IllustrationVEHICLE RPMS INCREASE DURING HIGHWAY SPEEDS- DEALERSHIP DETERMINED IT WAS A KNOWN CVT
2016 Nissan Sentra
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Sentra years
Owner complaints for the 2016 Nissan Sentra are substantially higher than the model-year median of 116.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sentra years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
320–25K
2625–50K
3150–75K
2575–100K
29100–150K
3150K+
146 reports with mileage · 124 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.
- Power Train. Review the 127 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
18 crash reports2 fire reports10 injury reports
Engine complaints
48 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 113,000.
I WANT TO BE REIMBURSE FOR HAVING TO PAY TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REPLACED. I GOT MY CAR WITH 30 SOMETHING MILES ON IT, BOUGHT IT OFF THE LOT, BECAUSE I WANTED A GOOD CAR THAT WOULDN'T NEED REPAIRS OR BREAK DOWN ON ME. COME TO FIND OUT, NISSAN HAD A KNOWN TRANSMISSION ISSUE ON THEIR CARS AND WAS PAYING FOR SOME REPAIRS BUT BECAUS…
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I WANT TO BE REIMBURSE FOR HAVING TO PAY TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REPLACED. I GOT MY CAR WITH 30 SOMETHING MILES ON IT, BOUGHT IT OFF THE LOT, BECAUSE I WANTED A GOOD CAR THAT WOULDN'T NEED REPAIRS OR BREAK DOWN ON ME. COME TO FIND OUT, NISSAN HAD A KNOWN TRANSMISSION ISSUE ON THEIR CARS AND WAS PAYING FOR SOME REPAIRS BUT BECAUSE MINE WAS A FEW MILES OVER THE "CUT OFF" NUMBER OF MILES, MINE WAS NOT COVERED. I HAD TO PAY 3 THOUSAND + DOLLARS TO HAVE IT FIXED, WHICH I DIDN'T HAVE. I NEEDED TO GET A LOAN TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS ON A GARBAGE CAR THAT YOU ALL KNEW HAD TRANSMISSION ISSUES AND AGREED TO PAY FOR SOME TRANSMISSIONS BUT BECAUSE MINE WAS A FEW MILES OVER YOUR ALLOWED MILES, YOU DID NOT PAY WHEN YOUR THE MULTI MILLION DOLLAR COMPANY WHO MADE THESE CARS INCORRECTLY!! YOU CAN AFFORD TO PAY FOR MY REPAIRS IF YOU PAID FOR EVERYONE ELSE'S TRANSMISSIONS!! I'M A SINGLE MOTHER OF 6 KIDS WHO DOES NOT HAVE 3 THOUSAND + DOLLARS LAYING AROUND FOR A CAR THAT I THOUGHT WAS A GOOD CAR!!! PLEASE REIMBURSE ME ESPECIALLY DURING THESE HARD TIMES WITH NO MONEY DURING COVID -19. DON'T FORGET YOUR THE MILLIONAIRES WITH DUMB POOR PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF TRYING TO GET AHEAD BY BUYING A CAR OFF THE LOT, THINKING THEY WON'T HAVE ANY CAR ISSUES!!
THE ENGINE LIGHT POPPED ON AND THEN THE CAR WOULDN'T ACCELERATE THE ODOMETER DIDN'T PASS 0MPH YOU HAVE TO REPEATEDLY RESTART THE CAR TO EVEN GET THE CAR TO 20 MPH. WHEN GOING UP A HILL THE CAR WOULDN'T GO FAST ENOUGH SO I STARTED TO ROLL BACK. GOT THE CAR SCANNED AND THE THINGS THAT POPPED UP WAS P0744, P285A, P0715
MY CAR HAS 92,000 MILES. AS OF 3 DAYS IT'S BEEN ACTING UP I WENT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY SAID I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION. THAT IT WASN'T SENDING ENOUGH SIGNAL TO THE ENGINE TO HAVE MY CAR RUN. WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS IT GOES AROUND 10MPH BUT 2 DAYS AGO IT COMPLETELY STOPPED. AND I GOT A LETTER ON THE MAIL A WHILE BACK TH…
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MY CAR HAS 92,000 MILES. AS OF 3 DAYS IT'S BEEN ACTING UP I WENT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY SAID I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION. THAT IT WASN'T SENDING ENOUGH SIGNAL TO THE ENGINE TO HAVE MY CAR RUN. WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS IT GOES AROUND 10MPH BUT 2 DAYS AGO IT COMPLETELY STOPPED. AND I GOT A LETTER ON THE MAIL A WHILE BACK THAT IT HAD A RECALL
WHILE IN MOTION THE CAR JERKS AND SLIPS GEARS WHILE DRIVING IT HAS LOSS OF POWER WHEN ACCELERATING I FEEL UNSAFE WHILE DRIVING MY CAR.
77,000 MILES AND NO OTHER ISSUES. GO WILL GO INTO GEAR BUT WONT GO.
ENGINE REFUSES TO START. ALSO ENGINE STALLS WHEN DRIVEN. CAR IN MOTION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS QUOTED A COST OF $800 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH OR WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET FOR 75 MPH, THE RPMS REVVED UP. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GREENWAY BRUNSWICK NISSAN LOCATED AT (231 CHAPEL CRO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH OR WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET FOR 75 MPH, THE RPMS REVVED UP. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GREENWAY BRUNSWICK NISSAN LOCATED AT (231 CHAPEL CROSSING ROAD, BRUNSWICK, GA 31525, (912)289-8701) WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEATER CORE AND THE HEATER CORE BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER CORE WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES AND THE HEATER BOX, ALONG WITH THE HEATER CORE, WAS REPLACED 2 TIMES. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
Official recalls
621V135000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
Mar 3, 2021
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Nissan Sentra vehicles. The brake light switch may become contaminated, preventing the circuit from closing and the brake lights from illuminating.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The brake lights may not illuminate, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake light switch and install a protective grommet, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 1, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800867-7769. Nissan's number for this recall is PM971.
17V253000 · Air Bags
Apr 13, 2017
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 LEAF and 2014, 2016 and 2017 Sentra vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error within the air bag inflators, the passenger frontal air bag may not properly deploy in the event of a crash.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag doesn't deploy properly, it can increase the risk of injury to passengers.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
16V485000 · Electrical System:wiring
Jun 29, 2016
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 Sentra vehicles manufactured April 11, 2016, through April 26, 2016. The engine room harness may have a terminal pin too large to maintain a connection with the Engine Control Unit (ECU).
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the engine room harness loses connection to the ECU, the vehicle may not start or the engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the terminal pin on the engine room harness, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
16V436000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module; Electrical System:wiring
Jun 15, 2016
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 LEAF vehicles manufactured February 24, 2016, to March 23, 2016, and Sentra vehicles manufactured February 9, 2016, to March 4, 2016. The wiring harness connector may disconnect from the dual-stage passenger air bag.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the wiring harness disconnects, the passenger air bag may not to deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wiring harness connector for proper engagement and, if necessary, replace the passenger air bag module and main body harness, free of charge. The recall began on August 9, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 LEAF vehicles manufactured February 24, 2016, to March 23, 2016, and Sentra vehicles manufactured February 9, 2016, to March 4, 2016. The wiring harness connector may disconnect from the dual-stage passenger air bag.
Consequence: If the wiring harness disconnects, the passenger air bag may not to deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wiring harness connector for proper engagement and, if necessary, replace the passenger air bag module and main body harness, free of charge. The recall began on August 9, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Electrical System:wiring
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 LEAF vehicles manufactured February 24, 2016, to March 23, 2016, and Sentra vehicles manufactured February 9, 2016, to March 4, 2016. The wiring harness connector may disconnect from the dual-stage passenger air bag.
Consequence: If the wiring harness disconnects, the passenger air bag may not to deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wiring harness connector for proper engagement and, if necessary, replace the passenger air bag module and main body harness, free of charge. The recall began on August 9, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
16V242000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification
Apr 26, 2016
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Sentra vehicles manufactured June 4, 2012, to April 9, 2016. The front passenger seat belt bracket may become deformed if it is used to secure a Child Restraint System (CRS). The deformed seat bracket may cause the Occupant Classification System (OCS) to incorrectly classify the installed CRS, resulting in the front passenger air bag to not be turned off as designed when a CRS is in the seat.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the frontal passenger air bag deploys in the event of a crash when a child seat is installed in the front passenger seat, there will be an increased risk of injury to the child in the CRS.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will reinforce the seat belt bracket as well as reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU), free of charge. The recall began on June 13, 2016. Owners are warned not to install a CRS in the front seat. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
16V244000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification
Apr 26, 2016
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.