2001 Nissan Sentra Electrical System Problems

I have '01 Nissan Sentra. Over the years I kept having my car auto shut off while driving. My recent incident occurs on 2/17/22 while driving on a freeway at 70mph that left me stranded. I had it towed to the nearest auto mechanics. While the engines shuts down, the Service Engine Soon light came on followed by the Battery Icon and Oil Lamp Icon. In the past I had most if not all my catalytic converters and O2 sensors replaced but the problem persisted. Some mechanics stated it was electrical but offered no solution. I did had an oil changed and battery tested a week earlier but no issue was found. My most recent mechanic checked it out and told me it's not the battery nor the alternator, they're both still good. I had to leave my car over the weekends for a full diagnostic.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE IGNITION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,000. *CN

CAR CONSTANTLY SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING, STEERING AND BRAKES LOCK UP AS WELL. IT DOES THIS IDLING AT LIGHTS AND WHILE DRIVING MAKING TURNS. VERY DANGEROUS! I HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL SENSORS (AT MY EXPENSE) TO TRY TO KEEP THE CAR GOING, BUT I'M TERRIFIED TO DRIVE IT AS I FEAR IT WILL STALL AGAIN IN TRAFFIC AND POTENTIALLY KILL ME AND MY FAMILY. CHECKED MY VIN AGAINST THE MANY RECALLS THAT WOULD CAUSE THESE PROBLEMS AND STATES THAT NONE OF THESE RECALLS APPLY TO THIS CAR! NISSAN USED TO BE A GOOD COMPANY, NOW IT'S JUST A LEMON FACTORY! NOT TO MENTION THEIR DEALERSHIP SERVICE IS ABSOLUTELY USELESS! I DON'T SEE HOW SUCH DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY ISSUES DO NOT HAVE RECALLS ON THEM!!!

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 40 PLUS MILES AN HOUR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CLOGGED AND CAUGHT FIRE CAUSING A MISFIRE IN CYLINDER ONE AND RUINING THE IGNITION COIL FOR THAT CYLINDER. I CONTACTED NISSAN AFTER SEEING ONLINE THAT THE EXACT SAME PART HAS MALFUNCTIONED ON SEVERAL OTHER CARS OF THE EXACT SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODEL. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAKE IT TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND HAVE THEM DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM FOR A $89 FEE. EVEN IF I HAD THE 89 DOLLARS TO PAY TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED IT WOULD NOT HAVE PAID IT. I DID NOT USE FAULTY MATERIAL IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE VEHICLE AND FEEL THAT ANY DIAGNOSTIC FEE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABSORBED BY NISSAN NORTH AMERICA SINCE THEY VOLUNTARILY RECALLED THE PART. IT COULD HAVE BURST INTO FLAMES AND IGNITED THE UNUSED FUEL IN CYLINDER ONE KILLING ME AND MY CHILDREN. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION INTO MY VEHICLE IT HAD ALREADY HAD THE PART REPLACED ONCE AND IT STARTED TO FAIL AGAIN AFTER I WAS THE UNLUCKY PERSON TO BUY IT. AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE, I HAVE REPLACED THE HEAD DUE TO A SAND LIKE MATERIAL THAT EATS AWAY THE HEAD GASKET. THIS MATERIAL IS A PRODUCT OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CRUMBLING AND BEING SUCKED INTO THE ENGINES CYLINDERS. I HAVE REPLACED COUNTLESS SENSORS AND EVEN THE CARS COMPUTER TO TRY TO SOLVE THE ISSUE. AFTER FIXING THE ISSUE MYSELF AND REMOVING THE SUSPECT PART I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. I AM VERY DISPLEASED WITH THE WAY NISSAN HAS CHOSEN TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUES THAT CONSUMERS OF THEIR PRODUCT HAVE. IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT SINCE THE DEALERSHIPS ARE PRIVATELY OWNED THEY CAN CHARGE FOR DIAGNOSIS EVEN IF IT IS TO VERIFY IF THE PREVIOUSLY RECALLED PART IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE RECALL. HAD IT NOT BEEN ELIGIBLE IT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY REPAIR ATTEMPTS MADE BY NISSAN. SO I FIXED IT MYSELF AND VOWED NEVER TO BUY ANOTHER NISSAN VEHICLE.

WAS DRIVING WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY HOME FROM WORK, AND CAR SHUT OFF AND STALLED. LOSING ALL POWER, AND MAKING IT HARD TO STEER OFF THE ROAD. TOOK IT TO A LOCAL CAR SHOP, THEY HAD TOLD ME THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THIS ISSUE. AND CALL NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY HAD TOLD ME THERE WERE NO OPEN CLAIMS . *TR

CAR WAS DRIVEN THE DAY BEFORE, RAN JUST FINE. NEXT MORNING, AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 1 MILE, BEGAN RUNNING TERRIBLE. THE ECU (ECM) IS NO LONGER SENDING A SIGNAL TO THE NUMBER 2 IGNITION COIL. I KNOW THAT THESE CARS HAD A RECALL ON THE FOAM COVERING THE ECU, THAT RECALL WAS DONE AND FOAM REMOVED. CAR ONLY HAS ABOUT 60,000 MILES ON IT BECAUSE IN BELONG TO A 90 YEAR OLD LADY, SHE BOUGHT IT NEW. I HAVE FOUND THAT HUNDREDS OF THESE CARS NOW HAVE BAD ECU, TIME FOR A RECALL!! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND STALLED AND THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000.

THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED IN OKLAHOMA IN APRIL 2013, AND ALL THE DASH GAUGES QUIT ON THE WAY HOME, ALONG WITH THE ODOMETER GOING OUT. AFTER THE CAR COOLED DOWN, THE GAUGES/ODOMETER STARTED WORKING AGAIN. THE CAR WAS THEN DRIVEN CROSS COUNTRY TO WASHINGTON STATE, AND WHEN THE HEATER WAS TURNED ON, AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE GAUGES/ODOMETER STOPPED WORKING AGAIN. ONCE COOLED OFF, THE GAUGES/ODOMETER WOULD START WORKING AGAIN. THE CAR WAS THEN DRIVEN TO TEXAS, AND THE SAME ISSUES CAME UP, ALL CENTERED AROUND TEMPERATURE. IT SEEMS WHEN THE HEATER IS TURNED ON (WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN WA), OR IF IT IS HOT OUTSIDE (THE DRIVE TO TEXAS, AND WHILE THE CAR HAS BEEN IN TEXAS), THE GAUGES WILL STOP WORKING AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME, AND WILL START WORKING AGAIN ONCE THE TEMPERATURE INSIDE THE CAR HAS COOLED DOWN. CURRENTLY WE ARE HAVING 100 DEGREE WEATHER DAYS IN TEXAS, SO IF THE CAR IS HOT WHEN LEAVING THE HOUSE, THE GAUGES WON'T WORK, UNTIL THE AC HAS BEEN ON ENOUGH TO COOL THE INSIDE OF THE CAR (AND I ASSUME GAUGES) DOWN. USING THE CAR AFTER THE AC HAS BEEN ON AND THE INSIDE OF THE CAR IS COOL, THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE GAUGES. IF YOU TURN THE AC OFF AND ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN, ONCE THE HEAT BUILDS UP IN THE CAR (ABOUT 85 DEGREES OR SO), THE GAUGES WILL GO OFF AGAIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE FAILED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V477000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION MODULE) BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40MPH AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST EMERGENCY EXIT. HE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO LOCAL SERVICE STATION. THE VEHICLE STILL HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER AND HE WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE AWARE THAT THE PROBLEM EXIST WITH HIS VEHICLE, BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR HIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY ARE ONLY COVERING TWO ENGINES TYPES AND THE CONTACT VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT WILL HAVE TO GET HIS VEHICLE REPAIRED AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD BY LOCAL DEALER AFTER HIS VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED THAT THE FAILURE WAS HIS ECN WHICH IS THE COMPUTER IN HIS VEHICLE. THERE ARE NO SPARK AND NO FUEL GOING INTO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 151000.

THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WENT ON 2/1/09. TROUBLE WAS REPORTED ON 2/5/09 WHEN VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED FOR SERVICE AT MIDAS AUTO SERVICE, 463 GLYNN ST., FAYETTEVILLE, GA. REFER TO INVOICE WHERE A RELAY/ECM WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME TO OWNER'S RESIDENCE AT 6302 MORGAN PLACE CT., ATLANTA, GA. A POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC EVENT FOLLOWED WHEN THE OWNER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ON AN ATLANTA INTERSTATE AND THE CAR CUT OFF AND A SERIOUS WRECK WAS SOMEHOW AVERTED. VEHICLE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TOWED TO FIRESTONE COMPLETE AUTO CARE; 2460 N DRUID HILLS RD. NE. SYMPTOM WAS DESCRIBED: ''CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. OIL LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON FIRST'. THE SERVICE REPORT SAID IN PART, 'HAS BLOWN IGNITION FUSE AND NO POWER TO THE COILS, REPLACED FUSE AND EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE WORKING OK. THE REMAINING COMMENTS CAN BE FOUND IN THE SERVICE REPORT. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME. NEXT PROBLEM OCCURRED ON 2/9/09 WHEN OWNER WAS LEAVING TO GO TO WORK IN THE MORNING. THE VEHICLE ENGINE CUT OFF ON A LOCAL ROUTE. THE CAR WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TOWED TO MIDAS AUTO SERVICE, 6550 ROSWELL RD., SANDY SPRINGS, GA. THE DIAGNOSTIC PACKAGE REVEALED, '' CODES P0140, P0505, P0137, AND P0460 WHICH INDICATED A TOTAL EMISSIONS FAILURE ON THE CAT CONVERTER AND ALL FOUR O2 SENSORS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE VEHICLE IGNITION RELAY CIRCUIT (RELAY REPLACED 2/1/09) REPEATEDLY BLEW FUSES. THE VEHICLE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DRIVEN BACK TO MIDAS AUTO SERVICE, 463 GLYNN ST., FAYETTEVILLE, GA WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION AND SUBSEQUENT RESEARCH INDICATED THAT THE ECM MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE SAFETY RECALL FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NO. 03V477000, CAME UP IN THE MIDAS RESEARCH AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE LINING MATERIAL FROM THE ECM BOX HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE COMPUTER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT THE RPM READING WOULD REMAIN AT 2000 AND THE SPEED WOULD REMAIN AT 30 MPH WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE WIRES HAD BEEN DAMAGED WHEN THE COMPUTER WAS INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

HORN SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. *TR

I OWN A 2001 NISSAN SENTRA. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, THE HORN STOPPED WORKING. WE FINALLY TOOK IT IN TO OUR LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE CALLED SAYING THE HORN WORKS, THE FUSE IS FINE AND THE RELAY WORKS, BUT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE FUSE AND THE RELAY, IT'S LOSING POWER; LIKELY A SHORT IN THE WIRE. BUT THEY SAID IT IS WIRED IN SUCH A CONVOLUTED WAY THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE ANOTHER 2 HOURS TO FIND THE RIGHT WIRE AND FIX. I FOUND THIS IN AN INTERNET MESSAGE BOARD: "JUST CURIOUS IF ANY OTHERS HAVE ISSUES WITH THEIR 00-06 SENTRA HORNS...MEANING YOU HIT YOUR HORN OR KEY FOB AND NO SOUND FROM THE HORN? I HAD MY 2001 SE FIXED AROUND 60,XXX...FOUND OUT FROM NISSAN THAT THE WIRES ARE A BIT SHORT RUNNING TO THE HORN SPEAKER...I THINK THE WIRING GOES UNDER THE RADIATOR. IT GETS STRESSED AND RUBS SOMEWHERE AND DUE TO CORROSION OR TOTAL BREAKAGE THE HORN THEN NO LONGER FUNCTIONS. THE PART I'M PISSED ABOUT IS THAT NOW AT 68K THE PROBLEM IS ONCE AGAIN BACK. I KNOW ACCORDING TO MY FATHER WHO USE TO WORK FOR A COMPANY THAT PROVIDES TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO PRIVATE GARAGES AROUND THE U.S. THAT THIS IN FACT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE SENTRA'S, BUT ACCORDING TO NISSAN DOES NOT REQUIRE AN NTSB. SAFETY FEATURE IN MY OPINION. NISSAN SAYS I'LL HAVE TO BRING IT IN AND PAY FOR DIAGNOSIS. I THINK I CALL THE REGIONAL MANAGER. TWICE I'VE HAD SOMEONE ALMOST HIT ME AND I HAVE NO HORN. ''NISSAN SAID CHECK THE FUSE...THEIR TYPICAL RESPONSE. AFTER TALKING AT LENGTH TO THE NISSAN DEALER THAT LAST FIXED THIS ISSUE THEY FINALLY GAVE UP AND SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE THE SAME ISSUE WAS BACK." AFTER THIS, I CALLED MY LOCAL NISSAN REPAIR SHOP (517 393-5700) AND SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER. AFTER TELLING HIM THE PROBLEM, HE PUT ME ON HOLD AND CHECKED THEIR RECORDS. HE INDICATED TO ME THAT YES, THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL OF NISSAN, BUT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING NISSAN NOR THEY COULD DO RE: FIXING THE HORN WHICH IS CAUSED BY AN ADMITTEDLY POORLY DESIGNED HORN WIRING SYSTEM. *JB

SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT: THE HORN WIRE INSIDE AN INTERNAL WIRING HARNESS ON MY 2001 SENTRA FAILED SPONTANEOUSLY ON OR ABOUT FEBRUARY 15, 2006, RENDERING THE HORN INOPERABLE AND INCAPABLE OF PASSING THE RHODE ISLAND STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. THREE DIFFERENT EMPLOYEES OF THE DEALER (INSKIP NISSAN, WARWICK RI) MADE STATEMENTS TO ME INDICATING THAT THIS TYPE OF HORN FAILURE HAPPENS REPEATEDLY, IS WELL KNOWN TO THEM, AND IS NOT CAUSED BY ANY EXTERNAL FORCE, SUCH AS COLLISION OR ROAD DAMAGE. I HAVE INSPECTED THE AREA, WHICH IS NEAR THE UNDERSIDE OF THE RADIATOR, AND IT IS CLEAR THAT THE WIRING HARNESS IS WELL PROTECTED BY VARIOUS FRONT-END COMPONENTS AND HARD TO GET AT. THE BROKEN WIRE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER ON 4/5/06 AT A COST OF $180.00 FOR A LITTLE OVER TWO HOURS WORK. THE DEALERS SERVICE CLERK TOLD ME EXACTLY WHAT THE COST WOULD BE AT THE TIME SHE WROTE UP THE REPAIR ORDER, PRIOR TO INSPECTING THE VEHICLE FOR THE CAUSE OF THE HORN FAILURE. I SUGGESTED AN INEXPENSIVE BYPASS WIRE, AND SHE STATED THAT OTHERS HAD EFFECTED A REPAIR IN THAT MANNER (FURTHER EVIDENCE THAT THE NATURE OF THE FAILURE IS WELL KNOWN THE THEM) BUT ALSO UNDERSTANDABLY STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT PERMITTED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR IN THAT MANNER. I SUBMITTED A COPY OF THE REPAIR BILL TO NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS ON 4/8/06 ASKING FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF THE $180 AS A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT, AND THEY WROTE BACK ON 4/12/06 DENYING THE CLAIM. THE NHTSA SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS BY INSPECTING DEALER SERVICE RECORDS AND INITIATE A RECALL. *JB

MY 2001 NISSAN SENTRA GXE STARTED SPUTTERING IN FEB 05, ALSO AN ELECTRICAL BUZZING SOUND WOULD OCCUR AT THE SAME TIME. THE CAR STALLED OUT ONCE WHILE DRIVING. TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THE ECM WAS BAD. IT WAS REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE (HIDDEN 8YR/80,000 MILE WARRANTY ON THAT PART). THE NEXT DAY IT WAS DOING THE SAME THING. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE STARTER/ECM SENSOR WAS REPLACED. I'M STILL NOT CONVINCED THE PROBLEM IS FIXED AND WORRY EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT.*AK

INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS CAR STALLING WHILE DRIVING, CAR ROUGH IDLE, CAR NOT STARTING, CAR SPURTING WHILE DRIVING, CAR NOT GOING INTO OVERDRIVE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TWICE, BEEN TO TWO DEALERS, AND 1 MECHANIC THAT TOLD ME THAT IT IS IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND THAT THE DEALER NEEDS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. FROM MY RESEARCH, DIAGNOSTIC CODES ARE EITHER NOT BEING REPORTED BY A BAD SENSOR OR THE ECM IS NOT STORING THE DIAGNOSTIC CODES. *NM

NISSAN SENTRA 2001 HAD A RECALL TO REMOVE THE FOAM COVERING THE ECM. I HAD THIS DONE JUNE 2004..THE PROBLEM WITH THE FOAM WAS AS IT CURED , IF THERE WAS A CRACK ON THE SURFACE LINING, CORROSION OF THE RESISTOR COULD CAUSE THE ECM TO MALFUNCTION. WELL I HAD THE FOAM REMOVED BUT I FEEL THE CORROSION WAS PROBABLY ALREADY OCCURRING SO IN 6 MONTHS THE ECM WENT BAD. NISSAN REFUSED TO PAY TO REPLACE THE ECM. *JB

HORN STOPPED WORKING, WIRING HARNESS WAS CORRODED. *NM

SEVERAL TIMES THE VEHICLE STARTS SHAKING, NOT STARTING AT ALL AND RUNNING ROUGH. IT WAS A ECM RECALL PERFORMED BUT AFTER THAT SEVERAL PROBLEMS OCCURRED AND RELATED TO THE SAME ECM. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR ALL THESE PROBLEMS. THE ECM WAS REPLACED BY THE TIME, THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE, I AM GETTING THE SAME DIAGNOSTIC P0300 AND THE VEHICLE IS DEAD. POOR QUALITY ON THIS NISSAN. I HAVE A 1996 SENTRA WHICH IS BY FAR MORE RELIABLE THAN THIS JUNK! *TR