RoadVitals

2001 Nissan Sentra Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
24
Latest Aug 2, 2004
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
10%
of 236 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
6
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Nissan Sentra submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 24 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesOther / unspecified
Filed Aug 2, 2004

VEHICLE WITH JUST OVER 30000 MILES HAS SEVERE BRAKING SYSTEM PROBLEMS, REQUIRING SIGNFICANT AND COSTLY REPAIRS. APPEARS TO BE COMMON WITH 2001 SENTRA.*AK

NHTSA ID
10083188
Incident
Mar 1, 2004
Mileage
30,000 mi
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Mar 3, 2004
Crash reported2 injuries reported

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THEN, VEHICLE STALLED WHILE IN MOTION AND HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ID
10061267
Incident
Mar 3, 2004
AirbagsBrakesElectrical+4 more
Filed Jan 15, 2004
Crash reported

MY ENGINE FAILED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING 70 MPHS ON THE FREEWAY, THE VERY DAY AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN REPAIRED FOR YET ANOTHER DEFECT SENSOR. IT WAS A MIRACLE I DID NOT CRASH AND KILL ANYONE INCLUDING MYSELF. EACH AND EVERY TIME I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN, I HAVE REQUESTED IT BE CHECKED FOR A SHORT IN THE WIRING. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD NO. I LATER LEARNED THAR MEANT IF IT DIDN'T SHOW UP ON THE COMPUTER, THEN THEY WOULDN'T LOOK FOR IT SPECIFICALLY. FOLLOWING THE LATEST HAZARD, I GOT IN NISSAN'S FACE. NISSAN FOUND A DEFECT OXYGEN SENSOR THIS TIME. UPON RETESTING THE VEHICLE, THE EMC (THE BRAIN OF THE VEHICLE) WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. I WAS ALSO TOLD HAD I DRIVEN THE CAR ANY LONGER, THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT WOULD HAVE BLOWN TOO. WELL, THAT EXPLAINS ALL THE LOUSY GAS MILEAGE THIS PAST YEAR. SO, HERE IT IS A WEEK LATER AND MY VEHICLE REMAINS IN THE SHOP WITH A BACK ORDERED EMC WITH NO AVAILABLE STOCK DATE IN SIGHT. I AM RENTING A VEHICLE AND AM RECEIVING VERY LITTLE ASSISTANCE FROM NISSAN AS TO GETTING A RENTAL VEHICLE IN THE MEANTIME. I AM QUITE CONCERNED I HAVE PURCHASED A BRAND NEW SPANKING YELLOW LEMON. I AM QUITE CONCERNED THIS VEHICLE, EVEN WITH A NEW EMC, WILL PRODUCE OTHER DEFECTIVE SENSORS ONCE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR FROM THE OLD ONE. THERE ARE 45 SENSORS IN THE VEHICLE AND ONLY 5-10 HAVE BLOWN SO FAR. I AM QUITE CERTAIN OTHERS ARE CLOSE TO FAILURE TOO. I AM JUST AS CONCERNED WHEN BOTH THE NISSAN REPRESENTATIVE AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THIS PART HAS BEEN ON BACK ORDER FOR A VERY LONG TIME AS SO MANY VEHICLES HAVE ENDURED THIS PROBLME, THAT THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN RECALLED.

NHTSA ID
10070680
Incident
Apr 15, 2002
BrakesEngineSteering
Filed Oct 2, 2003

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. BEFORE TOTAL SHUT DOWN STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES LOCKED UP, ALMOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO IN TURN INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE CRANK POSITIONING SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE, BUT NOT FOR CONSUMER'S VIN NUMBER. THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE CONSUMER FOR RECALL REPAIRS. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
10042193
Incident
Sep 29, 2003
Mileage
45,000 mi
BrakesElectricalFuel system
Filed Aug 27, 2003

I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. . I HAVE HAD TO BRING IT IN FOUR TIMES FOR AN INOPERATIVE HORN. I WOULD DISCOVER THAT HORN WAS NOT WORKING, I'D BRING IT IN AND IT WOULD FUNCTION, THEN A COUPLE OF MONTHS WOULD PASS AND AGAIN IT WOULD BE INOPERATIVE. THEY FINALLY REPLACED THE HARNESS, AND IT HAS BEEN WORKING FOR 2 STRAIGHT MONTHS. THIS MIGHT NOT SEEM LIKE A BIG DEAL, BUT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE BROUGHT IT IN TWICE FOR A BROKEN IGNITION WIRE. THE FIRST TIME THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS RELEASED TO ME AND TWO DAYS LATER I HAD IT TOWED IN BECAUSE IT WAS DEAD. I HAVE HAD BREAK ISSUES, MY BREAKS WERE APPARENTLY WARPED AND NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY.THE LATEST THING TO GO WAS THE FUEL PUMP. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, IN THE MIDDLE LANE, DURING RUSH HOUR WHEN THE CAR JUST STOPPED. I HAD NO WHERE TO GO AND WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE. A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE. I AM NOW TOLD THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN MY CAR WILL BE FIXED, NOR ARE THEY WILLING TO PROVIDE ME WITH ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION. AM I JUST SUPPOSED TO ACCEPTT THAT ALL OF THIS GOES WRONG WITH MY 2001 CAR? I BOUGHT A NEW CAR SO I WOULD HAVE SAFE AND RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION. THIS HAS YET TO HAPPEN. THESE PROBLEMS HAVE PLAGUED ME SINCE THE BEGINNING AND ITS ONLY GETTING WORSE. I AM AT KELLY NISSAN WITH A MAJOR ISSUE AN AVERAGE OF ONCE EVERY 3 MONTHS. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS CAR IS SAFE TO OPERATE. WHAT ARE MY RIGHTS AS A CONSUMER?*AK

NHTSA ID
10036710
Incident
Aug 21, 2003
Brakes
Filed May 23, 2003

RIGHT REAR WHEEL LOCKS AND DOES NOT ROTATE, AT TIMES, NOT ALL OF THE TIME. DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT NOTHING IS WRONG. SAYS, "PROBABLY THE CHANGES IN THE WEATHER." STARTED IN DECEMBER, 2002, AND IS CONTINUEING TO DATE.

NHTSA ID
10019192
Incident
Dec 10, 2002
Brakes
Filed May 19, 2003

THE BRAKE WORE QUICKLY WHICH CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10020065
Incident
May 15, 2003
BrakesSteeringSuspension
Filed Mar 27, 2003

MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH 2001 SENTRA. STEERING HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY TIGHTER. DEALER CLAIMS NO PROBLEM. CRUNCHING NOISE FROM SHOCKS/STRUTS WHEN DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMPS OR WHEN EXITING DRIVEWAY ONTO ROAD (UNEVEN PAVEMENT). WORSE WHEN COLD. DEALER CLAIMS NO PROBLEM. BRAKES MAKE SCRAPING NOISE WHEN APPLIED. WORSE WHEN COLD. CAR HAS BECOME VERY UNCOMFORTABLE TO DRIVE - TIGHT/DIFFICULT STEERING AND NOISY SUSPENSION. DRIVES LIKE A 10 YEAR OLD CHEVY INSTEAD OF A 2 YEAR OLD JAPANESE CAR. I SHOULD HAVE KEPT MY HONDA!!!*JB

NHTSA ID
10013575
Incident
Mar 1, 2003
BrakesOther / unspecified
Filed Feb 4, 2003
Crash reported

THE CONSUMER HIT A VEHICLE IN FRONT DUE TO THE REAR WHEELS LOCKING UP AND A POSSIBILITY OF NO FRONT BRAKES. SCC PH

NHTSA ID
10004793
Incident
Dec 20, 2002
Mileage
17,350 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 6, 2003
Crash reported

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES TO THE VEHICLE WERE NOT WORKING ,CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HIT ANOTHER VEHCILE. PH

NHTSA ID
10002064
Incident
Nov 23, 2002
Brakes
Filed Dec 10, 2002

I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WHEN APPLING THE BRAKES, WITH THE CAR GOING INTO A SLIDE /SKID AND ALMOST HITTING ANOTHER CAR, GOING AT A SLOW RATE. THIS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE. I WAS TOLD ON A COUPLE OF OCC. THAT IT WOULD COST ME TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT THE BRAKES, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRENTY. THEY SAID THEY DROVE IT AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE LAST TIME I TOOK IT IN, THEY FOUND THE CAR TO BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND SAID IT RELATED TO THE CALIBERS ON THE BRAKES. WHAT CAN I DO FOR A COMPLAINT TO NISSAN FOR THEIR LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY ON THE SITUATION? CAN I TAKE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THEM? DT

NHTSA ID
770704
Brakes
Filed Jun 25, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, APPLIED BRAKES AND WITHOUT WARNING BRAKES FAILED, ESPECIALLY IN RAINY WEATHER. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. *SLC

NHTSA ID
8012531
Incident
May 1, 2002
Brakes
Filed Mar 18, 2002

ON TWO OCCASIONS WHEN BRAKING ON WET ROAD CONDITION VEHICLE WOULD SLIDE BEFORE STOPPING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING THIS CONDITION ON DRY PAVEMENT AT LOW SPEEDS AS WELL. *TT

NHTSA ID
8005809
Incident
Dec 9, 2001
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Mar 2, 2002

CAR CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE AFTER FOOT IS REMOVED FROM THE PEDAL. OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT WAS EASILY MANAGED BY TAPPING THE BRAKE. BROUGHT IN FOR REPAIR AND CARBON BUILD-UP WAS FOUND ON THE THROTTLE AND CLEANED UP. MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE WAS MORE DRAMATIC. I WAS ACCELERATING QUICKLY (4000+ RPM) FROM A STOP AT A RED LIGHT. CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AT 4000+ RPM. BRAKING HARD DID NOT STOP THE CAR, NOR DID IT STOP THE CONTINUED ACCELERATION. HAD TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PULL OVER. ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE AT 4000+ RPM, UNTIL IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. BROUGHT TO NISSAN SERVICE. THEY CHECKED THROTTLE PLATE AND CABLE BUT FOUND NO PROBLEM, AND CONDITION COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. PROBLEM HAS NOT OCCURRED IN THE WEEK SINCE, BUT IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN INTERMITTENT AND UNPREDICTABLE. SHOULD THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM HAVE BEEN FIXED WITH OUT CHARGE? WHAT CAN I DO IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN? THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE TO ME, AND COULD HAVE ENDED BADLY IF ONE OF MY KIDS HAD BEEN DRIVING INSTEAD OF ME.*AK

NHTSA ID
758859
Incident
Feb 21, 2002
Brakes
Filed Jan 31, 2002

WHILE DRIVING WOULD STEP ON BRAKES PEDAL TO REDUCE SPEED OR TO STOP VEHICLE, BUT BRAKES WILL NOT FUNCTION ON TIME, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8003372
Incident
Jan 28, 2002
Brakes
Filed Jan 24, 2002

I REPORTED TO SERVICE MANAGER-ZEEK, SHEEHY NISSAN ANNAPOLIS, THAT THE CAR HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE UPON BRAKING, TO THE POINT OF JERKING TO A STOP, AND EVEN SLIDING AT LOW SPEEDS BELOW 40MPH. NO PROBLEM, THEY REPLACED FRONT BRAKE SHOES, AND TURNED ROTORS. I NOTICED LATELY THAT WHEN I BRAKE, I HEAR THIS DRY SOUND COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. I INTEND TO REPORT IT ALONG WITH THE ENGINE BELT SQUEAKING SOUNDS THIS WEEKEND. *AK

NHTSA ID
757296
Incident
Dec 22, 2001
Body & structureBrakesOther / unspecified+3 more
Filed Jan 4, 2002

HEADREST WILL NOT STAY IN DOWN POSITION, IT KEEPS RISING UP, BLOCKING CONSUMER'S VIEW ONCOMING TRAFFIC. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8001518
Incident
Oct 1, 2001
BrakesSuspension
Filed Nov 20, 2001
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH AND WHEN TURNING BRAKE CALIPER LOCKED UP, AND CONSUMER HIT CURVE AND DROVE OVER IT. CONSUMER WAS COMPARING THE SITUATION WITH THE RECALL 01 V 174 000. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER, BUT PROBLEM STILL THERE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. AK

NHTSA ID
899327
Incident
Nov 20, 2001
Brakes
Filed Nov 5, 2001

WHEN TRAVELING AT 25-35 MPH BRAKES LOCKED WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

NHTSA ID
898726
Brakes
Filed Aug 31, 2001

BRAKES LOCK UP AT 20-35 MPH UNDER NORMAL BREAKING CONDITIONS CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. CONSTANT WHINE FROM FRONT LEFT SIDE. FRONT LEFT ROTOR TURNED ONCE DUE TO PULSATING PEDAL. PULSATING HAS RETURNED ALONG WITH "SHIMMY" IN STEERING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. FRONT TIRES SEEM TO BE WEARING AT ACCELERATED RATE. APPT # 2 SET WITH DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID
751482
Incident
Jun 25, 2001
Brakes
Filed Aug 30, 2001
Crash reported

BRAKES LOCKED AT RELATIVELY LOW SPEED, RESULTING IN AN UNNECCESARY CRASH DUE TO VEHICLE SKIDING. THE DISTANCE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PLEANTY TO EFFECTIVELY STOP THE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
751398
Incident
Aug 11, 2001
Brakes
Filed Aug 2, 2001

BRAKES CONTINUED TO LOCK UP WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 20-30 MPH. DEALERSHIP FOUND ROTORS WERE WARPED AND TURNED THEM, REDUCING FAILURE RATE. AS A RESULT TIRES HAVE FLAT SPOTS AND ARE DAMAGED. DEALERSHIP/NISSAN REFUSES TO REPLACE. *AK

NHTSA ID
749672
Incident
Dec 20, 2000
Brakes
Filed Jun 26, 2001

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL DOES NOT GO TO FLOOR. HOWEVER, THE SYSTEM APPEARS TO LOCK UP, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK CONSUMER STATES THIS IS A VERY POOR ENGINEERING DESIGN OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM THAT CAUSES THE BRAKES TO LOCK UP WHEN THEY ARE APPLIED BEYOND A VERY SLOW DRIVING CONDITION. *SLC

NHTSA ID
891250
Brakes
Filed Jun 22, 2001

WHEN DRIVING 35-40- MPH AND APPLYING BRAKES ABRUPTLY, BRAKES WILL LOCK UP AND VEHICLE SLIDES. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME AT THAT SPEED/ WET OR DRY ROAD CONDITIONS. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER ONCE, CANNOT REMEDY. *AK

NHTSA ID
890987
Incident
Nov 1, 2000

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .