The Lemon IndexThe air flow reading doesn't match what the computer expects. Full P0101 page
16 owner complaints · the #1 code Nissan Sentra owners name · 16% of Nissan Sentra complaints that name a code (every car: 0.5%)
Middle of 91,000 miles · most between 63,000 and 106,000 (8 owners gave it)
Nissan Sentra owners named P0101 in 16 complaints to the U.S. government (NHTSA), most often on the 2015, 2014 and 2011 model years, at a middle of 91,000 miles. The part they name most is the mass airflow (MAF) sensor (10 complaints). Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Nissan Sentra 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.
Mileage when it happened
91,000 miles is the middle of what 8 owners entered. Half were between 63,000 and 106,000 miles.
The mileage on the complaint form, when the owner gave one.
What owners say caused it or fixed it
The most-named part is the mass airflow (MAF) sensor, in 10 of the 16 complaints (62%). 8 of those mention it being replaced or repaired, and 3 say the problem came back afterwards. Next: engine software (a reflash) (2) and throttle body (2).
- Mass airflow (MAF) sensor10 complaints8 mention a repair or replacement, 3 of them say the problem came back · what owners paid
- Software update (reflash)2 complaints2 mention a repair or replacement
- Throttle body2 complaints2 mention a repair or replacement · what owners paid
5 complaints mention a recall.
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
69% of these complaints say the check engine light came on.
- Loses power or goes into limp mode25%4 of 16 complaints
- Transmission slips or shifts hard19%3 of 16 complaints
- Shakes, runs rough or misfires12%2 of 16 complaints
- Stalls or shuts off12%2 of 16 complaints
Share of the complaints naming P0101 whose text also describes each problem. A complaint can describe more than one.
Recalls on these Nissan Sentra years
- Electrical · 2016 · issued 2016
The engine room harness may have a terminal pin too large to maintain a connection with the Engine Control Unit (ECU). NHTSA 16V485000 - Electrical · 2013, 2014 · issued 2014
In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult. NHTSA 14V138000 - Electrical · 2011 · issued 2011
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 SENTRA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MR20 ENGINES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 11, 2010, TO MAY 22, 2010, AND JULY 8, 2010, TO OCTOBER 25, 2010. NHTSA 11V579000 - Electrical · 2011 · issued 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 SENTRA VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 22, 2010, THROUGH JULY 8, 2010. NHTSA 10V555000
4 recalls for the same systems (electrical, engine and powertrain) on the Nissan Sentra 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 Sentra reliability by year
- 2015 Nissan Sentra problems and recalls
Other codes Nissan Sentra owners report
P0101 on other cars
Nissan Kicks (17) · 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): 11709350, 11589533, 11567394, 11553612, 11543744, 11527353, 11495862, 11472954, 11443114, 11389616, 11316169, 11257185 and 4 more.
Quick answers
What does P0101 mean on a Nissan Sentra?
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 Sentra years have the most P0101 complaints?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners of the 2015 (6), 2014 (4), 2011 (3) Nissan Sentra named P0101 most (16 complaints in all, 2011–2016). Raw counts, not a failure rate.
What fixes P0101 on a Nissan Sentra?
Owners most often name the mass airflow (MAF) sensor (10 of 16 complaints), then engine software (a reflash) and throttle body. That's what owners wrote, not a diagnosis: have a shop confirm the cause with a scan and tests before replacing parts.
At what mileage does P0101 show up on a Nissan Sentra?
Owners who gave their mileage reported a middle of 91,000 miles; half were between 63,000 and 106,000 (8 owners).
Can I drive my Nissan Sentra 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 Sentra, 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.