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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.

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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 · Jan 3, 2024
Electrical SystemExterior LightingForward Collision Avoidance

When the sun is out and there is no clouds obscuring the sunlight my vehicle has night time lights running, dimming the interior of my car making it difficult to see the speed and other dashboard requirements while perfectly bright and sunny outside and 0800AM as well as 1500PM. This has been going on for two months and I took i…

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When the sun is out and there is no clouds obscuring the sunlight my vehicle has night time lights running, dimming the interior of my car making it difficult to see the speed and other dashboard requirements while perfectly bright and sunny outside and 0800AM as well as 1500PM. This has been going on for two months and I took it in to two dealerships. One told me check your manual and the other went further and told me "by Nissan standards it is functioning normally." This doesn't make sense to me as the sun is out, it isn't dark or dim and yet when on automatic lighting my Night lights, not my normal running lights,,are on and causing me unable to see what's on my dash. Also whe. The sun is hitting the front of my car my Nissas blinks the collision indicator showing it won't do it as something is obstructing it but this happens when the sun is directly pointing in certain areas of the sky. More so early morning and late evening just as the sun is rising and falling.

NHTSA ODI #11563312

60,000 miles · Dec 22, 2023
Back Over Prevention

The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Sentra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V628000 (Back Over Prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exce…

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The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Sentra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V628000 (Back Over Prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact experienced the failure and stated that while the operating the vehicle, there was a clicking sound while making left turns. The vehicle was driven to the local dealer who determined that the front passenger’s side and driver's side tie rods were cracked. The failure mileage was 60,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ODI #11561492

Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2023
Electrical System

The passenger window and back windows will not roll up or down. The only window that works is the drivers window. This car was bought 2 months ago and stopped working last week.

NHTSA ODI #11558422

Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 2023
Electrical SystemForward Collision Avoidance

I was traveling at about 40mph when my vehicle, with no traffic in sight, had the automatic emergency brake go off and reduced my speed to 32mph. My safety concern is what if this happens on the freeway or even while raining. if there was a car behind me what if it caused them to get road rage. ***dashcam video available***

NHTSA ODI #11555856

Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2023
Electrical System

The only window that is working properly in my car is the driver window. The other 3 sometimes work and sometimes will not roll down at all. On occasion it goes down but does not come back up or doesn't go back up but half way then stops. I have taken to the dealership twice and still it has not been fixed. Cannot really use the…

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The only window that is working properly in my car is the driver window. The other 3 sometimes work and sometimes will not roll down at all. On occasion it goes down but does not come back up or doesn't go back up but half way then stops. I have taken to the dealership twice and still it has not been fixed. Cannot really use the windows at this point as I may not be able to get them back up so definitely cannot leave car unattended in any parking lot or down in certain weather situations.

NHTSA ODI #11552577

Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2023
Structure

-Rear doors, at separate times, would not lock or unlock either by using the key fob or control located on driver's door. It is available for inspection. -Rear door(s) cannot be opened from the outside of the vehicle using electronic features. Small children, elderly, and handicapped persons' safety are compromised with this re…

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-Rear doors, at separate times, would not lock or unlock either by using the key fob or control located on driver's door. It is available for inspection. -Rear door(s) cannot be opened from the outside of the vehicle using electronic features. Small children, elderly, and handicapped persons' safety are compromised with this restricted access. -Both doors have had this occur at different times. The first occurrence was repaired by the dealership. The second occurrence has yet to be repaired. Therefore, the problem has been confirmed by the dealership. According to the dealership, the Controller-Lock and Actuator failed and was replaced. The part number is 82501-6LEOA. -The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. -No warnings, messages, or other symptoms were observed. This problem first appeared in MAY 2023.

NHTSA ODI #11552029

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2023
Electrical System

Front passenger and all rear windows intermittent will not operate.

NHTSA ODI #11551800

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2023
Forward Collision AvoidanceService Brakes

This has happened twice while driving down the road, 2021 Nissan Sentra AEB system locked up the brakes with nothing in front of vehicle to cause the system to be activated.

NHTSA ODI #11551744

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2023
Forward Collision Avoidance

I brought this car in January 2023 and the Forward Emergency Braking keeps popping on while driving. There are zero cars that were in front of me. This is the 4th time this has happened. With the last 2 incidents happening within the last 24hrs . 10/21/23 & 10/22/23. This is issue that may cause accident.

NHTSA ODI #11551243

Mileage unknown · Oct 18, 2023
Engine

alternator pulley broke off while driving.

NHTSA ODI #11550730

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.