AI Damage2021 Nissan Sentra: common problems
Owners of the 2021 Nissan Sentra filed 132 complaints with NHTSA, most often about steering and forward collision avoidance. The maker issued 132 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 132
- involving a crash
- 14
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 132
What fails most often
- 1 Steering 30% of all complaints
- 2 Forward collision avoidance 30% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 29% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 18% of all complaints
- 5 Engine 5% of all complaints
- 6 Suspension 5% of all complaints
- 7 Exterior lighting 5% of all complaints
- 8 Vehicle speed control 5% of all complaints
- Steering: 40 complaints (30% of all), 11 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
- Forward collision avoidance: 39 complaints (30% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 11.
- Electrical system: 38 complaints (29% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 84.
- Service brakes: 24 complaints (18% of all), 7 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 4.
- Engine: 7 complaints (5% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- CVTnamed in 1 complaints
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 132 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 40 | 11 | 3 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 39 | 1 | 11 |
| Electrical system | 38 | 0 | 84 |
| Service brakes | 24 | 7 | 4 |
| Engine | 7 | 0 | 3 |
| Suspension | 6 | 1 | 7 |
| Exterior lighting | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 5 | 1 | 3 |
| Powertrain | 4 | 0 | 9 |
| Structure | 3 | 1 | 8 |
| Lane departure | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Backover prevention | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 2 | 0 | 7 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
This faulty tie rod can break and cause COMPLETE loss of steering, as there is a STOP SALE on this vehicle it is not safe to drive. Vaden Nissan has my vehicle every 5000 miles during each service/oil change from 2021 until 2024.
The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the emergency brake warning light had illuminated. In addition, the contact stated while depressing the brake pedal the vehicle did not come to a complete stop and rolled forward. The contact stated that they had crashed into a vehicle in front of them.
There were no warning lights illuminated. The passenger side seat belt failed to lock completely, and the occupant was thrown around in the vehicle. The occupant who was occupying the passenger side front seat was taken to the hospital, and it was confirmed that he sustained right elbow and air bag burns and lower…
The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality without warning, causing the steering wheel to become stiff. The vehicle then crashed into another vehicle. No one was injured. A police report was filed.
The check engine and ABS warning lights were illuminated, and the cruise control mode was deactivated. The contact made a local dealer aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.
While driving normally, with the vehicle operating without any apparent problems, the emergency braking system has suddenly activated and warning lights have appeared on the dashboard, even though there was no vehicle, pedestrian, object, or other obstruction in front of me that would have required emergency braking.
I am experiencing a sharp/clunking noise when turning left while the vehicle is moving, which is very concerning because this involves the vehicle’s steering and suspension\. I checked Nissan’s recall information online using my VIN, and it currently states that there are no open recalls\.
My 2021 Nissan Sentra has experienced multiple false Automatic Emergency Braking (phantom braking) events where the vehicle suddenly applies the brakes despite there being no vehicle, pedestrian, or obstacle in its path.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 476 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 23% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Sentra has 129 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 132, about average.
What to check before buying
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Forward collision avoidance. Radar and camera: calibration after bumper or windshield replacement.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- 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 vehicle repair, a replacement “Certification Label” or “VIN Plate/Label” may be needed. HINT: Certification Label =…
- AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING WARNING LIGHT BLINKING APPLIED SYSTEMS
Vehicles equipped with a lane camera (see Figure 1) SERVICE INFORMATION If the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) warning light or is blinking (but not illuminated steadily) or the customer states it is blinking, and…
- INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE AND AEB/FEB WARNING LIGHT ON OR RADAR OBSTRUCTION MESSAGE DISPLAYED…
INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE AND AEB/FEB WARNING LIGHT ON OR RADAR OBSTRUCTION MESSAGE DISPLAYED WITH DTC C1A16 OR C2582 IF YOU CONFIRM IMPORTANT: The purpose of ACTION (on the next page) is to give you a…
- SERVICE INFORMATION If one of the APPLIED VEHICLES has DTC P2100 for “ETC MOT PWR-B1” or P2101 for “ETC…
SERVICE INFORMATION If one of the APPLIED VEHICLES has DTC P2100 for “ETC MOT PWR-B1” or P2101 for “ETC FNCTN/CIRC-B1” stored in the Engine Control Module (ECM) with a customer complaint of loss of power, Perform the…
- DTC B00A0-00 STORED This bulletin has been amended
See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin. IF YOU CONFIRM DTC B00A0-00 (OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR UNIT) is stored, AND OCS zero point reset cannot be performed…
- ENGINE SUPPORT TOOLS APPLIED VEHICLES
2020-2024 Sentra (B18) SERVICE INFORMATION A new Engine Support Bracket is now available to allow the CVT to be removed from the APPLIED VEHICLES without having to remove the engine. The procedure in this bulletin is…
- FALSE ACTIVATION OF AEB OR FCW APPLIED VEHICLES
2021-2022 Altima (L34) 2022-2023 Frontier (D41) 2020-2022 Sentra (B18) APPLIED DATES: Altima: All Frontier: All Sentra: Built on or before March 10, 2022 APPLIED SYSTEMS: Automatic Emergency Braking/Forward Collision…
- RATTLE OR KNOCK NOISE FROM FRONT WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS AND/OR TURNING APPLIED VEHICLES
2021-2024 Sentra (B18) APPLIED DATES: Built from January 2, 2021 to April 11, 2024 IF YOU CONFIRM A rattle or knock noise is heard from the front of the vehicle when driving over bumps and/or turning. HINT: To aid in…
- DTC B2E01-96 (INTERNAL BATTERY) STORED AS CURRENT IN IVC This bulletin has been amended
See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin. SERVICE INFORMATION The APPLIED VEHICLES that come equipped with a factory installed SOS switch, located near the overhead map…
- DTCS B2E4B-06, B2E60-06, B2E61-06 DISPLAYED AS CRNT IN THE TCU This bulletin has been amended
See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin. IF YOU CONFIRM The customer experiences an issue with the NissanConnect® Service remote commands, AND Any of the following DTCs…
- VOLUNTARY SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN 2020-2022 SENTRA; INNER TIE ROD INTRODUCTION Nissan is conducting this…
VOLUNTARY SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN 2020-2022 SENTRA; INNER TIE ROD INTRODUCTION Nissan is conducting this voluntary safety recall campaign on certain specific model year 2020-2022 Sentra vehicles to replace both inner…
- REVISION 4 Please discard earlier versions of this bulletin
The announcement from July 2, 2024 has been revised to include the following: • The restriction on parts for this campaign will be removed and dealers will be able to order parts via normal process beginning August 9…
NHTSA lists 132 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Nissan Sentra?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: steering, forward collision avoidance, electrical system. Total complaints: 132. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (17%), windows, sunroof (11%), brakes on its own (phantom braking) (5%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2021 Nissan Sentra?
NHTSA lists 132 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2021 Nissan Sentra from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2021 models
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.