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2009 Nissan Sentra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2009 Nissan Sentra are lower than the model-year median of 116.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

48 reports with mileage · 7 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports0 fire reports7 injury reports

Steering complaints

11 reports
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97,000 miles · Nov 14, 2017
Air BagsSteeringStructureCrashInjury

THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT

NHTSA ODI #11046001

97,000 miles · Nov 14, 2017
Air BagsSteeringStructureCrashInjury

THE AIRBAG EXPLODED ON DRIVER'S SIDE, KNOCKED BE UNCONSCIOUS FOR A FEW MINUTES, WHEN I CAME TOO THE CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL. I HIT A IRON POLE IN FRONT OF WAL-GREEN'S. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT THE TIME.THE CAR WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY, IN WHICH THEY PICKED UP THE CAR AND TOOK IT AWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11045993

59,966 miles · Aug 24, 2017
Air BagsExterior LightingSteering

BOMBILLA QUE INDICA BOLSAS DE AIRE PARPADEA EN EL PANEL DE CONTROL Y DICE AIR BAG OFF

NHTSA ODI #11019282

145,694 miles · Apr 23, 2016
Steering

THIS IS A 2009 NISSAN SENTRA PURCHASED NEW FROM REED NISSAN IN 2009. IN JANUARY 2016 THE HORN FAILED COMPLETELY. FOR SOME TIME BEFORE THAT THE HORN WAS WORKING ONLY INTERMITTENTLY, AND FOR APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS BEFORE THAT THE CAR WOULD MAKE A CLACKING SOUND WHEN TURNING. ON JANUARY 28, 2016 WE BROUGHT IT IN TO REED NISSAN T…

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THIS IS A 2009 NISSAN SENTRA PURCHASED NEW FROM REED NISSAN IN 2009. IN JANUARY 2016 THE HORN FAILED COMPLETELY. FOR SOME TIME BEFORE THAT THE HORN WAS WORKING ONLY INTERMITTENTLY, AND FOR APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS BEFORE THAT THE CAR WOULD MAKE A CLACKING SOUND WHEN TURNING. ON JANUARY 28, 2016 WE BROUGHT IT IN TO REED NISSAN TO INVESTIGATE. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE CONDITION AS "TECHNICIAN FINDS THAT THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY IS FAULTY CAUSING NOISE AND BINDING." WE WERE CONCERNED THAT SINCE THIS IS AN ELECTRONIC COLUMN NOT REPLACING IT MIGHT LEAD TO STEERING FAILURE, AND THE LACK OF A HORN MADE THE CAR UNSAFE. REED NISSAN INDICATED THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE COST OF THIS SERVICE WAS: PARTS$1,956.48 LABOR$ 289.88 FREIGHT $ 80.00(TO REPLACE STEERING COLUMN).

NHTSA ODI #10861085

55,500 miles · Sep 26, 2014
Steering

WHILE CROSSING THE STREET FROM ONE PARKING LOT TO ANOTHER THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON MY 09 NISSAN SENTRA. WAS GOING LESS THAT 5MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL COULD NOT BE TURNED AT ALL. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AND WAS IN DRIVE. AFTER ABOUT 30 OR 40 SECONDS ATTEMPTING TO TURN STEERING WHEEL EITHER WAY IT FINALLY WENT BACK TO …

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WHILE CROSSING THE STREET FROM ONE PARKING LOT TO ANOTHER THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON MY 09 NISSAN SENTRA. WAS GOING LESS THAT 5MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL COULD NOT BE TURNED AT ALL. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AND WAS IN DRIVE. AFTER ABOUT 30 OR 40 SECONDS ATTEMPTING TO TURN STEERING WHEEL EITHER WAY IT FINALLY WENT BACK TO NORMAL . DROVE CAR ABOUT 50 MILES BACK HOME WITH NO FURTHER PROBLEMS.. TOOK CAR TO DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND AFTER LOOKING AT IT MOST OF THE DAY THE SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR ANY DISTANCE OR SPEED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10639474

12,000 miles · Jun 12, 2014
Service BrakesSteeringSuspension

BRAKES MAKE LOUD SQUEALING AND GRINDING NOISE STARTING AS LITTLE AS 8 TO 10 THOUSAND MILES EVEN WHEN PADS AND ROTORS ARE FINE. THE STEERING COLUMN POPS AND JOLTS SLIGHTLY WHEN TURNING STARTING AT 27 THOUSAND MILES. THE CAR MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TAKING MODERATE TO HARD RIGHT OR LEFT TURNS AT ANY SPEED. ONE TIRE SENSOR HAS A…

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BRAKES MAKE LOUD SQUEALING AND GRINDING NOISE STARTING AS LITTLE AS 8 TO 10 THOUSAND MILES EVEN WHEN PADS AND ROTORS ARE FINE. THE STEERING COLUMN POPS AND JOLTS SLIGHTLY WHEN TURNING STARTING AT 27 THOUSAND MILES. THE CAR MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TAKING MODERATE TO HARD RIGHT OR LEFT TURNS AT ANY SPEED. ONE TIRE SENSOR HAS ALREADY GONE BAD AT 20 THOUSAND MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10597829

64,599 miles · Mar 1, 2014
Steering

SEVERAL MONTHS OF INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING LOSS AND STEERING WOULD NOT RETURN UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF THEN BACK ON. CAR ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER WHEN HAPPENS. FINALLY LOST STEERING ON 2-21-14 AND DID NOT COME BACK AFTER TURNING CAR ON AND OFF. NEEDED TOTAL REPLACEMENT OF STEERING COLUMN PART NO 48810-ZT50A PART CO…

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SEVERAL MONTHS OF INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING LOSS AND STEERING WOULD NOT RETURN UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF THEN BACK ON. CAR ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER WHEN HAPPENS. FINALLY LOST STEERING ON 2-21-14 AND DID NOT COME BACK AFTER TURNING CAR ON AND OFF. NEEDED TOTAL REPLACEMENT OF STEERING COLUMN PART NO 48810-ZT50A PART COST $1,944.83 LABOR $439.75. TOOK TO GARAGE AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE UNTIL STEERING WAS FINALLY LOST FOR GOOD. THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE EASILY LED TO AN ACCIDENT IF HAPPENED DURING TURNS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10566614

33,000 miles · Jan 5, 2013
Steering

MY GIRL FRIEND WAS DRIVING ARE, 2009 NISSAN SENTRA AT ABOUT 40 MPH , SHE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN,THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN , SO SHE HAD TO GO STRAIGHT ,AND TRY TO TURN INTO A PARKING LOT. THE PROBLEM IS THE ELECTRIC MOTOR (SERVO) SHORTING OUT IN THE STEERING COLUMN . TO FIX THE PROBLEM YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE HOLE STE…

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MY GIRL FRIEND WAS DRIVING ARE, 2009 NISSAN SENTRA AT ABOUT 40 MPH , SHE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN,THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN , SO SHE HAD TO GO STRAIGHT ,AND TRY TO TURN INTO A PARKING LOT. THE PROBLEM IS THE ELECTRIC MOTOR (SERVO) SHORTING OUT IN THE STEERING COLUMN . TO FIX THE PROBLEM YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE HOLE STEERING COLUMN . THE SERVO AND POWER STEERING COMPUTER ARE ATTACHED. FACTORY PART COST 1600.00$ &600.00$ LABOR TO INSTALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10491524

16,800 miles · Aug 15, 2012
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 2 MPH MAKING A SHARP LEFT TURN, A CLUNKING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,80…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 2 MPH MAKING A SHARP LEFT TURN, A CLUNKING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,620.

NHTSA ODI #10470731

9,500 miles · Sep 19, 2010
SteeringSuspension

MY CAR SWERVES TOO MUCH ON THE FREEWAY. SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR IN 2009, I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE CAR. EVEN AFTER TAKING IT TO SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS, I AM STILL SCARED I AM GOING TO DIE DUE TO THE CAR. THE SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS I AM TAKEN THE CAR TO HAVE CLAIMED THERE IS NO PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE HA…

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MY CAR SWERVES TOO MUCH ON THE FREEWAY. SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR IN 2009, I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE CAR. EVEN AFTER TAKING IT TO SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS, I AM STILL SCARED I AM GOING TO DIE DUE TO THE CAR. THE SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS I AM TAKEN THE CAR TO HAVE CLAIMED THERE IS NO PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED IT TOO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10356313

Official recalls

1

10V401000 · Equipment:electrical:navigational System(global Positioning System)

Sep 10, 2010

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750 NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE BATTERIES CONTAINED IN THE AFFECTED GPS UNITS CAN OVERHEAT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY GARMIN TECHNICIANS BY REPLACING THE BATTERY AND INSERTING A SPACER ON TOP OF THE BATTERY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN DIRECTLY AT 1-866-957-1981 OR NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.