In the first 20,000 miles of owning the new car, the rotors needed to be serviced because they were irregular and it was grinding my brakes, a new belt pulley in the engine was put on and the turning signals were short circuiting. The dealership could not find anything wrong with the turning signals.
I also complained that the radio would get so hot that my CD's were warping and so burning hot that I couldn't hold them in my hand after taking them out of the radio. I was told that was normal by the dealership because I probably played the radio too much.
At 30,000+ miles, an entire new brake system needed to be put on.
The engine light came on and went off several times and was eventually told at 73000 it needed a new catalytic converter. That was not put on my car until almost 3 months later after I filed a complaint with Nissan Consumer Affairs... the dealership said they couldn't put one on because they were on back order.
At the same time, there was squeaking under the hood and I had the radiator belt and the power steering belts replaced. 20 minutes after exiting the dealership and driving off the highway, at 40 mph, the car stopped in mid-motion because the steering belt was put on wrong and snapped.
2,000 miles later, the transmission is completely broken down and something is wrong with the electrical system and the horn and alarm no longer work... to no avail by mechanics trying to fix it.
Car doesn't run, doesn't work and is completely unsafe. It has been babied with every single required service that Nissan lists in its service book.
I have spent almost $10,000 on this car, still owe 2 years on the loan for it and it sits on the street and doesn't run because I don't have $3000 cash to repair it.
I will never buy a Nissan again and will persuade everyone I know, including my enemies, to never buy one.
That sucks, man. Next time you should spend the 10 or 15 thousand dollars on a vintage car like a caddie or mustang.
I also purchased the 2001 Nissan Sentra GXE. I am shocked at the alarming similarities in our stories. Everything you said has also happened to my car as well!?
1.I had my drive belts replaced more than once in less than a year.
2.My horn blew out
3.My front rotors and brakes had to be replaced
4.My car has been in for so many recalls I have lost count
5.My belt pulley had to be replaced too
We should band together and take legal action against Nissan!
Email: marksergi@beld.net
I have a similar story. I took my sentra gxe in for its 60,000 service and asked them to balance my tires. I was having some vibrations. The service dept. said it could be a belt in the tire and they would check it out. I was told that it was my rotors so $600.00 dollars later it is still happening and now they say it's a belt in my tires. I was informed I needed to by 4 new tires at a cost of over $500.00.
My horn also went at 61,000km and was informed that it is no longer under warranty. I checked the fuses and the relays found they where OK so I purchased a new horn $15.00.
The dealer ship wanted to charge $95 first to check it out.
I installed the new horn and have now found out that its electrical.
I have owned nissans in the past and never have I had to sprend close to $2000. in the span of 2mths.
I had a pulsar for 12yrs and never had these problem.
I don't know if I will buy another nissan either.
The reason for the woes of this car, and the other Sentras is that they are now made in Mexico! Cars made in Mexico have problems similar to yours no matter what the make. Look at the VWs. Same problems, different company. Do not put your hard earned money in a car made in Mexico.
I have the same problem on the Nissan Sentra with the Horn. Has anyone figured out how to fix it without paying mega bucks? Is there a manufacturers recall on it?
I totally agree with you, I had more issues with my sentra and will never ever by a Nissan again.
I also have these problems. My brakes are starting to squeak too much I guess I'm gonna have to spend money.
I own an 85 sentra and it has not given me all these problems my 01 sentra seems to be older than my 85 with all the problems that it has. Everyone take notice that all Nissans of North America are now built in Mexico or most of them anyways. Nissan is no longer a "Japanese" car like people call them (import) check your dirvers manuals and find out where it was built. My problem free and dependable 1985 sentra was built in Japan.
Yes same problem I have a 2001 leased Sentra due the 25 of November and I have no horn, but the alarm still works. The dealership is replacing the catalytic converter that's under warranty, but the horn will cost 90.00 to rewire. Oh yea and total miles on the car is only 33,000. what can I do for the horn, it won't pass inspection? Thanks Joymattgrace@aol.com.
I have a 94 Nissan Sentra and it was going great until the day I payed it off. I was so happy that I was making my last payment, I went the extra mile to make a personal appearence to pay the car off. Everything was great until I was on my way back to work and the transmition went out. I got it repaired and 5 thousand miles later the engine went out. I had it replaced with a second hand engine and now the thing runs hot after going about a mile down the road. All of this was happening when it was my only source of transportation. I am out done with the brand and will never purchase another.
Why don't you try a dodge stratus proud made in the USA, and you will see your wallet on diet.
I bought a 2001 Nissan Sentra GXE and these are the problems I have encountered:
At 102 000 km the service engine soon light appeared so my mechanic found these problem.
. My mechanic changed: all the oils and filters, coils, spark plugs
**The problem reappeared***
100 km later the light reappears I take it to my mechanic he can't find the problem so I take to Nissan they find the following and I had to fix these things (price includes labor) :
. Changed the Air Flow Meter 875 $$$ (cdn)
. The horn doesn't work (it's a spiral cord that's broken 350 $$$ (cdn)
Above all the light reappeared again.
I haven't repaired it yet, but if the light comes out again I am trading in my car for something else.
I love my 2001 Sentra. Haven't had a single problem with it.. and my horn still works. Would defiantly buy another one.
My 2001 Nissan Sentra GXE was towed away from the side of a busy highway after leaving me sit 4 days ago, and frankly, I don't care if I ever see it again. Unfortunately, I'm still paying on it.
I won't waste anyone's time listing all the problems, just "ditto" on everyone else's, EXCEPT... my horn still works (at least it did the last time I used it)
It's all very, very, very frustrating.
Never again!
I wish I'd found this site before August 2005 when I bought my clean-looking (and mechanically checked) 2001 Sentra with 75000 km.
My duh moment: It took three months to figure out that my horn didn't work (wasn't driving much and had no need for the horn). The original mechanic confirmed it wasn't a fuse; replaced the horn and still nothing.
Just took it to the dealer for maintenance and when I mentioned that I have never had a horn since I owned the car, was told there's a known problem with the wiring insulation and the horn is one of the first things to go. Uh. If it's a known problem then why do I have to pay for this? Isn't it a mechanical defect that Nissan should pay for?
To be fair, I've had no other problems with the car, but I've owned it for less than a year and have only driven 8,000 km...
I got a used Nissan 2001 Sentra GXE in 2005. It's a combination of mechanical problems and poor customer service. The service engine soon light keeps coming on, and the gas mileage sucks. I'll never buy a Nissan again.