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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.

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
55,000 miles · Oct 4, 2018
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

I PURCHASED MY CAR IN 2016 WITH ONLY 10 MILES ON IT FROM ME DRIVING OFF WITH IT. I'VE REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE. IVE HAD MY TRANSMISSION REPLACED WHICH THEY DIDN'T WANT TO REPLACE DUE TO LOW NOISES IT MADE IF I DROVE OVER 10 MPH. THEY REFUSED TO FIX MY CAR FOR THREE MONTHS BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULDN'T CUT ON FROM THE…

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I PURCHASED MY CAR IN 2016 WITH ONLY 10 MILES ON IT FROM ME DRIVING OFF WITH IT. I'VE REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE. IVE HAD MY TRANSMISSION REPLACED WHICH THEY DIDN'T WANT TO REPLACE DUE TO LOW NOISES IT MADE IF I DROVE OVER 10 MPH. THEY REFUSED TO FIX MY CAR FOR THREE MONTHS BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULDN'T CUT ON FROM THE NOISES IT MADE. NOW MY CAR CRANKS BUT DOESN'T START. ALL MAINTENANCE IS UP TO DATE AND MY CAR HAS 55,000 EVEN TODAY! THE BATTERY IS NOW AND CHARGED. ALL CABLES ARE TIGHT. I HAVE TO GET IT TOWED TO NISSAN TO HAVE IT INSPECTED.

NHTSA ODI #11133385

6,000 miles · Sep 28, 2018
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, IT WAS STRUCK (T-BONED) ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG EXPLODED IN THE CONTACT'S FACE AND METAL FRAGMENTS EXITED FROM THE AIR BAG AMIDST A CLOUD OF THICK, BLACK SMOKE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED A…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, IT WAS STRUCK (T-BONED) ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG EXPLODED IN THE CONTACT'S FACE AND METAL FRAGMENTS EXITED FROM THE AIR BAG AMIDST A CLOUD OF THICK, BLACK SMOKE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AS WELL AS TRAFFIC COLLISION INFORMATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIB CAGE AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED INSURANCE CLAIM NUMBER: [XXX] REGARDING THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000.*DT INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #11132171

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

80,000 miles · Aug 29, 2018
Air BagsCrashInjury

I GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT GOING 55+ MPH ON THE FREEWAY AND GOT HIT BY A BIG RIG AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PRIOR TO THIS I HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE FOR AN OIL CHANGE WHEN I WAS TOLD THE AIRBAGS WERE RECALLED SO THEY FIXED THEM. I WAS HIT BY A BIG RIG WHICH WRECKED MY WHOLE CAR MAKING IT NOT DRIVEABLE THE WINDOWS WERE ALL SHATTE…

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I GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT GOING 55+ MPH ON THE FREEWAY AND GOT HIT BY A BIG RIG AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PRIOR TO THIS I HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE FOR AN OIL CHANGE WHEN I WAS TOLD THE AIRBAGS WERE RECALLED SO THEY FIXED THEM. I WAS HIT BY A BIG RIG WHICH WRECKED MY WHOLE CAR MAKING IT NOT DRIVEABLE THE WINDOWS WERE ALL SHATTERED AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS WENT OFF. *DT UPDATED 10/17/18*JB

NHTSA ODI #11123261

78,500 miles · Aug 19, 2018
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION SHUTTERS AND FAILS TO ACCELERATE IN TRAFFIC. IT STOPPED PULLING ON A BRIDGE ON THE INTERSTATE THIS MORNING ON A STEP INCLINE. THE RPM S BOUNCE BACK AND FORTH. THE TRANSMISSION HAS NOW COMPLETELY FAILED. THE CAR HAS A LITTLE OVER 78,000 MILES ON IT AND HAD DISPLAYING PROBLEMS SINCE 62,000 MILES, RIGHT AFTER THE W…

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THE TRANSMISSION SHUTTERS AND FAILS TO ACCELERATE IN TRAFFIC. IT STOPPED PULLING ON A BRIDGE ON THE INTERSTATE THIS MORNING ON A STEP INCLINE. THE RPM S BOUNCE BACK AND FORTH. THE TRANSMISSION HAS NOW COMPLETELY FAILED. THE CAR HAS A LITTLE OVER 78,000 MILES ON IT AND HAD DISPLAYING PROBLEMS SINCE 62,000 MILES, RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED.

NHTSA ODI #11120881

60,820 miles · Aug 14, 2018
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

2016 NISSAN SENTRA SR (CURRENT MILEAGE EST. 60,000 MILES) THE IGNITION ISSUE ON MY VEHICLE HAS STARTED AROUND 20,000 MILES. NORMALLY, THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY DURING MY COMMUTE TO AND FROM WORK (WHICH IS 60 MILES A DAY), THE SLIP TRACTION LIGHT STAYS ON FOR DAYS REGARDLESS OF WEATHER CONDITIONS. DURING THIS TIME T…

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2016 NISSAN SENTRA SR (CURRENT MILEAGE EST. 60,000 MILES) THE IGNITION ISSUE ON MY VEHICLE HAS STARTED AROUND 20,000 MILES. NORMALLY, THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY DURING MY COMMUTE TO AND FROM WORK (WHICH IS 60 MILES A DAY), THE SLIP TRACTION LIGHT STAYS ON FOR DAYS REGARDLESS OF WEATHER CONDITIONS. DURING THIS TIME THE ACCELERATION OF MY VEHICLE IS STALLING. A JERKING MOTION AS I PRESS THE ACCELERATOR. A REPAIR WAS INITIATED BUT NO TO AVAIL, THE ACCELERATION IS STILL STALLING. THERE IS A FAULT IN THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY SYSTEM. WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY, THE BRAKE SWITCH ACTS UP AND THE CAR CAN'T TURN ON. THE BRAKE GETS STIFF AND I'M UNABLE TO TURN ON THE VEHICLE FOR 10 -30 MINUTES. PUSHING THE IGNITION BUTTON ALONE, THE CAR WILL LIGHT UP AND THE RADIO WILL TURN ON THEREFORE THERE IS NO ISSUE WITH THE BATTERY. THE BRAKE SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN TWO CONSECUTIVE MONTHS. CURRENTLY THIS ISSUE IS OCCURRING WITH A NEW BRAKE SWITCH IN MY VEHICLE. ALSO, IF MY CAR IS PARKED AFTER AN HOUR OR SO , I HAVE DIFFICULTY TURNING ON THE CAR, BRAKE PEDAL GETS HARD AND I WAIT ONCE AGAIN UNTIL THE PEDAL UNLOCKS. AT THE GAS STATION, I TURNED OFF MY VEHICLE TO FILL UP MY TANK, FIVE MINUTES LATER I'M UNABLE TO TURN MY VEHICLE ON, AGAIN BRAKE PEDAL IS HARD. ALL OIL CHANGES AND RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11119946

7,500 miles · Aug 2, 2018
Air BagsCrashInjury

I WAS SMASHED IN BETWEEN TWO CARS AT A RED LIGHT. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOTALED.

NHTSA ODI #11115459

87,000 miles · Aug 2, 2018
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED AT A DEALER. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED AT A DEALER. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

NHTSA ODI #11115299

65,000 miles · Jul 25, 2018
Vehicle Speed Control

CAR IS SLOW TO ACCELERATE ON HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11113652

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

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.