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
270 reports, newest first.
Air bags, Dec 23, 2017
ON 12\07\2017 THE CAR WAS HIT SO HARD IT TOTAL THE CAR OUT. IT WAS IN THE FRONT AN THE AIR BAGS DID NOT COME OUT. ME AND A FRIEND WAS IN THE CAR WE BOTH HURT BUT DO NOT HAVE INSURANCE. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN OWNED OVER A YEAR. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS NOT REPLIED TO IF THEY ARE GOING TO PAY THE 27,000. I AM AT A LOST FOR WORDS. NO CAR FOR WORK HAVE TO TURN THE RENTAL IN ON THE 27 OF THIS MONTH. THANK YOU SAD AN CONFUSED. BY THE WAY THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE BUT AT A STAND STILL.
Air bags, Dec 13, 2017
DRIVERS AIR BAG POPPED WHEN THE DOOR WAS SLAMMED STATIONARY,, THE STEERING WHEEL AND DASH AIRBAGS POPPED WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION MOVING APPX 35 M P H, ON RURAL ROAD.
Power train, Electrical system, Nov 28, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE. THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALER (TEDDY NISSAN, 3660 BOSTON RD, BRONX, NY 10469 (877) 607-3537) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.
Air bags, Nov 28, 2017, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE IN FRONT ABRUPTLY STOPPED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO REAR END THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED BUT THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN LOCATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.
Air bags, Nov 6, 2017
DEALER HAS FAILED TO REPLACE AIRBAG, BEEN TO THE DEALER MORE THAN ONCE FOR OTHER UNRESOLVED ISSUES.
Air bags, Seat belts, Structure, Aug 28, 2017, crash
WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED THE SEAT BELT DIDN'T SUPPORT THE UPPER PART OF MY BODY CHEST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND SEAT BELTS NEVER LOCKED IN PLACE AND NOW SEATBELT LIGHT ON DASH
Air bags, Jul 26, 2017
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V253000 (AIR BAGS) HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION IN JUNE OF 2017. THE DEALER (ROUND ROCK NISSAN, 3050 NORTH IH 35, ROUND ROCK, TX, 78681) STATED THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE AND TRANSFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Service brakes, Jun 1, 2017, crash
BREAK FAILED TO STOP THE CAR. BREAK PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED ALL THE WAYTO THE FLOOR. JUST DIDN'T COME TO FULL STOP. HAPPENED 2 DAYS IN A ROW. THE LATTER INCIDENT HIT THE CAR IN FRONT. IT'S A REAL HAZARD ON THE ROAD. NOW THE CAR IS BEING SERVICED AND LOANER CAR IS BEING PROVIDED BY THE DEALER. CARSON NISSAN IN CALIFORNIA.
Air bags, May 5, 2017
NISSAN POSTED A NEW RECALL FOR NISSAN SENTRAS (17V-253 RECALL DATE: APRIL 13, 2017) HOWEVER THEY HAVE NOT ACTUALLY RELEASED PARTS FOR THIS RECALL AND WILL NOT FOR SEVERAL MORE WEEKS. THEY ARE MISLEADING THE PUBLIC THAT THERE IS A FIX FOR THIS AIRBAG ISSUE WHEN IN FACT THERE IS NO CURRENT REMEDY.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, May 2, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S HORN WAS NOT LOUD ENOUGH TO WARN OTHER DRIVER'S OF HIS PRESENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,640.
Other or unspecified, Apr 26, 2017
WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MY CAR MAKES WIND NOISE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Apr 26, 2017
PURCHASED MY CAR IN LATE NOVEMBER. BEFORE THE CAR HIT 1,000, I RETURNED IT TO NISSAN BECAUSE THE CAR WOULDN'T SHIFT AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE MECHANIC AT NISSAN RAN TEST AND SAID THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. NOW MY CAR IS MAKING TERRIBLE NOISES WHEN I COME TO A STOP AND WHEN I'M CHANGING THE GEARS. IT'S ALSO SHAKING REALLY BAD WHEN THE CAR IS AT A COMPLETE STOP. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE TO HAVE A PEACE OF MIND BUT ALL IT HAVE BEEN IS A HEADACHE AND UNSAFE.
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.
Other or unspecified, Jan 18, 2017
I PURCHASED MY NISSAN 12/27/2016 WITH 0 MILES ON IT. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THE CAR WAS IN A RECALL STATUS SINCE 5/2016. IT IS NOW ONLY 1/18/2017 BUT THESE SAFETY CONCERNS WERE NEVER MENTIONED AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. AS OF YET I HAVEN'T HAD A PROBLEM BUT I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE CAR 3 WEEKS; BUT I THINK THE BIGGER ISSUE IS A LARGE DEALERSHIP KNOWINGLY SELLING FAULTY CARS TO UNSUSPECTING BUYERS.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 13, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENSIVE GLARE THAT IMPACTED HER VISIBILITY WHILE STARTING OR OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CONSTANTLY HAD TO USE THE VISOR TO PREVENT THE GLARE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONTACT HAVE THE FRONT WINDSHIELD TINTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 01/31/2017*CT *CN
Air bags, Oct 4, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,500.
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
Air bags, Jul 14, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA. WHEN THE FRONT SEAT WAS OCCUPIED BY AN ADULT, THE FRONT PASSENGER WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V244000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V244000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE REMEDIES FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jul 6, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD, THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT A FAILURE COULD NOT BE FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,500.