The Lemon IndexThe air flow reading doesn't match what the computer expects. Full P0101 page
10 owner complaints · the #6 code Nissan Altima owners name · 4% of Nissan Altima complaints that name a code (every car: 0.5%)
2011–2020 Nissan Altima · most: 2011 (5), 2015 (2), 2020 (1)
Nissan Altima owners named P0101 in 10 complaints to the U.S. government (NHTSA), most often on the 2011, 2015 and 2020 model years. The part they name most is the engine computer (ECM / PCM) (4 complaints). Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Nissan Altima model years that report P0101
Owner complaints naming P0101, by model year. Raw counts: years that sold more get more complaints, so this is each model year's record, not a failure rate.
What owners say caused it or fixed it
The most-named part is the engine computer (ECM / PCM), in 4 of the 10 complaints (40%). 4 of those mention it being replaced or repaired, and 3 say the problem came back afterwards. Next: engine software (a reflash) (4) and mass airflow (MAF) sensor (3).
- Engine computer (ECM / PCM)4 complaints4 mention a repair or replacement, 3 of them say the problem came back · what Nissan Altima owners paid
- Software update (reflash)4 complaints4 mention a repair or replacement, 3 of them say the problem came back
- Mass airflow (MAF) sensor3 complaints2 mention a repair or replacement, 1 of them says the problem came back · what owners paid
Counted from the owners' own words: a part counts when a sentence names it with a cause or repair word. What owners wrote, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause before replacing parts.
Symptoms owners describe with P0101
60% of these complaints say the check engine light came on.
- Stalls or shuts off20%2 of 10 complaints
Share of the complaints naming P0101 whose text also describes each problem. A complaint can describe more than one.
Repair costs
Nissan Altima ECM (engine computer) replacement cost
Recalls on these Nissan Altima years
- Engine · 2019, 2020 · issued 2025
The engine bearings may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine failure. NHTSA 25V437000
1 recall for the same systems (engine, powertrain and speed) on the Nissan Altima model years above. A recall for the same system isn't proof it's behind P0101. Recall work is free at any dealer: check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with our VIN check.
Keep going
- P0101: meaning, causes and every car that reports it
- Nissan Altima reliability by year
- 2011 Nissan Altima problems and recalls
Other codes Nissan Altima owners report
P0776 P0335 B0020 P0420 P0725 P0841 P17F0
P0101 on other cars
Nissan Kicks (17) · Nissan Sentra (16)
The details
How we count
We read every owner complaint in the NHTSA file whose text names this trouble code, and count the ones filed about this model (matched by the make, model and model year on the complaint). Mileage is what the owner entered on the form.
Parts: a complaint counts for a part when one of the owner's own sentences names that part together with a cause word (failed, bad, diagnosed, caused by, leaking ...) or a repair word (replaced, repaired, new, reprogrammed ...). "Came back" means the same complaint also says the problem returned or the repair didn't fix it. These are counts of what owners wrote, not a diagnosis, and one complaint can name several parts.
Complaints are reports, not proof of a defect, and most owners never file one. Popular models get more complaints, so the counts are not a failure rate. The code meaning is the standard SAE J2012 definition in our own words, or the carmaker's meaning where we verified it for that make.
What P0101 means
The air flow reading doesn't match what the computer expects. The engine may hesitate, stall or idle rough.
Get it fixed soon. A few more days of normal driving is usually OK, but waiting can turn a small repair into a bigger one or a breakdown.
- Dirty MAF sensor
- Air leak after the sensor
- Clogged air filter
- Failing MAF sensor
Check the complaints yourself
NHTSA complaint numbers (search them at nhtsa.gov): 11741855, 11671150, 11640985, 11579951, 11450693, 11415531, 11290247, 11138950, 11093458, 10864267.
Quick answers
What does P0101 mean on a Nissan Altima?
Mass or Volume Air Flow Sensor A Range/Performance. The air flow reading doesn't match what the computer expects. The engine may hesitate, stall or idle rough.
Which Nissan Altima years have the most P0101 complaints?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners of the 2011 (5), 2015 (2), 2020 (1) Nissan Altima named P0101 most (10 complaints in all, 2011–2020). Raw counts, not a failure rate.
What fixes P0101 on a Nissan Altima?
Owners most often name the engine computer (ECM / PCM) (4 of 10 complaints), then engine software (a reflash) and mass airflow (MAF) sensor. That's what owners wrote, not a diagnosis: have a shop confirm the cause with a scan and tests before replacing parts.
Can I drive my Nissan Altima with P0101?
Get it fixed soon. A few more days of normal driving is usually OK, but waiting can turn a small repair into a bigger one or a breakdown.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints that name P0101 on the Nissan Altima, counted by The Lemon Index; NHTSA recalls; repair bills owners named. Meanings: SAE J2012 in our own words. Owner reports, not a diagnosis or repair advice for your car.