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.

Complaints by model year
  1. 245

Of the 2001 reports, 21 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 14 people were injured.

Primary concernEngine and engine cooling94 reports · 38% of complaints
Owner complaints245Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship8 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Engine and engine cooling94
  2. Electrical system47
  3. Service brakes25
  4. Hydraulic23
  5. Tires17
  6. Engine16
  7. Suspension15
  8. Vehicle speed control13

Recalls and investigations

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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: tires

17 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Tires, Dec 7, 2012

    TIRE SIDEWALL BULGING CAN'T DRIVE WITH VIBRATION. *TR

  2. Tires, Equipment, Aug 8, 2009

    NEW MICHELIN HARMONY TIRES INSTALLED 1/07 BY REPUTABLE DEALER; TIRES REGULARLY CHECKED/ROTATED BY DEALER. DRIVING FINE, WAS PARKED, CAME OUT TO LEAVE AND CAR SOUNDED FUNNY...PULLED OVER ON SAME PARKING LOT AND DISCOVERED FLAT TIRE. TIRE DEALER REPORTS "BAD VALVE...THERE IS A SILENT RECALL". OTHER DEALER WHO INSTALLED THE TIRES FOUND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE; HE'D NOT HEARD ABOUT IT...TOOK BAD TIRE OUT TO HIM, AND ALSO FOUND RECALL INFO ON LINE BY GOOGLING "TIRE VALVE RECALL". THEY DETERMINED THERE WAS SIDEWALL DAMAGE AND TIRE SHOULD BE REPLACED FOR SAFETY REASONS. ROAD HAZARD GUARANTEE NOT APPLICABLE DUE TO DETERMINATION THAT "TIRE WAS RUN FLAT". ONLY WAS DRIVEN ON PARKING LOT A ABOUT 100 YARDS AT MOST. INFO ON NET INDICATES TIRES COULD LOSE PRESSURE RAPIDLY AND IT WOULD NOT BE VISUALLY EVIDENT; DRIVING ON LOW PRESSURE WOULD CAUSE SUCH DAMAGE AS I HAD. NEVER WAS NOTIFIED BY TIRE RETAILER; DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS. HAD TO REPLACE TIRE AND ENDURE MUCH LOST TIME AND INCONVENIENCE AS WELL AS EXPENSE. SAW THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM PER ARTICLES ON CONSUMER REPORTS BLOG. ALSO PURCHASED NEW VALVES AND HAD THEM ALL REPLACES ON MY CAR...NAPA STORE SELLS SHRADER WHICH HAD BEEN MADE IN US UNTIL ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO I LEARNED. *TR

  3. Tires, Aug 6, 2008

    VALVE STEM SPLIT RESULTING IN FLAT TIRE AND DESTRUCTION OF TIRE. TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

  4. Tires, May 17, 2007

    ON 5-4-07 I NOTICED DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE WAS FLAT. MY BOYFRIEND FILLED IT WITH AIR AND I THOUGHT NOTHING FURTHER OF IT. ON 5-15-07 I PICKED HIM UP FROM WORK AND HAD A FLAT ON THE WAY OUT OF THE PARKING LOT. WE FILLED IT WITH AIR, BUT COULD NOT MAKE IT HOME BEFORE IT WAS TOTALLY FLAT AGAIN. SINCE IT WAS AFTER 11 PM AND WE WERE CLOSE TO HOME I CONTINUED TO DRIVE. ONCE WE ARRIVED THE TIRE HAD A CHUNK OF TREAD MISSING, EXPOSING METAL BARBS, ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE. THE BOY FRIEND CHANGED IT THE NEXT DAY SO WE COULD TAKE IT TO DISCOUNT TIRE. THEY INFORMED US THAT 3 OF THE 4 TIRES WERE BAD, THE OTHER 2 WOULD END UP HAVING TREAD TORN IN THE SAME WA, DUE TO MECHANICAL ERROR IN MANUFACTURING OF THE TIRE. ALTHOUGH THEY WERE STILL UNDER WARRANTY PER MILEAGE, WE STILL HAD TO BUY 4 NEW TIRES.*AK

  5. Tires, Oct 23, 2004

    MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT THE SPEED LIMIT ON HIGHWAY 94 IN SAN DIEGO, WHEN THE REAR RIGHT TIRE EXPLODED AT APPROXIMATELY 1:45 P.M. THE BLOWOUT CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT SIDE DOOR, REAR RIGHT PANEL AND REAR BUMPER. THE CAR WENT INTO A 360 SPIN IN THE FAST LANE AND MEDIAN OF THE FREEWAY. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A&C PAINT AND BODY AT 7083 BROADWAY, LEMON GROVE, CA AT THE REQUEST OF MY DAUGHTER'S INSURANCE AGENCY - TOPA INSURANCE. THE OBVIOUS DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER AFTER PICKING THE CAR UP, MY DAUGHTER NOTICED A SHIMY IN THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. THERE IS SOME SORT OF APPARENT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END THAT WAS NOT DETECTED BY THE BODY SHOP. ADDITIONALLY, THE DAY AFTER PICKING THE CAR UP SHE NOTICED THAT THE REAR LEFT TIRE IS ALSO BADLY DAMAGED, PROBABLY FROM THE CAR SPINNING DURING THE ACCIDENT. THE OLD TIRE WAS COMPLETELY SHREADED, SO THERE IS NO OLD PART AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. I HAD HER PARK THE CAR UNTIL WE CAN CONTACT HER INSURANCE COMPANY TO REPORT THE PREVIOUSLY UNDETECTED DAMAGES. MY DAUGHTER WAS HELPED BY A SAN DIEGO COUNTY SHERIFF, BUT HE DID NOT WRITE ANY TYPE OF INCIDENT REPORT. HE ONLY ASKED IF ANYONE WAS INJURED AND IF THERE WAS ANY PROPERTY DAMAGE. SINCE NEITHER HAPPENED, HE DID NOT MAKE A REPORT. MY DAUGHTER CONTACTED HER INSURANCE COMPANY IMMEDIATELY. A&C PAINT AND BODY SENT A TOW TRUCK TO HER APARTMENT THREE DAYS LATER AND TOWED IT TO THEIR FACILITY, WHERE THEY DID THE REPAIRS I HAVE ALREADY DESCRIBED.*AK

  6. Tires, Aug 25, 2004

    REAR TIRE BLEW OUT ON HIGHWAY. FOUND A LUMP STARTING IN SECOND REAR TIRE. PREVIOUSLY I HAD REPLACED THE TWO FRONT TIRES ON 3/24/04 DUE TO LUMPS OR BUBBLES FORMING. ONE OF THESE TIRES STARTED WEARING IN AN ODD WAY AND CAUSED VERY PRONOUNCED VIBRATION. THESE WERE THE OEM TIRES AND AT THAT TIME HAD 37,486 MILES. SEVERAL DAYS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE I HAD NOTICED VIBRATION AND SKIRMYNESS WHILE DRIVING. I VISUALLY INSPECTED THE TIRES AND NOTICED THEY SEEMED OUT OF ROUND AND ODD SHAPED. I PLANNED TO REPLACE THEMM IN A FEW DAYS. I DID NOT THINK AT THE TIME A FAILURE WAS IMMINENT. I WAS WRONG AS THE FAILURE OCCURED TWO DAYS BEFORE I PLANNED TO REPLACE THEM.*AK

  7. Tires, Aug 20, 2004

    WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE FRONT END BEGAN TO VIBRATE AT 29K MILES. AS A RESULT,THE DRIVER SIDE TIRES TREAD SEPARATED. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *AK THE VIBRATION HAD BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE CONSUMER RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONSUMER THAT A TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE. *SC *JB

  8. Tires, Oct 1, 2003

    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

  9. Tires, Sep 24, 2003

    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

  10. Tires, Jun 8, 2003

    DUNLOP TIRES SP20FE CAME COMPLETELY APART WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THIS TIRE FAILURE CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND POTENTIAL LIFE THREATENING SITUATION WHILE I WAS GOING OVER A SEVEN MILE BRIDGE. *TT

  11. Tires, Apr 29, 2003

    WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY BOTH FRONT TIRE TREADS SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL. THE TIRES WERE DUNLOP. *NLM

  12. Tires, Mar 21, 2003

    THE FRONT TIRES LEFT BLACK MARKS ON THE ROAD. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TIRE DO NOT COVER A LARGE AREA ON THE ROAD THEREFORE THEY SLID (P185/65R14). *SCC *NLM

  13. Tires, Feb 24, 2003

    NAR 2/24/2003 THE CONSUMER FRONT TIRES LEFT BLACK MARKS ON THE ROAD. *CB

  14. Tires, Jul 31, 2002

    RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW UT SIDE WALL WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE. ENTIRE SIDEWALL SEPARATED.*AK

  15. Tires, Jun 5, 2002

    AFTER RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE TO CHANGE WHEELS AND VALVES CONSUMER HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH TIRES LOSING AIR . CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND CAUSE. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, 6OOO MILES. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE FRONT TIRES KEEP LOOSING AIR. *YH

  16. Tires, Jan 28, 2002

    BRIDGESTONE, V381, P185/65R14, DOT V67JP300210, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 2001, NISSAN, SENTRA WITH 24000 MILES. REAR PASSENGER TIRE WENT FLAT WHILE PARKED. SEAM WAS COMING APART WHERE TREAD AND SIDEWALL MEET. ON JANUARY 26, 2002 WHILE DRIVING 25-30 MPH, FRONT PASSENGER TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT DUE TO SEAM SEPARATING. NO INJURIES. BRIDGESTONE HAS REPLACED THE TIRES.*AK *TT

  17. Tires, Jan 19, 2002

    TIRES SLIDING EVEN ON DRY FREEWAY. *AK