2001 Nissan Sentra — Known Issues & Recalls

While driving at 45 mph, your engine suddenly stalled and you lost power steering and brakes, forcing you to coast to the shoulder. The shop diagnosed failed crankshaft and camshaft sensors as the cause. Nissan told you this issue was recalled in 2003 and is now closed, but the problem appears to still be occurring. The repair will involve replacing the crankshaft and camshaft sensors.

Your check engine light came on and stayed on. Multiple mechanics diagnosed a faulty mass air flow sensor and replaced it, but the problem returned. You experienced difficulty starting the engine, reduced power, and stalling. Even after repair, the same issue happened again.

Your car vibrates and then shuts off when you're stopped at a red light. This is likely a rough idle or stalling issue that occurs when the engine is running but the car isn't moving. The fix will probably involve checking and cleaning or replacing components that control idle speed, such as the idle air control valve or fuel injectors.

Your car is jerking and the check engine light is on. A repair shop identified a recall for the crankshaft position sensor, but when you checked your VIN on the recall site, it didn't show a recall for your car. The sensor may need to be replaced or reprogrammed to resolve the jerking and warning light.

Your car stalled multiple times and the check engine light came on. You could restart it each time, but the stalling got worse. A repair shop couldn't figure out what was causing it even after multiple visits, so the problem wasn't fixed. The stalling issue could be caused by a faulty sensor, fuel system component, or ignition system part that needs diagnosis and replacement.

Your car stalled and lost power while you were driving at 40 mph. The engine shut down completely during normal driving conditions. You'll need diagnostic testing to identify the cause, which could be related to fuel delivery, ignition, or engine sensors.

Your car shuts off unexpectedly while driving, at traffic lights, and while turning, causing your steering and brakes to lock up — creating a serious safety hazard. You've already replaced multiple sensors to try to fix the problem, but the engine continues to stall without warning. The manufacturer states no recalls apply to your vehicle despite these dangerous symptoms.

While driving on the highway with children in your car, the engine shut off and stalled completely, causing you to lose all power and making it difficult to steer to the side of the road. A local mechanic mentioned there was a recall for this issue, but when you contacted Nissan consumer affairs, they said no open claims existed for it. The problem likely involves the electrical system cutting power to the engine.

While driving at 40 mph, your car jerked, stalled, and the check engine light came on. You weren't able to restart the vehicle, and this problem happened multiple times. The issue may involve the electrical system or engine, and could require diagnosis with a scan tool to read the engine codes and identify the root cause.

Your car stalled while driving at 35 mph and the ignition system failed completely. The vehicle had to be towed to the dealer for diagnosis and repair. This happened at 164,000 miles on the odometer.

Your car ran fine the day before, but the next morning after driving about a mile, it started running poorly. The ECU (engine control unit) has stopped sending a signal to the number 2 ignition coil, causing the rough running condition. The ECU may need to be replaced or reprogrammed to restore proper engine performance.

Your 2001 Sentra has been shutting off unexpectedly while driving, most recently at 70 mph on a freeway, leaving you stranded. When the engine shuts down, the Service Engine Soon light, Battery icon, and Oil lamp all come on. You've already replaced catalytic converters and O2 sensors, had the battery and oil changed, and mechanics have confirmed the battery and alternator are working properly, but the problem continues. The mechanic suspects an electrical issue and is performing a full diagnostic to identify the root cause.

Your car's engine shut off while you were driving on the interstate, which nearly caused you to be unable to move out of the way of traffic. This sudden loss of power while driving is a serious safety concern that needs immediate diagnosis. A mechanic will need to inspect your engine control systems, fuel delivery, and ignition system to determine why the engine stalled.

Your catalytic converter clogged and caught fire while driving at 40+ mph, causing your engine to misfire and damaging the ignition coil. The catalytic converter had already been replaced once under recall, but failed again. The failing converter created debris that damaged your engine head and head gasket, requiring costly repairs. Nissan charged a diagnostic fee to confirm the recalled part was eligible for warranty work, rather than covering it.

Your engine randomly shuts off and restarts while driving on the highway at 60 mph, causing you to lose control of the vehicle—a serious safety hazard. You've identified a related NHTSA recall (03V455000) for 2001 Nissan Sentras, but Nissan says no recalls are pending on your vehicle. The fix would likely involve diagnostic testing to identify the cause of the engine stalling and addressing the underlying ignition or fuel system issue.

Your vehicle was involved in a collision with another car that pulled out in front of you at an intersection. Despite swerving to avoid the crash, your car's front driver side made contact with the other vehicle. Your driver and passenger airbags did not deploy during the impact, even though your vehicle is equipped with them. An inspection of your airbag system and crash-related damage to the suspension and frame will likely be necessary.

Your gas pedal sometimes sticks when you're stopped at red lights or stop signs, requiring you to press hard to get it unstuck. Once the pedal releases, your car suddenly surges forward. This intermittent sticking and surging happens specifically when you're idle and waiting.

Your airbag warning light is flashing and staying on continuously. This indicates a problem with your airbag system that needs attention, even though no crash or fire has occurred. A mechanic will need to scan your vehicle's airbag computer to identify and fix the specific issue.

Your car stalled without warning multiple times when you pressed the brake pedal while driving at around 30 mph. A mechanic diagnosed that your fuel injectors needed replacement to fix the problem. The stalling happened repeatedly starting around 160,000 miles on your vehicle. Replacing the fuel injectors should restore normal engine operation and prevent future stalling.

While driving at 70 mph, your vehicle suddenly stalled without warning. The manufacturer and dealer were notified of the issue, which occurred at approximately 180,000 miles. The problem may involve the speed control system or related engine components that need diagnostic testing and repair.