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2021 Nissan Sentra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2021 Nissan Sentra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 116.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 21 of 131 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Steering. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Forward Collision Avoidance. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

14 crash reports1 fire reports8 injury reports

What owners actually said

131 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 2021
Electrical SystemForward Collision Avoidance

10/5/21-FIRST NOTICED SOMETHING WAS WRONG WHILE BACKING UP VEH. WARNING SIGNAL GOING OFF SHOWING DRIVER SIDE REAR NOTHING BEHIND ME AT THE TIME ALL CLEAR FIGURED IT WAS JUST ? I REVERSED ANYWAY AND TOOK OFF TO STORE WHILE ON MY WAY HOME AROUND 2:30ISH WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30-40MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACTIVATED THE AUTOMATICE EMERGEN…

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10/5/21-FIRST NOTICED SOMETHING WAS WRONG WHILE BACKING UP VEH. WARNING SIGNAL GOING OFF SHOWING DRIVER SIDE REAR NOTHING BEHIND ME AT THE TIME ALL CLEAR FIGURED IT WAS JUST ? I REVERSED ANYWAY AND TOOK OFF TO STORE WHILE ON MY WAY HOME AROUND 2:30ISH WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30-40MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACTIVATED THE AUTOMATICE EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM RED LIGHTS ON DASH INDICATING IT WAS ACTIVATED AT THE TIME THERE WAS NO VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME! I WAS APPROACHING A RAILROAD CROSSING AT THE TIME I HAD MY SON IN THE FRONT SEAT AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE VEHICLE RELEASED THE BRAKES AND I PROCEEDED HOME OF COURSE I WAS SHAKEN UP AND HAD QUESTIONS AS TO WHAT WAS GOING ON? TOOK TO DEALER 2 DAYS LATER DEALER KEPT THERE FOR OVER 5 HOURS AND DURING VEH. UPDATES VIA TEXT FROM DEALER WAS TOLD THEY WERE GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH NISSAN CORP. VIA EMAIL ON TRYING TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE AS TO HOW TO GO ABOUT REPAIRING THE ISSUE, WAS ALSO TOLD TO PICK UP VEH. DRIVE FOR A WEEK AND RETURN TO CHECK IF OTHER CODES WERE NOTED? SO THEY ADMIT THERE WERE CODES INDICATING THERE WAS A PROBLEM. NOT A WEEK YET TO RETURN TO DEALER UNTIL NEXT WEEK HOWEVER I DRIVE OVER 50MILES A DAY COMMUTE TO WORK AND I AM VERY SCARED THESE DAYS TO DRIVE I ALSO HAVE CLIENTS I MUST TRANSPORT IN MY PERSONAL VEH. FOR WORK PURPOSES WHAT IF SOMEONE GETS HURT? ITS SO STRESSFUL. IM WORRIED!ANY SUGGESTIONS? ALSO, ON NHTSA WEBSITE I FOUND BY VIN NUMBER THE VEH. MADE 2ND,4TH AND 6TH IN ORDER AFTER MINE WHICH IS 0 THIS IS SUSPICIOUS AND TROUBLING.

NHTSA ODI #11436124

4,000 miles · Sep 15, 2021
Steering

The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, the contact heard a noise coming from underneath the steering wheel. The contact then lost control of the vehicle momentarily during a rainstorm. The contact was able to regain control of the vehicle. The contact stated that the AEB war…

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The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, the contact heard a noise coming from underneath the steering wheel. The contact then lost control of the vehicle momentarily during a rainstorm. The contact was able to regain control of the vehicle. The contact stated that the AEB warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed but was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and told the contact that they were unable to assist. The failure mileage was approximately 4,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ODI #11433086

Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2021
Exterior Lighting

Headlights turn off at night while driving and in most cases will still not work after moving the headlight switch or power cycling the switch. Have to shut down and restart multiple times for headlights to work. This problem affects the low beam lights and not the high beams or parking lights as they continue to work and funct…

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Headlights turn off at night while driving and in most cases will still not work after moving the headlight switch or power cycling the switch. Have to shut down and restart multiple times for headlights to work. This problem affects the low beam lights and not the high beams or parking lights as they continue to work and function with the switch. Has happened 3 nights in a row returning from work in the dark.

NHTSA ODI #11432852

474 miles · Aug 27, 2021
Steering

The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, she heard an abnormal bumping sound coming from underneath the vehicle and the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver, causing the contact to almost lose control of the vehicle. The contact did not recall whether there were any warning lights il…

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The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, she heard an abnormal bumping sound coming from underneath the vehicle and the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver, causing the contact to almost lose control of the vehicle. The contact did not recall whether there were any warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road and replaced the flat tire with the assistance of the towing company. Then, the contact drove to her residence. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the passenger’s side front tire and the passenger’s side rear tire needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the tires were replaced. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V461000 (Steering) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not provide any assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 474.

NHTSA ODI #11430761

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2021
SteeringCrashInjury

The contact owned a 2021 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated their daughter was driving at 30 mph, when the driver was merging into a lane when the driver heard an unidentified noise and lost control of the vehicle, and crashed into a telephone pole. The air bags did deploy. The driver had a laceration and bruise and swelling in …

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The contact owned a 2021 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated their daughter was driving at 30 mph, when the driver was merging into a lane when the driver heard an unidentified noise and lost control of the vehicle, and crashed into a telephone pole. The air bags did deploy. The driver had a laceration and bruise and swelling in the left knee. The driver declined medical treatment at the scene. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard where it was later deemed as a totaled loss. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI #11430740

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2021
Forward Collision Avoidance

I was driving at 55 mph this morning while taking my child to the bus stop when the emergency braking system kicked on out of nowhere almost causing me to lose control of the car. There were no vehicles in front of me or any obstruction that would have caused this to occur. The recall for the blind spot sensors has already occur…

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I was driving at 55 mph this morning while taking my child to the bus stop when the emergency braking system kicked on out of nowhere almost causing me to lose control of the car. There were no vehicles in front of me or any obstruction that would have caused this to occur. The recall for the blind spot sensors has already occurred on this vehicle as well. It is a danger to not only myself but potentially other vehicles that could have been following me to have a vehicle abruptly stop like it did which in then endangered myself and my children.

NHTSA ODI #11430701

Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 2021
Electrical SystemEngine

Car battery has died 3 times since purchase. Dealership says battery is fine. Have only owned the brand new vehicle about 8 weeks!

NHTSA ODI #11426757

Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2021
Electrical System

The vehicle inexplicably drained the battery again. Monday July 12, 2021, the vehicle does not start. I take it to the dealer's service center and they tell me there is no problem with the car or the charging system.

NHTSA ODI #11424547

Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2021
Electrical SystemForward Collision AvoidanceVehicle Speed Control

Suddenly the battery ran out on Tuesday, July 6, 2021, 18 days after I bought the car. The car did not want to start from the beeper. When I got into the car to start it, my battery was completely drained. A roadside service technician starts the car with a battery booster. On the way to the auto dealership shop, the vehicle…

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Suddenly the battery ran out on Tuesday, July 6, 2021, 18 days after I bought the car. The car did not want to start from the beeper. When I got into the car to start it, my battery was completely drained. A roadside service technician starts the car with a battery booster. On the way to the auto dealership shop, the vehicle would not accept cruise control. I arrive at the auto dealership workshop and they verify the unit. And according to them it did not duplicate any of the problems that the vehicle presented. Claiming that the charging system was fine and the battery was fine.

NHTSA ODI #11424172

Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2021
Exterior Lighting

Only happens when driving at night. When driving and keeping your foot on the gas pedal the lights go dim and when you remove your foot of the gas pedal the lights go back to bright. Also the engine is making a rattling noise. Was seen a couple times at the dealership for the lights but was told nothing wrong with it. Its not no…

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Only happens when driving at night. When driving and keeping your foot on the gas pedal the lights go dim and when you remove your foot of the gas pedal the lights go back to bright. Also the engine is making a rattling noise. Was seen a couple times at the dealership for the lights but was told nothing wrong with it. Its not normal for lights to do that whole driving on the road. Especially for a brand new car that has only gotten 15,000 miles

NHTSA ODI #11422533

Official recalls

3

23V628000 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera

Sep 8, 2023

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Altima and 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 19, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23C3.

23V581000 · Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly

Aug 15, 2023

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Sentra vehicles. The left and/or right tie rod may bend.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A bent tie rod can break and cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Owners are advised to contact their dealer for transport assistance if they are experiencing an off-center steering wheel or vibration. As an interim repair, dealers will inspect and replace any bent or broken tie rods, free of charge. Once newly designed parts are available, dealers will replace both left and right tie rods, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed November 27, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23B3. This recall replaces and expands recall number 21V-461. Vehicles previously repaired under 21V-461 will need to have the new remedy completed.

21V461000 · Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly

Jun 17, 2021

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. The left and/or right tie rod may be bent.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A bent tie rod can break, causing a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the left and/or right tie rods as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 5, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PM985.

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.