84 complaints reported

2001 Nissan Sentra Engine

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
84
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Nov 2007

REGARDING THE BROKEN OIL DIP STICK: 1- DRAIN THE OIL AND LEAVE THE DRAIN PLUG OUT. 2 - USE A SHOP VACUUM TO SUCK THE LOST DIP STICK OUT OF THE ENGINE. 3 - REPLACE OIL DRAIN PLUG, REFILL WITH OIL, REPLACE NEW DIP STICK. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2007
Nov 2007

TOP OF DIPSTICK BROKE OFF, LEAVING METAL SHAFT UNRETRIEVABLE IN TUBE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2007
Sep 2007

THE OIL DIPSTICK HANDLE BREAKS OFF AND THE BALANCE OF THE DIPSTICK IS UNABLE TO BE RETRIEVED OUT OF THE DIPSTICK CYLINDER UNLESS THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY IS TAKEN APART. THIS A VERY COSTLY PROCEDURE RANGING FROM $200-400. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONE TIME AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT NISSAN SHOULD PROVIDE A BETTER QUALITY DIPSTICK THAT WILL NOT DETERIORATE AND BREAK FROM WHAT I PERCEIVE AS HEAT RELATED DAMAGE. WILL THEY PAY THE COSTS FOR THIS REPAIR? *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2007
Jun 2007

THE OIL DIPSTICK HANDLE BROKE AND THE PASTIC ABOVE THE DIPSTICK IS WELDED TO THE METAL TUBE. THE DIPSTICK CANNOT BE REMOVED. I BOUGHT A REPLACEMENT DIPSTICK ONLINE, BUT THE NISSAN TECHNICIANS SAY IT COSTS $200 IN SERVICE TO REMOVE THE TUBE AND GET THE OLD ONE OUT. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2007
May 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EVERY SUMMER, SHE HAS TO REPLACE THE OIL DIP STICK. SHE STATED THAT THE PLASTIC TOP FAILS AND AS A RESULT, THE TECHNICIAN IS UNABLE TO CHANGE THE OIL. THE DIP STICK IS THE ONLY TYPE THAT IS MANUFACTURED FOR THIS PART. THE DEALER ADVISED HER TO PURCHASE THE STICKS. AFTER THE MOST RECENT FAILURE, THE DEALER STATED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $300. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 104,075 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONSUMER STATED THE INCIDENT HAPPENED 3 SEPARATE TIMES. UPDATED 09/05/07 *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: May 2005
Feb 2007

THE DIPSTICK BROKE OFF IN THE TUBE ON MY 2001 NISSAN SENTRA. THE METAL STICK AND PLASTIC TOP TO THE STICK ARE ABOUT 3 INCHES IN THE TUBE AND ARE UNRETREIVABLE BY MYSELF. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE $250 TO GET THE STICK OUT AND REPLACE IT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2007
Nov 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NO PARTICULAR SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE "CHECK ENGINE SOON" LAMP REMAINED ILLUMINATED. INTERMITTENTLY, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED WITHOUT HAVING TO REMAIN IN THE OFF POSITION FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND REMAINS FOR ADDITIONAL TESTING. A NHTSA RECALL, # 01V357000, WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING, THE ENGINE AND GASOLINE SEVERAL YEARS AGO; HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER A SECOND REPAIR WITHOUT CHARGE UNDER THE RECALL.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2006
Oct 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTERWARDS, THE ENGINE RESTARTED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH THE STALLING PROBLEM DID NOT PERSIST, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE CRANK CAM SENSOR NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. AFTERWARDS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2006
Nov 2005

AFTER RUNNING NORMALLY, MY CAR SUDDENLY QUIT STARTING, AND LEFT ME STRANDED WITH MY CHILD ACROSS TOWN. I TOWED IT TO A FIRESTONE SERVICE STATION FOR REPAIR ONLY TO FIND OUT THE FAILURE WAS A CAM SHAFT SENSOR. THE REPAIR STATION THEN FOUND OUT FOR ME THAT MY CAR HAD 3 OPEN RECALLS WHICH I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF. I HAVE NOW PAID FOR ANOTHER TOW TO GET MY CAR TO A DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THESE "COVERED" REPAIRS COMPLETED. NOW, NISSAN REFUSES TO PAY FOR ANY OF MY TOWS OR THE BILL I HAD TO PAY FIRESTONE FOR "DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES". *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2005
Jul 2005

REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR VEHICLE REPAIRS AND TOWING DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. (NAR) *PH *CB *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2004
Jun 2005

2001 SENTRA GXE NOT DRIVEABLE; ENGINE REVS AND LURCHES ON ITS OWN AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE. FIRST TIME I WAS AT HOME, HAD THE CAR TOWED AND REPLACED MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR. $835 AND LESS THAN 48 HOURS LATER, CAR DID EXACT SAME THING ONLY AT A STOPLIGHT THIS TIME. CAR DIED AND BEGAN REVVING AND LURCHING AS SOON AS I RE-STARTED ENGINE. TOWED TO ORIGINAL MECHANIC WHO COULDN'T DETERMINE PROBLEM. CAR IS NOW AT DEALER WAITING TO BE LOOKED AT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2005
May 2005

ELECTRONIC SENSOR FAILURE, AGAIN. THIS IS THE 5TH SENSOR TO FAIL AS WELL AS THE COMPUTER- BAD ELECTRONICS. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2005
Mar 2005

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 03V455000 CONCERNING CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WELD. HOWEVER, THERE WAS ANOTHER RECALL FOR 03V477000 ECM MATERIAL WHICH WAS CONNECTED TO THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. CONSUMER DID NOT RECEIVE THE RECALL FOR THE ECM. *AK ON 3/31/04 THE ENGINE SENSOR REPLACEMENT CAMPAIGN REPAIRS WERE MADE. HOWEVER, ON 12/03/04 THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON (SES) LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THE TECH REPLACED THE KNOCK SENSOR, THERMOSTAT AND FAN BELTS. CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *TT *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2004
Feb 2005

ON JUNE 24,2004 I HAD A CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR AND EMC FOAM REMOVAL RECALLS DONE ON MY 2001 NISSAN SENTRA. MY VEHICLE HAS TOTALLY SHUT DOWN WITH OUT ANY NOISE OR WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT LEAST 4 TIMES SINCE DECEMBER 2004. THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES INVOLVED. I HAD TAKEN MY SENTRA TO A NISSAN DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK ON JAN.31,2005 AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE DID NOT SHOW ANY CODES AND THAT IT WAS A LOOSE BATTERY CABLE SO THEY REPLACED IT. LESS THAN 24 HOURS LATER THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AGAIN WHILE DRIVING AND WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER ASAP. THE SERVICE REP THEN TOLD ME HE PUT HIS BEST TECHNICIAN TO WORK ON MY VEHICLE AND HE FOUND THE CRANKSHAFT POSSITION SENSOR WAS BAD AND IT WAS REPLACED, BUT WHEN I QUESTION THE REP ABOUT THE EMC CODES AGAIN HE TOLD ME THAT HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS BECAUSE MY SENTRA WAS THE FIRST VEHICLE TO DO THIS WITH A RECALLED SENSOR. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE EMC AND THIS RECALLED SENSOR BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. NOTHING WAS DONE BY THE NISSAN DEALER TO ASSURE ME THAT MY VEHICLE WILL NOT DO THIS AGAIN.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2005
Dec 2004

THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, BUT WHEN MY HUSBAND TOOK THE CAR TO GET THE OIL CHANGED THE MECHANIC REALIZED THAT THE DIPSTICK HAD BROKEN OFF AND HAD FALLEN INTO THE TUBE. THE MECHANIC ALSO TOLD MY HUSBAND THAT THERE WERE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. HE SAID THAT IT WAS A NISSAN FAULT ON THE CAR. I DON'T FEEL THAT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING TO GET IT FIXED SINCE THE DIPSTICK IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND IS SO CLOSE TO OTHER HEATED ENGINE PARTS. BEING SO CLOSE TO THOSE OTHER PARTS SURELY MADE THE PIECE MELT AND LATER BREAK OFF. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2004
Oct 2004

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEAR ON DASHBOARD AND REMAIN ON. *BF THREE REPAIRS WERE DONE ON VEHICLE BEFORE THE RECALL NOTICE CAME OUT THEREFORE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE REFUNDED. CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 03V511000 *TC

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2004
Oct 2004

I HAVE A 2001 NISSAN SENTRA AND THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT HAS COME ON. I NOTICED FROM THE NISSAN WEB SITE THAT THERE ARE THREE RECALLS THAT MAY RESULT IN THE LIGHT COMING ON. MY CAR FALLS WITHIN THE VIN RANGE LISTED ON NISSAN WEB SITE. SO, I CONTACTED ONE OF THE NISSAN DEALERS AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD HAVE MY CAR INSPECTED FOR $81 BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN THE WARRANTY ANY MORE. I CONTACTED THE NISSAN NATIONAL CONSUMER AFFAIRS OFFICE AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY I HAVE TO PAY THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE IF THE CAR IS ON THE RECALL LIST AND MAY HAVE A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT. I AM SURE NISSAN (OR NISSAN DEALERS) CAN MAKE HUGE MONEY BY JUST DIAGNOSING DEFECTIVE NISSAN VEHICLES. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2004
Aug 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS VEHICLE STALLED.*AK *TC

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2004
Aug 2004

THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE LIGHT IS STILL ON. THE MANUFACTURE STATED THAT THERE WAS NO MORE THEY COULD DO, WITHOUT A COST TO THE CONSUMER. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2004
Aug 2004

IN LESS THAN A YEAR THE CAR HAS HAD THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT GO OFF 7 TIMES. THEY HAVE REPLACED 3 SENSORS (1 AT MY EXPENSE FOR ~$300), THEN THE COMPUTER ON THE CAR THAT TOTALLY DIED. AFTER THAT IT WAS THE EXAHUST SYSTEM AND THEY REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND OTHE PART. NOW FOR THE SEVENTH TIME IN LESS THAN A YEAR THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WENT OFF AGAIN AND THIS TIME IT IS THE O2 SENSOR (OBD II CODE P0160). THIS SENSORS ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST UP TO 100000 MILES AND THE DEALER IS ASKING ME TO PAY ANOTHER $300 TO HAVE IT REPLACED. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2004
Jul 2004

TOOK 2001 NISSAN SENTRA TO PENZOIL TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED. WHEN THE SERVICE MAN ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE OIL STICK OUT TO VERIFY THE NEW OIL LEVEL, THE MOLDED PLASTIC HANDLE OF THE STICK BROKE, LEAVING THE METAL STICK OUT OF REACH, DOWN THE LONG METAL TUBE THAT LEADS TO THE ENGINE. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, PART OF THE MOLDED PLASTIC WAS ATTACHED TO THE TOP OF THE STICK, MAKING RETRIEVAL BY MAGNET AN IMPOSSIBILITY.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2004
Jun 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE AND STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH SPUTTERING THREE TIMES BUT IT DID NOT STALL. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE COIL ASSEMBLY FAILED. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD SEVEN RECALLS AND FOUR OF THEM HAVE BEEN ENGINE RELATED. UPON PICKING UP THE VEHICLE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND FOUND THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS DEFECTIVE. *NM *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2004
Jun 2004

WHILE I WAS HAVING MY OIL CHANGED, THE DIPSTICK BROKE. NISSAN TELLS ME THAT THIS WILL COST $366 TO FIX!!! AFTER LOOKING ONLINE, HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE GUY AT TRONCOLLI NISSAN IN ATLANTA SAYS THAT ITS BASICALLY "TOUGH LUCK" BECAUSE I SHOULD HAVE PAID THE INSANE PRICES OF A DEALERSHIP OIL CHANGE. NISSAN NEEDS TO RECALL THIS BECAUSE IT IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM, AND IF THEY FIX THEM BEFORE THEY BREAK IT WILL BE ONLY A SMALL COST. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2004
Jun 2004

THE HANDLE OF MY OIL DIPSTICK ON MY 2001 NISSAN SENTRA GXE BROKE. I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $500 INORDER TO GET THE HANDLE OUT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY PEOPLE AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND SHOULD BE FIXED FREE OF CHARGE.*AK I STILL HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET THE DIPSTICK OUT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2004
Jun 2004

THE TOP OF THE PLASTIC DIPSTICK IN MY 2001 NISSAN SENTRA BROKE OFF TODAY AND THE DIPSTICK ITSELF SLID DOWN INTO THE ENGINE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN, THIS IS COMMON WITH MANY OTHER NISSAN SENTRAS. I NOW NEED TO FIND A REPLACEMENT DIPSTICK AND WAS FORTUNATELY ABLE TO RETRIEVE MINE (EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOW BROKEN). HOWEVER, SOME DEALERSHIPS ARE TRYING TO CHARGE OVER $100 TO RETRIEVE THE DIPSTICK. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. ALSO, MY POWER WINDOWS ARE STARTING TO STICK AND NOT GO UP AND DOWN. MY CAR IS BARELY 3 YRS OLD; THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS TOO. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2004

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2001 Nissan Sentra has 84 Engine complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.