Most common 2001 Nissan Sentra problems
Share of the 236 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Nissan Sentra complaints by model year
Best Sentra years: 2023, 2024. Years to avoid: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2020, 2016. Compare all years →
2001 Nissan Sentra recalls (7)
Engine and engine cooling
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.
Engine and engine cooling
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the crank position sensors. Camshaft position sensor(s), and in some cases, the variable timing control sensor(s).
Electrical system › Ignition › Module
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.
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.
Exterior lighting › Headlights
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.
Remedy: Dealers will install a tamperproof cap over the horizontal adjustment screw for both headlamps. Owner notification began January 14, 2002.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
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.
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…
Wheels
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect for cracks and replace the wheel if cracks are discovered. Owner notification will be conducted in two phases.
Show 1 more recall
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower arm
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.
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…
What 2001 Nissan Sentra owners say
Engine & cooling all 108 →
I have '01 Nissan Sentra. Over the years I kept having my car auto shut off while driving. My recent incident occurs on 2/17/22 while driving on a freeway at 70mph that left me stranded. I had it towed to the nearest auto mechanics. While the engines shuts down, the Service Engine Soon light came on followed by the Battery Icon and Oil Lamp Icon. In the past I had most if not all my catalytic converters and O2 sensors replaced but the problem persisted. Some mechanics stated it was electrical but offered no solution. I did had an oil changed and battery tested a week earlier but no issue was found. My most recent mechanic checked it out and told me it's not the battery nor the alternator, they're both still good. I had to leave my car over the weekends for a full diagnostic.
Well thankfully it did not happened while driving i stopped it one day to replace the engine (a lil more info i am a mobile mechanic registered with the state of CA) with some year make and model and sub model i finish replacing and next thing later i have no spark i did my diagnostics check wiring fuses relays sensors and still no spark i qent to carfax and notice it as 2 recalls related to my no spark issue regading ckp sensor and cmp sensors and the other recall about a internal problem with ecm i tried calling dealership they know its a incomplete repair but seems like they dont want fix or do something about it now i do need my car to go and repair my customers vehicles and my car dont want to start due to the recalls and from what i read about on nhtsa said that the manufacturer by law is required to assist with a refund, temporory vehicle borrowed or funds for transportation if …
Electrical system all 44 →
I have '01 Nissan Sentra. Over the years I kept having my car auto shut off while driving. My recent incident occurs on 2/17/22 while driving on a freeway at 70mph that left me stranded. I had it towed to the nearest auto mechanics. While the engines shuts down, the Service Engine Soon light came on followed by the Battery Icon and Oil Lamp Icon. In the past I had most if not all my catalytic converters and O2 sensors replaced but the problem persisted. Some mechanics stated it was electrical but offered no solution. I did had an oil changed and battery tested a week earlier but no issue was found. My most recent mechanic checked it out and told me it's not the battery nor the alternator, they're both still good. I had to leave my car over the weekends for a full diagnostic.
While driving down the road at 40 plus miles an hour the catalytic converter clogged and caught fire causing a misfire in cylinder one and ruining the ignition coil for that cylinder. I contacted Nissan after seeing online that the exact same part has malfunctioned on several other cars of the exact same year make and model. I was instructed to take it to a Nissan dealership and have them diagnose the problem for a $89 fee. Even if I had the 89 dollars to pay to have it diagnosed it would not have paid it. I did not use faulty material in the manufacture of the vehicle and feel that any diagnostic fee should have been absorbed by Nissan north America since they voluntarily recalled the part. It could have burst into flames and ignited the unused fuel in cylinder one killing me and my children. …
Wheels & tires all 26 →
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)
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. …
2001 Nissan Sentra engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 23 / 30 / 26 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 23 / 32 / 26 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 21 / 28 / 24 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 27 / 23 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Nissan Sentra a good car?
Based on 236 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 Sentra rates use caution: 1.6× as many complaints as a typical year of the Sentra at the same age. It is one of the Sentra years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2001 Nissan Sentra?
The engine & cooling — 108 complaints, 46% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the electrical system (44) and wheels & tires (26).
How many recalls does the 2001 Nissan Sentra have?
There are 7 recalls for the 2001 Nissan Sentra, the most recent from December 10, 2003 (engine and engine cooling). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Nissan Sentra?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2023 and 2024. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2020 and 2016. See the full Nissan Sentra years comparison.
At what mileage do 2001 Nissan Sentra problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 61,000 miles; 40% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.