← New search

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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

270 reports
60,000 miles · Dec 7, 2020
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

ENGINE REFUSES TO START. ALSO ENGINE STALLS WHEN DRIVEN. CAR IN MOTION.

NHTSA ODI #11378383

38,000 miles · Nov 23, 2020
Power Train

WHEN DRIVING AT ABOUT 75MPH FOR LONGER THAN AN HOUR, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING UPHILL, THIS 2016 NISSAN SENTRA COULD SUDDENTLY LOSE PART OF THE POWER AND RESULT AN UNSTABLE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE ENGINE REVOLUTION WILL BOOST UP HIGHER THAN NORMAL.

NHTSA ODI #11375985

21,000 miles · Nov 16, 2020
Unknown Or Other

THERE IS CLICKING NOISE THAT IS COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR SIDE WHEN SLOW DOWN OR COMING TO STOP AFTER BRAKING. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY AND NOTICED IT THEN. WAS TOLD BY NISSAN OF MOBILE IN MOBILE AL THAT THEY COULD NOT HEAR IT AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I KEPT TELLING EVERYTIME THEY SERVICE MY CAR THAT THE NOISE WAS …

Read full complaint

THERE IS CLICKING NOISE THAT IS COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR SIDE WHEN SLOW DOWN OR COMING TO STOP AFTER BRAKING. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY AND NOTICED IT THEN. WAS TOLD BY NISSAN OF MOBILE IN MOBILE AL THAT THEY COULD NOT HEAR IT AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I KEPT TELLING EVERYTIME THEY SERVICE MY CAR THAT THE NOISE WAS GETTING LOUDER. LONG STORY SHORT THEY TOLD ME TO GO BACK TO OHIO WHERE THE CAR CAME SINCE IT LOOK LIKE THE BUT ON AFTERMARKET DRUM ON THE CAR. THEY DID NOT HELP ME AT ALL. BUT I SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING THEY HAD TO GET THE C-CLIP FIX AND THE NOISE WENT AWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11374790

81,000 miles · Oct 19, 2020
Power Train

CARS TRANSMISSION HESITATES, VIBRATES. HAPPENS WHEN PULLING OUT. MORE WHEN PULLING OUT WHILE TURNING

NHTSA ODI #11365266

105,000 miles · Oct 15, 2020
Power Train

MY 2016 NISSAN SENTRA THAT IS EQUIPPED WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN JERKING AND SLIPPING GEARS WHILE DRIVING. IT HAD BECOME HIGHLY UNRELIABLE AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND ONLY HAS 105000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. IT IS GARAGE KEPT AND IS MY WIFES ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM WORK AND WE HAVE A 1 YESR OLD DAUGHTER WHO SH…

Read full complaint

MY 2016 NISSAN SENTRA THAT IS EQUIPPED WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN JERKING AND SLIPPING GEARS WHILE DRIVING. IT HAD BECOME HIGHLY UNRELIABLE AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND ONLY HAS 105000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. IT IS GARAGE KEPT AND IS MY WIFES ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM WORK AND WE HAVE A 1 YESR OLD DAUGHTER WHO SHE DRIVES SROUND IN THE SENTRA FOR DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS AND TO WORK. WE HAVE TRIED CONTSCTING THE NISSAN OF MUSKOGEE DEALERSHIP TO GET THIS ISSUE RESOLVED AND GET OUR VEHIVLE EITHER REPAIRED OR REPLACED AND NO ONE SEEMS TO BE WILLING TO HELP US NEITHER THE DEALERSHIP OR NISSAN OF AMERICA ON THE ISSUE AT HAND.

NHTSA ODI #11364573

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

60,000 miles · Oct 11, 2020
Service Brakes

I AM HAVING ISSUES WITH MY CAR NOT STARTING. I SEE SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN TO ME SEVERAL TIMES WITHIN A MONTH AND A HALF. I GO OUTSIDE TO GET IN MY VAR AND IT WILL NOT START. I HAVE TO GET JUMPS AND AFTER SEVERAL TIMES IT WILL START. ALL OTHER LIGHTS BE ON THE CAR JUST WON'T STAR…

Read full complaint

I AM HAVING ISSUES WITH MY CAR NOT STARTING. I SEE SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN TO ME SEVERAL TIMES WITHIN A MONTH AND A HALF. I GO OUTSIDE TO GET IN MY VAR AND IT WILL NOT START. I HAVE TO GET JUMPS AND AFTER SEVERAL TIMES IT WILL START. ALL OTHER LIGHTS BE ON THE CAR JUST WON'T START. GOT A NEW BATTERY FROM NISSAN ON THURSDAY OCT 8TH AND STILL HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AS WELL AS A WHINNING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHEN THE CAT HAS NOT EVEN BEEN DRIVEN. WE NEED SOME HELP. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. PEOPLE PAID ALOT OF MONEY FOR THESES CARS NOT TO START. WE NEVER KNOW WHEN WE ARE GOING TO BE BROKE DOWN OR STRANDED SOMEWHERE

NHTSA ODI #11363832

91,000 miles · Oct 8, 2020
Power Train

THE CVT IN THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE I TRIED TO GO 75 AND MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT GET UP TO SUCH SPEED LEADING ME TO DRIVE UNDER 60 UNTIL I MADE IT TO THE NEAREST EXIT. WHEN STOP MY CAR SMELT AS IF IT WAS A BURNING SMELL COMING THROUGH MY VENTS AND UNDER MY HOOD. I THEN STOPPED SO MY CAR COUL…

Read full complaint

THE CVT IN THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE I TRIED TO GO 75 AND MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT GET UP TO SUCH SPEED LEADING ME TO DRIVE UNDER 60 UNTIL I MADE IT TO THE NEAREST EXIT. WHEN STOP MY CAR SMELT AS IF IT WAS A BURNING SMELL COMING THROUGH MY VENTS AND UNDER MY HOOD. I THEN STOPPED SO MY CAR COULD COOL FOR ABOUT A HR THEN PROCEED DRIVING HOME DURING 40 IN THE SLOW LANE BACK HOME. MY VEHICLE IS NOW PARKED AND NISSAN IS SAYING DUE TO MY CAR NOT BEING LISTED BY VIN THAT MY CAR ISN'T APART OF THE CVT TRANSMISSION LAWSUIT EVEN THOUGH IT'S IN THAT CATEGORY. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY MAIL PHONE NOR EMAIL ABOUT THE ISSUE REGARDING THE ISSUES AND WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN IF THIS PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR.

NHTSA ODI #11363491

126,624 miles · Sep 30, 2020
Unknown Or Other

AS I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT MY VEHICLE WAS STOPED, BUT WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE, EVEN AFTER STEPPING ON THE GAS. IT BEGAN MOVING AFTER A COUPLE TRIES OF TURNING IT ON AND OFF, BUT WHEN I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY IT WOULD SLOW DOWN OUT OF NO WHERE. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS, DUE TO CARS BEING BEHIND ME, …

Read full complaint

AS I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT MY VEHICLE WAS STOPED, BUT WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE, EVEN AFTER STEPPING ON THE GAS. IT BEGAN MOVING AFTER A COUPLE TRIES OF TURNING IT ON AND OFF, BUT WHEN I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY IT WOULD SLOW DOWN OUT OF NO WHERE. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS, DUE TO CARS BEING BEHIND ME, AND CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. NOT ALOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO PUT IN THE CLAIM, BUT WHILE DOING MY RESEARCH THERE HAVE BEEN PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS ON DIFFERENT WEBSITES. I'VE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 3 YEARS. THE VEHICLE WOULD GET MAINTENANCED WHEN NEEDED. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THESE TRANSMISSIONS, BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN FAULTY TRANSMISSION FOR OTHER CVT NISSANS.

NHTSA ODI #11362083

93,300 miles · Sep 15, 2020
Power TrainStructureUnknown Or OtherCrash

BROUGHT THIS 2016 IN APRIL OF 2020, AFTER I INITIALLY DROVE IT , MY DAUGHTER TOOK OVER DRIVING IT SINCE I'M A DISABLED VETERAN. MY FIANCE DROVE THE VEHICLE IN JUNE AND REALIZED IT WAS A DIFFERENT FEELING WITH THE CAR . TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY REPLACED TWO FRONT TIRES AND PERFORM A TUNE UP . MY YOUNG DAUGHTER PICK IT FROM T…

Read full complaint

BROUGHT THIS 2016 IN APRIL OF 2020, AFTER I INITIALLY DROVE IT , MY DAUGHTER TOOK OVER DRIVING IT SINCE I'M A DISABLED VETERAN. MY FIANCE DROVE THE VEHICLE IN JUNE AND REALIZED IT WAS A DIFFERENT FEELING WITH THE CAR . TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY REPLACED TWO FRONT TIRES AND PERFORM A TUNE UP . MY YOUNG DAUGHTER PICK IT FROM THE SHOP AND WENT OFF TO COLLEGE IN BALTIMORE,MARYLAND. SHE RETURNED TO PALM BEACH IN SEPTEMBER .AFTER SHE GOT HOME , THE CAR JUST CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD UNEXPECTED. MY FIANCE TOOK THE CAR FOR A DRIVE AND NOTICE IT DOING THE SAME THING. TOOK IT TO TWO SHOPS WHO INFORMED ME TWO DIFFERENT DIAGNOSIS., ONE BEING THE TRANSMISSION. THEY INFORM ME TO CONTACT NISSAN WHO IN TURN TOLD ME IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. WE HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION AT WHICH TIME ON 9/13/2020 , MY DAUGHTER HAD A ACCIDENT DUE TO THE FACT THE CAR COULDN'T PICK UP SPEED FAST ENOUGH TO MERGE INTO THE NEXT LANE . I'M HAPPY MY DAUGHTER WASN'T HURT BUT DEVASTATED THAT THIS CAR , 4 YEARS OLD IN MY POSSESSION ABOUT 4 MONTHS NEEDS A TRANSMISSION REPAIR. I DIDN'T EXPECT THIS FROM A VEHICLE THAT I STILL HAVE 3 YEARS REMAINING AND FROM NISSAN WHICH I THOUGHT WAS A RELIABLE COMPANY.

NHTSA ODI #11355274

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.