The Lemon IndexThe air flow reading doesn't match what the computer expects. Full P0101 page
17 owner complaints · the #1 code Nissan Kicks owners name
2018–2020 Nissan Kicks · most: 2019 (6), 2018 (6), 2020 (5)
Nissan Kicks owners named P0101 in 17 complaints to the U.S. government (NHTSA), most often on the 2019, 2018 and 2020 model years. The part they name most is the mass airflow (MAF) sensor (10 complaints). Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Nissan Kicks 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 mass airflow (MAF) sensor, in 10 of the 17 complaints (59%). 6 of those mention it being replaced or repaired, and 2 say the problem came back afterwards. Next: 12-volt battery (2).
- Mass airflow (MAF) sensor10 complaints6 mention a repair or replacement, 2 of them say the problem came back · what owners paid
- 12-volt battery2 complaints2 mention a repair or replacement, 2 of them say 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
59% of these complaints say the check engine light came on.
- Transmission slips or shifts hard41%7 of 17 complaints
- Stalls or shuts off35%6 of 17 complaints
- Warning lights and electrical faults35%6 of 17 complaints
- Loses power or goes into limp mode12%2 of 17 complaints
- Brakes or ABS act up12%2 of 17 complaints
Share of the complaints naming P0101 whose text also describes each problem. A complaint can describe more than one.
Codes owners report with it
P0102 2
Other codes named in the same Nissan Kicks complaints, and in how many.
Keep going
- P0101: meaning, causes and every car that reports it
- Nissan Kicks reliability by year
- 2019 Nissan Kicks problems and recalls
P0101 on other cars
Nissan Sentra (16) · Nissan Altima (10)
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): 11776137, 11750705, 11732218, 11725369, 11705079, 11692541, 11687984, 11687431, 11682015, 11678621, 11676333, 11675888 and 5 more.
Quick answers
What does P0101 mean on a Nissan Kicks?
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 Kicks years have the most P0101 complaints?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners of the 2019 (6), 2018 (6), 2020 (5) Nissan Kicks named P0101 most (17 complaints in all, 2018–2020). Raw counts, not a failure rate.
What fixes P0101 on a Nissan Kicks?
Owners most often name the mass airflow (MAF) sensor (10 of 17 complaints), then 12-volt battery. 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 Kicks 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 Kicks, 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.