2001 Nissan Sentra: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2001 Nissan Sentra: 7 recalls, 236 owner complaints and up to 26 mpg combined.
Recalls
7 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 1 equipment/tire recall that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Suspension Vehicle recall #01V174000 · 2001 · 101,000 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: The bolts could fracture, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the lower control arm attachment bolts. Owner notification began June 30, 2001.
Wheels Vehicle recall #01V277000 · 2001 · 115,000 vehicles
What's wrong: 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. If enough cracks develop between the cooling holes, the wheel could fail and separate from the mounting hub without prior warning.
Why it matters: Separation of the wheel from the vehicle while being operated could result in a vehicle crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect for cracks and replace the wheel if cracks are discovered. Owner notification will be conducted in two phases. The first mailing began October 1, 2001, asking owners to bring their vehicles in to a dealer for inspection of the wheels. Any wheels with cracks will be replaced. A…
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #01V357000 · 2001 · 103,000 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: If the engine stops running while the vehicle is in motion, it could result in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the crank position sensors. Owner notification began December 10, 2001.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #01V376000 · 2001 · 81,393 vehicles
What's wrong: 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these vehicles were missing tamperproof caps that prevent horizontal headlamp adjustment.
Why it matters: These caps are installed to prevent misadjustment of the headlamps.
The fix: Dealers will install a tamperproof cap over the horizontal adjustment screw for both headlamps. Owner notification began January 14, 2002.
Electrical Vehicle recall #03V477000 · 2003 · 276,000 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: If one of the resistors inside the ECM has a crack on the surface coating, the gas May cause corrosion of the resistor. This could cause the malfunction indicator light to come on, poor drivability (idle instability, poor accelerator), or the engine to stop running during vehicle operation, which…
The fix: 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.
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #03V455000 · 2003 · 630,000 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: This could cause the "service engine soon" warning light to come on, create a no start condition, cause reduced engine power, or cause the engine to stop running without warning during vehicle operation, which could result in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the crank position sensors. Camshaft position sensor(s), and in some cases, the variable timing control sensor(s). Vehicles involved in a previous recall campaign, 01v357, are also included in this new campaign. The replacement sensors used in that campaign are also affected.…
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #03V511000 · 2003 · 70 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters:
The fix: Dealers will replace the bracket on these vehicles. Owner notification began December 15, 2003. Owners should contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
1 aftermarket equipment / tire recall replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Exterior lights Equipment recall #06E023000 · 2006 · 292,000 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain anzo combination headlamp assemblies sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles. Some combination lamps are not equipped with amber side reflectors which fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Why it matters: Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
The fix: Anzo will notify owners and replace the headlamps free of charge. The recall began May 9, 2006.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 2 mention a fire, 12 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Engine & cooling (93): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (34), warning light on (17), electrical failure (8).
- Electrical (44): the most common themes are electrical failure (19), stalls / loses power (16), warning light on (10).
- Brakes (hydraulic) (22): the most common themes are brake failure / soft pedal (4).
- Tires (17): the most common themes are tire tread / blowout (17).
The 2001 Nissan Sentra has 236 owner complaints, ranking #6 of 37 Sentra model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 158). Complaints peaked in 2004 (45 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 3 years old, at a median of 61,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2000 (171 complaints, 6 recalls), 2002 (318 complaints, 10 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 | 30 | 26 | Regular |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 | 32 | 26 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 28 | 24 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 27 | 23 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2001 Nissan Sentra.
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FAQ
Does the 2001 Nissan Sentra have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 7 vehicle recalls for the 2001 Nissan Sentra, plus 1 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2001 Nissan Sentra problems?
Owners have filed 236 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are engine & cooling (93), electrical (44), brakes (hydraulic) (22).
What gas mileage does the 2001 Nissan Sentra get?
EPA ratings run up to 26 mpg combined (1.8 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 4 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2001 Nissan Sentra repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.