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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
66,000 miles · Jan 22, 2016
Air BagsSeats

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG OFF WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS INOPERABLE AND THE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIF…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG OFF WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS INOPERABLE AND THE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

NHTSA ODI #10821603

47,000 miles · Dec 9, 2015
Air BagsSeat BeltsStructureCrashInjury

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, WHERE MY CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE SEAT BELTS ON THE DRIVER SIDE DID NOT LOCK ONCE MY CAR WAS HIT BY THE OTHER VEHICLE WHO CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. THIS CAUSED MY BROTHER THE DRIVER TO GO FORWARD. ALSO THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN MY VEHICLE WAS STRUCK. CAUSING MORE HARM AND WORSE INJURIES, BEC…

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VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, WHERE MY CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE SEAT BELTS ON THE DRIVER SIDE DID NOT LOCK ONCE MY CAR WAS HIT BY THE OTHER VEHICLE WHO CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. THIS CAUSED MY BROTHER THE DRIVER TO GO FORWARD. ALSO THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN MY VEHICLE WAS STRUCK. CAUSING MORE HARM AND WORSE INJURIES, BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING TO KEEP MY BROTHER FROM GOING FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING STILL WAITING TO TURN, WHEN IT WAS STRUCK BY A TRUCK THAT FAILED TO BRAKE AND JUST CRASHED INTO THE BACK OF MY CAR. THE ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE ON A CITY STREET .

NHTSA ODI #10809292

135,000 miles · Nov 16, 2015
Unknown Or Other

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR SOMETIMES THE VDC LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR WILL NOT GO. IT ACTS LIKE IT WILL NOT TAKE THE GAS AND IT DOES NOT WANT TO GO. WE HAVE TRIED TO CUT THE SWITCH OFF BUT COULD NOT. WE HAD TO CUT THE CAR OFF AND LET IT SET FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN START IT BACK UP AND IT WOULD BE FINE. IT HAS HAPPENED A COUPL…

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WHEN DRIVING THE CAR SOMETIMES THE VDC LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR WILL NOT GO. IT ACTS LIKE IT WILL NOT TAKE THE GAS AND IT DOES NOT WANT TO GO. WE HAVE TRIED TO CUT THE SWITCH OFF BUT COULD NOT. WE HAD TO CUT THE CAR OFF AND LET IT SET FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN START IT BACK UP AND IT WOULD BE FINE. IT HAS HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES AND ITS A REALLY SCARY FEELING WHEN YOUR DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT HAPPENS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS AND WHAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE

NHTSA ODI #10790744

54,000 miles · Oct 2, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

DRIVING ALONGON A MAJOR HIGHWAY 301 IN THE STATE OF GEROGIA AND THE CAR CUT OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART. TOWED TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD THAT BATTERY TERMINAL CAUSED COMPUTER TO MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA ODI #10779257

65,476 miles · Sep 23, 2015
Unknown Or Other

WHEN DRIVING FROM A STOP POSITION THE CAR WILL APPEAR TO HESITATE UPON ACCELERATION. SOME HESITATIONS ARE LONGER THAN OTHERS. IT'S SCARY AS IF THE CAR DOESN'T WANT TO MOVE BUT AS OF YET WILL THEN GO.NOT SURE OF THE PROBLEM COMPONENTS RELATED TO THE HESITATION. IT IS INTERMITTENT AS THIS TIME AND NEW TO MY POSSESSION OF THE CAR. …

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WHEN DRIVING FROM A STOP POSITION THE CAR WILL APPEAR TO HESITATE UPON ACCELERATION. SOME HESITATIONS ARE LONGER THAN OTHERS. IT'S SCARY AS IF THE CAR DOESN'T WANT TO MOVE BUT AS OF YET WILL THEN GO.NOT SURE OF THE PROBLEM COMPONENTS RELATED TO THE HESITATION. IT IS INTERMITTENT AS THIS TIME AND NEW TO MY POSSESSION OF THE CAR. I FEAR THE CAR WILL AT SOME POINT NOT GO WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS. SCARY.

NHTSA ODI #10775333

80,000 miles · Aug 25, 2015
Air BagsCrashInjury

THE CAR WAS HIT IN THE DRIVER AND REAR DOOR AT APPROXIMATELY 40MILES PER HOUR. THE SIDE AIRBAG WAS TOO FORCEFUL CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY TO EYE AND BURNS MARK. WE FEEL THE AIRBAG WAS MORE HARM THAN GOOD, AT THE POINT OF ALMOST LOSING EYESIGHT IN ONE EYE.

NHTSA ODI #10759316

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO TURN FROM THE OFF POSITION. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE WITH A SPARE KEY, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO LOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAG…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO TURN FROM THE OFF POSITION. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE WITH A SPARE KEY, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO LOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10730296

11,000 miles · Jun 2, 2015
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT OBSERVED A HOLE IN THE FLOOR BEHIND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS NO HOLE IN THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 11,000.

NHTSA ODI #10723052

119,076 miles · May 15, 2015
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. ON ONE OCCASION, THE DEALER RESET THE CODES BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. IN ADDITION, THE TIRE PRESS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. ON ONE OCCASION, THE DEALER RESET THE CODES BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. IN ADDITION, THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,076.

NHTSA ODI #10716619

113,000 miles · Apr 28, 2015
Power Train

I BOUGHT A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA BRAND NEW ONE OWNER JUST THE OTHER DAY I WAS DRIVING. AS I GOT OF THE HIGHWAY I STOPPED AT A LIGHT AND ONCE IT TURNED GREEN TRIED TO GAS IT BUT IT DOESN'T MOVE. I TRIED TO PUT IT IN L NOTHING, REVERSE NOTHING CAR REVS BUT DOESN'T ACCELERATE. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC THEY SAID TRANSMISSION IS GONE . REA…

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I BOUGHT A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA BRAND NEW ONE OWNER JUST THE OTHER DAY I WAS DRIVING. AS I GOT OF THE HIGHWAY I STOPPED AT A LIGHT AND ONCE IT TURNED GREEN TRIED TO GAS IT BUT IT DOESN'T MOVE. I TRIED TO PUT IT IN L NOTHING, REVERSE NOTHING CAR REVS BUT DOESN'T ACCELERATE. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC THEY SAID TRANSMISSION IS GONE . REALLY DISAPPOINTED 4 YEARS AND CARS TRANSMISSION WENT. WOULD NOT RECOMMEND TO ANYONE 8TH NISSAN IN THE FAMILY AND I'M WORRIED NOW BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL CVT. AFTER THIS NEVER BUYING ANOTHER NISSAN THEY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM. EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE 2007-2010 MODELS BUT NO RECALL. 2011 NISSAN SENTRA HIGHWAY DRIVEN DAILY AND NISSAN DON'T WANT TO FIX IT. I FINANCED THE CAR FOR 5 YEARS STILL OWE $5000 AND THEY WANT $5500 FOR NEW TRANSMISSION. VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE QUALITY I GOT FOR 24000 CAR SPECIAL EDITION SR MODEL DEFIANTLY WOULDN'T RECOMMEND TO ANYBODY. BEWARE VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE DON'T BUY CVT TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10713369

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.