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2016 Nissan Sentra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Sentra years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Nissan Sentra are substantially higher than the model-year median of 116.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

146 reports with mileage · 124 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 127 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

18 crash reports2 fire reports10 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

45 reports
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47,000 miles · Jul 23, 2018
Electrical System

ASSUMING THIS MAY BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM I COULD NOT START IT HAS PLENTY OF VOLTAGE. MANUFACTUREDDEFECT OF MARCH 11TH FOR SAME MODEL ONLY ONE MONTH SHY OF THE RECALL FROM APRIL 11TH ARE YOU SURE THIS MANUFACTURE DATE DOESN'T HAVE A RECALL AS OTHER BUILT ONE MONTH LATER?LVE ONLY HAD FOR 2 MONTHS AND I'M ALREADY HAVING AN ISSUE.…

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ASSUMING THIS MAY BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM I COULD NOT START IT HAS PLENTY OF VOLTAGE. MANUFACTUREDDEFECT OF MARCH 11TH FOR SAME MODEL ONLY ONE MONTH SHY OF THE RECALL FROM APRIL 11TH ARE YOU SURE THIS MANUFACTURE DATE DOESN'T HAVE A RECALL AS OTHER BUILT ONE MONTH LATER?LVE ONLY HAD FOR 2 MONTHS AND I'M ALREADY HAVING AN ISSUE. BOUGHT FROM HERTZ CAR SALES IN ROSEVILLE, CAN. NOT STARTING ALL THE TIME JUST GETTING A CLICK SO RULING OUT THE STARTER NOT HAPPY

NHTSA ODI #11113032

15,000 miles · Jun 20, 2018
Electrical SystemEngine

WHILE BRAKING THE AIR CONDITIONING SHUTS OFF. THE DEALER SAY THEY HAVE "FIXED" THE PROBLEM TWICE AND THEN ON MY 3RD ATTEMPT TO HAVE IT FIXED THEY INFORMED ME IT IS A "NORMAL WORKING CONDITION" THEY THEN TOLD ME I WAS TO BE REMOVED FROM THEIR SURVEY LIST BECAUSE OF A POTENTIALLY BAD REVIEW AND THEN WAS TOLD I COULDN'T BRING THE C…

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WHILE BRAKING THE AIR CONDITIONING SHUTS OFF. THE DEALER SAY THEY HAVE "FIXED" THE PROBLEM TWICE AND THEN ON MY 3RD ATTEMPT TO HAVE IT FIXED THEY INFORMED ME IT IS A "NORMAL WORKING CONDITION" THEY THEN TOLD ME I WAS TO BE REMOVED FROM THEIR SURVEY LIST BECAUSE OF A POTENTIALLY BAD REVIEW AND THEN WAS TOLD I COULDN'T BRING THE CAR BACK FOR THIS ISSUE ANYMORE.

NHTSA ODI #11102738

70,000 miles · Feb 13, 2018
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

PURCHASED FROM NISSAN OF NEWNAN, IN OCTOBER OF 2016 SENTRA - WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT STARTED HESITATING BEFORE PICKING UP ANY SPEED FROM A STOPPED POSITION, WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, PULLED OVER TO READ THE MANUAL AND IT STATED TO CHECK THE GAS CAP, IT WAS NOT ON TIGHT SO I REMOVED IT A PLACED…

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PURCHASED FROM NISSAN OF NEWNAN, IN OCTOBER OF 2016 SENTRA - WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT STARTED HESITATING BEFORE PICKING UP ANY SPEED FROM A STOPPED POSITION, WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, PULLED OVER TO READ THE MANUAL AND IT STATED TO CHECK THE GAS CAP, IT WAS NOT ON TIGHT SO I REMOVED IT A PLACED IT BACK, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. THE NEXT DAY WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL THE ENGINE WOULD REV UP BUT THE CAR STARTING JERKING BEFORE GAINING TO 40 MILES PER HOUR, THE RMP GAUGE WOULD ZIP UP TO 4 GO BACK TO 2 BEFORE MOVING TO A HIGHER SPEED. WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF, ONCE I STARTED IT BACK UP THE CAR WOULD SHIFT INTO DRIVE, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE DIAGNOSIS WAS DEALING WITH SOMETHING ELECTRICAL AND THE TRANSMISSION. LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD AND LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. I OWNED OLDER MODEL FOR 5 YEARS, OVER 200,000 MILES BEFORE I HAD ANY PROBLEMS FROM THE ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI #11072806

12,000 miles · Nov 28, 2017
Electrical SystemPower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE. THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALER (TEDDY NISSAN, 3660 BOSTON RD, BRONX, NY 10469 (877) 607-3537) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE. THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALER (TEDDY NISSAN, 3660 BOSTON RD, BRONX, NY 10469 (877) 607-3537) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

NHTSA ODI #11051018

4,640 miles · May 2, 2017
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S HORN WAS NOT LOUD ENOUGH TO WARN OTHER DRIVER'S OF HIS PRESENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,640.

NHTSA ODI #10983007

Official recalls

6

21V135000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Mar 3, 2021

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Nissan Sentra vehicles. The brake light switch may become contaminated, preventing the circuit from closing and the brake lights from illuminating.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The brake lights may not illuminate, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake light switch and install a protective grommet, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 1, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800867-7769. Nissan's number for this recall is PM971.

17V253000 · Air Bags

Apr 13, 2017

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 LEAF and 2014, 2016 and 2017 Sentra vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error within the air bag inflators, the passenger frontal air bag may not properly deploy in the event of a crash.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag doesn't deploy properly, it can increase the risk of injury to passengers.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

16V485000 · Electrical System:wiring

Jun 29, 2016

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 Sentra vehicles manufactured April 11, 2016, through April 26, 2016. The engine room harness may have a terminal pin too large to maintain a connection with the Engine Control Unit (ECU).

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the engine room harness loses connection to the ECU, the vehicle may not start or the engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the terminal pin on the engine room harness, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

16V436000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module; Electrical System:wiring

Jun 15, 2016

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 LEAF vehicles manufactured February 24, 2016, to March 23, 2016, and Sentra vehicles manufactured February 9, 2016, to March 4, 2016. The wiring harness connector may disconnect from the dual-stage passenger air bag.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the wiring harness disconnects, the passenger air bag may not to deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wiring harness connector for proper engagement and, if necessary, replace the passenger air bag module and main body harness, free of charge. The recall began on August 9, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 LEAF vehicles manufactured February 24, 2016, to March 23, 2016, and Sentra vehicles manufactured February 9, 2016, to March 4, 2016. The wiring harness connector may disconnect from the dual-stage passenger air bag.

Consequence: If the wiring harness disconnects, the passenger air bag may not to deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wiring harness connector for proper engagement and, if necessary, replace the passenger air bag module and main body harness, free of charge. The recall began on August 9, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

Electrical System:wiring

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 LEAF vehicles manufactured February 24, 2016, to March 23, 2016, and Sentra vehicles manufactured February 9, 2016, to March 4, 2016. The wiring harness connector may disconnect from the dual-stage passenger air bag.

Consequence: If the wiring harness disconnects, the passenger air bag may not to deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wiring harness connector for proper engagement and, if necessary, replace the passenger air bag module and main body harness, free of charge. The recall began on August 9, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

16V242000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification

Apr 26, 2016

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Sentra vehicles manufactured June 4, 2012, to April 9, 2016. The front passenger seat belt bracket may become deformed if it is used to secure a Child Restraint System (CRS). The deformed seat bracket may cause the Occupant Classification System (OCS) to incorrectly classify the installed CRS, resulting in the front passenger air bag to not be turned off as designed when a CRS is in the seat.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the frontal passenger air bag deploys in the event of a crash when a child seat is installed in the front passenger seat, there will be an increased risk of injury to the child in the CRS.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will reinforce the seat belt bracket as well as reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU), free of charge. The recall began on June 13, 2016. Owners are warned not to install a CRS in the front seat. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.

16V244000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification

Apr 26, 2016

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.

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.