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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

27 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2025
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

I have a 2016 Nissan Sentra SV with 103k miles on it. I was driving the car, and noticed at stop sign and red lights the car would strain and hesitate when the accelerator was pressed. It would jerk hard then drive normally. The car would also loose power while driving. It would drop from 65 mph to 20 mph. It has done this numer…

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I have a 2016 Nissan Sentra SV with 103k miles on it. I was driving the car, and noticed at stop sign and red lights the car would strain and hesitate when the accelerator was pressed. It would jerk hard then drive normally. The car would also loose power while driving. It would drop from 65 mph to 20 mph. It has done this numerous of times, and I have to try and maneuver off to the side of the highway to avoid a crash. The check engine light illuminated.The car would sit for a few minutes, accelerate, and drive normal. A few minutes later, the cycle starts again. I would also smell as if something was burning. After taking it to the shop, it was determined it was the CVT which was recalled in 2018 for 2013-2017 Nissan Sentra due to faulty CVT's. However, it is based on your VIN number according to Nissan.I did speak to a representative from Nissan Consumer Affairs and she stated my VIN number should NO RECALLS!!!! I have this car that is doing everything that granted the recall, but because they did not put my VIN number on their list it doesn't qualify. Several transmission shop has told me they do not attempt to repair the CVT they buy a new transmission from Nissan dealership. The price starts at $5200. [XXX] please help!!! The check engine light code was a P2859 issues with the Power Tran transmission. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #11648550

Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2023
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

The CVT Transmission has a bad shudder while driving and shifting into gears. It jerks when trying to accelerate and is extremely slow trying to accelerate the vehicle. The safety of me and other vehicles were in danger because the vehicle failed to accelerate when going up an incline or just driving down an even lane road with…

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The CVT Transmission has a bad shudder while driving and shifting into gears. It jerks when trying to accelerate and is extremely slow trying to accelerate the vehicle. The safety of me and other vehicles were in danger because the vehicle failed to accelerate when going up an incline or just driving down an even lane road with no inclines or hills. The vehicle has been inspected by a certified auto repair shop and after inspection, I was told that the CVT Transmission needs to be replaced. The first instance of trouble happened on June 7th, 2023 while I was driving to work. The check engine light came on and the accelerator was hesitant. The car could barely maintain a safe speed. I was travelling on the highway when this occurred.

NHTSA ODI #11528413

Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2022
Vehicle Speed Control

At least 7 times I have come across the same Safety issue, where I had to accelerate on to the highway and as I placed my foot o foot pedal. My vehicle wouldn't accelerate as if the engine and transmission were not communicating together. I had several vehicles follow very close to me from behind. I placed my hazard lights on…

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At least 7 times I have come across the same Safety issue, where I had to accelerate on to the highway and as I placed my foot o foot pedal. My vehicle wouldn't accelerate as if the engine and transmission were not communicating together. I had several vehicles follow very close to me from behind. I placed my hazard lights on. I even placed my foot all the way down to the floor panel and there was no reaction from the transmission again I had to place my hazard warning light on to inform the vehicles behind me that I was having trouble accelerating. I had to drive slow all the way home, this issue has been occurring for 1 week now.

NHTSA ODI #11484466

Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 2022
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

powertrain , speed control transmission slipping won't go forward or reverse slow

NHTSA ODI #11473964

Mileage unknown · Jul 5, 2021
Electrical SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

My car is having transmission issues I’ll be driving and it will lose power or the speed limit will decrease makes it very unsafe to drive it will do this out of no where will be on the freeway and it will go from 60 to 15

NHTSA ODI #11423461

59,000 miles · Apr 28, 2021
EngineVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE RPMS INCREASE DURING HIGHWAY SPEEDS- DEALERSHIP DETERMINED IT WAS A KNOWN CVT

NHTSA ODI #11414365

Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2021
Unknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

MY CAR STARTED JERKING WHILE DRIVING. AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE, IT WOULD SUDDENLY GO INTO LYMPH MODE WHILE BEING OPERATED. THIS WAS VERY UNSAFE WHILE I WAS PREGNANT. I CALLED NISSAN AND THEY SAID I COULDN'T BE HELPED BECAUSE I WAS PASSED 84,000 MILES. HOWEVER I LOOKED ONLINE AND IT SAID SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT. I'M STILL MA…

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MY CAR STARTED JERKING WHILE DRIVING. AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE, IT WOULD SUDDENLY GO INTO LYMPH MODE WHILE BEING OPERATED. THIS WAS VERY UNSAFE WHILE I WAS PREGNANT. I CALLED NISSAN AND THEY SAID I COULDN'T BE HELPED BECAUSE I WAS PASSED 84,000 MILES. HOWEVER I LOOKED ONLINE AND IT SAID SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT. I'M STILL MAKING PAYMENTS, AND NOW HAVE TO COME OUT OF POCKET FOR A TRANSMISSION

NHTSA ODI #11396051

105,735 miles · Dec 10, 2020
Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE RPMS WILL GO UP BUT THE SPEED WILL NOT INCREASE. IT WILL TAKE OFF FINE AS LONG AS YOU DON'T SIT STILL FOR A LONG TIME. BUT THE RPMS WILL REV UP AND IT WILL NOT SPEED UP

NHTSA ODI #11382909

58,000 miles · Oct 14, 2020
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

ENGINE RPMS ARE HIGH DUE TO TRANSMISSION CLUTCHES BEING WORM PREMATURELY, CRUISE CONTROL ALSO BREAKS FREE AND RELEASES DUE TO HIGH RPMS AT RELATIVE OPERATING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, DANGEROUS LOSS OF POWER CONDITION

NHTSA ODI #11364294

90,000 miles · Aug 18, 2020
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

I HAD RECENTLY DRIVING A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA I OWN. I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE IN MY AREA AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR SIGNIFICANTLY DECELERATED WHILE STALLING TO ABOUT 30 MILE PER HOUR. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER FROM THE RIGHT LANE ONTO THE SHOULDER. THANK GOODNESS I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE AND HAD THE SHOULDER JUST TO MY RI…

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I HAD RECENTLY DRIVING A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA I OWN. I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE IN MY AREA AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR SIGNIFICANTLY DECELERATED WHILE STALLING TO ABOUT 30 MILE PER HOUR. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER FROM THE RIGHT LANE ONTO THE SHOULDER. THANK GOODNESS I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE AND HAD THE SHOULDER JUST TO MY RIGHT AS TRAFFIC WAS RELATIVELY HEAVY. CANDIDLY I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO CRASH THE VEHICLE AS I DID SWERVE AT ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR. KEEP IN MIND I WAS TRAVELING AT 65 MILE PER HOURS. THE CAR IS NOW WITH WOODFIELD NISSAN IN SCHAUMBURG, IL SINCE THURSDAY, JULY 30. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED ME I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (EGI). I DID NOT KNOW WHAT THIS WAS AND THAT THE COST WOULD BE ALMOST $3,000. I ASKED ABOUT RECALLS AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE ARE RECALLS FOR THIS SAME MODEL YEAR CAR BUT MY CAR DID NOT MEET NISSAN?S REQUIREMENT SINCE THE VIN #?S WERE ALREADY IDENTIFIED . I HAVE DONE MY RESEARCH REGARDING THIS KNOWN DEFECT WITH THIS VEHICLE. NISSAN ONLY AGREED TO VOLUNTARILY RECALL VEHICLES DURING A CERTAIN TIMEFRAME. I'M NOT CLEAR WHY MY VEHICLE VIN#[XXX] IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL, I'M EXPERIENCING WHAT THE RECALL OUTLINED. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS CASES REPORTED ONLINE. I WAS ABLE TO LOCATE CAMPAIGN CODE PM6580. NISSAN IS NOT WILLING TO COOPERATE AND ASSIT WITH THE CURRENT PRODUCTION ISSUE I?M EXPERIENCING. MY 2016 NISSAN HAS BEEN AT WOODFILED NISSAN SINCE 7/30 WITH THE HARNESS ON BACKORDER. I'M NOT CERTAIN WHY VIN# WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AS I'M EXPERIENCING THE DEFECT IN A PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT, WHILE IT?S A VERY DANGEROUS PRODUCTION ISSUE. I FEEL IT'S UNFAIR AND DECEPTIVE AS A CUSTOMER THAT IS EXPERIENCING A PRODUCTION RECALL ISSUE. NISSAN CASE # [XXX]. SINCERELY, [XXX] CAR UNDER [XXX] AT DEALER OR [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #11350044

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.