2021 NISSAN SENTRA Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2021 Nissan Sentra. This model year has 122 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Electrical Faults.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2021 Nissan Sentra Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Electrical Faults
Steering Defects
Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2021 Nissan Sentra. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Faults | 38 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 38 | 11 | 1 | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 34 | 1 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 23 | 7 | 1 | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 18 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Engine Problems | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 5 | 1 | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Lane Departure | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2021 Nissan Sentra. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 122 most recent complaints
The infotainment/radio system in my 2021 Nissan Sentra intermittently reboots and produces static. When this happens, the backup camera freezes or shuts off completely. This has occurred while I was actively reversing, causing a sudden loss of rear visibility. The screen either g…
Some time while driving on empty roads Fuel Economy warning light beeping and automatically emergency brake . It happened on me more than 5 times.
The passenger front, and both back windows no longer function. This appears to be a common issue when searching the internet. There is also an issue with the keyless start, as it often does not recognize that the fob is in the vehicle, or gives a low batter warning (with a new ba…
AEB system is initiating emergency braking at random times. Both on surface street, and the freeway on ramp. With and without weather, and without any obstacles or cars in the way. The vehicle comes it a complete stop when this happens and puts the driver in significant danger.…
Rattling noise coming from the belt assembly. Tensioner pulley is shaky and alternator had a piece brake off causing metal shavings to fly around.
Purchased brand new with 0 miles. The system malfunction popped up and engine would not turn over after running perfectly fine a hour prior.Had to get towed to dealership and found a faulty battery luckily I still had 100 or so miles left on my warranty.Happened again last month …
I got in the car to start it and it would not start. This happened at the car wash one morning. It didn’t give me any warnings of a bad battery and the only way I started it was to have someone jump it. This has happened 4 times now. It takes several minutes for the battery to ch…
While driving down the highway along with other traffic the car went into limp mode and lost power instantly almost causing an accident. Come to find out the engine bearings caused the engine to go on it without any warning signs. This car has been maintenanced and taken care of …
Electric steering rack has play and causes violent shaking. Huge safety risk as this could have complete failure and cause accidents. Vehicle started showing symptoms at 68,000 miles and after reading separate forums, many others have experienced these same issues. No warning lig…
purchased my 2021 Nissan Sentra brand new with no prior owner. Around 2023, the air conditioning system stopped working. The AC will not turn on at all the switch or control that activates the system is completely unresponsive. I brought the vehicle to a Nissan dealership, where …
The check engine light comes on with a malfunction symbol. The car has delay acceleration, jerks, hard shifts.
Since having my Nissan 2021 Sentra I have for one, had to replace the battery in it twice. On a more serious note, it is now stopping the car at random and unnecessary times stating an object is in front of me. It happens once a while ago and I did not have any other signs, and i…
Passenger side power windows and driver side rear window on occasion will stop working.
I and many others have noticed that the 2020+ Nissan Sentra has a very common issue with its window switch where the driver side window works, but all passenger windows get stuck refusing to roll up or down, or do so very slowly. I have had people try to come up to my window wher…
The rear door locks on my vehicle fail to lock and unlock properly, especially using the power lock switches or key fob. This is not an occasional issue — it happens every single day. This is a major safety concern because the back doors often cannot be opened at all, which puts …
The competent that continues to fail is the emergency response breaks. They continue to stop at random times creating a very unsafe environment while I drive daily. I do have this on video and my car is available for inspection at any time. I just recently finally got the emergen…
Rear windows and passenger window are malfunctioning. They stay open and will not close. Takes many attempts, and push start car on and off attempts. Takes hours for them to work again. Currently not using rear windows. To be on the safe side.
I've had multiple issues with my vehicle since I purchased the brand new car in 2021. - One year after purchase, I was left stranded when my alternator stopped working. - In 2023, I went i took my car to the Georgesville Nissan dealership in Columbus Ohio to get another key pr…
The door lock actuators in my 2021 Nissan Sentra have malfunctioned, causing my doors to unexpectedly lock or unlock. Three of the four doors are affected, including the front driver's side door and both back doors. This is a serious safety concern that can potentially lock me in…
Vehicle: 2021 Nissan Sentra VIN: [XXX] Incident Date: [XXX] Description: On [XXX], the front tie rod on my 2021 Nissan Sentra suddenly failed while I was driving, causing me to lose control of the vehicle and sideswipe a parked car. This mechanical failure led to an accident, p…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2021 Nissan Sentra.
Recalls for 2021 Nissan Sentra
3 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2021 Nissan Sentra. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2021 Nissan Sentra — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2021 Nissan Sentra reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2021 Nissan Sentra has 122 NHTSA owner complaints, 14 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Electrical Faults (38 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Nissan Sentra?▾
#1: Electrical Faults (38 complaints). #2: Steering Defects (38 complaints). #3: Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB (34 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2021 Nissan Sentra?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2021 Nissan Sentra?▾
The 2021 Nissan Sentra has 14 crash-related complaints and 1 fire reports out of 122 total NHTSA complaints. 8 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2021 Nissan Sentra have any recalls?▾
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2021 Nissan Sentra. The largest issue: STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2021 Nissan Sentra?▾
The 2021 Nissan Sentra has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Electrical Faults issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Nissan Sentra reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2021 Nissan Sentra
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.