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2011 Nissan Sentra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2011 Nissan Sentra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 116.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

116 reports with mileage · 26 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

19 crash reports6 fire reports11 injury reports

Engine complaints

30 reports
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119,076 miles · May 15, 2015
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. ON ONE OCCASION, THE DEALER RESET THE CODES BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. IN ADDITION, THE TIRE PRESS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. ON ONE OCCASION, THE DEALER RESET THE CODES BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. IN ADDITION, THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,076.

NHTSA ODI #10716619

4,500 miles · Sep 13, 2014
Engine

ACTUALLY LESS THAN A YEAR FROM PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, A TICKING STARTED IN THE ENGINE EVEN AFTER ROUTINE OIL CHANGES. BEFORE IT HIT 50000 MILES, WHEN STARTING THE CAR IT WOULD HESITATE AND WHEN IT WAS CHECKED OUT A CELL IN THE BATTERY BURNED OUT AND IT WAS A LITTLE OVER A YEAR OLD. WHEN I LOOKED UP RECALLS THERE WAS SOMETHING C…

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ACTUALLY LESS THAN A YEAR FROM PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, A TICKING STARTED IN THE ENGINE EVEN AFTER ROUTINE OIL CHANGES. BEFORE IT HIT 50000 MILES, WHEN STARTING THE CAR IT WOULD HESITATE AND WHEN IT WAS CHECKED OUT A CELL IN THE BATTERY BURNED OUT AND IT WAS A LITTLE OVER A YEAR OLD. WHEN I LOOKED UP RECALLS THERE WAS SOMETHING CONCERNING THE BATTERY AND WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP THEY STATED SINCE IT WAS JUST OVER THE 50000 MARK IT WASN'T COVERED. AS FOR AS THE ENGINE THEY STATED STATED " THAT'S JUST THE ENGINE, THEY ALL HAVE A TICK." *TR

NHTSA ODI #10632976

79,725 miles · Aug 15, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

I WAS DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY 138 UNION CITY WHEN MY VEHICLE STARTED TO SHUTTER LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL. WHEN I STOPPED AT THE RED LIGHT THE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL LOAD DROPPED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT CRANK BACK UP. I WAS ABLE TO JUMP IT OFF AND THE CAR HAD NO ISSUES I HAD THE BATTERY TESTED AND ALTERNATOR TESTED BOTH ARE GOOD/. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10622428

Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2014
Engine

I BOUGHT A CAR FROM EMOTORS WEST LESS THAN 30 DAYS AGO AND THE CAR DIED ON ME IN THE NEXT 3 DAYS AND THEY KEPT MY CAR FOR 3 DAYS I JUST GOT IT BACK TODAY AND JUST DIED ON ME AGAIN... I JUST WANT TO GET MY MONEY BACK... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10620763

31,000 miles · Jun 23, 2014
EngineCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A GATE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000.

NHTSA ODI #10605316

62,000 miles · Apr 30, 2014
EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED ABNORMALLY AS IT INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER MERGING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SHE ATTEMPTED TO INSPECT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHEN SHE NOTICED A BURNING ODOR. SEVERAL MINUTES LATER THE VEH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED ABNORMALLY AS IT INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER MERGING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SHE ATTEMPTED TO INSPECT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHEN SHE NOTICED A BURNING ODOR. SEVERAL MINUTES LATER THE VEHICLE EXPLODED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA ODI #10585674

57,148 miles · Nov 18, 2013
EngineFire

IN 2007, NISSAN RECALLED MORE THAN 140,000 ALTIMAS DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF FIRE RELATED TO THE CARS AIR FILTER. THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE LARGE RECALL. WE OWN A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA, WHICH WE PURCHASED FOR OUR TEENAGE DAUGHTER. ACCORDING TO COURTESY NISSAN IN RICHARDSON, TEXAS, THE CAUSE OF A RECENT VEHICLE BRE…

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IN 2007, NISSAN RECALLED MORE THAN 140,000 ALTIMAS DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF FIRE RELATED TO THE CARS AIR FILTER. THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE LARGE RECALL. WE OWN A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA, WHICH WE PURCHASED FOR OUR TEENAGE DAUGHTER. ACCORDING TO COURTESY NISSAN IN RICHARDSON, TEXAS, THE CAUSE OF A RECENT VEHICLE BREAK DOWN WITH OUR SENTRA WAS AN AIR FILTER FIRE, WHICH ALSO CAUSED FIRE DAMAGE TO THE AIRBOX. THIS IS THE SAME DEFECT WHICH RESULTED IN NISSAN'S 2007 RECALL. (I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE FIRE-DAMAGED AIR FILTER AND AIRBOX, AS WELL AS THE FIRE-DAMAGED PARTS.) THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SERIOUS AND UNRESOLVED SAFETY ISSUE, ONE THAT NISSAN PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGED AND PROACTIVELY ADDRESSED WITH THE 2007 RECALL. NISSAN CORPORATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT HAS DENIED THAT THE ISSUE WITH THE 2007 ALTIMAS IS THE SAME ISSUE WITH OUR 2011 SENTRA, EVEN THOUGH THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP STATED CLEARLY TO US IN WRITING THAT THE AIRBOX/AIR FILTER CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE AIR FILTER IN A TWO-YEAR-OLD CAR SHOULDN'T CATCH ON FIRE. AND IT CERTAINLY SHOULDN'T CATCH ON FIRE IF AIR FILTER FIRES IN NISSANS WERE SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO RESULT IN A MAJOR RECALL OF NISSAN VEHICLES IN 2007. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10552779

23,103 miles · Aug 30, 2013
Electrical SystemEngine

VEHICLE FAILS TO START- BATTERY CONNECTOR REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AUGUST 29 2013 MILES 36404 SAME PROBLEM OCCURS DEALERSHIP REPLACES SAME CONNECTOR AND BATTERY AND CHARGES ME. THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS RECALL NOTICES ON OLDER NISSAN SENTRA'S ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP BUT DOES NOT APPLY TO MINE. DEALER FOR BOTH INCIDENTS IS MARSH…

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VEHICLE FAILS TO START- BATTERY CONNECTOR REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AUGUST 29 2013 MILES 36404 SAME PROBLEM OCCURS DEALERSHIP REPLACES SAME CONNECTOR AND BATTERY AND CHARGES ME. THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS RECALL NOTICES ON OLDER NISSAN SENTRA'S ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP BUT DOES NOT APPLY TO MINE. DEALER FOR BOTH INCIDENTS IS MARSHALL AUTOMOTIVE GROUP MARSHALLMOTOR.COM (800) 395-0455 3500 - 3550 S 9TH ST I-135 & WATERWELL RD SALINA, KS 67401

NHTSA ODI #10538100

26,000 miles · Apr 24, 2013
EngineCrashInjury

MY SON WAS DRIVING MY CAR NISSAN SENTRA 2011 ON 405 FREEWAY IN THE CARPOOL LANE AT ABOUT 65MPH. THE ENGINE CUT OFF. HE TOLD ME THAT HE TRIED TO GET OVER WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL COASTING BUT THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STOPPED IN ONE OF THE LANES. HE PUT ON THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS AND CALLED HOME. HE TOLD US THAT THE CAR HAD CUT OFF…

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MY SON WAS DRIVING MY CAR NISSAN SENTRA 2011 ON 405 FREEWAY IN THE CARPOOL LANE AT ABOUT 65MPH. THE ENGINE CUT OFF. HE TOLD ME THAT HE TRIED TO GET OVER WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL COASTING BUT THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STOPPED IN ONE OF THE LANES. HE PUT ON THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS AND CALLED HOME. HE TOLD US THAT THE CAR HAD CUT OFF AND WOULDN'T START BACK UP. HE SAID THAT OTHER CARS WERE JUST FLYING BY AT FAST SPEED. WE TOLD HIM AND HIS FRIENDS TO STAY IN THE CAR WHERE WE FELT IT TO BE SAFER AT THE TIME. THEN HE SAID I AM ABOUT TO GET HIT. FOR MINUTES WE DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. THE DRIVER THAT HIT THE REAR OF THE CAR LET MY SON AND 2 OTHER PEOPLE GET IN HIS CAR AND HE DROVE THEM OFF OF THE FREEWAY. MY SON CALLED THE HIGHWAY PATROL AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION. HE WAS TOLD THAT THE CHP WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT. WHEN MY HUSBAND AND I ARRIVED AT THE LOCATION WHERE MY SON,HIS FRIENDS AND THE DRIVER OF THE CAR THAT HIT HIM WERE WAITING, WE NOTICE A POLICE CAR. THE POLICEMAN SAID HE JUST SAW THEM THERE AND CAME OVER. WHEN CHP FINALLY CAME OVER TO WHERE WE WERE WAITING, THE CHP OFFICERS EXPLAINED TO US THAT THE VEHICLE WAS HIT A SECOND TIME AND THAT TWO PEOPLE WERE CARRIED IN AN AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS PUT ON A TOW TRUCK AND BROUGHT OVER TO WHERE WE WERE ALL WAITING. THE REAR OF THE CAR WAS TOTALLY SMASHED. THERE WAS NO LONGER A BACK SEAT OR TRUNK. WHEN MY SON SAW THE CAR HE WAS GLAD THAT THEY HAD GOTTEN OUT OF THE CAR BECAUSE ONE OF HIS FRIENDS WOULD HAVE GOTTEN SMASHED UP IF THEY HAD STAYED IN THE CAR. BY THE WAY, THE CAR WAS NOT OUT OF GAS BECAUSE I FILLED THE TANK UP WITH GAS MYSELF THE PREVIOUS DAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10509472

30,000 miles · Sep 11, 2012
EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, SHE WAS ADVISED BY A PASSING DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND TO EXIT IMMEDIATELY. THE CONTACT AND A PASSENGER WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE JUST AS THE VEHICLE EXPLODED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A P…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, SHE WAS ADVISED BY A PASSING DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND TO EXIT IMMEDIATELY. THE CONTACT AND A PASSENGER WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE JUST AS THE VEHICLE EXPLODED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY DID NOT RESPOND. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ODI #10475016

Official recalls

2

11V579000 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery:cables

Dec 15, 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. THE ZINC COATING APPLIED TO THE TERMINAL STUD BOLT WAS THICKER THAN SPECIFICATION. THIS CAN RESULT IN A VOLTAGE DROP THAT MAY CAUSE DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE AND COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM).

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS ISSUE CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND IT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AFTER IT STOPPED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL AND COVER, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALLBEGAN ON JANUARY 23, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

10V555000 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery:cables

Nov 12, 2010

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 SENTRA VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 22, 2010, THROUGH JULY 8, 2010. DUE TO A MACHINING IRREGULARITY, THE BOLT/WASHER SURFACE ON THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL CABLE END MAY ALLOW FOR A GAP TO OCCUR IN THE CONTACT AREA OF THE TERMINAL. THIS CAN RESULT IN A VOLTAGE DROP THAT MAY CAUSE DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE AND COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS ISSUE CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AT LOW SPEED WITH A DIFFICULT OR NO START INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL CABLE END WITH A NEW ONE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN PN NOVEMBER 29, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT 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.