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: vehicle speed control

13 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Structure, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Nov 2, 2021

    I was driving on interstate and car stopped while driving almost causing me to not be able to get out of way of traffic

  2. Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 19, 2017

    GAS PEDAL STICKS AT IDLE THAT HAVE TO PRESS HARD TO GET MOVING G AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD ONCE THE PEDAL IS UNSTUCK. HAPPENS WHEN STOPPED AT STOP LIGHTS WAITING FOR GREEN SIGNAL OR STOP SIGNS.

  3. Vehicle speed control, Jul 21, 2014

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

  4. Vehicle speed control, Electrical system, Jul 11, 2005

    DT: WHILE DRIVING A CHILD CAME IN FRONT OF VEHICLE AND THE OWNER TRIED TO USE THE HORN AND IT DIDN'T WORK. THE OWNER NOTICED ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO THE HORN STOPPED WORKING. DEALER CHARGED 89 DOLLARS FOR DIAGNOSIS, AND REPORTED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING HARNESS. DEALER REPORTS THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE IS PAST WARRANTY, THEN THERE WOULD BE NO FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ON THE PART OF NISSAN. OWNER NOTICED OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. THE HORN HAS NOT WORKED SINCE THE FIRST FAILURE, AND THERE ARE NO WARNING LIGHTS ON IN THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS PEDAL STICKING AND THE DEALER REPORTED THAT WAS A NORMAL MAINTENANCE ISSUE. NISSAN REPORTS THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO HELP. *NM

  5. Vehicle speed control, Apr 5, 2005

    WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DECELERATE THE VEHICLE WITH BRAKING. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

  6. Vehicle speed control, Jan 10, 2005

    2001 NISSAN SENTRA SE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES. ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR *NM

  7. Vehicle speed control, Feb 25, 2004

    WHEN APPLYING GAS TO THE VEHICLE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS. DEALER STATES THAT CARBON BUILT UP ON THE THROTTLE CABLE. *AK

  8. Vehicle speed control, Oct 20, 2003, crash

    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

  9. Vehicle speed control, Oct 27, 2002

    THERE IS A PATTERN OF FAILURES FOR ALL NISSAN VEHICLES 1998 THRU 2001 (DID NOT SEARCH NHTSA DATABASE FOR ANYTHING EARLIER). THIS FAILURE INVOLVES THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATING  USUALLY WHEN THE DRIVER IS EITHER SLOWING DOWN OR BRAKING. IN OUR CASE, WE COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE TO STOP OUR FORWARD MOTION. THE DATABASE SUMMARIES SHOW THE DEALER RESPONSE IS ALWAYS THE SAME - WE CAN'T REPLICATE, THEREFORE WE CAN'T FIX. ADDITIONALLY, OUR DEALER CONTACTED NISSAN AND WAS TOLD THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM  WHICH SEEMS VERY UNLIKELY SINCE THE REPORTS IN YOUR DATABASE SHOW THAT THE VEHICLE OWNERS HAVE REPEATED TOLD NISSAN OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE BEGIN AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS PROBLEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND FORCE NISSAN TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM, DETERMINE ITS CAUSE AND RECALL THE VEHICLES. THIS PROBLEM IS ENDEMIC ACROSS ALL NISSAN MODELS (CARS, TRUCKS, SUVS, VANS) AND ACROSS A NUMBER OF MODEL YEARS (1998-2001). THIS PROBLEM COULD AFFECT MILLIONS OF CARS. ODI ID NUMBERS SOME OF THE RELATED PROBLEMS: 746324, 875795, 898284, 8001581, 741992, 854025, 566322, 56065, 758859, 8003876, 893370, 896545, 890278, 725165, 716994, 717202, 851041, 855272, 856147, 878223, 724641, 738694, 8019220, 857221, 863072, 885430, 531657, 558376, 737832, 842113, 553051, 725198, 836694, 855561, 829460, 853157, 785598, 533896. THANK YOU. DT

  10. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Mar 2, 2002

    CAR CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE AFTER FOOT IS REMOVED FROM THE PEDAL. OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT WAS EASILY MANAGED BY TAPPING THE BRAKE. BROUGHT IN FOR REPAIR AND CARBON BUILD-UP WAS FOUND ON THE THROTTLE AND CLEANED UP. MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE WAS MORE DRAMATIC. I WAS ACCELERATING QUICKLY (4000+ RPM) FROM A STOP AT A RED LIGHT. CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AT 4000+ RPM. BRAKING HARD DID NOT STOP THE CAR, NOR DID IT STOP THE CONTINUED ACCELERATION. HAD TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PULL OVER. ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE AT 4000+ RPM, UNTIL IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. BROUGHT TO NISSAN SERVICE. THEY CHECKED THROTTLE PLATE AND CABLE BUT FOUND NO PROBLEM, AND CONDITION COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. PROBLEM HAS NOT OCCURRED IN THE WEEK SINCE, BUT IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN INTERMITTENT AND UNPREDICTABLE. SHOULD THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM HAVE BEEN FIXED WITH OUT CHARGE? WHAT CAN I DO IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN? THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE TO ME, AND COULD HAVE ENDED BADLY IF ONE OF MY KIDS HAD BEEN DRIVING INSTEAD OF ME.*AK

  11. Vehicle speed control, Feb 11, 2002

    WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE VEHICLE STARTED TO REV UP, AND THEN STARTED TO ACCELERATE, GOING OVER THE CRUB. *AK THE VEHICLE CRASHED AFTER GOING OVER THE CRUB. *YH

  12. Vehicle speed control, Sep 19, 2001, crash

    SUDDEN ACCELERATION HAD OCCURRED IN REVERSE ON TWO OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING, AND ONCE IN FORWARD POSITION, WHICH LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

  13. Vehicle speed control, Aug 3, 2001

    DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE ACCELERATOR SUDDENLY WENT TO FLOOR AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER APPLIED FULL PRESSURE TO BRAKES, AND PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. DEALER HAS BEEN IN POSSESSION OF VEHICLE SINCE THIS INCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK