Nissan Sentra
Reliability, NHTSA Complaints & Recall History
10 model years analyzed (2017β2026). All data sourced directly from the NHTSA public complaints and recall database β the same data used by federal regulators.
Checking a specific Nissan Sentra? Run a VIN check for its exact history.
β NHTSA NCAP Crash Test Ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
NCAP crash test ratings for this model are not yet loaded or this vehicle was not tested in the years analyzed. NHTSA tests a subset of new vehicles each year. Check nhtsa.gov/ratings directly for the latest results.
AI Reliability Analysis
Below AverageThe NISSAN SENTRA (2017-2026) has a high number of NHTSA complaints (1081) and recalls (24), with significant issues in electrical system, powertrain, and forward collision avoidance. Crash-related complaints (93) indicate potential safety concerns.
Check for open recalls and ensure the CVT transmission has been serviced or replaced if problematic. Test the forward collision avoidance system thoroughly before purchase.
- Electrical system failures
- Powertrain (CVT) issues
- Forward collision avoidance malfunctions
π NHTSA Safety Recalls
24 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
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Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017β2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
π§ Most-Reported Problem Areas
Based on component keywords extracted from all 69 NHTSA complaints.
π NHTSA Complaint Reports
69 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
Summary: I am reporting two significant defects on my 2025 Nissan Sentra that pose safety risks. 1. Suspension/Steering: During low-speed maneuvers (approx. 20mph) such as navigating roundabouts, there is a persistent mechanical creaking/squealing noise from the front passenger side. The dealership technician verified the noise but provided a physically impossible diagnosis, claiming "tires were slipping," despite the vehicle being brand new with tires in perfect condition. This suggests a defect in the control arm bushings or strut mounts which affects steering predictability. 2. Power Window/Electrical: The driver-side window produces a loud, piercing screech when operated. More critically, the window switch has experienced intermittent functional failure where it becomes unresponsive. This is a safety hazard as it could prevent emergency egress or cabin ventilation. Manufacturer Response: > Both issues are documented and have been reported to Nissan Consumer Affairs (Case #56515863). However, the manufacturer stated they have "no solution" and directed me to argue with the dealership. No technical specialist has been assigned to inspect these safety-related mechanical and electrical failures. The vehicle is available for inspection.
My Nissan Sentra experienced unintended forward movement while Reverse was selected. After restarting the vehicle and shifting back into Park and then Reverse, the vehicle moved forward instead of backward, and the brake behavior became abnormal. This caused a minor collision. The condition has been reproducible, and I have video evidence documenting the issue. The vehicle is currently being held, and I was informed that repairs should not begin until Nissan inspects the vehicle and retrieves diagnostic/event data. I am submitting this as a potential safety defect involving unintended vehicle movement, shifting, braking, and vehicle control.
I purchased this car around January 2025 & around August 2025 I started having battery issues. Itβs currently March 2026. I have to keep having the battery jumped at. When he battery wasnβt jumping I had to get it sent to a nissan where they said nothing was wrong with the car so the next day the battery failed again.. and again each day . I have to keep calling AAA to come have the car jumped which I ended up just getting a portable battery jumper which works sometimes but other times I would have to call AAA of course, or if it doesnβt start at all, I will have to get it told to nissan. Certain times the car would start up and then when you pull out the parking space itβll start shaking and then youβre driving in the car will slowly turn off. Youβll just be sitting there and thatβs the main time youβll have to get it towed to the dealership. Recently it happened on the side of the road from me, leaving the dealership and the police ended up, towing the car because triple AAA didnβt come fast enough which I had to pay 300 something dollars to get it out of the tow yard. System malfunction pops up, the engine light blinking , battery light pops up.
Rental car company is renting out cars with open safety recalls. I paid 1212$ cash ( I did not plan on this expense. I did not have that much money on one card so they told me to remove it from multiple cards at an ATM and give them cash ) for a seven day rental only to find out if open safety recalls on it. I took it back the next day. They said it did not have a recall. They did not offer me an exchange or refund. They took the car before I talked to them about my complaint. They did not remove the charges for the seven days of insurance or tolls and charge me 50 extra dollars for gas. not only are they breaking federal law theyβre taking advantage of the elderly.
I am the owner of a 2025 Nissan Sentra with approximately 3,200 miles. The vehicle was purchased new from an authorized Nissan dealership in Columbia, South Carolina. The vehicle is subject to an open safety recall identified as the Door Striker Campaign. As of January 29th, the vehicle has been removed from commercial rental service due to the open safety recall. Nissan North America has confirmed: β’ No recall repair parts are currently available β’ No confirmed repair timeline exists β’ No definitive completion date has been provided On February 10, 2026, I was notified that recall parts were available and instructed to arrange service. Approximately six hours later, I was informed that the part identified was incorrect and repair could not be performed. As of today, the vehicle remains unrepaired and no repair date has been provided. I am requesting that NHTSA review whether Nissan North America is meeting its federal safety recall obligations under 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 regarding timely recall remedy performance.
Only 1 week after purchasing the car new from Nissan of Clearwater, the rear seat belt alarms would trigger when someone would sit back there after they fastened their seat belt and I drove off. The other 2 seat belt alarms would sound nonstop until the back seat passenger fastened the empty seats belts. I brought the car in 3 times to be repaired and the problem is still not fixed. This is a SAFETY issue because I am not sure if the rear seat belts are functioning properly and I will not take a chance that someone could be injured or killed in this car. I have contacted Nissan of North America Consumer Affairs and reported the issue. Hopefully they will resolve this very dangerous issue.
The adhesive on 3 of the rear parking sensors failed and the brackets holding the sensors in place fell off into the inside of the bumper triggering the sensor to go off constantly when reversing and auto brake.
I am submitting a vehicle defect complaint pursuant to 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 regarding a potential safety related defect involving engine, electrical, and powertrain systems. The vehicle experienced early engine and electrical malfunction at relatively low mileage, requiring replacement of the engine wiring harness and removal and reinstallation of the engine and transaxle assembly. These are major powertrain and electrical repairs not reasonably expected on a nearly new vehicle and raise concerns regarding vehicle reliability and safe operation. The vehicle displayed a Malfunction Indicator Light warning indicating an engine and emissions system malfunction, with warnings that continued operation could cause additional damage. Such warnings and failures create a risk of reduced power, drivability issues, or further system failure while operating the vehicle. Insurance repair documentation reflects the selection of a recycled LKQ drivetrain related component, including a recycled engine, transaxle, or CVT related component, which raises additional concerns about durability and safety when installed in a nearly new vehicle. Early powertrain and electrical failures involving engine management and emissions systems may implicate compliance with federal motor vehicle safety standards and warrant review under NHTSA defect monitoring authority. I am requesting that NHTSA log, track, and evaluate this complaint for defect trend analysis, potential noncompliance, or further investigation under 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 to determine whether similar failures are occurring in other vehicles of the same make and model.
The contact owns a 2025 Nissan Sentra. The contact had stopped at a State Office to register the vehicle. While at the registration office, the contact was informed that there was an open recall associated with the vehicle. The contact checked the NHTSA website and found NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V807000 (VISIBILITY). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the contact that there were no open recalls associated with the VIN. The contact was provided with documentation supporting the statement. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The contact was informed that the recall listed on the NHTSA website was in error. The contact had not experienced a failure.
I rear ended another vehicle and my airbags did not deploy.
Rear seatbelts trigger a no seatbelt alarm when somebody unbuckles and leaves the vehicle. As well as when somebody leaves and comes back and puts on the seatbelt, the alarm saying that the seatbelt is still not buckled up. It only does it after somebody does buckle in and buckle out and reset anytime the car is turned off and then turned back on. Found out that the rear seats do not have weight sensors, and this has to do with the actual seatbelts sensors. Noticed that buckling the center seatbelt sometimes, sometimes, will cancel out the alarm. In either case, the audible alarm within the vehicle, goes off within two minutes. At my first oil change, dealership said that to wait till the second oil change to see if it fixes itself. Went in for another visit at 7500 miles, and mentioned that it was not fixing itself and that tired of having to deal with it. That visit was for a That visit was for an ECM replacement, which is another case, they said it was a recall and found out that itβs some internal recall within the dealership, and I was hoping that maybe it was that which was causing the seatbelt system not to work properly. It did not fix it after they replaced the ECM. They finally tested the seatbelts, found that my car has no rear seat weight sensor, rather it has just a standard seatbelt sensor when it buckles in and buckles out. They have order the replacement seatbelts and will be installing them this weekend at the dealership.
The contact owns a 2025 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the contact's foot slid off onto the accelerator pedal. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who determined that the space between the pedals was too small. The contact stated that the pedals were too close together. The mechanic completed an unknown partial repair. The manufacturer was contacted, and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 8.
I was driving down the interstate, not a lot of people around me and my tire blew about spun out, but I was able to pull over. The cops came to help out when I was looking at the wheel. The whole rim is completely cracked and shot in half and didnβt hit anything
My 2025 Nissan purchased new May 2025 came with Firestone FT140 P 205 / 60 R 16 I started noticing a very slight vibration in rear tire at 42 mph around September 5600 miles On Sept 20, 2025 I took car on trip for several hundred miles at speeds over 70 mph. The car has developed a much more noticed vibration above 50 mph. On Sept. 22 I had tires checked for failure. Local tire store who sells Firestone told me both rear tires was out of round. This store could not warranty my tires, they said they only sold them. I would have to find a real dealer. I called Firestone # listed in my Nissan warranty book 1 800 847 3272 I gave them my Zip Code and problem, I was advised to find real dealer on compter my self. I found a real service dealer 55 miles away, I called them they had none in stock. They found dealer in Clarksville TN. 150 miles away for me suggested I should go there for fast service. I have spent 7 hours today on phone and driving to many dealers sell Firestone tires around Somerset, Ky I have defective tires and Firestone company could care less.
The contact owns a 2025 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the βShift to Parkβ message displayed, and the vehicle lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact turned on the hazard lights and waited for the vehicle to cool down before restarting. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the grille shutter needed to be replaced, but only the check engine warning light was reset. The failure recurred several times, and the vehicle was then taken to Pohanka Nissan of Fredericksburg (10665 Patriot Hwy, Fredericksburg, VA 22408); who also determined that the grille shutter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact later discovered that the vehicle was previously owned by Enterprise Rent-A-Car and was involved in a crash. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The manufacturer denied a Lemon Law case. The failure mileage was approximately 6,000.
I bought a brand new 2025 Nissan Sentra SV Premium which included 17" wheels (only found on the SV Premium Package) with Michelin Primacy A/S size 215/50 R17 (original equipment). I began noticing some safety issues while driving straight out of the dealership. While driving on diamond ground concrete roads (rain grooved roads) on Interstate highways, the vehicle wobbles uncontrollable, to the point that I feel that I am about to lose control of the vehicle. I have to bring the vehicle to an unsafe low speed to control the vehicle. It seems like if the tread pattern from the tires locks into the grooves on the roads, and causes each tire to wobble the car wildly in different directions, which is absolutely terrifying at high speeds. I took the car back to the dealership with about 500 miles; they determined that the issue was rather from the tires and not from the vehicle.
I purchased a certified pre-owned 2025 Nissan Sentra SV from a local dealership here in Georgia for my wife. It had 1500miles on it at time of purchase. We have had it less than a month and observed engine shutdown, and totaled power loss about five times in traffic. This is a safety concern because it is random without prior warning. The engine shuts down, dash screen goes black, and you are unable to warn others with hazard lights due to total loss of power. Recently, the vehicle did give dash codes alluding to the problems described, however the dealership was unable to identify the cause or duplicate the problem. When the incident occurred again, I towed it to the dealership, and they still have not gotten answers as to why the car stalls without warning. Unable to move the gear shift to neutral so that the vehicle can be pushed out of traffic is another safety concern. This car should be fuel efficient, yet we were refueling every other day. Not safe!!!
The start stop idle is malfunctioning it says start stop idle fault also I just replaced the rotors and brakes the rotors were warped and it shakes when you brake. Also the door locks don't unlock when you press the button
The rear window on the 2025 Nissan Sentra shattered for no known reason. The car was parked in my driveway, was OK when I locked it up a 3pm to go for a walk, and when I got home at 3:40, there was a big whole in my back window. None of our neighbors heard or saw anything, and there are no ring doorbells that could have a video of what happened. Police came and looked at it, there is no evidence of a rock or bird hitting it, and no sign of a BB or any other projectile. It appears to have spontaneously shattered. This is not covered under warranty, so I wanted to report this in case there are other reports that could trigger a recall.
When it rains the car hydroplanes and the traction on the tires are no good. Also the door locks don't unlock properly and the door won't open. Also the warning for vehicle collision front and back doesn't work properly and doesn't warn you when a vehicle is going to hit you from behind. I was rear-ended and it didn't alert me at all and the driver of the other vehicle took off.and once in a while the front collision works and most of the time it doesn't work
Showing 20 of 69 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check a Specific Nissan Sentra
This page shows fleet averages across all 10 model years. Enter a VIN to see the exact accident history, odometer records, title brands, and open recall status for a specific car.
π Understanding This Data
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is β but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Nissan Sentra has 69 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Nissan Sentra has 24 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 10 of the Nissan Sentra's 69 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions β a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the AI Rating Calculated?
The AI reliability rating (Below Average) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. The rating provides a plain-English summary for buyers who want a quick verdict without parsing raw numbers. It is one input in your buying decision β always verify with a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable β simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Nissan Sentra vehicles on the road β not any specific car. Two Nissan Sentra vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage β NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Nissan Sentra has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
Is This Data Saved in Firebase & Indexed by Google?
Yes β intentionally. When you first visit this page, our server fetches live data directly from the NHTSA public API (no key required), processes it, and caches it in Google Firebase Firestore for 24 hours. The fully rendered HTML β with all NHTSA complaints, recalls, NCAP ratings, and investigations β is then indexed by Google Search. This is by design: caching real government data in Firebase lets us serve comprehensive vehicle safety pages instantly, while giving Google Bots rich structured content to rank for searches like "Nissan Sentra reliability" or "NHTSA recalls." No personal data is stored β only public NHTSA records are cached. You can always verify everything directly at nhtsa.gov.