VehicleVerdict

2001 Nissan Sentra problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 307 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 2.0 times the median Sentra year — the 2001 model ranks #9 of 45 Sentra years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Complainants reported 22 injuries in total across these filings.

Engine leads the complaint categories with 113 reports (37% of the total).

307

NHTSA complaints

8

Recalls

0

Investigations

38

Crash-involved

3

Fires reported

22

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2001 compare to other Sentra years?

See all Sentra years to avoid →

What are the most common 2001 Nissan Sentra problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Engine11337%
Electrical System5016%
Tires & Wheels289%
Brakes248%
Suspension155%
Speed Control124%
Other114%
Airbags114%
Transmission103%
Body & Structure93%
Steering83%
Fuel System52%
Visibility & Wipers41%
Seat Belts41%
Seats21%
Lighting10%

Does the 2001 Nissan Sentra have recalls?

8 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

06E023000LightingMarch 13, 2006 · 292,000 units

Defect

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."

Consequence

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

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.

03V511000EngineDecember 10, 2003 · 70 units

Defect

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.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRACKET ON THESE VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 15, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

03V455000EngineNovember 17, 2003 · 630,000 units

Defect

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

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.

03V477000Electrical SystemNovember 14, 2003 · 276,000 units

Defect

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

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.

01V376000LightingDecember 12, 2001 · 81,393 units

Defect

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

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.

01V357000EngineNovember 16, 2001 · 103,000 units

Defect

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

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.

01V277000Tires & WheelsAugust 29, 2001 · 115,000 units

Defect

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

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.

01V174000SuspensionMay 23, 2001 · 101,000 units

Defect

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

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.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

ON DECEMBER 28, 2003, MY 2001 NISSAN SENTRA CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING THROUGH RENO NEVADA. ANOTHER CAR BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION THAT OUR CAR WAS ON FIRE. WHEN MY DAUGHTER PULLED OVER AND OPENED THE HOOD, SHE NOTICED A SMALL FIRE IN THE REAR OF THE ENGINE. SHE MANAGED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · December 28, 2003 · fire

MY ENGINE FAILED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING 70 MPHS ON THE FREEWAY, THE VERY DAY AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN REPAIRED FOR YET ANOTHER DEFECT SENSOR. IT WAS A MIRACLE I DID NOT CRASH AND KILL ANYONE INCLUDING MYSELF. EACH AND EVERY TIME I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN, I HAVE REQUESTED IT BE CHECKED FOR A SHORT IN THE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · April 15, 2002 · 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…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Tires & Wheels · November 28, 2002 · 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

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · November 20, 2001 · 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…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Suspension · November 28, 2002 · crash

2001 Nissan Sentra — common questions

Is the 2001 Nissan Sentra reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 307 complaints put the 2001 model at #9 of 45 Sentra years. It is one of the Sentra years to avoid.

What are the most common 2001 Sentra problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are engine (113 complaints), electrical system (50 complaints), tires & wheels (28 complaints).

Does the 2001 Nissan Sentra have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns affecting the 2001 Nissan Sentra. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Which Nissan Sentra years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Sentra years to avoid are 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2002, 2019, 2017, 2020, 2001, 2018, 2012, 2003, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2005, 1996, 1995, 2006, 1994. The cleanest record among Sentra years belongs to 1983.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.