Problems · NHTSA complaints

2001 Nissan Sentra problems

Owners filed 245 complaints about the 2001 Nissan Sentra with NHTSA between Jan 2001 and Jul 2026. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (94).

Complaints
245
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
21
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
14
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling94
  2. Electrical system47
  3. Service brakes, hydraulic23
  4. Tires17
  5. Engine16
  6. Suspension14
  7. Vehicle speed control13
  8. Air bags12
  9. Equipment11
  10. Power train9
  11. Wheels9
  12. Steering8
  13. Structure7
  14. Visibility5

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200124
200230
200348
200444
200522
20067
200716
200813
20093
20105
20116
20123
20133
20146
20155
20163
20173
20180
20191
20200
20211
20221
20230
20240
20250
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine and engine cooling

94 reports3 crashes1 fire3 related recalls
“RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING IN A HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPS RUNNING AND THEN TURNS BACK ON. THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH SINCE I LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AT THAT SPEED. I NOTICED THERE IS A RECALL ISSUED BY NHTSA ID # 03V455000 FOR NISSAN SENTRA 2001 REGARDING THIS ISSUE. I CONTACTED NISSAN BY PHONE AND THEY INFORMED THERE ARE NO RECALLS PENDING ON MY VEHICLE. I ALSO CONTACTED NISSAN BY E-MAIL IF MY VEHICLE WAS OR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. IF NOT, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF SAFERCAR.GOV CAN INCLUDE MY VEHICLE IN THE RECALL AND HAVE IT FIXED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 20, 2015Engine and engine cooling, EngineODI 10700754

Electrical system

47 reports1 fire1 related recall
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 18, 2022Electrical system, Unknown or other, EngineODI 11452906

Service brakes, hydraulic

23 reports6 crashes
“EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I HAD TO CALL NISSAN HQ BACK BOTH TIMES JUST TO GET AND ANSWER THAT YES IT IS COVERED AND NO THEY CAN'T FIX IT. I AM COMPLETELY OVER NISSANS FAULTY WORKMANSHIP. I TOOK MY X IN TO HAVE THE 60K MAINT DONE AND THEY HAD THE NERVE TO TELL ME ABOUT MY BRAKES, BUT DIDN'T TELL ME ANYTHING ABOUT THE CRACKED MANIFOLD. THEY EVEN TOLD ME THAT THEY SAW IT BUT DIDN'T THINK IT WAS ANYTHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT. IF IT WASN'T FROM THE DEALER CHARGING ME FOR OVERFILLING MY TRANS FLUID AND NOT TIGHTENING A TRANS HOSE FITTING, I WOULD HAD DROVE THE THING UNTIL THE NEXT TIME TO CHANGE THE OIL AND NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE CRACK IN THE MANIFOLD OR RAN THE TRANSMISSION DRY. NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT IT IS MY FAULT FOR NOT KEEPING AN EYE ON IT. I ASKED THE LADY AT HQ'S, IF I HAD TAKEN MY X IN WITH 60K MILES ON IT AND THEY HAD FOUND THE CRACK WOULD IT BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY? SHE TOLD ME NO THEN WENT ON TO TELL ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO BRING IT IN ON 59999K AND IT WOULD HAD BEEN. I HAD TAKEN IT IN PRIOR TO THE 60K TO WHICH THE DEALER DID NOTHING OR NOTED NOTHING. THEN AFTER FINDING THE TRANS FLUID LEAK I TOOK IT BACK IN WHICH WAS ABOUT 3 DAYS LATER. WHEN I…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 11, 2005Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine coolingODI 10132522

Tires

17 reports
“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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 8, 2009Tires, EquipmentODI 10279798

Engine

16 reports
“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 they cant fix, or shortesh in parts in the mean time or something like that i called about 3 times today first tried to make an appointment and they said no reponse with parts depertment okay we hang up so i call again right away but this time i went directly to parts department…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 23, 2026Power train, EngineODI 11752538

Suspension

14 reports3 crashes1 related recall
“WAS TRAVELING EASTBOUND ON PA ST RD 31, AT 45MPH, AROUND 6PM, NOVEMBER 10. 2014, A 2006 CHEVY MALIBU DARTED OUT FROM A SIDE STREET WITHOUT YIELDING IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. AS THE OTHER VEHICLE WHEN DARTING OUT FROM INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE WAS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF MINE, THEREFORE WAS UNABLE TO STOP TO PREVENT CRASH. SWERVED RIGHT TO TRY TO AVOID COLLISION BUT WAS UNABLE TO AVOID CONTACT. CONTACT WAS MADE FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF MY VEHICLE, AS WELL AS THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE OTHER VEHICLE INVOLVED. THERE WAS NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND MY VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 18, 2014Suspension, Exterior lighting, Air bags, StructureCrash reportedODI 10659005
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.