Nissan Sentra problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 9 model years (2018–2026), NHTSA has logged 935 owner complaints and 15 safety recalls for the Nissan Sentra. That averages 19.3 complaints per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical (index 0.48 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Compact cars segment it ranks #6 of 9 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest); the segment average is 21.9.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
The trend is improving. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 58% below the 2018 and 2019 models (14 early complaints per model year versus 39).
The 2020 model year has the highest rate (30.3 complaints per year) and the 2023 model year the lowest (5.3). The 2020 model year runs at least 50% above this model's average of 19.3 complaints per year on the road across its tracked model years. The 2023 model year runs at least 40% below this model's average of 19.3 complaints per year on the road.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Electrical (23.2% of complaints), followed by Steering (13.5%) and Transmission / powertrain (12.0%). 75 complaints (8.0%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 58 injuries and 1 death.
In the last 12 months owners filed 143 complaints versus 135 in the previous 12 months — up 6%. The 2024 model year generated the most recent reports (24). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 33 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 15 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2023 (3). No NHTSA investigation covers the tracked model years.
Within its segment it has more complaints per year than Mazda Mazda3, Toyota Prius, Subaru Impreza and Kia Forte, but fewer than Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra and Honda Civic.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 185 | 21.1 | 0.52 | 8 | 2 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2019 | 222 | 28.5 | 0.71 | 15 | 2 | Electrical | View › |
| 2020 ▲50%+ | 206 | 30.3 | 0.75 | 18 | 4 | Electrical | View › |
| 2021 | 132 | 22.8 | 0.57 | 20 | 3 | Electrical | View › |
| 2022 | 81 | 16.9 | 0.42 | 13 | 2 | Steering | View › |
| 2023 Fewest complaints | 20 | 5.3 | 0.13 | 6 | 1 | Electrical | View › |
| 2024 | 41 | 14.7 | 0.36 | 24 | 3 | Electrical | View › |
| 2025 Too new to rank | 31 | 17.3 | 0.43 | 22 | 4 | Wheels, tires & suspension | View › |
| 2026 Too new to rank | 17 | 17.0 | 0.42 | 17 | 1 | Unspecified or other | View › |
▲50%+ = 50%+ above this model's average yearly rate. “Too new to rank”: under two years on the road, so the model year cannot be named the one with the fewest complaints yet. 1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 143 · Previous 12 months: 135 Within ±30% year on year
Problem areas
Electrical ›
217 · 23.2% · 1.48 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Steering ›
126 · 13.5% · 2.1 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Transmission / powertrain ›
112 · 12.0% · 1.03 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Unspecified or other ›
102 · 10.9% · 1.21 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Brakes ›
94 · 10.1% · 1.67 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Driver-assist systems ›
79 · 8.4% · 1.48 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Engine ›
77 · 8.2% · 0.37 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Lighting
34 · 3.6% · 2.34 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Body & structure
32 · 3.4% · 0.38 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Airbags & seat belts
28 · 3.0% · 0.79 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Wheels, tires & suspension
23 · 2.5% · 0.98 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Other
7 · 0.7% · 0.41 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Fuel system
4 · 0.4% · 0.1 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 33 months
What owners report
I was driving on the highway at about 75 mph with the cruise control set and suddenly heard a small pop noise. The check engine light then began to flashing so I pulled over immediately I put the car in park and the car started smoking smoke was filling the…
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.
On XXX, I rented a 2025 Nissan Sentra SV (VIN: [XXX], Unit # XXX) from Fox Rent A Car at Las Vegas Airport under Rental Agreement # XXX.
The rearview backup camera system on my 2026 Nissan Sentra is malfunctioning. The camera image is extremely blurry and grainy, making it nearly unusable and preventing me from clearly seeing the area behind the vehicle when reversing.
2020 Nissan Sentra , had been affected, Fuel system and or transmission has been affected , I also communicated this with Nissan Consumers affairs on 9/1, case number(57016532) they didn’t bother to help. I also went to the dealer twice .
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Compact cars
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mazda Mazda3 | 325 | 6.0 | 0.15 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 15 | Electrical |
| 2 | Toyota Prius | 262 | 7.2 | 0.18 | Stable | Rising | 11 | Electrical |
| 3 | Subaru Impreza | 499 | 8.5 | 0.21 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 13 | Body & structure |
| 4 | Kia Forte | 549 | 12.9 | 0.32 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 10 | Engine |
| 5 | Volkswagen Jetta | 870 | 17.0 | 0.42 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 22 | Engine |
| 6 | Nissan Sentra | 935 | 19.3 | 0.48 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 15 | Electrical |
| 7 | Toyota Corolla | 1,147 | 26.7 | 0.66 | Stable | Within ±30% year on year | 15 | Engine |
| 8 | Hyundai Elantra | 1,434 | 28.7 | 0.71 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 19 | Engine |
| 9 | Honda Civic | 3,012 | 68.2 | 1.69 | Worsening | Falling | 14 | Steering |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 15
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 0
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2018 (2) · 2019 (2) · 2020 (4) · 2021 (3) · 2022 (2) · 2023 (1) · 2024 (3) · 2025 (4) · 2026 (1)
Investigations
No NHTSA investigation covers the tracked model years.