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.
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, Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 26, 2019
CAR CVT TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND SHUDDERING WHILE IN MOTION ALSO STAHLING WHILE ENTERING FREEWAY, CROSSING INTERSECTIONS, AND WHILE TURNING.
Power train, Nov 24, 2019, crash
SO YESTERDAY IN MY APARTMENT COMPLEX, I WAS DRIVING UP A HILL TO GET TO MY APARTMENT, WHEN MY CAR COMPLETELY STALLED ON ME & STARTED TO REVERT BACKWARDS, SO AS I'M TRYING TO STOP MY CAR I GET DRUG BACK DOWN THE HILL WITH MY CAR & AS MY CAR CONTINUED, IT HIT A TREE & A SHED WHICH MESSED UP MY DRIVER SIDE & MY BACK BUMPER & TRUNK. ALSO I HAVE PHYSICAL INJURIES AS WELL.
Power train, Nov 6, 2019
CAR WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND AT 64K MILES TRANSMISSION FAILED. VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE ON ACCELERATION THEN IT WOULD JUST SHUT DOWN ON THE FREEWAY OR WHEN PARKED. WHEN THE CAR WAS IN PARK OR STOPPED AT A LIGHT IT WOULD ALSO START SHAKING AND SHUT DOWN. ACCELERATION WAS ALSO VERY SLOW EVEN WHEN FLOORING THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR WOULD NOT GO BEYOND 20-40 MPH.
Steering, Oct 11, 2019, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN, THE STEERING ABILITY SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A TREE. POLICE REPORT NUMBER: 20191420571 WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED ABDOMINAL INJURIES DUE TO THE SEAT BELT AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY LABELED THE VEHICLE DESTROYED AND IT WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Power train, Oct 11, 2019
CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSIONS (CVTS) STARTS SHIFTING BACK AND FORTH ABNORMALLY BETWEEN GEARS. IT SHUDDERS, SHAKES, AND JERKS WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION THE VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 97 THOUSANDS MILES. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT NISSAN SENTRA ARE KNOW FOR THIS PROBLEM. I CALLED NISSAN CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE CVT PROBLEM.
Power train, Oct 9, 2019
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL AREA AND THE VEHICLE MADE SOME GRINDING NOISE UNDERNEATH AND DIED SUDDENLY. IT WAS TOWED TO THE MECHANIC AND I WAS TOLD IT WILL BE $4,000.00 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CAR IS 3 YEARS OLD AND HAS 60,873 MILES ON IT. NATURALLY THE WARRANTY EXPIRES AT 60,000 MILES. I STILL HAVE 3 YEARS OF MONTHLY PAYMENTS LEFT. NATURALLY, WHEN I GOOGLE THE NISSAN SENTRA 2016, YOU CAN SEE ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THEIR TRANSMISSION.
Other or unspecified, Oct 5, 2019
THE CAR IS NOT ACCELERATING PROPERLY. I FEEL UNSAFE AND UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING IT ON THE ROADS AND MERGING INTO THE HIGHWAYS BUT THAT'S THE ONLY VEHICLE I HAVE AT THE MOMENT TO GET TO WORK, TAKE THE KIDS TO SCHOOL AND RUN ERRANDS.
Power train, Sep 25, 2019
VEHICLE HAS A SHUTTER IN LOW SPEEDS AND SLIGHTLY SLIPS
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Aug 14, 2019
MY CAR STARTED SHOWING A TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD AND MY CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME A BRAKE SENSOR WAS BAD SO THEY WENT TO FIX THAT BUT IT DIDNT FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS. APPARENTLY A WIRE SHORTED AND REULTED IN ME NOT HAVING BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE CAR DIDNT INDICATE OR WARN ME I HAD BEEN DRIVING WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS. THEY TOLD ME THE COST TO REPLACE THE HARNESS WAS $3000.00 OR THEY COULD RUN ANOTHER WIRE TO REPLACE THE BAD ONE FOR $1000.00 ON A 3 YEAR OLD CAR THAT RETAILS FOR $18000.00 THAT HAS 25000 MILES ON IT.
Electrical system, Visibility/wiper, Aug 11, 2019
WHEN THE COMBINATION SWITCH IS USED TO ACTUATE THE WINDSHIELD WASHER, THE FLUID CONTINUES TO SPRAY AFTER IT IS RELEASED. ONLY PULLING THE SWITCH DOWN, AND BACK UP, WILL CAUSE IT TO STOP. THIS HAPPENS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS PARKED, OR IN MOTION. OCCASIONALLY THE WASHERS WILL SPRAY UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, ONLY STOPPING WITH MANIPULATION OF THE COMBINATION SWITCH.
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.
Power train, Jun 22, 2019
I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW. AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT OR SIGN, OR EVEN JUST SLOWING DOWN, IT WOULD ALWAYS DELAY AFTER STEPPING ON THE GAS TO MOVE FROM DAY ONE. I THOUGHT IT WAS NORMAL. AFTER ABOUT 30,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP ON THE FREEWAY, ESPECIALLY ON HOT DAYS. IT FELT LIKE I WAS PUTTING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL WHILE MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE GAS. IT MAY HAVE DONE THAT ONCE A DAY ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. I DECIDED TO TAKE IT IN A FEW MONTHS LATER WHEN IT WOULD DO IT SEVERAL TIMES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY TOOK IT ON A TEST DRIVE AND IT BROKE DOWN ON THEM. I GUESS THERE'S A CHAIN IN THE TRANSMISSION, BUT IT WAS IN PIECES! I HAD A REBUILT TRANSMISSION PUT IN, BUT I AM ALREADY SEEING THE SYMPTOMS AGAIN! I HAVE BEEN TAKING DATA EVER SINCE AND HAVE A PAGE OF INCIDENCES. I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY SAID THERE'S NOTHING WRONG. I AM LESS THAN 3000 MILES AWAY FROM 60,000, WHICH IS WHEN THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY WILL EXPIRE. ABOUT 10,000 MILES AGO, I INQUIRED ABOUT GETTING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THEY REFUSED TO SELL ME ONE SINCE I DRIVE ABOUT 110 MILES A DAY FOR WORK. I STILL OWE QUITE A BIT ON THIS POS. I AM GOING TO GET A LAWYER.
Structure, Jun 12, 2019
THE DOOR HANDLE IS A TWO PIECE PIECE OF PLASTIC AND IT BREAKS VERY EASILY ALMOST AS IF IT WAS ENGINEERED TO BREAK. I CURRENTLY HAVE IT SECURED WITH ZIP TIES BECAUSE I AM TIRED OF REPLACING THE CHEAP CRAPPY PLASTIC ON MY DIME.
Power train, Jun 4, 2019
MY TRANSMISSION FAILED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. I COULD NOT ACCELERATE AND NARROWLY AVOIDED A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, THE CAR WAS MAKING A SMALL KIND OF CLICKING/SHUDDERING SOUND WHEN I WOULD ACCELERATE. I THOUGHT IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE TIRES. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING, BUT I THOUGHT THEY MAY HAVE BEEN MISTAKEN BECAUSE I WAS HAVING NO ISSUES WITH MOVING AT THE TIME. NOW I UNDERSTAND THAT THE DEALERSHIP KNEW IT WAS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE BECAUSE NISSAN IS AWARE OF A MAJOR DEFECT WITH THEIR CVT TRANSMISSIONS, BUT WILL NOT ORDER A RECALL TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. MY CHILDREN AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED ON THE HIGHWAY THAT EVENING; WE BARELY MADE IT OFF THE ROAD. I AM TERRIFIED TO TRY TO DRIVE THE CAR. THERE IS NO REASON WHY A CAR THAT I PURCHASED BRAND NEW SHOULD HAVE TRANSMISSION FAILURE LESS THAN TWO YEARS AFTER I BOUGHT IT. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE LIVES ARE LOST. I'M ASSUMING A FAMILY WILL HAVE TO DIE ON A HIGHWAY BEFORE THIS COMPANY WILL CORRECT THEIR FLAW.
Power train, May 29, 2019
AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I FELT MY CAR PUNCH, LIKE WHEN IT SWITCHED GEARS IT KEPT MAKING A BANG NOISE LIKE IF IT WAS PUNCHING. AS I CONTINUED DRIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AND I WENT TO A PEP BOYS AND A AUTOZONE SO THEY COULD READ THE CODE AND THEY BOTH CAME UP WITH 'P2859'. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM I WOULD BE BRINGING IT IN THE FOLLOWING DAY BECAUSE IT WAS LATE ALREADY. THE NEXT DAY I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND AFTER SEVERAL HOURS THEY CALLED ME AND TOLD ME I WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION, I ASKED IF THEY WERE SURE AND IF A TRANSMISSION FLUSH WOULD DO ANYTHING OR IF THERE IS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON IT BECAUSE I ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR CLOSE TO TWO YEARS. NOW I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO CAUSE I'M STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON THE CAR AND THE REPAIR BILL IS ALIL OVER $4000.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), May 14, 2019
THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT STAY IN PLACE, THEREFORE IT'S VERY SCARY TO TRY TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY , NISSAN DEALER DOES NOT WANT TO FIX IT THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR THE DEFECTIVE DUE TO WARRANTY
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, Other or unspecified, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 29, 2019
CAR NOT EVEN 24 HOURS OLD, THE CAR WOULD NOT START WITH PUSHING THE STARTER BUTTON, THE RMP WOULD BE AT 3 AT IDLEING. MARCH 2019, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND WENT TO THE DEALER. SENSOR IN FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED, FEW WEEKS POWER TRAIN PROBLEMS. IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION OF ROUTE 45 IN GREYS LAKE, IL. THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR AND ALMOST DIES IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION. SHUT THE CAR OFF, THE CAR WOULD RUN NORMAL FOR AWHILE, THEN THE SHIFTING GEARS AND BOGGING WOULD START ALL OVER AGAIN. A WEEK LATTER THE ENGINE IS MAKING A WHINNING NOISE.
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.
Exterior lighting, Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Apr 13, 2019
TAKATA RECALL