THE LIGHT FOR PASSENGER AIRBAG WENT ON AND DOESN'T GO OFF
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
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.
Unknown Or Other complaints
43 reportsMY CAR STARTED JERKING WHILE DRIVING. AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE, IT WOULD SUDDENLY GO INTO LYMPH MODE WHILE BEING OPERATED. THIS WAS VERY UNSAFE WHILE I WAS PREGNANT. I CALLED NISSAN AND THEY SAID I COULDN'T BE HELPED BECAUSE I WAS PASSED 84,000 MILES. HOWEVER I LOOKED ONLINE AND IT SAID SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT. I'M STILL MA…
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MY CAR STARTED JERKING WHILE DRIVING. AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE, IT WOULD SUDDENLY GO INTO LYMPH MODE WHILE BEING OPERATED. THIS WAS VERY UNSAFE WHILE I WAS PREGNANT. I CALLED NISSAN AND THEY SAID I COULDN'T BE HELPED BECAUSE I WAS PASSED 84,000 MILES. HOWEVER I LOOKED ONLINE AND IT SAID SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT. I'M STILL MAKING PAYMENTS, AND NOW HAVE TO COME OUT OF POCKET FOR A TRANSMISSION
THERE IS CLICKING NOISE THAT IS COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR SIDE WHEN SLOW DOWN OR COMING TO STOP AFTER BRAKING. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY AND NOTICED IT THEN. WAS TOLD BY NISSAN OF MOBILE IN MOBILE AL THAT THEY COULD NOT HEAR IT AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I KEPT TELLING EVERYTIME THEY SERVICE MY CAR THAT THE NOISE WAS …
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THERE IS CLICKING NOISE THAT IS COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR SIDE WHEN SLOW DOWN OR COMING TO STOP AFTER BRAKING. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY AND NOTICED IT THEN. WAS TOLD BY NISSAN OF MOBILE IN MOBILE AL THAT THEY COULD NOT HEAR IT AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I KEPT TELLING EVERYTIME THEY SERVICE MY CAR THAT THE NOISE WAS GETTING LOUDER. LONG STORY SHORT THEY TOLD ME TO GO BACK TO OHIO WHERE THE CAR CAME SINCE IT LOOK LIKE THE BUT ON AFTERMARKET DRUM ON THE CAR. THEY DID NOT HELP ME AT ALL. BUT I SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING THEY HAD TO GET THE C-CLIP FIX AND THE NOISE WENT AWAY.
AS I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT MY VEHICLE WAS STOPED, BUT WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE, EVEN AFTER STEPPING ON THE GAS. IT BEGAN MOVING AFTER A COUPLE TRIES OF TURNING IT ON AND OFF, BUT WHEN I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY IT WOULD SLOW DOWN OUT OF NO WHERE. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS, DUE TO CARS BEING BEHIND ME, …
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AS I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT MY VEHICLE WAS STOPED, BUT WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE, EVEN AFTER STEPPING ON THE GAS. IT BEGAN MOVING AFTER A COUPLE TRIES OF TURNING IT ON AND OFF, BUT WHEN I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY IT WOULD SLOW DOWN OUT OF NO WHERE. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS, DUE TO CARS BEING BEHIND ME, AND CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. NOT ALOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO PUT IN THE CLAIM, BUT WHILE DOING MY RESEARCH THERE HAVE BEEN PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS ON DIFFERENT WEBSITES. I'VE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 3 YEARS. THE VEHICLE WOULD GET MAINTENANCED WHEN NEEDED. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THESE TRANSMISSIONS, BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN FAULTY TRANSMISSION FOR OTHER CVT NISSANS.
BROUGHT THIS 2016 IN APRIL OF 2020, AFTER I INITIALLY DROVE IT , MY DAUGHTER TOOK OVER DRIVING IT SINCE I'M A DISABLED VETERAN. MY FIANCE DROVE THE VEHICLE IN JUNE AND REALIZED IT WAS A DIFFERENT FEELING WITH THE CAR . TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY REPLACED TWO FRONT TIRES AND PERFORM A TUNE UP . MY YOUNG DAUGHTER PICK IT FROM T…
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BROUGHT THIS 2016 IN APRIL OF 2020, AFTER I INITIALLY DROVE IT , MY DAUGHTER TOOK OVER DRIVING IT SINCE I'M A DISABLED VETERAN. MY FIANCE DROVE THE VEHICLE IN JUNE AND REALIZED IT WAS A DIFFERENT FEELING WITH THE CAR . TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY REPLACED TWO FRONT TIRES AND PERFORM A TUNE UP . MY YOUNG DAUGHTER PICK IT FROM THE SHOP AND WENT OFF TO COLLEGE IN BALTIMORE,MARYLAND. SHE RETURNED TO PALM BEACH IN SEPTEMBER .AFTER SHE GOT HOME , THE CAR JUST CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD UNEXPECTED. MY FIANCE TOOK THE CAR FOR A DRIVE AND NOTICE IT DOING THE SAME THING. TOOK IT TO TWO SHOPS WHO INFORMED ME TWO DIFFERENT DIAGNOSIS., ONE BEING THE TRANSMISSION. THEY INFORM ME TO CONTACT NISSAN WHO IN TURN TOLD ME IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. WE HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION AT WHICH TIME ON 9/13/2020 , MY DAUGHTER HAD A ACCIDENT DUE TO THE FACT THE CAR COULDN'T PICK UP SPEED FAST ENOUGH TO MERGE INTO THE NEXT LANE . I'M HAPPY MY DAUGHTER WASN'T HURT BUT DEVASTATED THAT THIS CAR , 4 YEARS OLD IN MY POSSESSION ABOUT 4 MONTHS NEEDS A TRANSMISSION REPAIR. I DIDN'T EXPECT THIS FROM A VEHICLE THAT I STILL HAVE 3 YEARS REMAINING AND FROM NISSAN WHICH I THOUGHT WAS A RELIABLE COMPANY.
CAR STARTED STRUGGLING WHEN GOING AT HIGHER SPEED ABOVE 60 MPH ESPECIFICALLY WHEN GOING UPHILL EVEN IF ITS A SMALL HILL ON THE FREEWAY ALSO WHEN GOING DOWN HILL SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING IS ALSO WRONG WITH THE BRAKES AND MAKES WEIRD SOUNDS ALMOST LIKE THE BRAKES DONT WANT TO STOP THE CAR TOOK TO A MECHANIC BUT NO WARNINGS COME UP AND…
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CAR STARTED STRUGGLING WHEN GOING AT HIGHER SPEED ABOVE 60 MPH ESPECIFICALLY WHEN GOING UPHILL EVEN IF ITS A SMALL HILL ON THE FREEWAY ALSO WHEN GOING DOWN HILL SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING IS ALSO WRONG WITH THE BRAKES AND MAKES WEIRD SOUNDS ALMOST LIKE THE BRAKES DONT WANT TO STOP THE CAR TOOK TO A MECHANIC BUT NO WARNINGS COME UP AND SEEMS TO BE TRANSMISSION WHICH I DID GET A NOTICE THROUGH MAIL THAT THEIR COULD BE POSSIBLE RECALL FOR TRANSMISSION. THE CAR IS IN MOTION WHEN THIS ALL HAPPENS BUT AS SOON AS I TURN IT ON IT STARTS MAKING A WEIRD SOUNDS THAT IS OUT OF THE ORDINARY
MY AIR BAGS ARE ON
THE PUSH BUTTON START IS VERY UNRELIABLE I HAVE HAD TO HAVE AAA TWICE FOR STARTING PROBLEMS AND TOWED TWICE TO THE NISSAN SERVICE GARQAGE I THIK THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFTEY ISSUE I AM NOT COMFORTABLE GOING ANYPLACE AND KNOWING THAT IT MAY NOT START AFTER PARKED IT HAS THIS PROBLEM IN PARKING LOTS AND HOME GARAGE I AM 82 …
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THE PUSH BUTTON START IS VERY UNRELIABLE I HAVE HAD TO HAVE AAA TWICE FOR STARTING PROBLEMS AND TOWED TWICE TO THE NISSAN SERVICE GARQAGE I THIK THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFTEY ISSUE I AM NOT COMFORTABLE GOING ANYPLACE AND KNOWING THAT IT MAY NOT START AFTER PARKED IT HAS THIS PROBLEM IN PARKING LOTS AND HOME GARAGE I AM 82 YEARS OLD AND ALL I WANTED WAS A SMALL DEPENDABLE CARE THIS IS NOT
CAR FEELS LIKE THE ENGINE STARTS AND STOPS CONTINUOUSLY AND VERY FAST WHEN ON HIGHWAY GOING 60-75 MPH, AND HAPPENS MORE OFTEN WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON. THE SPEEDOMETER BOUNCES AROUND LIKE CRAZY FROM ZERO TO BOUNCING PASS MY SPEED I'M DRIVING AT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR TO CURRENTLY. I PULL OVER AND LET IT RES…
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CAR FEELS LIKE THE ENGINE STARTS AND STOPS CONTINUOUSLY AND VERY FAST WHEN ON HIGHWAY GOING 60-75 MPH, AND HAPPENS MORE OFTEN WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON. THE SPEEDOMETER BOUNCES AROUND LIKE CRAZY FROM ZERO TO BOUNCING PASS MY SPEED I'M DRIVING AT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR TO CURRENTLY. I PULL OVER AND LET IT REST, I DIDN'T SEE COMPLAINTS IN PAST ABOUT THIS FROM OTHERS UNTIL NOW, SO I THOUGHT I NOW MUST REPORT AS WELL. I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS ENGINE, SPEEDOMETER, FUEL RELATED, GAS PEDAL OR WHAT, BUT NOW REALIZING IT'S ENGINE ISSUES DUE TO A RECALL NOTICE I GOT IN THE MAIL AND A CIVIL LAWSUIT ACTION IS CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS.
THE CAR IS NOT ACCELERATING PROPERLY. I FEEL UNSAFE AND UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING IT ON THE ROADS AND MERGING INTO THE HIGHWAYS BUT THAT'S THE ONLY VEHICLE I HAVE AT THE MOMENT TO GET TO WORK, TAKE THE KIDS TO SCHOOL AND RUN ERRANDS.
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.
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