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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

Service Brakes complaints

18 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 2020
Electrical SystemService Brakes

UNABLE TO START VEHICLE DUE TO FAULTY BREAK SWITCH. I TRIED TO PUSH THE BREAK AND START THE CAR. IT DOESNT START.

NHTSA ODI #11310469

48,000 miles · Apr 26, 2019
EnginePower TrainService Brakes

THE DRIVERS DOOR HANDLE COMES OFF. THE CAR BUCKS AND LOSES POWER,THE TACHOMETER NEEDLE MOVES UP AND DOWN. RPM SENSOR?.THE BRAKES (REAR DRUMS CRUNCHING). I HAVE 3 DIFFERENT BILLS FOR THE BRAKES. IM TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF THIS SITUATION WITH THE BUCKING OF MY CAR. READ UP ON COMPLAINTS DUE TO TROUBLE WITH NISSAN TRANSMISSION. I DO…

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THE DRIVERS DOOR HANDLE COMES OFF. THE CAR BUCKS AND LOSES POWER,THE TACHOMETER NEEDLE MOVES UP AND DOWN. RPM SENSOR?.THE BRAKES (REAR DRUMS CRUNCHING). I HAVE 3 DIFFERENT BILLS FOR THE BRAKES. IM TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF THIS SITUATION WITH THE BUCKING OF MY CAR. READ UP ON COMPLAINTS DUE TO TROUBLE WITH NISSAN TRANSMISSION. I DON'T WANT TO BE STUCK WITH BACK AND FORTH B.S.ABOUT WHO IS RESPONSIBLE ETC. I OWN IT OUTRIGHT.WANT IT TAKEN CARE OF. ITS HIGHWAY DRIVING WHEN IT BUCKS BACK AND FORTH AND LOSES POWER.

NHTSA ODI #11203923

Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2018
Service BrakesSuspensionVehicle Speed Control

H HAD PROBLEMS WITH NOISE AND BRAKES, APART WITH THE TRANSMISSION I HAVE TAKE 9 TIMES TO THE DEALERS FOR NOTHING.

NHTSA ODI #11155818

Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2018
Service Brakes

ON 11/02/17 BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR THE BRAKES AND SERVICE SAID THEY COULDN'T GET IT TO SQUEAK WHILE IT WAS AT THE SHOP. WAS IN FOR 1 DAY FOR SERVICE. NOW ITS 1/16/18 BROUGHT THE CAR BACK IN AGAIN AND SERVICE CAN HEAR GRIND/SQUEAK SOUND MILEAGE UNDER 12,000 MILES AND SHOP WANTS TO SHAVE THE ROTORS ON MY CAR AND REPLACE BRAKE…

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ON 11/02/17 BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR THE BRAKES AND SERVICE SAID THEY COULDN'T GET IT TO SQUEAK WHILE IT WAS AT THE SHOP. WAS IN FOR 1 DAY FOR SERVICE. NOW ITS 1/16/18 BROUGHT THE CAR BACK IN AGAIN AND SERVICE CAN HEAR GRIND/SQUEAK SOUND MILEAGE UNDER 12,000 MILES AND SHOP WANTS TO SHAVE THE ROTORS ON MY CAR AND REPLACE BRAKE PADS. I DO NOT WANT MY ROTORS SHAVED AS THAT MAKES IT ONE LESS TIME I CAN DO THAT IN THE FUTURE. SO SERVICE REPLACES WITH NEW NISSAN ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS. CAR IN SHOP FOR 10 DAYS NOW ITS 8/16/18 CAR HAS LESS THEN 5,000 MILES ON NISSAN FACTORY PARTS AND BRAKES ARE MAKING NOISE AGAIN. MASON IN SERVICE WANTS TO SHAVE MY ROTORS AND REPLACE BRAKE PADS BUT NISSAN DOES NOT WANT TO COVER THEM UNDER WARRANTY. I TELL THEM ITS OK TO SHAVE ROTORS THIS TIME BUT FEEL NISSAN SHOULD HAVE BETTER PARTS. WITH THE FEW MILES THAT ARE ON THE BRAKES AND ROTORS. CAR HAS LESS THEN 16,000 MILES ON IT. CAR IN SHOP FOR ANOTHER DAY. NISSAN HAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE BRAKE PADS THEY ARE USING MASON THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID NISSAN HAS A BULLETIN ABOUT THE NOISE THERE BRAKES MAKE. WELL I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO KNOW THAT WHEN I WAS PURCHING THIS VECHILE. AS OF WRITING THIS LETTER THE BRAKES STARTED TO SQUEAK AGAIN. I AM TIRED OF DRIVING THIS CAR IN PUBLIC AND IT SOUNDING LIKE A OLD COP CAR OR TAXI CAB. I BOUGHT A NEW CAR FOR A REASON! SO IN CLOSING THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 12 DAYS SO FAR, HAS HAD NEW BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS REPLACED TWICE AND THE CAR HAS LESS THEN 17,000 MILES ON IT NOW. I GUESS I EXPECTED TO MUCH WHEN I PURCHASED A CAR FOR $25,000 THAT IT WOULD NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS AND NISSAN HAS PROVED ME WRONG. WHAT I WOULD LIKE NISSAN TO DO IS PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE BACK FROM ME, WITH A CREDIT SO I CAN PURCHASE A NEW NISSAN WITH NO PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI #11129898

26,000 miles · Jun 25, 2018
Forward Collision AvoidancePower TrainService BrakesCrash

NEW CAR WITH SEVERAL INCIDENCES WHEN TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS AND NEEDING TO STOP THE VEHICLE THE BREAKS FELT SLUGGISH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHERE I INTENDED, AND IT MADE SOUNDS. I WENT TO SEVERAL NISSAN DEALERSHIPS AND THEY EACH TOLD ME THE BREAK SYSTEM WAS OK AND I JUST NEEDED TO GET THE FEEL OF A NISSAN SENTRA. I TOLD TH…

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NEW CAR WITH SEVERAL INCIDENCES WHEN TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS AND NEEDING TO STOP THE VEHICLE THE BREAKS FELT SLUGGISH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHERE I INTENDED, AND IT MADE SOUNDS. I WENT TO SEVERAL NISSAN DEALERSHIPS AND THEY EACH TOLD ME THE BREAK SYSTEM WAS OK AND I JUST NEEDED TO GET THE FEEL OF A NISSAN SENTRA. I TOLD THEM THAT WAS NOT THE CASE BECAUSE I OWNED SEVERAL NISSAN SENTRAS. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I INCREASED MY STOPPING DISTANCE BECAUSE I DIDN'T TRUST THE CAR. I GOT INTO A MINOR FENDER BENDER. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME ONLY HAD A SMALL SCRATCH. I WAS GOING AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED. UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS I HAD PLENTY OF ROOM TO STOP. HOWEVER, MY CAR DIDN'T BEHAVE NORMALLY. I HIT THE BREAK AS HARD AS I COULD, BUT IT WAS SLUGGISH AND STILL MOVING. THE FRONT-END EMERGENCY BREAKING SYSTEM STARTED BEEPING. I COULDN'T SWERVE THE CAR BECAUSE THERE WHERE CARS ON MY SIDES. I CONTINUED HITTING THE BREAK AS HARD AS I COULD, AND MY SYSTEM BEEPED AND FLASHED AGAIN. THE SYSTEM COULDN'T FULLY STOP THE CAR EITHER. BEFORE MOVING MY CAR I CALLED THE NISSAN NUMBER THE MANUAL SAYS TO CALL. I TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED AND ASKED THEM TO GET THE EVENT DATA RECORDER INFORMATION. THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT TO A DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY ONLY DOWNLOADED CODES AND WHAT I WAS DESCRIBING WAS THE TRANSMISSION AND AFTER LOOKING INTO IT THEY DECIDED THEY WOULD REPLACE A VALVE IN THE TRANSMISSION UNDER WARRANTY. THEY SAID THAT A PART ALSO NEEDED REPLACING BECAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. THEY SAID THE PART WAS ON BACKORDER. I ASKED FOR DOCUMENTATION OF WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO TO MY CAR AND THEY REFUSED AND SAID I WOULD GET IT AT THE END. NOW THE PART IS FURTHER BACKORDERED. THEY WON'T PAY FOR A RENTAL AND ARE NOW SAYING THAT IF I WANT OUT OF MY LEASE THEY NEED TO DO AN 8 WEEK INVESTIGATION. I WANTED THE INVESTIGATION OVER 2 MONTHS AGO!

NHTSA ODI #11103820

31,700 miles · Jun 11, 2018
Service BrakesStructureWheels

I PURCHASED A CAR FROM WILSON MOTOR COMPANY AND WAS TOLD IT WAS ONLY USED AS A RENTAL BY THEIR CUSTOMERS WHILE THEIR CAR WAS IN THE SHOP. I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE CAR AND THEY HAVE FOUGHT ME ON WARRANTIES TO COVER. WHEN I WENT TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP THEY PULLED THE AUTOCHECK REPORT TO FIND THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN PURCHASED …

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I PURCHASED A CAR FROM WILSON MOTOR COMPANY AND WAS TOLD IT WAS ONLY USED AS A RENTAL BY THEIR CUSTOMERS WHILE THEIR CAR WAS IN THE SHOP. I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE CAR AND THEY HAVE FOUGHT ME ON WARRANTIES TO COVER. WHEN I WENT TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP THEY PULLED THE AUTOCHECK REPORT TO FIND THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN PURCHASED FROM AN AUCTION IN CA AND IS SHOWING A TITLE BRAND FOR FRAME OR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE RECORD AND A POSSIBLE ODOMETER ROLLBACK. THE TIRES ARE WEARING UNEVENLY AND ARE NOT SAFE AND I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE BRAKES OUT OF MY POCKET. I CAN'T TRADE THE CAR IN DUE TO THIS REPORT. I WAS LIED TO AND NOW I CAN'T GET WARRANTY SERVICE OR ABLE TO TRADE THE CAR IN FOR SOMETHING ELSE. I CANNOT GET THE GENERAL MANAGER TO RETURN MY MESSAGES.

NHTSA ODI #11101261

47,500 miles · Feb 27, 2018
Service BrakesUnknown Or Other

AFTER PURCHASING MY CAR 3 MONTHS AGO WITH 47,000 MILES, I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT WITH MY FAMILY GOING 35 MPH, STRAIGHT ON A CITY STREET WITH MODERATE TRAFFIC WHEN THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE STARTED TO HARDEN AND THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO LOCK UP. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS STARTED APPEARING ONE AFTER ANOTHER. I JUST MIS…

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AFTER PURCHASING MY CAR 3 MONTHS AGO WITH 47,000 MILES, I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT WITH MY FAMILY GOING 35 MPH, STRAIGHT ON A CITY STREET WITH MODERATE TRAFFIC WHEN THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE STARTED TO HARDEN AND THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO LOCK UP. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS STARTED APPEARING ONE AFTER ANOTHER. I JUST MISSED A CAR NEXT TO ME TRYING TO GET OFF THE ROAD. I PULLED IN A PARKING LOT AND THE CAR STOPPED COMPLETELY, THE STEERING WHEEL, BRAKE, ACCELERATOR, EVERYTHING STOPPED RESPONDING. I ASSUMED IT MAY BE A BAD BATTERY, SO I GOT A JUMP, BUT AFTER 20 MINUTES, THE CAR REFUSED TO TURNOVER. THE LIGHTS STILL WORKED, THERE WASN'T ANY DIMMING. THE MECHANIC SPENT MOST OF THE FOLLOWING DAY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG, STILL BEING DIAGNOSED. I'VE SEEN THE SAME PROBLEM NOTED FOR NISSAN SENTRA AND OTHER MODELS, IT'S A SCARY THING FOR A VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY STOP ON A ROAD OR HIGHWAY, IF THE PARKING LOT WASN'T NEARBY, MY FAMILY AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN SITTING DUCKS TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC OR STRAINED ON A HIGHWAY. THIS IS BY THE MOST CARELESS VEHICLE ISSUE THAT WILL EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. I'M CONCERNED THIS ISSUE HASN'T BEEN RESOLVED OR RECALLED.

NHTSA ODI #11075292

16,000 miles · Jun 1, 2017
Service BrakesCrash

BREAK FAILED TO STOP THE CAR. BREAK PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED ALL THE WAYTO THE FLOOR. JUST DIDN'T COME TO FULL STOP. HAPPENED 2 DAYS IN A ROW. THE LATTER INCIDENT HIT THE CAR IN FRONT. IT'S A REAL HAZARD ON THE ROAD. NOW THE CAR IS BEING SERVICED AND LOANER CAR IS BEING PROVIDED BY THE DEALER. CARSON NISSAN IN CALIFORNIA.

NHTSA ODI #10992768

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.