2016 Nissan Sentra
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 270 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 5th highest complaint count among 26 Sentra model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 18 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 13 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchMar 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.
The brake lights may not illuminate, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 21V135000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bagsApr 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 17V253000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, wiringJun 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).
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.
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.
Campaign 16V485000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleJun 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.
If the wiring harness disconnects, the passenger air bag may not to deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 16V436000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, sensor, occupant classificationApr 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 16V244000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, sensor, occupant classificationApr 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 16V242000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
48 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Dec 20, 2020
WHILE IN MOTION THE CAR JERKS AND SLIPS GEARS WHILE DRIVING IT HAS LOSS OF POWER WHEN ACCELERATING I FEEL UNSAFE WHILE DRIVING MY CAR.
Engine, Dec 10, 2020
77,000 MILES AND NO OTHER ISSUES. GO WILL GO INTO GEAR BUT WONT GO.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Dec 7, 2020
ENGINE REFUSES TO START. ALSO ENGINE STALLS WHEN DRIVEN. CAR IN MOTION.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Engine, Jun 15, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS QUOTED A COST OF $800 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Mar 6, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH OR WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET FOR 75 MPH, THE RPMS REVVED UP. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GREENWAY BRUNSWICK NISSAN LOCATED AT (231 CHAPEL CROSSING ROAD, BRUNSWICK, GA 31525, (912)289-8701) WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEATER CORE AND THE HEATER CORE BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER CORE WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES AND THE HEATER BOX, ALONG WITH THE HEATER CORE, WAS REPLACED 2 TIMES. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jan 15, 2020
THIS CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS, I WILL BE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND IT LOSES SPEED FOR NO REASON. I TRY TO GET IT GAS AND MY SPEED DECREASES. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS SCARY PROBLEM. I'VE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT'S GONNA TAKE SOMEONE LOSING THERE LIFE BEFORE NISSAN WILL ADMIT THIS BE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN
Engine, Dec 2, 2019
THE TRANSMISSION ALREADY WENT OUT ON MY CAR AND I JUST BOUGHT IT AND NOW HAVING TO PAY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES FOR SOMETHING I SHOULDN'T BE HAVING ANY ISSUES WITH AT THIS TIME
Power train, Engine, Aug 6, 2019
THE CVT IS CAUSING THE CAR TO NOT PICKUP SPEED AND IT'S CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION ON INTERSTATE. I SEE THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM BEFORE MY PROBLEM WHY HASN'T A RECALLED BEEN ISSUED. ALSO MY CAR IS A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA THAT I PURCHASED IN BATON ROUGE LA AFTER THE MAJOR FLOOD HERE I HOPE I WASNT' SOLD A CAR THAT HAD WATER DAMAGE
Power train, Wheels, Engine, Jul 3, 2019
MY 2016 NISSAN SENTRA IS BEEN UNSAFE TO DRIVE, I WAS TAKING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL WHEN I WAS TRYING TO HIT THE GAS IT JUMPED UP ALMOST HIT THE FRONT CAR WE WERE BEHIND. CAR DOESN'T GO FASTER THEN 10MPH. I CAN'T BELIEVE BEING A NEW CAR I MUST PAY A LOT MONEY TO FIX TRANSMISSION. I'M A SINGLE MOTHER AND NEED THIS PROBLEM FIXED PLEASE.I CAN'T PICK UP MY KIDS FROM SCHOOL OR PICK THEM UP FROM LOCATION I MEET EX HUSBAND TO GET THEM ON MY DAYS OF CUSTODY. I NEED MY VEHICLE FIXED PLEASE
Engine, Jun 29, 2019
I'VE HAD THIS 2016 NISSAN SENTRA FOR 2 YEARS & 5 MONTHS. TODAY JUNE 29,2019 2:15 PM WHILE DRIVING HOME ON A REGULAR STREET MY CAR ENGINE JUST SHUT DOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING. WHILE STILL MOVING NO LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD. STEERING WHEEL IS IS HARD TO TURN AFTER A MINUTE A COUPLE OF ITEMS LIGHTED UP ON THE DASHBOATD LIKE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, OIL ETC... TRIED TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE BUT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO MANEUVER GOOD THING THERE WERE NO ON COMING CARS ON THE ROAD. I WAITED A VOUPLE MINUTES THEN RESTARTED THE CAR & IT STARTED. TURNED OFF THE RADIO , AUR CPNDITION & UNPLUGGED THE CHARGER & DROVE HOME WITHOUT ANY ISSUES BUT WAS SCARED THAT IT WOULD STOP AGAIN.
Engine, Jun 25, 2019
RPM RAMPS WHEN SPEED GET UP TO 75 OR HIGHER.
Electrical system, Engine, May 14, 2019
MODEL 2016 ALREADY NEEDS THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. HAPPENS OFTEN - THE DEALERS EVEN STOCK IT. WILL ONLY GUARANTEE THE WORK FOR ONE YEAR, AS THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH SEVERAL CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS. CAR STALLS CONSTANTLY, HIGH AND LOW SPEEDS AND MUST BE PUSHED OFF THE ROAD. HAD TO TOW IT TO THE DEALER.
Power train, Service brakes, Engine, Apr 26, 2019
THE DRIVERS DOOR HANDLE COMES OFF. THE CAR BUCKS AND LOSES POWER,THE TACHOMETER NEEDLE MOVES UP AND DOWN. RPM SENSOR?.THE BRAKES (REAR DRUMS CRUNCHING). I HAVE 3 DIFFERENT BILLS FOR THE BRAKES. IM TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF THIS SITUATION WITH THE BUCKING OF MY CAR. READ UP ON COMPLAINTS DUE TO TROUBLE WITH NISSAN TRANSMISSION. I DON'T WANT TO BE STUCK WITH BACK AND FORTH B.S.ABOUT WHO IS RESPONSIBLE ETC. I OWN IT OUTRIGHT.WANT IT TAKEN CARE OF. ITS HIGHWAY DRIVING WHEN IT BUCKS BACK AND FORTH AND LOSES POWER.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Apr 23, 2019
CAR STALLED TO A COMPLETE STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGHWAY ONRAMP. CAR STARTS BUT DOES NOT GET INTO GEAR AND DIES. MAY BE SIMILAR TO NISSAN SENTRA 2016 ISSUE WITH ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. BUT MY CAR A NISSAN SENTRA S 2016 IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
Electrical system, Engine, Apr 11, 2019, fire
I WAS DRIVING WHEN MY CAR WHICH IS A PUSH TO START COMPLETELY STOPPED. I TRY TO RESTART IT BUT COULDN'T. I LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND THE BATTERY WAS ON FIRE.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Nov 11, 2018
MY VEHICLE JERKS AND MAKES NOISE WHEN SHIFTING IN GEARS. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND CAR PERFORMANCE IS NOT LIKE IT SUPPOSE TO DO. I HAVE READ RECALLS ON THE NISSAN SENTRA AND MY VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE ISSUES THAT ARE FOUND ON OTHER VEHICLES.
Electrical system, Engine, Jun 20, 2018
WHILE BRAKING THE AIR CONDITIONING SHUTS OFF. THE DEALER SAY THEY HAVE "FIXED" THE PROBLEM TWICE AND THEN ON MY 3RD ATTEMPT TO HAVE IT FIXED THEY INFORMED ME IT IS A "NORMAL WORKING CONDITION" THEY THEN TOLD ME I WAS TO BE REMOVED FROM THEIR SURVEY LIST BECAUSE OF A POTENTIALLY BAD REVIEW AND THEN WAS TOLD I COULDN'T BRING THE CAR BACK FOR THIS ISSUE ANYMORE.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 8, 2018
ON A RECENT TRIP I NOTICED A SURGE IN RPM'S ON THE CAR. ON CRUISE AT 70 MPH THE RPM WOULD BE AROUND 20,000. IT SURGES TO 35,000 OR HIGHER. IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE AND AT LOWER SPEEDS NOW.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 27, 2018, crash
THE TRANMISSON NOT ENOUGH POWER AND SEEMS TO ME NOT GOOD GAS BECAUSE THE NOT CORRECTLY ON CITY AND HIGHWAY.. NEED IMPROVE.
Power train, Engine, Jan 4, 2018
2016 NISSAN SENTRA SV WITH 10K MILES ONLY, CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH. ENGINE LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT FLASHED FOR FEW SECONDS. CAR STALLED AND DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF ROAD FOR FEW MINUTES. AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO START THE CAR, IT WORKED AND STARTED BEHAVING NORMALLY AS NOTHING EVER HAPPENED. WAS NOT EXPECTING THIS ISSUE FROM 1 YEAR OLD CAR WITH ONLY 10K MILES.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 15, 2017
I WILL DO MY UTMOST TO DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM THAT I AM ENCOUNTERING WITH MY 2016 NISSAN SENTRA... WHEN I FIRST TAKE-OFF IT BEGAN TO STALL AND SOON IT INCREASE SPEED AND I HARDLY HAVE MY FEET ON THE ACCELERATOR AND I FEAR FOR MY SAFETY ALSO OTHER PEOPLE THAT I TRANSPORT INTO MY VEHICLE...DEFINITELY WHILE MAKING TURNS ON CITY STREET AND HIGHWAYS AND THERE IS AN INDESCRIBABLE STRANGE SOUND THAT THE CAR IS MAKING IT APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM THE PASSAGE SIDE...THIS PARTICULAR CAR IS SUPPOSE TO BE A GAS SAVER, BUT IS BURNING A RIGHT AMOUNT OF FUEL...THERE IS MORE PROBLEMS THAT CONCERN, HOWEVER I AM BEING TOLD NOT TO INCLUDE ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION INTO MY COMPLAINT.
Power train, Engine, Feb 14, 2017, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 40-60 MPH, THERE WAS EXCESSIVE VIBRATION COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. ALSO, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO USE THE HEATING SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SMOKE ODOR, AND WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE VEHICLE SHUTTERS AS IF IT IS ABOUT TO STALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43.
Engine, Aug 3, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 TO 90 MPH, A LOUD ROARING NOISE WAS HEARD UNDER THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE SHUTTERED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,700. *TR