2001 Nissan Sentra Steering Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE WHILE STEERING THE VEHICLE. SIX MONTHS AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED, SHE HAD TO ADD POWER STEERING FLUID TO THE VEHICLE. ON JUNE 18, 2007, THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT NO LEAK WAS FOUND. ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2007, THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE FRONT WHEEL ALIGNED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,312 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,613. UPDATED 12/12/07

NHTSA ID

10203800

Incident

Jun 14, 2007

Mileage

24,312 mi

HELLO, I OWN A 2001 NISSAN SENTRA. I'VE HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT 3.5 YEARS AND DURING THAT TIME IT'S HAD AT LEAST 4-5 RECALLS. MOST RECENTLY I TOOK IT IN FOR THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE CASE HOLDER RECALL IN EARLY MARCH. THIS RECALL WAS TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT COULD RESULT IN THE ENGINE SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING. ABOUT TWO MONTHS LATER, I WAS ON THE ROAD SITTING AT A RED LIGHT, AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. I THOUGH THAT MAYBE I HAD IT IN GEAR AND I JUST RELEASED THE CLUTCH ON ACCIDENT, BUT IT HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES ON THAT TRIP. NOW I CONSTANSTLY HAVE THE ENGINE SHUTTING DOWN ON ME WHILE DRIVING OR WHEN SITTING IN IDLE. IT HAS HAPPENED DURING TURNS IN WHICH IT MADE IT VERY VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AS THE POWER STEERING IS CUT OFF. I DID TAKE THE CAR IN FOR INSPECTION AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A BAD AIR FLOW METER. I DECLINED TO HAVE IT FIXED AS I THOUGHT THAT IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I EVEN WROTE A LETTER TO NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS, AND REQUESTED THEY FIX MY VEHICLE. HOWEVER THEY DECLINED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10075221

Incident

May 15, 2004

Mileage

56,200 mi

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

THE STEERING WHEEL MADE NOISE. ON ONE OCCASION THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND SHAKE WHILE MAKING A TURN WHICH RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE HITTING A CURB. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASION BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK *NLM

NHTSA ID

10017841

Incident

Jul 1, 2002

Mileage

17,500 mi

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

WHILE DRIVING 60MPH ENGINE CUT OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING .*AK

NHTSA ID

8016575

Incident

Aug 16, 2002

WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH APPLIED BRAKES ON A WET CONDITION ROAD LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALER/MANUFAXCTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK

NHTSA ID

891319

Incident

Apr 14, 2001

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY, AND WAS IN PROCESS OF PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE , CONSUMER LOST CONTROL, AND WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. *AK

NHTSA ID

890844

Incident

Jun 14, 2001