Nissan Sentra problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 8 model years (2018–2025), NHTSA has logged 904 owner complaints and 14 safety recalls for the Nissan Sentra. That averages 19.5 complaints per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical (index 0.46 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Compact cars segment it ranks #6 of 9 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 23.0.
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
Across eight model years from 2018 to 2025, the Nissan Sentra has logged 904 owner complaints and 14 safety recalls, averaging 19.5 complaints per year which is far fewer than typical at an index of 0.46 against all tracked vehicles. The trend is improving with the 2023 model year showing the lowest rate at 5.2 complaints while the 2020 model year has the highest rate at 30.6 complaints and runs at least 50% above the model's own average requiring careful research. Electrical issues account for 23.2% of complaints followed by Steering at 13.9% and Transmission / powertrain at 12.2%, with recurring terms including "tie", "front", "rod", "cvt" and "sensor". Owners report 56 injuries and 1 death across all model years, while the last 12 months saw 136 complaints versus 125 in the previous year indicating a steady pace.
Summary drafted by an AI model running on our own server from the figures on this page, and checked number by number against the data before publishing. The statistics and the analysis above come from our fixed methodology, not from the model.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 57% below the 2018 and 2019 models (14 early complaints per model year versus 39).
The 2020 model year has the highest rate (30.6 complaints per year) and the 2023 model year the lowest (5.2). The 2020 model year runs at least 50% above the model's own average — the one to research most carefully. The 2023 model year sits well below the model's average.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Electrical (23.2% of complaints), followed by Steering (13.9%) and Transmission / powertrain (12.2%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “tie”, “front”, “rod”, “cvt” and “sensor”. 72 complaints (8.0%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 56 injuries and 1 death.
In the last 12 months owners filed 136 complaints versus 125 in the previous 12 months — a steady pace. The 2021 model year generated the most recent reports (25). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 34 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 14 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2023 (3). No NHTSA defect investigation covers the tracked model years.
Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Mazda Mazda3, Toyota Prius, Subaru Impreza and Kia Forte; Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra and Honda Civic have more.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Complaints in first 2 years on the road | vs. same-year average | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 185 | 21.3 | 0.51 | 31 | 0.35 | 11 | 2 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2019 | 221 | 28.8 | 0.68 | 47 | 0.58 | 17 | 2 | Electrical | View › |
| 2020 Years to research carefully | 204 | 30.6 | 0.73 | 42 | 0.74 | 18 | 4 | Electrical | View › |
| 2021 | 130 | 22.9 | 0.54 | 28 | 0.46 | 25 | 3 | Electrical | View › |
| 2022 | 81 | 17.3 | 0.41 | 38 | 0.51 | 16 | 2 | Steering | View › |
| 2023 Fewest complaints | 19 | 5.2 | 0.12 | 8 | 0.1 | 6 | 1 | Electrical | View › |
| 2024 | 36 | 13.5 | 0.32 | 21 | 0.3 | 21 | 3 | Steering | View › |
| 2025 | 28 | 16.7 | 0.4 | — | — | 22 | 4 | Wheels, tires & suspension | View › |
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: 136 · Previous 12 months: 125 Steady
Problem areas
Transmission / powertrain ›
110 · 12.2% · 1.05 vs. all vehicles · Steady
- transmission66
- cvt24
- gear16
- seems cutting3
Interior & equipment ›
94 · 10.4% · 1.16 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- lock9
- recall camera3
- radar unavailable3
- front radar4
Brakes ›
92 · 10.2% · 1.68 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- brake35
- radar13
- front35
- aeb11
Driver-assist systems ›
78 · 8.6% · 1.5 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- emergency braking27
- aeb17
- automatic emergency20
- collision26
Lighting
34 · 3.8% · 2.41 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- exterior24
- lighting22
- confirms available15
- tool confirms15
Body & structure
30 · 3.3% · 0.36 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- open10
- hood7
- door9
- close6
Airbags & seat belts
27 · 3.0% · 0.78 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- airbags11
- deploy10
- seat10
- air bags7
Wheels, tires & suspension
18 · 2.0% · 0.8 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- tie6
- hankook5
- kinergy4
- tire9
Other
6 · 0.7% · 0.37 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.
Common terms in reports
- tie65
- front215
- rod55
- cvt40
- sensor90
- malfunction94
- aeb43
- radar45
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 34 months
What owners report
The 2025 Nissan Sentra lost control in the steering wheel or driveshaft while driving down hill. The vehicle lost power lost steering and crashed. The vehicle stated "malfunction " when the crash occured.
The contact owns a 2025 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while reversing out of a parking space at 4 MPH, the rear cross-traffic alert failed to activate, causing the vehicle to crash into a 3-foot cement pole.
Drivers of the car pulled out of a plaza without blinker and almost ran into our vehicle. Passenger and driver continued to harass and make rude comments whenever they pass by us. And we felt very offended.
Headlight assembly not wired properly causing the driver's side Headlight not to work. Also the audio equipment inside the car has electrical issues.
The wiper blade stop working in the middle of my windshield or will not return to correct position. I know there there is a recall on some 2022 sentras on this issues and I think my vehicle is one of them.
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 | 318 | 6.6 | 0.16 | Improving | Falling | 15 | Electrical |
| 2 | Toyota Prius | 250 | 7.0 | 0.17 | Stable | Rising | 11 | Electrical |
| 3 | Subaru Impreza | 494 | 9.5 | 0.23 | Improving | Steady | 13 | Body & structure |
| 4 | Kia Forte | 534 | 12.7 | 0.3 | Improving | Rising | 10 | Engine |
| 5 | Volkswagen Jetta | 843 | 18.0 | 0.43 | Improving | Steady | 22 | Engine |
| 6 | Nissan Sentra | 904 | 19.5 | 0.46 | Improving | Steady | 14 | Electrical |
| 7 | Toyota Corolla | 1,128 | 27.0 | 0.64 | Stable | Steady | 15 | Engine |
| 8 | Hyundai Elantra | 1,404 | 32.0 | 0.76 | Worsening | Steady | 19 | Engine |
| 9 | Honda Civic | 2,937 | 73.3 | 1.74 | Worsening | Falling | 14 | Steering |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 14
- 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)
Investigations
No NHTSA investigation covers the tracked model years.
Frequently asked questions
Which Nissan Sentra model year has the most complaints?
The 2020 model year has the highest rate (30.6 complaints per year) and the 2023 model year the lowest (5.2).
Is the Nissan Sentra getting better or worse?
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 57% below the 2018 and 2019 models (14 early complaints per model year versus 39). In the last 12 months owners filed 136 complaints versus 125 in the previous 12 months — a steady pace.
What are the most common Nissan Sentra problems?
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Electrical (23.2% of complaints), followed by Steering (13.9%) and Transmission / powertrain (12.2%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “tie”, “front”, “rod”, “cvt” and “sensor”.
How does the Nissan Sentra compare with other Compact cars?
Within the Compact cars segment it ranks #6 of 9 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 23.0. Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Mazda Mazda3, Toyota Prius, Subaru Impreza and Kia Forte; Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra and Honda Civic have more.
Does the Nissan Sentra have recalls or open investigations?
Recalls: 14 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2023 (3). No NHTSA defect investigation covers the tracked model years.