2011 Nissan Sentra
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 142 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 19th highest complaint count among 26 Sentra model years with reports.
Of the 2011 reports, 19 involved a crash and 6 involved a fire. 14 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Electrical system, 12v/24v/48v battery, cablesDec 15, 2011
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 SENTRA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MR20 ENGINES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 11, 2010, TO MAY 22, 2010, AND JULY 8, 2010, TO OCTOBER 25, 2010. THE ZINC COATING APPLIED TO THE TERMINAL STUD BOLT WAS THICKER THAN SPECIFICATION. THIS CAN RESULT IN A VOLTAGE DROP THAT MAY CAUSE DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE AND COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM).
THIS ISSUE CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND IT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AFTER IT STOPPED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL AND COVER, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALLBEGAN ON JANUARY 23, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Campaign 11V579000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, 12v/24v/48v battery, cablesNov 12, 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 SENTRA VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 22, 2010, THROUGH JULY 8, 2010. DUE TO A MACHINING IRREGULARITY, THE BOLT/WASHER SURFACE ON THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL CABLE END MAY ALLOW FOR A GAP TO OCCUR IN THE CONTACT AREA OF THE TERMINAL. THIS CAN RESULT IN A VOLTAGE DROP THAT MAY CAUSE DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE AND COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE.
THIS ISSUE CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AT LOW SPEED WITH A DIFFICULT OR NO START INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL CABLE END WITH A NEW ONE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN PN NOVEMBER 29, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Campaign 10V555000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: service brakes
14 reports, newest first. Show all
Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Apr 29, 2020
HAVING ISSUE WHILE DRIVING. ABS BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON AND CAR JERKS VIOLENTLY. HAVE TO STOP AND TURN OFF CAR AND ALL LIGHTS. PUSH THE ABS LIGHT BUTTON AND START CAR AGAIN TO REPEAT. HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. CAR HAS STOPPED TWICE ON ITS ON WHEN THIS HAS OCCURRED. WAS DRIVING FROM OUT OF TOWN ON BACK ROADS AND HAD TO STOP ABOUT EVERY 10 MINUTES TO STOP AND TURN OFF CAR. NOTICE IT WAS WORSE THAN BEFORE. DIFFERENCE IN ROADS FROM HOME. ROADS I WAS ON WERE SEVERAL WINDING ROAD. DID NOT GOT BETTER EVEN IF I DROVE SLOWLY.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Mar 4, 2020
PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN JUNE 2016, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN OCTOBER (APPROXIMATELY 60,000-70,000 MILES) WHEN TEMP DROPPED BELOW 55 DEGREES. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC, CODE READ P0101. FIND NISSAN HAS POSTED A BULLETIN ON THIS.FOLLOWED ALL GUIDELINES. HE CLEANED THE MAF SENSOR. LIGHT WENT OFF. NEXT, DAY LIGHT COMES BACK ON. GO BACK, HAVE SENSOR REPLACED. LIGHT COMES BACK ON. CHECKS FOR VACUUM LEAKS, CHANGE AIR FILTER BLOW OUT AIR BOX AND SURROUNDING COMPONENTS. LIGHT STILL ON. TAKE CAR FOR A DIAGNOSIS EVERY FEW MONTHS TO ENSURE ITS STILL THE SAME THING AND NOTHING ELSE. NO PROBLEM WITH CARS DRIVABILITY. FAST FORWARD TO 2019, VDC/ ABS LIGHTS COME ON. CALL NISSAN, TELL ME THEY CANT HELP BECAUSE MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. NISAN HAS POSTED BULLETIN FOR THIS ISSUE FOLLOW ALL GUIDELINES FOR REPAIRS VIA THEIR BULLETIN, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE $700 WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. LIGHTS GO OFF. BUT THAT STARTED A NEW ISSUE. MY VDC/ABS LIGHTS WILL SPONTANEOUSLY COME ON CAUSING MY CAR TO JERK VIOLENTLY AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 20-30MPH (OR 2,500 RPM) CAUSING ME TO STOP DEAD IN TRAFFIC, PARK THE CAR, TAKE THE KEY OUT (IT MUST BE OUT!), WAIT A FEW SECONDS, TURN IT BACK ON. FAST FORWARD TO THIS WEEK (3/2/20) MY CAR STALLS OUT GOING 70 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY BETWEEN TO SEMIS. EVERYTHING JUST SHUTS DOWN. I LITERALLY ALMOST DIED. CALL NISSAN AND THEY TELL ME, MY CAR ISN'T PART OF THE RECALL, OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY, NOTHING WE CAN DO. GO TO NISSAN DEALER. THEY WANT TO CHARGE $150 TO DIAGNOSE. SO I WENT ELSEWHERE, GOT IT DIAGNOSED FOR FREE HAD MAF CLEANED, NEW AIR FILTER, CODES RESET. LIGHT GOES OFF. DRIVING HOME, CAR STALLS AGAIN AT 70 MPH. NO LIGHTS ON DASH. HAVE CODES READ IMMEDIATELY, NO CODES. NOTHING. WAKE UP, DRIVE TO SCHOOL, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, IMMEDIATELY STALLS ON HIGHWAY. IMMEDIATELY HAVE DOES READ: THREE P0101 CODES IN ROW. I LITERALLY FEAR FOR MY LIFE AND HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE.
Service brakes, Oct 11, 2019
I WAS DRIVING MY NISSAN SENTRA 2011 WITH AN APPROX SPEED OF 35 MPH AND THEN SUDDENLY HEARD SOME NOISE FROM THE BONNET. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE CAR BUT STILL ABLE TO HEAR SOUND COMING FROM THE ABS MODULE. I TOOK IT TO MECHANIC AND HE SUGGESTED TO CHECK FOR THE RECALL AS LIGHT FOR VDC,ABS & BRAKE TURNED ON. I CHECKED WITH NISSAN CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY SAID THEY DONT HAVE ANY INFORMATION WITH MY VIN# FOR ANY RECALL. I AM SURPRISED TO SEE THIS AS THE CAR DIDNT MEET ANY ACCIDENT WHEN ALL THIS HAPPEN. NISSAN AUTHORISED CENTER DID DIAGNOSTIC AFTER CHARGING $244 JUST TO COME OUT THAT ABS ACTUATOR(47660-9AA1A) NEED TO BE REPLACED WHICH WILL FURTHER COST ME ABOUT $1900. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO COVER UP THIS COST AS THIS SEEMS TO BE COMPLETELY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE UNDER A CAMPAIGN.
Structure, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Sep 27, 2019, crash
ON SUNDAY, SEPT 22 2019 AT AROUND 1:40PM WE WERE HEADED HOME FROM AN VACATION AT A CABIN RENTAL PROPERTY IN SEVIERVILLE, TN. NOT EVEN QUARTER MILE FROM OUR CABIN ON A STRAIGHT AND DOWN HILL ROAD ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKES STOPPED FUNCTIONING. I APPLIED BRAKES MULTIPLE TIMES BUT THE CAR DIDN'T STOP AND IN ORDER TO AVOID A SMALL POND ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE AND THE CAR IN FRONT I HAD TO DIVERT MY CAR ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. AS I HIT SHOULDER OF THE ROAD THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL BUSTED AND THE CAR EVENTUALLY STOPPED FURTHER AT THE UP HILL. I DON'T KNOW IF THE BRAKES FAILED AND/OR THE ABS AND/OR THE ONBOARD COMPUTER MALFUNCTIONED. I DID SEE ABS AND VDC LIGHTS SIGN COMING ON THE DASHBOARD FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS BEFORE DISAPPEARING ON ITS OWN. ALSO SINCE THEN THE TIRE PRESSURE SIGN HAS NEVER GONE OFF. THE TIRE PRESSURE SIGNS BLINKS FOR A LITTLE WHILE EVERY TIME START THE CAR AND THEN GETS STEADY. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN SAFETY CONCERN TO ME AS I STILL CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW WOULD THE CAR DO NOTHING EVEN AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES SO MANY TIMES. WITH AN 2011 MODEL AND ONLY 56000 MILES ON IT I WOULD NEVER EXPECT SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO HAPPEN. SO SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR NOW AS WE HAVE AN TWO YEAR OLD WHO WAS IN THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT & MY WIFE GOT AN MINOR INJURY TO HER LEFT ELBOW. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO NISSAN BY CALLING 800-647-7261 ON SEPT 24 2019 AND HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING BACK FROM THEM SINCE THAN.
Steering, Service brakes, Engine, Dec 16, 2018
I HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WHEN IT WAS ONLY 20K MILES { 2 YEARS WITH WARRANTY}. THEY DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM AND I WAS NOT HAPPY. ON 3RD YEAR (BEFORE 3 YEARS OR 36 MONTHS EXPIRATION DATE), I SENT IT TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO INSPECT AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY ISSUE (NO ACTION OR ANYTHING BEEN FIXED). IT KEEP HAPPENING AND I HAD TO SEND IT BACK AGAIN TO RECHECK WHEN IT WAS 50K. AND NOW IT'S 80K MILES AND THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I KEEP CALLING NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND ASKING FOR ADVICES. THEY CAN NOT HELP ME OR FIX IT. I WAS ALMOST GOT HIT FEW TIMES WHEN I DROVE THIS NISSAN
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 20, 2016, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE PARKING AND ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CONTACT'S FOOT BECAME TRAPPED BETWEEN BOTH THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BROKEN NOSE THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 08/17/16*LJ THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED TOTALED. UPDATED 08/22/16.*JB *JS *JS *JS
Service brakes, Jul 18, 2014, crash
VEHICLE "A" AT REST AT STOPLIGHT. VEHICLE "B" ACCELERATES REAR ENDING VEHICLE "A". *TR
Service brakes, Mar 28, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BRAKES WOULD EXHIBIT A LOUD GRABBING NOISE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,500.
Service brakes, Aug 15, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND THE DOORS LOCKED, THE BRAKES STARTED TO MAKE A CLUNKING A RATTLING NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED THIS CONTINUED UNTIL THE VEHICLE REACHED 20-25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER IN THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,600.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Sep 27, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKE PEDAL; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. AFTER APPLYING FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAME TO A STOP. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER REGARDING THE UNEXPECTED BRAKE MALFUNCTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,500.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 17, 2011
WHEN THE CAR REACHED 15-20 MPH (THE DOORS LOCK) A RATTLING, CLUNKING NOISE OCCURS IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS STARTED AND THAT SPEED IS REACHED. I WAS TOLD FROM THE DEALERSHIP THIS IS NORMAL. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 22, 2011
UPON THE CAR REACHING 20 MILES PER HOUR THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM CHARGES UP. THIS CREATES A LOT OF NOISE AND CAUSE THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDAL TO VIBRATE. THIS CONDITION OCCURS ONCE EVERY IGNITION CYCLE. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Other or unspecified, Feb 7, 2011
THE VEHICLE HAS HAD ISSUES WITH ABS ACTUATOR MAKING NOISES AND VIBRATING. DEALERSHIP COULD FIND NO PROBLEMS, BUT REFERRED TO NISSAN SERVICE BULLETIN. ON FEBRUARY 2, 2011, I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 20-25 MPH. AS I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT I ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS MY BRAKES. AT THAT TIME THE PEDAL TRAVELED MORE THAN 3/4 OF THE WAY TO THE FLOOR ALMOST INSTANTLY. THERE WAS A LOUD METALLIC CLANKING AND GRINDING SOUND AND A VERY STRONG VIBRATION COMING FROM UNDER BRAKE PEDAL. I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AS IT PULLED TO THE LEFT AND ALMOST TRAVELED INTO THE ONCOMING LANE. AFTER 2-3 SECONDS I REGAINED THE USE OF MY BRAKES. *LN
Service brakes, Electric, Jan 19, 2011, crash
ON MONDAY, JANUARY 17, BETWEEN 7:00PM AND 7:15PM, I AS WELL AS A PASSENGER THAT WAS WITH ME THAT EVENING WERE INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WITH A SEMI DUE TO A FAILURE OF OUR 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. WE DON'T REALLY KNOW IF IT WAS EITHER THE BRAKES OR THE ABS SYSTEM OR THE ONBOARD COMPUTER. AS WE WERE ON BELTLINE RD., HEADING TOWARDS ADDISON, TX FOR A DINNER PARTY AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT, WE CAME TO AN INTERSECTION AND ATTEMPTED TO COME TO A HALT, BUT, WHEN DOING SO THE CAR CAME TO A SLOW STEADY SPEED AND CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD, LESS THAN 5MPH BUT MORE THAN 2MPH. I PRESSED THE BRAKE A TOTAL OF 5 TIMES, TWO OF WHICH I SLAMMED THE BREAK UNTIL IT REACHED THE FLOORBOARD, UNTIL I WAS FORCED TO USE THE E BREAK. I TRIED PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK AS WELL BUT NOTHING SEEMED TO WORK. PRIOR TO LEAVING FOR THE RESTAURANT, WE HEARD AN INTERNAL KNOCKING SOUND. WE DIDN'T HAVE IT CHECKED OUT IMMEDIATELY DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS A HOLIDAY AND MANY PLACES WERE ALREADY CLOSED. WE ALSO DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A DANGER TO US SIMPLY BECAUSE IT WAS THE FIRST TIME IT HAD EVER OCCURRED. WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE OPERATING THIS VEHICLE, AND WE WANT TO GET THE WORD OUT THERE THAT THIS CAR COULD BE DANGEROUS. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE TROPHY NISSAN IN MESQUITE, TX AND WERE GIVEN A RENTAL. WE PREFER THE RENTAL. IT WILL BE A MONTH UNTIL WE GET OUR CAR BACK, AND FRANKLY, THEY CAN KEEP IT. THERE WAS ONE OTHER RECALL THAT TOOK PLACE AS WELL AND THE DESCRIPTION MATCHES OUR INCIDENT. I HAVE PROVIDED THE LINK BELOW: HTTP://WWW.CARSEVERYTHING.COM/256/2011-NISSAN-SENTRA-RECALLS.HTML THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONCERN. WE REALLY HOPE THAT WORD CAN GET OUT ABOUT THE POTENTIAL DANGERS 2011 NISSAN SENTRAS CAN POSSESS. *TR