11th Aug 2009, 09:25

I also have a 2001 Nissan Sentra and very much agree that it is an awful car in terms of repair requirements. I currently have around 150,000 kms on the odometer and have had to replace/fix:

- Mass Airflow sensor

- O2 sensor

- Catalytic Converter

- Horn (caused by a broken wire)

- Another electrical wiring issue that resulted in a completely dead car (requiring a tow)

- Dead alternator and battery (also requiring a tow)

- Many other items and all the standard maintenance items.

The service engine light is permanently on (still showing codes for a part that was replaced) and the horn has now stopped working again. In the past couple of years, I think the car has required some sort of repair every 3-4 months (on average). The car is also more rusty than my father's 1995 Corsica.

28th Aug 2009, 12:23

Have a 2001 Nissan Sentra 1.8 GXE. I have 150 K on this car and it was running good until it simply stalled. Will not start at all, changed battery, fuel pump, ECM, and other stupid stuff. This damn car will simply not start.

Now the dealer is saying it must be wiring issues, which I doubt. I guess I am left with one thing to do, dump it!!

29th Aug 2009, 13:26

Did you replace the starter? What about the solenoid? I'd be careful, you might be dumping a vehicle that only needs a small amount of work left to be done.

6th Sep 2009, 22:15

2001 Sentra GXE 1.8l.

I've just started having problems with the rpm/idle. Haynes books says it should idle between 500-700 rpms, but the car runs good for an hour or so, and then it begins to act up. The rpms drop below 300 or so, and it dies out on the freeway. Can't let the rpms drop or it will shut down. I removed the fuel pump, cleaned it, replaced plugs, flushed out the fuel lines, and it appears to be running better. Also the engine light turned on about 50,000 miles ago and it's still running fine.

12th Sep 2009, 12:41

I have a 2001 Nissan Sentra GXE. I purchased this vehicle in 2006, second owner, with 56000 miles on it. The car has run great since I have owned it, until NOW. At 107000 miles the Service Engine Soon light came on. I took it to a Meineke dealer in the Atlanta area who charged me $85 just to pull the code. Then he proceeded to tell me it would cost me $1400 to replace the catalytic converter. I have talked to other mechanics and many of them tell me to check the O2 sensors first, that they may have gone bad, a cheaper fix than replacing the catalytic converter. I am hoping this isn't the beginning of many more problems after reading everyone's comments on this board.

12th Sep 2009, 23:57

I bought Nissan Sentra 2001 GXE 1.8L brand new in 2002, I totally agree with other comments, it is crappy car. Here is the list of things has broken.

1. Driver side power windows don’t work

2. Air conditioner line leak

3. Alternator

4. Ignition coil

5. Dipstick broke

6. CD player light is broken, can’t read time in night

7. EGR valve

8. Catalytic converter

13th Oct 2009, 15:23

I bought my 2001 Sentra GXE used with 30,000 kms on it. It now has about 160,000. Other than a very few minor problems - one power window motor is intermittent, check engine light stays on, and faulty light on the stereo - it has been perfect. Knock on wood! I have literally spent zero on it except for brakes, and even that was far less severe than I expected. Altogether a great little car.

1st Nov 2009, 16:19

2001 Nissan Sentra GXE 1.8 180,000 miles.

Everything that can go wrong is or is about to:

Cat. was replaced.

Having hard time finding the correct down flow 02 sensors.

Passenger side window motor stopped working.

No power on low end. Will run once rpms are up.

Replaced all four coils.

Two radios, both stock, stopped working.

Can't put gas in, well 20 cents at a time will go in.

And without saying, the check engine light is on, still.

This is my first and last Nissan. My next car Will be a FORD. Don't keep dumping money it this car. Sell it to the junk man.

8th Nov 2009, 18:40

Well I have a 03 Sentra GXE, and for me it has been fairly good.

Had to replace the MAF sensor once, but I got one really cheap on ebay for $60, and that is the only thing that has been done to it done since new, and I don't drive this thing very nice usually either, so I guess I'm been impressed.

As for the guy that said that he would be trading his car for a Ford; I say trading junk for junk really does not makes a lot of sense considering Ford's reliability record in the past years!

21st Nov 2009, 20:27

I got a brand new 2001 Nissan Sentra and had major steering problem right the next day I got it. It stayed one month in and out of the dealer for repairs, and they took a long time to figure out the problem. It was that part that applies hydraulic pressure to turn the wheels. They replaced it and it got a little better.

Later, problems with check engine lights, catalytic converter, alternator, CO2 sensors etc.

I got another Nissan Sentra because I found it cheap, but it had a lot of problems too. The 2001 is down in my garage for 2 years now, and believe me, I will never buy a Nissan vehicle as long as I live.

20th Dec 2009, 06:50

I agree, my 2001 Sentra has been nothing but a headache. My most recent problems include heater blowing cold air and car not wanting to start. I have had the antifreeze flushed, new thermostat, and now getting ready to install a new water pump.

As for the car not starting, I am stumped. I will have to crank it over for about 20 minutes before it will start; almost like it's starving for gas. Being the colder months, I put a bottle of Seafoam in the gas tank and can hear the fuel pump kick on. My mechanic thinks it might be the head gasket allowing antifreeze into the cylinders, blocking the airports, so the air fuel ratio is off. Has anyone else had these problems, and if so did, you find the problem?

21st Dec 2009, 17:04

^^ to the guy above me, it will be head gaskets guaranteed. I'm a tech and I just dealt with all those problems, and it's going to be your head gasket or it's not been bled properly; they have a special way to bleed the cooling system.

Has anyone had the oil pressure warning light come on and off? It's pretty intermittent, I'm up against a wall with this one, any help would be appreciated.

23rd Dec 2009, 17:06

Could be some sludge from the engine when cold.

31st Dec 2009, 18:26

I have a 2002 Nissan Sentra, I had no idea there were any recalls, my dealer never informed me... I have 108km on the clock right now, hopefully I can go for another 100km. I have just had the catalytic converter replaced, and the engine light has been coming on and off for the past 4 years... I just ignore it... the radio light has indeed died!! Had all the fuses replaced, but told I had to take the radio out and bring to a radio store, as it is not a Nissan problem...

My brakes have been replaced twice, and had so many new tires I can't keep up... the horn is working, so far so good, however I hardly ever use it... I must say I have never had a full service done, just my oil changes and my son replaced the spark plugs this past summer... Am I in for more heartache??

All in all I have been quite happy with my Nissan... although probably won't get another one...