AI DamageNissan Sentra: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Nissan Sentra across 11 model years: 1,420 owner complaints and 320 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 24% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 21% of all complaints
- 3 Forward collision avoidance 13% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 13% of all complaints
- 5 Engine 12% of all complaints
- 6 Steering 12% of all complaints
- 7 Vehicle speed control 8% of all complaints
- 8 Exterior lighting 6% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 338 complaints (24% of all), 10 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 112.
- Electrical system: 304 complaints (21% of all), 8 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 417.
- Forward collision avoidance: 186 complaints (13% of all), 14 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 45.
- Service brakes: 184 complaints (13% of all), 26 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 27.
- Engine: 171 complaints (12% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 24.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.6 L · petrol · 4 cyl 1984–1999
- 1.6 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl 2017–2019
- 1.8 L · petrol · 4 cyl 2000–2019named in 1 complaints
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cyl 1991–2027
- 2.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl 2002–2012
- 1.7 L · diesel · 4 cyl 1984–1986
- automatic, 3-speed 1984–1992
- automatic, 4-speed 1991–2006
- CVT 2007–2027named in 114 complaints
- manual, 4-speed 1984–1992named in 1 complaints
- manual, 5-speed 1984–2006named in 1 complaints
- manual, 6-speed 2002–2019named in 1 complaints
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 1,420 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 338 | 10 | 112 |
| Electrical system | 304 | 8 | 417 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 186 | 14 | 45 |
| Service brakes | 184 | 26 | 27 |
| Engine | 171 | 3 | 24 |
| Steering | 170 | 25 | 24 |
| Vehicle speed control | 112 | 7 | 2 |
| Exterior lighting | 80 | 7 | 15 |
| Air bags | 78 | 47 | 32 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 45 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension | 42 | 2 | 31 |
| Structure | 41 | 7 | 60 |
| Wheels | 33 | 7 | 18 |
| Electronic stability control | 26 | 2 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
I was turning into a parking spot at a store when I tried to break the vehicle accelerated, then was forced into the wall and the vehicle, then went backwards, losing control, and continue to accelerate. The only way I was able to stop.
The vehicle lost power lost steering and crashed. The vehicle stated "malfunction " when the crash occured. There was a leaking fluid coming from the front left underside of the vehicle after the crash when it became undrivable due to loss of power and loss of driveshaft control.
The air bag lights were working and on too. I no longer have the car since it has been towed away to a salvage yard. I only have pictures and videos of the damage with no airbag in sight.
There were no warning lights illuminated and no chime. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 14,125.
No warning lights displayed, no low fuel light displayed either. Dealer attributed stall to low fuel (fuel range showed 30 miles remaining), found no diagnostic codes, attributed it to low fuel, added gas, and released the vehicle and charged a DX fee.
The seat belt failed to function as intended; the contact struck the driver’s side air bag several times that by the time the vehicle came to a stop, the air bag had deflated. The contact stated that the side curtain air bags deployed, preventing his head from striking the window and exiting the vehicle.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Forward collision avoidance. Radar and camera: calibration after bumper or windshield replacement.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other…
- CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other…
- CAMPAIGN BULLETIN Driver Seat Bracket *****Dealer Announcement***** Nissan is committed to a high level of…
- AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING WARNING LIGHT BLINKING APPLIED SYSTEMS
- INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE AND AEB/FEB WARNING LIGHT ON OR RADAR OBSTRUCTION MESSAGE DISPLAYED…
- SERVICE INFORMATION If one of the APPLIED VEHICLES has DTC P2100 for “ETC MOT PWR-B1” or P2101 for “ETC…
- *****Dealer Announcement***** Nissan is committed to a high level of customer service and satisfaction
- Nissan North America Total Customer Satisfaction Electronic Field Communication ACTION Date
- DTC B00A0-00 STORED This bulletin has been amended
- ENGINE SUPPORT TOOLS APPLIED VEHICLES
- April 6, 2023 NTB23-031 Original bulletin published July 22, 2024 NTB23-031A Bulletin no longer active…
- FALSE ACTIVATION OF AEB OR FCW APPLIED VEHICLES
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.