← New search

2011 Nissan Sentra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2011 Nissan Sentra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 116.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

116 reports with mileage · 26 unknown

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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

19 crash reports6 fire reports11 injury reports

What owners actually said

142 reports
Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 2023
Tires

driving on the freeway an car just couldn't pull it literally stopped had to pullover in I was strained for hours

NHTSA ODI #11531232

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2023
Unknown Or Other

I was driving my car to work between 9 and 10pm on/around February 5, 2023. I lost control of my car and it couldn’t brake. I couldn’t have been hit if it was rush hour or ran into a car or someone. I turned to a around on the right to get out of traffic. The road had a little hill, I started to slide down the hill. I took my …

Read full complaint

I was driving my car to work between 9 and 10pm on/around February 5, 2023. I lost control of my car and it couldn’t brake. I couldn’t have been hit if it was rush hour or ran into a car or someone. I turned to a around on the right to get out of traffic. The road had a little hill, I started to slide down the hill. I took my car to Nissan in Monroeville PA. When I picked my car back they had wrong VIN number and Year for my car. They said they scan the VIN not type it so the at wasn’t a typo. I am concerned that they said they changed codes and no main issues and mentioned some issues but the documentation was all wrong about a car with a VIN and Year that isn’t mine and under my family information. I am concerned about if my car is okay, and why Nissan gave me wrong VIN with two wrong errors in the numbers and letters and wrong year and they also might or might not have fixed problem. They said my car was 2008 but it’s 2011. I am concerned about if my car was fixed for the problem i took it on for and also if it was manipulated with old parts because it is not 2008. I went to the police in Monroeville PA they helped me find correct VIN. I bought my car at Subaru and they said my car VIN is as they said and is 2011. Did Nissan fix my car? I don't trust they did if documentation of VIN and Year are wrong, I’m now concerned about fraud possibilities. I took my car to Nissan Feb 15. It started to work fine on Feb 5 when I restarted it but I needed them to check why it didn’t work that night; until I restarted it. They said it might be coding which they fixed.

NHTSA ODI #11508705

119,850 miles · Apr 28, 2021
Unknown Or Other

I WENT ON A ROAD TRIP THAT WAS 240 MILES EACH WAY. WE WERE ABOUT HALF WAY WHEN YOU BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS. I REALIZED THE CAR WAS HAVING PROBLEMS AT THAT HALF WAY POINT BECAUSE IT WAS JERKING ,CLANKING, STALKING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. MY CAR COULD ONLY GO 60MPH ON THE WAY HOME ON I-15. PEOPLE WERE FLASHING THEIR LIGHTS AND RIDING M…

Read full complaint

I WENT ON A ROAD TRIP THAT WAS 240 MILES EACH WAY. WE WERE ABOUT HALF WAY WHEN YOU BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS. I REALIZED THE CAR WAS HAVING PROBLEMS AT THAT HALF WAY POINT BECAUSE IT WAS JERKING ,CLANKING, STALKING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. MY CAR COULD ONLY GO 60MPH ON THE WAY HOME ON I-15. PEOPLE WERE FLASHING THEIR LIGHTS AND RIDING MY ASS. I EVENTUALLY HAD TO GET OFF THE NEAREST EXIT, IN PAYSON UTAH, JUST MAKE SURE I WOULD BE OKAY. NORMALLY MY CAR GETS ABOUT 36MPG ON THE FREEWAY BUT IT WAS GETTING ABOUT 20MPG ON THE WAY HOME. INITIALLY I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SERVICE MECHANIC SHOP AND THEY CHANGED THE FLUID CHARGED ME $286.00 AND THEY RECOMMENDED A TRANSMISSION SHOP TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP MECHANIC DIAGNOSED BAD INTERNAL PARTS IN THE TRANSMISSION. WITH ESTIMATED REPAIRS OF $3500.00. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS BEEN 120,140 MILES. IT BROKE DOWN 04/18/2021

NHTSA ODI #11414374

92,000 miles · Feb 9, 2021
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 92K MILES. STARTED TO "KICK" ON THE HIGHWAY AND BY THE TIME WE GOT HOME IT'S TOO UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI #11395370

Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2020
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

THE CAR CHARGER REFUSES TO ADHERE TO A CAR CHARGER THAT CAME AS AN ACCESSORY WITH A CELL PHONE PACKAGE.BUT MY PHONE CAR CHARGER WORKS FOR ANY OTHER RANDOM C- CHARGER THAT MY CELL PHONES USES

NHTSA ODI #11344231

10,000 miles · Apr 29, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

HAVING ISSUE WHILE DRIVING. ABS BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON AND CAR JERKS VIOLENTLY. HAVE TO STOP AND TURN OFF CAR AND ALL LIGHTS. PUSH THE ABS LIGHT BUTTON AND START CAR AGAIN TO REPEAT. HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. CAR HAS STOPPED TWICE ON ITS ON WHEN THIS HAS OCCURRED. WAS DRIVING FROM OUT OF TOWN ON BACK ROADS AND HAD TO…

Read full complaint

HAVING ISSUE WHILE DRIVING. ABS BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON AND CAR JERKS VIOLENTLY. HAVE TO STOP AND TURN OFF CAR AND ALL LIGHTS. PUSH THE ABS LIGHT BUTTON AND START CAR AGAIN TO REPEAT. HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. CAR HAS STOPPED TWICE ON ITS ON WHEN THIS HAS OCCURRED. WAS DRIVING FROM OUT OF TOWN ON BACK ROADS AND HAD TO STOP ABOUT EVERY 10 MINUTES TO STOP AND TURN OFF CAR. NOTICE IT WAS WORSE THAN BEFORE. DIFFERENCE IN ROADS FROM HOME. ROADS I WAS ON WERE SEVERAL WINDING ROAD. DID NOT GOT BETTER EVEN IF I DROVE SLOWLY.

NHTSA ODI #11322695

93,000 miles · Mar 5, 2020
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or Other

LIKE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS I AM READING I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE TIMES I HAVE BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND MY VDC OFF LIGHT WILL APPEAR AND MY CAR WILL START JERKING AND HAVE TROUBLE ACCELERATING, I THEN HAVE TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT MY CAR OFF FOR A FEW, THIS LUCKILY HAS ONLY HAPPENED TO ME IN THE CITY AS AFTER…

Read full complaint

LIKE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS I AM READING I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE TIMES I HAVE BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND MY VDC OFF LIGHT WILL APPEAR AND MY CAR WILL START JERKING AND HAVE TROUBLE ACCELERATING, I THEN HAVE TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT MY CAR OFF FOR A FEW, THIS LUCKILY HAS ONLY HAPPENED TO ME IN THE CITY AS AFTER IT HAPPENED I WAS TOO WORRIED TO TAKE IT ON THE HIGHWAY. WITH THIS MANY ISSUES/COMPLAINTS NISSAN REALLY NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS BEFORE IT COSTS SOMEONE THEIR LIFE

NHTSA ODI #11316207

138,000 miles · Mar 4, 2020
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN JUNE 2016, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN OCTOBER (APPROXIMATELY 60,000-70,000 MILES) WHEN TEMP DROPPED BELOW 55 DEGREES. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC, CODE READ P0101. FIND NISSAN HAS POSTED A BULLETIN ON THIS.FOLLOWED ALL GUIDELINES. HE CLEANED THE MAF SENSOR. LIGHT WENT OFF. NEXT, DAY LIGHT COMES BACK ON. G…

Read full complaint

PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN JUNE 2016, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN OCTOBER (APPROXIMATELY 60,000-70,000 MILES) WHEN TEMP DROPPED BELOW 55 DEGREES. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC, CODE READ P0101. FIND NISSAN HAS POSTED A BULLETIN ON THIS.FOLLOWED ALL GUIDELINES. HE CLEANED THE MAF SENSOR. LIGHT WENT OFF. NEXT, DAY LIGHT COMES BACK ON. GO BACK, HAVE SENSOR REPLACED. LIGHT COMES BACK ON. CHECKS FOR VACUUM LEAKS, CHANGE AIR FILTER BLOW OUT AIR BOX AND SURROUNDING COMPONENTS. LIGHT STILL ON. TAKE CAR FOR A DIAGNOSIS EVERY FEW MONTHS TO ENSURE ITS STILL THE SAME THING AND NOTHING ELSE. NO PROBLEM WITH CARS DRIVABILITY. FAST FORWARD TO 2019, VDC/ ABS LIGHTS COME ON. CALL NISSAN, TELL ME THEY CANT HELP BECAUSE MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. NISAN HAS POSTED BULLETIN FOR THIS ISSUE FOLLOW ALL GUIDELINES FOR REPAIRS VIA THEIR BULLETIN, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE $700 WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. LIGHTS GO OFF. BUT THAT STARTED A NEW ISSUE. MY VDC/ABS LIGHTS WILL SPONTANEOUSLY COME ON CAUSING MY CAR TO JERK VIOLENTLY AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 20-30MPH (OR 2,500 RPM) CAUSING ME TO STOP DEAD IN TRAFFIC, PARK THE CAR, TAKE THE KEY OUT (IT MUST BE OUT!), WAIT A FEW SECONDS, TURN IT BACK ON. FAST FORWARD TO THIS WEEK (3/2/20) MY CAR STALLS OUT GOING 70 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY BETWEEN TO SEMIS. EVERYTHING JUST SHUTS DOWN. I LITERALLY ALMOST DIED. CALL NISSAN AND THEY TELL ME, MY CAR ISN'T PART OF THE RECALL, OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY, NOTHING WE CAN DO. GO TO NISSAN DEALER. THEY WANT TO CHARGE $150 TO DIAGNOSE. SO I WENT ELSEWHERE, GOT IT DIAGNOSED FOR FREE HAD MAF CLEANED, NEW AIR FILTER, CODES RESET. LIGHT GOES OFF. DRIVING HOME, CAR STALLS AGAIN AT 70 MPH. NO LIGHTS ON DASH. HAVE CODES READ IMMEDIATELY, NO CODES. NOTHING. WAKE UP, DRIVE TO SCHOOL, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, IMMEDIATELY STALLS ON HIGHWAY. IMMEDIATELY HAVE DOES READ: THREE P0101 CODES IN ROW. I LITERALLY FEAR FOR MY LIFE AND HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE.

NHTSA ODI #11316169

138,200 miles · Mar 3, 2020
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BILL KAY NISSAN LOCATED AT (1601 OGDEN AVE, DOWNERS GROVE, IL 60515) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BILL KAY NISSAN LOCATED AT (1601 OGDEN AVE, DOWNERS GROVE, IL 60515) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT A CASE NUMBER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,200.

NHTSA ODI #11315853

128,000 miles · Feb 22, 2020
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: BATTERY: CABLES - NISSAN SENTRA 2011 - MY CAR WAS RUNNING WELL FOR ALL THESE YEARS, NO PROBLEMS AT ALL, BUT ONE DAY, DIDN'T WANT TO START, IT DIDN'T MAKE NO NOISE, NOTHING. MY HUSBAND CHECKED THE BATTERY RIGHT AWAY, IT WAS A LITTLE BIT LOOSE AND HE ADJUSTED IT. THE CAR WANTED TO START BUT NEVER DID COMPLETELY…

Read full complaint

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: BATTERY: CABLES - NISSAN SENTRA 2011 - MY CAR WAS RUNNING WELL FOR ALL THESE YEARS, NO PROBLEMS AT ALL, BUT ONE DAY, DIDN'T WANT TO START, IT DIDN'T MAKE NO NOISE, NOTHING. MY HUSBAND CHECKED THE BATTERY RIGHT AWAY, IT WAS A LITTLE BIT LOOSE AND HE ADJUSTED IT. THE CAR WANTED TO START BUT NEVER DID COMPLETELY. THE TOW GUY SAID IT LOOKED LIKE THE KEY WAS DEPROGRAMMED SO WE WERE HOPING IT WAS JUST THAT. SO WE TOWED THE CAR TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND FOUND OUT IT WAS THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. IT COSTED MORE THAN $2,000 DOLLARS TO GET IF FIXED. SEARCHING ONLINE I FOUND OUT THAT NISSAN SENTRA'S 2010-2011 HAVE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. THE ARTICLE SAYS: (DUE TO A MACHINING IRREGULARITY, THE BOLT/WASHER SURFACE ON THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL CABLE END MAY ALLOW FOR A GAP TO OCCUR IN THE CONTACT AREA OF THE TERMINAL. THIS CAN RESULT IN A VOLTAGE DROP THAT MAY CAUSE DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE AND COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE) EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR! WE TALKED TO THE NISSAN MANAGER ABOUT IT, BUT HE DIDN'T HONOR THE RECALL, SINCE MY CAR DOESN'T HAVE THIS RECALL WHEN I APPLY THE VIN#. HE GAVE US A PHONE # TO CALL: 1800 NISSAN1, SO I HOPE THEY CAN REIMBURSE THE MONEY WE PAID FOR IT. PLEASE, IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM LIKE THIS, REPORT IT, SO THEY CAN SEE THERE IS MORE VEHICLES AFFECTED THAT DON'T QUALIFY FOR THIS RECALL AND I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR BECAUSE IT IS A MANUFACTURE ISSUE. THANK YOU!

NHTSA ODI #11310711

Official recalls

2

11V579000 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery:cables

Dec 15, 2011

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 SENTRA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MR20 ENGINES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 11, 2010, TO MAY 22, 2010, AND JULY 8, 2010, TO OCTOBER 25, 2010. THE ZINC COATING APPLIED TO THE TERMINAL STUD BOLT WAS THICKER THAN SPECIFICATION. THIS CAN RESULT IN A VOLTAGE DROP THAT MAY CAUSE DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE AND COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM).

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS ISSUE CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND IT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AFTER IT STOPPED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL AND COVER, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALLBEGAN ON JANUARY 23, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

10V555000 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery:cables

Nov 12, 2010

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 SENTRA VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 22, 2010, THROUGH JULY 8, 2010. DUE TO A MACHINING IRREGULARITY, THE BOLT/WASHER SURFACE ON THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL CABLE END MAY ALLOW FOR A GAP TO OCCUR IN THE CONTACT AREA OF THE TERMINAL. THIS CAN RESULT IN A VOLTAGE DROP THAT MAY CAUSE DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE AND COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS ISSUE CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AT LOW SPEED WITH A DIFFICULT OR NO START INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL CABLE END WITH A NEW ONE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN PN NOVEMBER 29, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

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.