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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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