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2021 Nissan Sentra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2021 Nissan Sentra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 116.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

Limited mileage data: 21 of 131 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Steering. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Forward Collision Avoidance. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

14 crash reports1 fire reports8 injury reports

Forward Collision Avoidance complaints

38 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2023
Electrical SystemForward Collision AvoidancePower Train

The AEB system will activate sporadically in traffic and open road (I.e interstate) this can cause a serious crash if the car locks it up running 70 mph and tries to emergency stop It has been to the dealer for this issue with no resolve No prior warning when this happens and has been continuously more frequent since 30k mil…

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The AEB system will activate sporadically in traffic and open road (I.e interstate) this can cause a serious crash if the car locks it up running 70 mph and tries to emergency stop It has been to the dealer for this issue with no resolve No prior warning when this happens and has been continuously more frequent since 30k miles

NHTSA ODI #11539938

Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2023
Forward Collision Avoidance

1. Automatic Emergency Braking - System - System Failed /or Malfunctioned Car is available for examination (28,000 miles) 2. Collision alert sounded, with warning indicator (red bar with two white bars below), Emergency braking triggered (no apparent ABS, but driver felt the vehicle decelerate), stopped the vehicle, and turned …

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1. Automatic Emergency Braking - System - System Failed /or Malfunctioned Car is available for examination (28,000 miles) 2. Collision alert sounded, with warning indicator (red bar with two white bars below), Emergency braking triggered (no apparent ABS, but driver felt the vehicle decelerate), stopped the vehicle, and turned the vehicle engine off (electrical systems remained on). The vehicle was traveling on a city street at approximately 35 MPH at a slight incline, at dusk. No signs, pedestrians, other vehicles, or signs within visible distance present in front of the vehicle, or on either side of the road. There were no obstruction, debris, speed bumps, trees or pot holes on either side of the road within visible distance in front of the vehicle. Injuries may have occurred if another car was closely following, or could not stop in time. 3. The problem has been reported to the Suntrup Nissan (dealer from whom we purchased the vehicle) and Nissan Consumer Affairs (case [XXX]). The Consumer Affairs representative did not seem to understand the problem (initially thought it was ABS)or safety concern though (she said we should not worry as the vehicle was under waranty). We are awaiting a call back from the dealer though. However, in searching for an explanation we saw similar issues reported by a law firm (LemonLawExperts.com) 4. Vehicle has not been inspected. 5. This was the first such incident we experienced in the car. Other than the warning alert during the incident, there was no indication of this problem. The car had been in for routine service about a month ago though. At the service I mentioned the radio spontaneously turning off while traveling in a parking lot, and then turning back on a minute or two later in the same parking lot. To our knowledge the only repair work was a faulty window switch that was replaced. “INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).”

NHTSA ODI #11538627

Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 2023
Forward Collision AvoidanceUnknown Or Other

Automatic emergency braking has happened 3 times in the last 2 months without any reason. The 1st time there was a person who stepped off a side walk but I wasn’t to close to them. The last 2 times there was nothing around and all 3 times I was doing 40 or less. What happens if it happens doing 65+ on the highway. I’m worrie…

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Automatic emergency braking has happened 3 times in the last 2 months without any reason. The 1st time there was a person who stepped off a side walk but I wasn’t to close to them. The last 2 times there was nothing around and all 3 times I was doing 40 or less. What happens if it happens doing 65+ on the highway. I’m worried this is going to cause someone to rear end me because it happens so suddenly with no warning really. I have made an appointment with the dealership.

NHTSA ODI #11531699

11,382 miles · Jul 11, 2023
Forward Collision Avoidance

The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving 35 MPH, the vehicle experienced phantom braking. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage …

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The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving 35 MPH, the vehicle experienced phantom braking. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 11,382.

NHTSA ODI #11531528

Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 2023
Electrical SystemForward Collision AvoidanceVehicle Speed ControlInjury

1. My brakes locked up on my and the warning light came on saying I hit something 2.the only windows that works is the drivers identified 3.my warning lights came on and it started smelling inside the car I shut the car off and the warning light went off so I thought it was OK finished driving home and became sick opened the ho…

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1. My brakes locked up on my and the warning light came on saying I hit something 2.the only windows that works is the drivers identified 3.my warning lights came on and it started smelling inside the car I shut the car off and the warning light went off so I thought it was OK finished driving home and became sick opened the hood and my battery had smoke pouring out of each side my sinuses were burning, my throat was on fire i was sick the rest of the night i called poison control and they told me what to do

NHTSA ODI #11531207

Mileage unknown · Jul 5, 2023
Forward Collision Avoidance

I brought this car 1/28/2023. The car emergency brake or stop was activated for no reasons at all. There was zero objects in front of my bumper. This happened to me twice. Once in May 2023 and then again on the 4th of July 2023. I called the dealership on 1st incident in May 2023 and I was told that the brakes will be applied…

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I brought this car 1/28/2023. The car emergency brake or stop was activated for no reasons at all. There was zero objects in front of my bumper. This happened to me twice. Once in May 2023 and then again on the 4th of July 2023. I called the dealership on 1st incident in May 2023 and I was told that the brakes will be applied if the car thinks it’s getting ready to crash. This is very dangerous and can cause an accident if the emergency braking system is causing the car to stop for no reasons.

NHTSA ODI #11530498

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 2023
Electrical SystemForward Collision Avoidance

Car emergency stops with no reason. Dangerous. Will cause accident. Needs recalled.

NHTSA ODI #11528795

Mileage unknown · May 16, 2023
Back Over PreventionForward Collision AvoidanceService Brakes

For the past two years, an emergency brake has been activated when an object, such as a car, is close to my front bumper. This is excellent, but occasionally the sensor activates when nothing is in front of me, which is risky and causes my brake pads to wear out more quickly than they should. When I took this up with the Nissan…

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For the past two years, an emergency brake has been activated when an object, such as a car, is close to my front bumper. This is excellent, but occasionally the sensor activates when nothing is in front of me, which is risky and causes my brake pads to wear out more quickly than they should. When I took this up with the Nissan dealer two years ago, they claimed to have rectified it, but they didn't. When I went to another dealership because I was dissatisfied with the service at the prior, I brought up the issue and asked if they could turn off this feature. They said that there wasn't much they could do. They gave it a test drive and found nothing, but since this only occasionally occurs, it is difficult to keep track of it without keeping the car for several weeks, which I cannot afford to do. This seems recall worthy.

NHTSA ODI #11522289

Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 2023
Electrical SystemForward Collision AvoidanceService Brakes

Brake system failed. Car brake petal was all the way to the floor and grinding to stop. The car didn’t fully stop. Car has be inspected 3 times by dealership. No warning lights on. The car automatic brake goes off randomly and breaks out of no where and put me at risk with causing an accident it has been inspected by dealer as w…

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Brake system failed. Car brake petal was all the way to the floor and grinding to stop. The car didn’t fully stop. Car has be inspected 3 times by dealership. No warning lights on. The car automatic brake goes off randomly and breaks out of no where and put me at risk with causing an accident it has been inspected by dealer as well and this continues to happen. Car jerks and looses power while drive check engine light comes on and blinks. The car has been seen twice by dealer for this issue nothing resolved. Almost caused a major accident first time on freeway and again on a busy intersection. Car is very unsafe and not reliable

NHTSA ODI #11515711

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2023
Forward Collision Avoidance

AEB SYSTEM ACTIVATED ON IT'S OWN, 3 TIMES RANDOMLY ,BRAKES SLAM ON FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED. IT IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. IF THERE WAS A VEHICLE IN BEHIND ME THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. WE JUST TOOK IT TOTHE DEALSHIP TO HAVE THE SYSTEM CHECKED AND THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM.IT HAS NOT BEEN INSPECT…

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AEB SYSTEM ACTIVATED ON IT'S OWN, 3 TIMES RANDOMLY ,BRAKES SLAM ON FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED. IT IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. IF THERE WAS A VEHICLE IN BEHIND ME THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. WE JUST TOOK IT TOTHE DEALSHIP TO HAVE THE SYSTEM CHECKED AND THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM.IT HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A MANUFACTURER OR OTHERS. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR SYMPTOMS PRIOR TO FAILURE. I CAN NO L,ONGER DRIVE THIS CAR WITH CONFIDENCE.

NHTSA ODI #11511405

Official recalls

3

23V628000 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera

Sep 8, 2023

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Altima and 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 19, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23C3.

23V581000 · Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly

Aug 15, 2023

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Sentra vehicles. The left and/or right tie rod may bend.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A bent tie rod can break and cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Owners are advised to contact their dealer for transport assistance if they are experiencing an off-center steering wheel or vibration. As an interim repair, dealers will inspect and replace any bent or broken tie rods, free of charge. Once newly designed parts are available, dealers will replace both left and right tie rods, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed November 27, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23B3. This recall replaces and expands recall number 21V-461. Vehicles previously repaired under 21V-461 will need to have the new remedy completed.

21V461000 · Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly

Jun 17, 2021

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. The left and/or right tie rod may be bent.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A bent tie rod can break, causing a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the left and/or right tie rods as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 5, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PM985.

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.