SITUATION WITH THE RECALL 01 V 174 000. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER, BUT PROBLEM STILL THERE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. AK
Suspension, Sep 5, 2001
CONSUMER HAS BEEN IN THE MILITARY SERVICE, AND RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 01V174000 CONCERNING LOWER CONTROL ARM BOLTS. THERE WERE NO NISSAN DEALERS OVERSEAS AUTHORIZED TO DO RECALL REPAIRS. CONSUMER CALLED MANUFACTURER FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS STATING THAT PARTS THAT WERE MAILED OVERSEAS TO CONSUMER WERE THE WRONG PARTS. CURRENTLY, CONSUMER COULD NOT GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH MANUFACTURER TO GET RIGHT PARTS.*AK
Suspension, Feb 28, 2001
VEHICLE WAS MAKING A THUMPING SOUND WHILE DRIVING. NOISE FADE OUT WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. SAME DAY, ROTORS WERE ROTATED AND IT REPEATED THE PROBLEM. ON FEBRUARY 27, 2001 IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER , AND NOISE THEY SAID WAS COMING FROM RIGHT FRONT TIRE. MECHANIC AT DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT ALL SMALL CARS DO THIS. OTHER SMALL VEHICLES CONSUMER HAS HAD HAVE NOT DONE THIS.*AK
Suspension, Jan 25, 2001
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE VIBRATES AND BOUNCES. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND WILL REPLACE STRUTS. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK