2001 Nissan Sentra GXE from North America - Comments

I have 2001 Nissan Sentra GXE. It has only 46K miles. Now Cat Converter needs to be replaced. The quote is 854$.

01 Sentra check engine light is on. Replaced catalytic converter, mass air sensor, O2 sensor, 4 of them, horn does not work, water pump, radiator and thermostat have been replaced. Now possible head gasket, but I have 250.000 thousand miles on it. I guess after all, with high miles I have to expect things to happen.

I bought my 2001 Nissan Sentra new in 2002, and honestly, it has been a great car up til now. It has NEVER had major repair work, just regular maintenance (oil, brakes, tires, spark plugs, etc.) and the occasional minor repair (power window motor, recalls). Now at 170k, it has begun its painful electrical death.

First the CD player light went out, then the CD player stopped working, then the shifter light went out. Next the dash lights started blinking, yes, blinking. The brake, oil, battery, engine lights, all blink on occasion. This problem is much worse when it's hot (no problems over the winter), but now that it's warming up, my dash gauges have gone nuts. As in the needles start shaking and then they slowly sink to 0. No gas, no rpms, no mph, all while I'm actually going 60mph on the highway.

Not sure what to do about it. I'm not offended, every other car I've owned/known of requires a lot more work to keep it going, my Nissan made it 170k before needing major repairs, I'm just not sure it's worth it as this point. Especially considering there are 10 different things that could be causing it.

I am in COMPLETE AGREEMENT with everyone who had an issue with their 2001 Nissan Sentra GXE 1.8. Lousy car. As for the two or three positive comments, wish it was me.

I bought the car brand spanking new in May 2001. It was my first car and I was a happy dude, but then the problems occurred. I thought it was just me... WOW, was I wrong! I never would have learned if it had not been that my car has been in the shop for six months and my mechanic (a great mechanic with over 25 years experience) is stumped and asked me to look online for some similar stories.

Allow me to list the issues:

1. Front control arms did pop and I had those replaced, never rec'd notice about the recall.

2. CD light went out and eventually I couldn't play CDs at all. Remedied this with my mp3 digital tuner.

3. Interior lights did go out. Replaced fuses.

4. Passenger side front window no longer works.

5. Dipstick broke.

6. Engine light came on, had issues with dealership who "couldn't" correctly diagnose the problem. When I found out that I needed a new catalytic converter, my warranty was expired by the 1000 miles I drove during the time of my debates with the dealership in Fort Worth.

7. Car began to have idle problems in Nov 2008. I thought it was due to the cold weather. I just let the car warm up longer and there was no problem. Until the car died on me on my trip from NM to TX. I made it home but the car never stayed on for more than 30 seconds.

Now my mechanic at first thought it was the Mass Air Flow Sensor, but wasn't sure. So he replaced two O2 sensors, cleaned the MAF, replaced the ECM (twice), replaced the MAF and replaced the fuel pump. He's stumped.

I think we should rally those who have suffered similar issues and write Nissan, the BBB, Consumer Reports and others in the auto industry.

Finally, I never rec'd a recall notice for the ECM or other issues. I never thought of looking online until now and never gave it a second thought to research and discover that I wasn't the only one. Lesson learned.

Also, if anyone had any of the above mentioned problems and found a resolution, especially for the car not starting, PLEASE let us know. PLEASE! My mechanic thanks you and so do I.

I'm sorry you've had those issues. My 2004 Sentra 1.8 S was great, never had a single issue, wish I still had it!

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.

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!!

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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.