Problems · by component

2001 Nissan Sentra electrical system problems

47 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Nissan Sentra cite electrical system, 19% of all 245 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
47
19% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE IGNITION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,000. *CN”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 1, 2017Electrical systemODI 10957826
“CAR CONSTANTLY SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING, STEERING AND BRAKES LOCK UP AS WELL. IT DOES THIS IDLING AT LIGHTS AND WHILE DRIVING MAKING TURNS. VERY DANGEROUS! I HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL SENSORS (AT MY EXPENSE) TO TRY TO KEEP THE CAR GOING, BUT I'M TERRIFIED TO DRIVE IT AS I FEAR IT WILL STALL AGAIN IN TRAFFIC AND POTENTIALLY KILL ME AND MY FAMILY. CHECKED MY VIN AGAINST THE MANY RECALLS THAT WOULD CAUSE THESE PROBLEMS AND STATES THAT NONE OF THESE RECALLS APPLY TO THIS CAR! NISSAN USED TO BE A GOOD COMPANY, NOW IT'S JUST A LEMON FACTORY! NOT TO MENTION THEIR DEALERSHIP SERVICE IS ABSOLUTELY USELESS! I DON'T SEE HOW SUCH DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY ISSUES DO NOT HAVE RECALLS ON THEM!!!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 7, 2016Electrical system, EngineODI 10854212
“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. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION INTO MY VEHICLE IT HAD ALREADY HAD THE PART REPLACED ONCE AND IT STARTED TO FAIL AGAIN AFTER I WAS THE UNLUCKY PERSON TO BUY IT. AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE, I HAVE REPLACED THE HEAD DUE TO A SAND LIKE MATERIAL THAT EATS AWAY THE HEAD GASKET. THIS MATERIAL IS A PRODUCT OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CRUMBLING AND BEING SUCKED INTO THE ENGINES…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 15, 2015Electrical system, Unknown or otherFire reportedODI 10725425
“WAS DRIVING WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY HOME FROM WORK, AND CAR SHUT OFF AND STALLED. LOSING ALL POWER, AND MAKING IT HARD TO STEER OFF THE ROAD. TOOK IT TO A LOCAL CAR SHOP, THEY HAD TOLD ME THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THIS ISSUE. AND CALL NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY HAD TOLD ME THERE WERE NO OPEN CLAIMS . *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 8, 2015Electrical system, EngineODI 10704390
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND STALLED AND THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 6, 2015Electrical system, EngineODI 10670403

Showing 6 of 47 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Electrical system: module

Free remedy

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.

Electrical systemReported Nov 14, 2003NHTSA 03V477000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 8, 2026

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

Other 2001 Sentra problem areas