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
245 reports, newest first.
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
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Nov 5, 2001
WHEN TRAVELING AT 25-35 MPH BRAKES LOCKED WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
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
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
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Aug 31, 2001
BRAKES LOCK UP AT 20-35 MPH UNDER NORMAL BREAKING CONDITIONS CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. CONSTANT WHINE FROM FRONT LEFT SIDE. FRONT LEFT ROTOR TURNED ONCE DUE TO PULSATING PEDAL. PULSATING HAS RETURNED ALONG WITH "SHIMMY" IN STEERING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. FRONT TIRES SEEM TO BE WEARING AT ACCELERATED RATE. APPT # 2 SET WITH DEALER. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Aug 30, 2001, crash
BRAKES LOCKED AT RELATIVELY LOW SPEED, RESULTING IN AN UNNECCESARY CRASH DUE TO VEHICLE SKIDING. THE DISTANCE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PLEANTY TO EFFECTIVELY STOP THE VEHICLE.*AK
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
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Aug 2, 2001
BRAKES CONTINUED TO LOCK UP WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 20-30 MPH. DEALERSHIP FOUND ROTORS WERE WARPED AND TURNED THEM, REDUCING FAILURE RATE. AS A RESULT TIRES HAVE FLAT SPOTS AND ARE DAMAGED. DEALERSHIP/NISSAN REFUSES TO REPLACE. *AK
Power train, Aug 1, 2001
CONSUMER STATES THAT CLUTCH IS DEFECTIVE, VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS 5 TIMES, BUT DEALER FAILED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *TT
Power train, Jul 17, 2001
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SHOP ON FIVE OCCASIONS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE CLUTCH.*JB
Steering, Jun 26, 2001, crash
WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH APPLIED BRAKES ON A WET CONDITION ROAD LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALER/MANUFAXCTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 26, 2001
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL DOES NOT GO TO FLOOR. HOWEVER, THE SYSTEM APPEARS TO LOCK UP, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK CONSUMER STATES THIS IS A VERY POOR ENGINEERING DESIGN OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM THAT CAUSES THE BRAKES TO LOCK UP WHEN THEY ARE APPLIED BEYOND A VERY SLOW DRIVING CONDITION. *SLC
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 22, 2001
WHEN DRIVING 35-40- MPH AND APPLYING BRAKES ABRUPTLY, BRAKES WILL LOCK UP AND VEHICLE SLIDES. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME AT THAT SPEED/ WET OR DRY ROAD CONDITIONS. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER ONCE, CANNOT REMEDY. *AK
Steering, Jun 20, 2001, crash
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY, AND WAS IN PROCESS OF PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE , CONSUMER LOST CONTROL, AND WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. *AK
Air bags, May 10, 2001, crash
MY HUSBAND AND I WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 2-19-01. WE WERE TRAVELING EAST BOUND ON A CITY STREET WITH THE POSTED SPEED OF 40 MPH. WE WERE TRAVELING ABOUT 38-40MPH. A CAR TRAVELING WEST BOUND TURNED IN FRONT OF US, WE HIT THE CAR AND THE HIT A STOP LIGHT POLE. WE CONTACTED NISSAN, AND THEY SENT US A LETTER STATING THAT WE DID NOT DECELERATE QUICK ENOUGH. GOING 40MPH AND HITTING A CAR AND THEN A LIGHT POLE, HOW CAN THAT NOT BE A QUICK ENOUGH DECELERATION? MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, AND ALL OF THE DAMAGE WAS IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, WITH THE LIGHT POLE RESTING IN THE CENTER OF THE HOOD. EVERYONE AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT STATED THAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THE POLICE, FIRE DEPT., AND AMBULANCE WOULDN'T EVEN ATTEMPT TO GET ME OUT OF THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED FOR FEAR THAT THE BAGS WOULD DEPLOY IN ATTEMPT TO GET ME OUT. I WANT TO KNOW WHY THEY DIDN'T DEPLOY, AND I WANT SOMETHING DONE ABOUT IT. I LOVE MY EXTERRA, BUT IF EVER THERE SHOULD BE ANOTHER ACCIDENT, I (OR SOMEONE ELSE) MAY NOT BE AS FORTUNATE TO SURVIVE THE CRASH.*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
Visibility, Jan 27, 2001
EXCESSIVE WIND NOISE OCCURS IN CITY AND HIGHWAY DRIVING. PRIMARY SUSPECT IS WINDSHIELD MOLDING. WHEN CONTACTED, DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM WARRANTY REPAIRS ON THIS. ACCORDING TO SALESMAN "THAT'S WHAT YOU GET FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU PAID, ALTIMA IS QUITER THAN SENTRA" ACCORDING TO SERVICE "THE (EXCESSIVE) WINDNOISE IS NORMAL, IT'S AS DESIGNED, WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS, AND INHERITED IN BOTH 2000-2001 SENTRAS. WE WILL NOT REPLACE IT UNLESS THERE'S ATSB/RECALL FROM NISSAN". IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AS OTHER 2000-2001 SENTRA OWNERS HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT THEY WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO PURCHASE THEIR SENTRAS FROM DEALERS WILLING TO DO THE REPAIRS (REPLACING THE WINDSHIELD MOLDING, ETC.) THE SAME PROBLEM HAS ALSO BEEN FOUND IN ALTIMAS. *AK
Suspension, Jan 25, 2001
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE VIBRATES AND BOUNCES. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND WILL REPLACE STRUTS. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
Air bags, Jan 17, 2001, crash
HAD HEAD-ON COLLISION WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THREE PASSENGERS WERE SLIGHTLY INJURED. *AK
Air bags, Jan 17, 2001, crash
AFTER REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 40 MPH FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.*AK