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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Power Train complaints

127 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2019
EnginePower Train

THE CVT IS CAUSING THE CAR TO NOT PICKUP SPEED AND IT'S CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION ON INTERSTATE. I SEE THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM BEFORE MY PROBLEM WHY HASN'T A RECALLED BEEN ISSUED. ALSO MY CAR IS A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA THAT I PURCHASED IN BATON ROUGE LA AFTER THE MAJOR FLOOD HERE I HOPE I WASNT' SOLD A CAR THAT HAD WATER…

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THE CVT IS CAUSING THE CAR TO NOT PICKUP SPEED AND IT'S CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION ON INTERSTATE. I SEE THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM BEFORE MY PROBLEM WHY HASN'T A RECALLED BEEN ISSUED. ALSO MY CAR IS A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA THAT I PURCHASED IN BATON ROUGE LA AFTER THE MAJOR FLOOD HERE I HOPE I WASNT' SOLD A CAR THAT HAD WATER DAMAGE

NHTSA ODI #11241932

Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2019
EnginePower TrainWheels

MY 2016 NISSAN SENTRA IS BEEN UNSAFE TO DRIVE, I WAS TAKING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL WHEN I WAS TRYING TO HIT THE GAS IT JUMPED UP ALMOST HIT THE FRONT CAR WE WERE BEHIND. CAR DOESN'T GO FASTER THEN 10MPH. I CAN'T BELIEVE BEING A NEW CAR I MUST PAY A LOT MONEY TO FIX TRANSMISSION. I'M A SINGLE MOTHER AND NEED THIS PROBLEM FIXED PLE…

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MY 2016 NISSAN SENTRA IS BEEN UNSAFE TO DRIVE, I WAS TAKING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL WHEN I WAS TRYING TO HIT THE GAS IT JUMPED UP ALMOST HIT THE FRONT CAR WE WERE BEHIND. CAR DOESN'T GO FASTER THEN 10MPH. I CAN'T BELIEVE BEING A NEW CAR I MUST PAY A LOT MONEY TO FIX TRANSMISSION. I'M A SINGLE MOTHER AND NEED THIS PROBLEM FIXED PLEASE.I CAN'T PICK UP MY KIDS FROM SCHOOL OR PICK THEM UP FROM LOCATION I MEET EX HUSBAND TO GET THEM ON MY DAYS OF CUSTODY. I NEED MY VEHICLE FIXED PLEASE

NHTSA ODI #11229293

46,137 miles · Jun 22, 2019
Power Train

I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW. AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT OR SIGN, OR EVEN JUST SLOWING DOWN, IT WOULD ALWAYS DELAY AFTER STEPPING ON THE GAS TO MOVE FROM DAY ONE. I THOUGHT IT WAS NORMAL. AFTER ABOUT 30,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP ON THE FREEWAY, ESPECIALLY ON HOT DAYS. IT FELT LIKE I WAS PUTTING THE CAR IN…

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I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW. AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT OR SIGN, OR EVEN JUST SLOWING DOWN, IT WOULD ALWAYS DELAY AFTER STEPPING ON THE GAS TO MOVE FROM DAY ONE. I THOUGHT IT WAS NORMAL. AFTER ABOUT 30,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP ON THE FREEWAY, ESPECIALLY ON HOT DAYS. IT FELT LIKE I WAS PUTTING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL WHILE MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE GAS. IT MAY HAVE DONE THAT ONCE A DAY ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. I DECIDED TO TAKE IT IN A FEW MONTHS LATER WHEN IT WOULD DO IT SEVERAL TIMES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY TOOK IT ON A TEST DRIVE AND IT BROKE DOWN ON THEM. I GUESS THERE'S A CHAIN IN THE TRANSMISSION, BUT IT WAS IN PIECES! I HAD A REBUILT TRANSMISSION PUT IN, BUT I AM ALREADY SEEING THE SYMPTOMS AGAIN! I HAVE BEEN TAKING DATA EVER SINCE AND HAVE A PAGE OF INCIDENCES. I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY SAID THERE'S NOTHING WRONG. I AM LESS THAN 3000 MILES AWAY FROM 60,000, WHICH IS WHEN THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY WILL EXPIRE. ABOUT 10,000 MILES AGO, I INQUIRED ABOUT GETTING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THEY REFUSED TO SELL ME ONE SINCE I DRIVE ABOUT 110 MILES A DAY FOR WORK. I STILL OWE QUITE A BIT ON THIS POS. I AM GOING TO GET A LAWYER.

NHTSA ODI #11221907

60 miles · Jun 4, 2019
Power Train

MY TRANSMISSION FAILED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. I COULD NOT ACCELERATE AND NARROWLY AVOIDED A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, THE CAR WAS MAKING A SMALL KIND OF CLICKING/SHUDDERING SOUND WHEN I WOULD ACCELERATE. I THOUGHT IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE TIRES. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING, BUT I THOUGHT THE…

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MY TRANSMISSION FAILED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. I COULD NOT ACCELERATE AND NARROWLY AVOIDED A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, THE CAR WAS MAKING A SMALL KIND OF CLICKING/SHUDDERING SOUND WHEN I WOULD ACCELERATE. I THOUGHT IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE TIRES. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING, BUT I THOUGHT THEY MAY HAVE BEEN MISTAKEN BECAUSE I WAS HAVING NO ISSUES WITH MOVING AT THE TIME. NOW I UNDERSTAND THAT THE DEALERSHIP KNEW IT WAS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE BECAUSE NISSAN IS AWARE OF A MAJOR DEFECT WITH THEIR CVT TRANSMISSIONS, BUT WILL NOT ORDER A RECALL TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. MY CHILDREN AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED ON THE HIGHWAY THAT EVENING; WE BARELY MADE IT OFF THE ROAD. I AM TERRIFIED TO TRY TO DRIVE THE CAR. THERE IS NO REASON WHY A CAR THAT I PURCHASED BRAND NEW SHOULD HAVE TRANSMISSION FAILURE LESS THAN TWO YEARS AFTER I BOUGHT IT. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE LIVES ARE LOST. I'M ASSUMING A FAMILY WILL HAVE TO DIE ON A HIGHWAY BEFORE THIS COMPANY WILL CORRECT THEIR FLAW.

NHTSA ODI #11217733

112,890 miles · May 29, 2019
Power Train

AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I FELT MY CAR PUNCH, LIKE WHEN IT SWITCHED GEARS IT KEPT MAKING A BANG NOISE LIKE IF IT WAS PUNCHING. AS I CONTINUED DRIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AND I WENT TO A PEP BOYS AND A AUTOZONE SO THEY COULD READ THE CODE AND THEY BOTH CAME UP WITH 'P2859'. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THE…

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AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I FELT MY CAR PUNCH, LIKE WHEN IT SWITCHED GEARS IT KEPT MAKING A BANG NOISE LIKE IF IT WAS PUNCHING. AS I CONTINUED DRIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AND I WENT TO A PEP BOYS AND A AUTOZONE SO THEY COULD READ THE CODE AND THEY BOTH CAME UP WITH 'P2859'. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM I WOULD BE BRINGING IT IN THE FOLLOWING DAY BECAUSE IT WAS LATE ALREADY. THE NEXT DAY I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND AFTER SEVERAL HOURS THEY CALLED ME AND TOLD ME I WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION, I ASKED IF THEY WERE SURE AND IF A TRANSMISSION FLUSH WOULD DO ANYTHING OR IF THERE IS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON IT BECAUSE I ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR CLOSE TO TWO YEARS. NOW I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO CAUSE I'M STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON THE CAR AND THE REPAIR BILL IS ALIL OVER $4000.

NHTSA ODI #11210710

81 miles · Apr 29, 2019
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainUnknown Or Other

CAR NOT EVEN 24 HOURS OLD, THE CAR WOULD NOT START WITH PUSHING THE STARTER BUTTON, THE RMP WOULD BE AT 3 AT IDLEING. MARCH 2019, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND WENT TO THE DEALER. SENSOR IN FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED, FEW WEEKS POWER TRAIN PROBLEMS. IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION OF ROUTE 45 IN GREYS LAKE, IL. THE CAR WOULD NOT …

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CAR NOT EVEN 24 HOURS OLD, THE CAR WOULD NOT START WITH PUSHING THE STARTER BUTTON, THE RMP WOULD BE AT 3 AT IDLEING. MARCH 2019, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND WENT TO THE DEALER. SENSOR IN FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED, FEW WEEKS POWER TRAIN PROBLEMS. IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION OF ROUTE 45 IN GREYS LAKE, IL. THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR AND ALMOST DIES IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION. SHUT THE CAR OFF, THE CAR WOULD RUN NORMAL FOR AWHILE, THEN THE SHIFTING GEARS AND BOGGING WOULD START ALL OVER AGAIN. A WEEK LATTER THE ENGINE IS MAKING A WHINNING NOISE.

NHTSA ODI #11204626

48,000 miles · Apr 26, 2019
EnginePower TrainService Brakes

THE DRIVERS DOOR HANDLE COMES OFF. THE CAR BUCKS AND LOSES POWER,THE TACHOMETER NEEDLE MOVES UP AND DOWN. RPM SENSOR?.THE BRAKES (REAR DRUMS CRUNCHING). I HAVE 3 DIFFERENT BILLS FOR THE BRAKES. IM TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF THIS SITUATION WITH THE BUCKING OF MY CAR. READ UP ON COMPLAINTS DUE TO TROUBLE WITH NISSAN TRANSMISSION. I DO…

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THE DRIVERS DOOR HANDLE COMES OFF. THE CAR BUCKS AND LOSES POWER,THE TACHOMETER NEEDLE MOVES UP AND DOWN. RPM SENSOR?.THE BRAKES (REAR DRUMS CRUNCHING). I HAVE 3 DIFFERENT BILLS FOR THE BRAKES. IM TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF THIS SITUATION WITH THE BUCKING OF MY CAR. READ UP ON COMPLAINTS DUE TO TROUBLE WITH NISSAN TRANSMISSION. I DON'T WANT TO BE STUCK WITH BACK AND FORTH B.S.ABOUT WHO IS RESPONSIBLE ETC. I OWN IT OUTRIGHT.WANT IT TAKEN CARE OF. ITS HIGHWAY DRIVING WHEN IT BUCKS BACK AND FORTH AND LOSES POWER.

NHTSA ODI #11203923

73,000 miles · Mar 15, 2019
Power Train

COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. TRANSMISSION STALLED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE DUE TO LOSS OF POWER EVEN WITH ENGAGED ACCELERATION, TRANSMISSION JERKING AND SLIPPING. FEELS LIKE IT SKIPPING ALONG THE STREET WITH LOSS OF POWER.

NHTSA ODI #11187048

89,000 miles · Mar 1, 2019
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO KRAFT NISSAN (3277 MAHAN DR, TALLAHASSEE, FL 32308, (850) 576-6171). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REP…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO KRAFT NISSAN (3277 MAHAN DR, TALLAHASSEE, FL 32308, (850) 576-6171). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

NHTSA ODI #11183511

45,600 miles · Feb 6, 2019
Power Train

TRANSMISSION IS MAKING A WHIRRING NOISE ON ACCELERATION FROM A GREEN LIGHT AND IS JERKING SOMETIMES UPON ACCELERATION. THEN GETTING ON THE INTERSTATE IT HESITATES BEFORE IT HITS 60 MPH I BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH 45,000 MILES AND PAYMENT. I MADE A MISTAKE BECAUSE FORM OTHER COMPLAINTS THE CVT IS HAS A TON OF ISSUES AND NEEDS TO BE RE…

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TRANSMISSION IS MAKING A WHIRRING NOISE ON ACCELERATION FROM A GREEN LIGHT AND IS JERKING SOMETIMES UPON ACCELERATION. THEN GETTING ON THE INTERSTATE IT HESITATES BEFORE IT HITS 60 MPH I BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH 45,000 MILES AND PAYMENT. I MADE A MISTAKE BECAUSE FORM OTHER COMPLAINTS THE CVT IS HAS A TON OF ISSUES AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.

NHTSA ODI #11174648

Official recalls

6

21V135000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.