Problems · by component

2001 Nissan Sentra engine and engine cooling problems

94 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Nissan Sentra cite engine and engine cooling, 38% of all 245 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 3 recalls on this component.

Complaints
94
38% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“2001 NISSAN SENTRA. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE SUDDENLY DIED WHILE DRIVING *TGW THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH ANY RECALLS. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 20, 2012Engine and engine coolingODI 10460482
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE EXHIBITED LOW ENGINE POWER WITH HESITATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, ON A SEPARATE OCCASION THE ENGINE STALLED FIVE TIMES AND RESTARTED BEFORE REACHING THE DESTINATION. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V357000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: ENGINE: GASOLINE). THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 31, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10403761
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN SENTRA. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT IT WOULD VIBRATE AND SHAKE. THE DEALER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS, FUEL INJECTOR AND IGNITION COIL; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO VIBRATE AND SHAKE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,044. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,744.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 20, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10402199
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACTS MECHANIC REPLACED THE IGNITION COIL FUSE AND THE VEHICLE RAN NORMAL FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEN BEGAN HESITATING AND EXHIBITING RECURRENCES OF STALLING. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS: 01V357000 AND 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) BUT THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN EITHER RECALL. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY BECAME INOPERABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 30, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10393759
“2001 NISSAN SENTRA 1.8L MY CAR HEAD GASKET FAILED AND IT SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM WITH A FAULTY HEAD GASKET THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED AT. THE CAR OVERHEATED ON THE HIGHWAY ALL OF THE SUDDEN IN A FAST TRAFFIC LANE AND IT STARTED LOOSING POWER ON AN INCLINE, IT WAS SCARY. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 14, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10376661

Showing 6 of 94 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

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

3 recalls on this component

Engine and engine cooling

Free remedy

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.

Engine and engine coolingReported Dec 10, 2003NHTSA 03V511000

Engine and engine cooling

Free remedy

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.

Engine and engine coolingReported Nov 17, 2003NHTSA 03V455000

Engine and engine cooling: gasoline

Free remedy

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.

Engine and engine coolingReported Nov 16, 2001NHTSA 01V357000
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