Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
330–25K
1025–50K
1850–75K
2175–100K
31100–150K
3150K+
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
What owners actually said
142 reports
123,000 miles · Oct 17, 2018
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND CONTINUED DRIVING, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED RANDOMLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MASS AIR …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND CONTINUED DRIVING, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED RANDOMLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VALLEJO NISSAN (LOCATED AT 3287 SONOMA BLVD, VALLEJO, CA 94590, (707) 656-4483) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH A RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
NHTSA ODI #11141126
167,000 miles · Sep 22, 2018
Air BagsCrash
SINCE AN FRONT END ACCIDENT MY AIRBACK DIDN'T DEPLOY AND WHEN MY BODY SHOP REVIEWED THE REPAIR, STATED MY AIR BAG MODULE IS BROKEN SO I DIDN'T HAVE WORKING AIRBAGS TO START.
NHTSA ODI #11130733
100,000 miles · Sep 17, 2018
Steering
"TAKATA RECALL" STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT LOCK AND IS STOPPING THE CAR FROM STARTING. WENT OUT TO START THE CAR AT THE STORE AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT LOCKED AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO START THE CAR. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED.
NHTSA ODI #11129887
87,000 miles · Aug 31, 2018
Power Train
CVT TRANSMISSION WHINES AND APPEARS TO BE SLIPPING WHEN GOING UPHILL - THE RPMS INCREASE BUT THE CAR IS NOT GOING FASTER. THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH NISSAN CVT TRANSMISSIONS. THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS/120K MILES FOR 2004-2010 CVTS. UNFORTUNATELY, MINE IS A 2011.
NHTSA ODI #11123900
110,000 miles · Aug 19, 2018
Power Train
DURING A TRIP FROM WIS. TO FLORIDA MY SON'S USED 2011 WITH APPROX. 110.000 MILES DEVELOPED A WHINING NOISE THAT FLUCTUATED AS THE CAR ACCELERATED AND DECELERATED. CAR ALSO SEEMS TO LOSE POWER.
NHTSA ODI #11120872
140,000 miles · Jul 28, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineWheels
TAKATA RECALL I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND CAME TO A STOP SIGN AND THE WHOLE CAR SHUT OFF, WHILE I WAS IN DRIVE. MY BATTERY WAS CORRODED AND SO WE THOUGHT THAT WAS THE ISSUE AND CHANGED THE BATTERY AND THE PROBLEM WORSENDED UP UNTIL YESTERDAY WHILE I WAS RIDING TO WORK, I ARRIVED AT A STOP LIGHT AND BEFORE THE LIGHT EVEN TURNED RED…
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TAKATA RECALL I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND CAME TO A STOP SIGN AND THE WHOLE CAR SHUT OFF, WHILE I WAS IN DRIVE. MY BATTERY WAS CORRODED AND SO WE THOUGHT THAT WAS THE ISSUE AND CHANGED THE BATTERY AND THE PROBLEM WORSENDED UP UNTIL YESTERDAY WHILE I WAS RIDING TO WORK, I ARRIVED AT A STOP LIGHT AND BEFORE THE LIGHT EVEN TURNED RED THE WHOLE CAR SHUT OFF AND LOCKED UP. THE BATTERY IS NEW, OIL HAD BEEN CHANGED HAT SAME DAY AS THE AIR FILTER AND THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR WERE CHANGED. THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR WAS CHANGED BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I WAS TOLD WAS WHY MY ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THE VERY DAY THE SAME ISSUES OCCURRED AND THE WHOLE CAR STOPPED AND DID NOT START AGAIN. PRIOR TO THIS, MY CAR SAT FOR A FEW DAYS, LIKE ANY CAR DOES ON THE WEEKEND AND I NEEDED A JUMP THE FOLLOWING SUNDAY NIGHT AND AFTER CHANGING THE BATTERY, THE PROBLEMS WORSENED AND AS I WAS DRIVING, IF I TURNED SLIGHTLY OR MADE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, MY SKIP CONTROL WOULD COME ON AND STAY ON AND I DRIVE ROUTINELY SO I KNEW IT WAS A NEW PROBLEM. WHEN I PUT THE CAR INTO PARK, THE SLIP CONTROL WOULD COME ON OR IN REVERSE, THE SLIP CONTROL WOULD COME ON OR THE WHOLE CAR WOULD SHUT OFF IN THAT GEAR.
NHTSA ODI #11114267
144,901 miles · Jul 26, 2018
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING OVER 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND THE VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR A…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING OVER 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND THE VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,901.
NHTSA ODI #11113873
125,000 miles · Jul 23, 2018
Power Train
VEHICLE LOSES POWER AFTER COUPLE OF HOURS OF DRIVING ON RELATIVELY HOT DAYS. HAD VEHICLE EXAMINED BY DEALER ADVISED I NEEDED A "TRANSMISSION COOLER" BECAUSE TRANSMISSION WAS OVERHEATING AND NOT GETTING ENOUGH AIR. ADVISED VEHICLE COMPUTER REGISTERED OVER 82 INSTANCES OF TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING. WHEN THE ISSUE OCCURS VEHICLE EN…
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VEHICLE LOSES POWER AFTER COUPLE OF HOURS OF DRIVING ON RELATIVELY HOT DAYS. HAD VEHICLE EXAMINED BY DEALER ADVISED I NEEDED A "TRANSMISSION COOLER" BECAUSE TRANSMISSION WAS OVERHEATING AND NOT GETTING ENOUGH AIR. ADVISED VEHICLE COMPUTER REGISTERED OVER 82 INSTANCES OF TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING. WHEN THE ISSUE OCCURS VEHICLE ENTERS "LIMP" MODE. VEHICLE WILL NOT PRODUCE MORE THAN 2500 RPMS. RECENTLY OCCURRED ON INTERSTATE 40 IN TN. CLIMBING LARGE HILL CAR WOULD NOT MAINTAIN SPEED. DEALER ADVISED THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE OTHER THAN THE DESIGN OF TRANSMISSION AND ADVISED BY NISSAN TO FIX PROBLEM INSTALL A TRANSMISSION COOLER WHICH COSTS $1,400.
NHTSA ODI #11113116
76,000 miles · Jun 6, 2018
Steering
MALFUNCTION OF THE STEERING, I WILL BE DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I DON'T HAVE ANY STEERING! VERY DANGEROUS WHEN I MAKE A TURN ITS HAPPEN TO ME NO STEERING. PS LIGHT COMES ON, ON A BUSY INTERSECTION
NHTSA ODI #11100282
103,000 miles · May 24, 2018
Power Train
THERE IS TRANSMISSION ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE WHEN DRIVEN IN EXCESS OF 2 HOURS. IT APPEARS TO OVERHEAT AND WILL NOT DRIVE IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH UNTIL IT COOLS DOWN. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND I DID OPEN A CASE WITH NISSAN WHO REFUSES TO COVER THE REPAIR. NISSAN CASE # 31337703. NISSAN DOUBLED THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY ON MODELS 2…
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THERE IS TRANSMISSION ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE WHEN DRIVEN IN EXCESS OF 2 HOURS. IT APPEARS TO OVERHEAT AND WILL NOT DRIVE IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH UNTIL IT COOLS DOWN. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND I DID OPEN A CASE WITH NISSAN WHO REFUSES TO COVER THE REPAIR. NISSAN CASE # 31337703. NISSAN DOUBLED THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY ON MODELS 2003 - 2010 AS A RESULT OF THIS ISSUE BUT IS REFUSING THE STAND BEHIND THIS ONE WHICH WAS PRESUMABLY MADE IN 2010. PROBLEM FIRST NOTICED A YEAR AGO AND 2 MECHANICS COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE AS IT HAS TO BE DRIVEN A LONG TIME TO HEAT UP. IT IS ONLY ON LONG TRIPS THAT THIS HAPPENS. NISSAN REQUESTED WE TAKE IT TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND AFTER 6 HOURS (AND $150 CHARGE) THEY SAID IT HAD THE INCORRECT TRANSMISSION FLUID. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND NEVER CHANGED OR AUTHORIZED ANYONE TO CHANGE IT SO THAT IS A FALSE STATEMENT. I WAS CHASTISED FOR NOT VISITING A DEALER IN 5 YEARS... MY RESPONSE WAS IF IT IS NOT BROKE WHY FIX IT? THIS VEHICLE IS NOW USED FOR PRIMARILY LONG ROAD TRIPS TO SCHOOL AND IT IS FRUSTRATING THAT NISSAN KNOWS THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF REPORTED ISSUES WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION BUT WILL NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ONE. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO NISSAN AND ESCALATED MY APPEAL AS HIGH AS THE EXECUTIVE SPECIALIST WHO WOULD NOT CONSIDER STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. SENT A FEW E-MAILS TO MANAGEMENT (CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE) WHICH HAVE GONE IGNORED. WILL BE DISPUTING THE CREDIT CARD CHARGE FOR 'DIAGNOSIS' AS THAT WAS A 6 HOUR WAIT FOR THEM TO DO NOTHING MORE THEN LOOK AT THE FLUID AND ACCUSE US OF CHANGING IT TO AN UNSUPPORTED FLUID. GIVEN THE KNOWN DESIGN AND RELIABILITY ISSUES WITH THIS PART I SIMPLY REQUEST NISSAN TO COVER THE COST OF REPLACEMENT TO WHICH THEY REFUSE, CAUSING A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE WHEN THIS CAR IS DRIVEN. IN CITY DRIVING IT WORKS WITHOUT ANY ISSUES.
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.
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.
2011 Nissan Sentra Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year