2001 Nissan SENTRA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
236 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
61,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 121 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 38 of 236 complaints (16.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 41 | 17.4% |
| Braking behavior | 32 | 13.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 25 | 10.6% |
| Steering behavior | 14 | 5.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 2.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 1.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 38 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 24 |
| Electrical System | 23 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 21 |
| Engine | 16 |
| Tires | 13 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 7 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 38; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 24; Electrical System: 23; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 21; Engine: 16; Tires: 13; Vehicle Speed Control: 8; Electrical System:Horn: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 33 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 28 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 19 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 15 |
| 150,000 and above | 11 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 33; 50,000 to 74,999: 28; 75,000 to 99,999: 19; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 11
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (33). 115 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 23 |
| 2002 | 29 |
| 2003 | 47 |
| 2004 | 42 |
| 2005 | 21 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 13 |
| 2008 | 13 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2001: 23; 2002: 29; 2003: 47; 2004: 42; 2005: 21; 2006: 7; 2007: 13; 2008: 13; 2009: 3; 2010: 5; 2011: 6; 2012: 3; 2013: 3; 2014: 6; 2015: 5; 2016: 3; 2017: 3; 2019: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 41 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 32 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 25 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10015790 · 2003-04-14 (April 14, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING.*JB DEALERSHIP REPLACED CRANK POSITION SENSOR. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10015790 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018288 · 2003-05-06 (May 6, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED, DUE TO A DEFECTIVE CRANK POSITION SENSOR. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018288 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002064 · 2003-01-06 (January 6, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES TO THE VEHICLE WERE NOT WORKING ,CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HIT ANOTHER VEHCILE. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002064 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004793 · 2003-02-04 (February 4, 2003)
THE CONSUMER HIT A VEHICLE IN FRONT DUE TO THE REAR WHEELS LOCKING UP AND A POSSIBILITY OF NO FRONT BRAKES. SCC PH
Owner-reported narrative. 17,350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004793 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007074 · 2003-02-11 (February 11, 2003)
THE WIRING HARNESS WAS DEFECTIVE, WHICH CAUSED THE HORN NOT TO WORK.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007074 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10042361 · 2003-10-06 (October 6, 2003)
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10042361 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013575 · 2003-03-27 (March 27, 2003)
MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH 2001 SENTRA. STEERING HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY TIGHTER. DEALER CLAIMS NO PROBLEM. CRUNCHING NOISE FROM SHOCKS/STRUTS WHEN DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMPS OR WHEN EXITING DRIVEWAY ONTO ROAD (UNEVEN PAVEMENT). WORSE WHEN COLD. DEALER CLAIMS NO PROBLEM. BRAKES MAKE SCRAPING NOISE WHEN APPLIED. WORSE WHEN COLD. CAR HAS BECOME VERY UNCOMFORTABLE TO DRIVE - TIGHT/DIFFICULT STEERING AND NOISY SUSPENSION. DRIVES LIKE A 10 YEAR OLD CHEVY INSTEAD OF A 2 YEAR OLD JAPANESE CAR. I SHOULD HAVE KEPT MY HONDA!!!*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10013575 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017841 · 2003-05-06 (May 6, 2003)
THE STEERING WHEEL MADE NOISE. ON ONE OCCASION THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND SHAKE WHILE MAKING A TURN WHICH RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE HITTING A CURB. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASION BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 17,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017841 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050946 · 2003-12-22 (December 22, 2003)
I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY 2001 NISSAN SENTRA. I HAVE POSTED MY PRIOR COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE. MOST RECENTLY I ATTEMPTED TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. A SIMPLE ENOUGH TASK ONE WOULD THINK. NOT WITH THIS LEMON. THE CAR STARTED, THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, THE SHIFT MOVED IN THE R POSITION, HOWEVER THE CAR WAS NOT BUDGING. TURNS OUT THE TRANSMISSION HAD WENT ON MY 2001 CAR. UNACCEPTABLE IN MY OPINION. JUST TO UPDATE EVERYONE, THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE BROKEN IGNITION WIRE, INOPERATIVE HORN AND BROKEN FUEL PUMP THAT I HAVE ALREADY EXPERI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10050946 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10054044 · 2004-01-14 (January 14, 2004)
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A TRANSMISSION GEAR PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 75,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10054044 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10036710 · 2003-08-27 (August 27, 2003)
I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. . I HAVE HAD TO BRING IT IN FOUR TIMES FOR AN INOPERATIVE HORN. I WOULD DISCOVER THAT HORN WAS NOT WORKING, I'D BRING IT IN AND IT WOULD FUNCTION, THEN A COUPLE OF MONTHS WOULD PASS AND AGAIN IT WOULD BE INOPERATIVE. THEY FINALLY REPLACED THE HARNESS, AND IT HAS BEEN WORKING FOR 2 STRAIGHT MONTHS. THIS MIGHT NOT SEEM LIKE A BIG DEAL, BUT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE BROUGHT IT IN TWICE FOR A BROKEN IGNITION WIRE. THE FIRST TIME THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS RELEAS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10036710 at NHTSA ↗