2021 Nissan Sentra
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Steering is the leading concern among 131 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 20th highest complaint count among 26 Sentra model years with reports.
Of the 2021 reports, 14 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 8 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Back over prevention, sensing system, cameraSep 8, 2023
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Altima and 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 19, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23C3.
Campaign 23V628000 on NHTSA.gov
Steering, linkages, tie rod assemblyAug 15, 2023
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Sentra vehicles. The left and/or right tie rod may bend.
A bent tie rod can break and cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Owners are advised to contact their dealer for transport assistance if they are experiencing an off-center steering wheel or vibration. As an interim repair, dealers will inspect and replace any bent or broken tie rods, free of charge. Once newly designed parts are available, dealers will replace both left and right tie rods, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed November 27, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23B3. This recall replaces and expands recall number 21V-461. Vehicles previously repaired under 21V-461 will need to have the new remedy completed.
Campaign 23V581000 on NHTSA.gov
Steering, linkages, tie rod assemblyJun 17, 2021
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. The left and/or right tie rod may be bent.
A bent tie rod can break, causing a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will inspect and replace the left and/or right tie rods as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 5, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PM985.
Campaign 21V461000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: steering
40 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Aug 30, 2023
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Sentra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V581000 (Steering) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Steering, Aug 2, 2023
I brought this car in January 2023. I was driving on a residential street and after I made a left turn, I loss control of the steering because the tire rods had broke on the right side. I could have gotten into a serious accident; but luckily I only hit the curb. Please the attached picture. This happened on 7/30/23
Steering, Feb 1, 2023, crash
2021 NISSAN SENTRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO NHSTA SAFETY RECALL 21V-461. THE CONSUMER STATED HER GRANDDAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, WHILE MERGING INTO TRAFFIC, STEERING WENT OUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.
Steering, Suspension, Jan 25, 2023, crash
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality without warning, causing the steering wheel to become stiff. The vehicle then crashed into another vehicle. No one was injured. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the mechanic stated that the axle had fractured causing the failure. the axle was replaced; however, the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 25,000.
Steering, Aug 18, 2022
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while turning the steering wheel in either direction, a crackling type noise was present coming from the steering column and the wheel would not immediately turn. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the steering box needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 33,000.
Steering, Service brakes, Jul 15, 2022, crash
On 2 July 2022, I was traveling southbound on Interstate 95 in a rented 2021 Nissan Sentra. While DRIVING the brakes unexpectedly LOCKED and did NOT release, affecting the steering, and causing the vehicle to spin out in a circle across major highway lanes crashing head on into a guardrail on the left side of the interstate. This is a MAJOR SAFETY concern as when an individual is DRIVING a vehicle, they need to be able to control NOT ONLY the direction of the vehicle, but when that vehicle brakes. When the brakes LOCKED while DRIVING, so did the steering, causing there to be NO CONTROL of a vehicle traveling down a major Florida interstate. Had there been impact by another vehicle while the 2021 NissanSentra brake malfunction caused it to spin out across major highway lanes, such would have been fatal to both me & the unexpected driver also traveling southbound on I95. If this malfunction exists in other 2021 Nissan Sentras, a MAJOR motor vehicle safety risk also exists for both drivers & riders of the 2021 Nissan Sentra, as well as any other motorist driver traveling with passengers in the same direction. This vehicle was a rental car through Budget and is NOT personally owned.Rental company was informed of mechanical malfunction & also aware that the brakes LOCKED while driving the 2021 Nissan Sentra. Service history/ maintenance of rental vehicle is personally unknown. It is also unknown if the problem / component has been inspected by dealer or independent service center. If the same malfunction exists in a group of vehicles used commercially for one time rentals by rental companies, the posed safety risk for motor vehicle safety SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES. Drivers are unknowingly renting dangerous vehicles posing a major risk for personal safety of themselves & their families, but also to other motorists around them.
Steering, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Mar 30, 2022, crash
Steer rod recall effective as of 6/17/21 yet ignored by enterprise rental car company. Lost control, car hit guard rails. No cooperation from insurance nor rental company. Police got it Towed on 1/26/2022 to alpine automotive, lake Zurich illinois, enterprise holdings picked it up on 1/28/2022. No other information provided by any party on estimate of damages, nor medical coverage due to “insurance policies”
Steering, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Feb 3, 2022, crash, fire
My accident was with Nissan Sentra veering out of control. I was lucky, see others who weren’t in past few weeks: https://kfoxtv.com/amp/news/local/deadly-accident-in-collision-on-i-10-at-lee-trevino https://www.wvlt.tv/2022/02/03/maryville-man-dies-after-car-lands-little-river/ https://www.thedailytimes.com/news/maryville-man-killed-in-single-vehicle-crash/article_aa06d64b-879e-5544-b0f0-4146ff9fc63b.html https://www.mymoinfo.com/arnold-woman-seriously-injured-in-141-accident/ https://www.13newsnow.com/amp/article/news/local/peninsulanow/deadly-vehicle-crash-fire-york-county-virginia/291-4ec8fe5a-fd6d-4058-ac6a-cbb007c04f76 https://www.kwch.com/2022/02/02/accidents-reported-across-state/ https://www.wibw.com/2022/02/03/vehicle-hits-wichita-police-car-that-stopped-assist-motorist/ https://www.tribstar.com/news/local_news/train-video-car-went-around-crossing-arms-in-fatal-crash/article_6c7ceb71-c21a-514b-9cd1-9b775fe8a010.html https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/berks/ny-man-taken-to-hospital-with-life-threatening-injures-following-crash-on-i-78-in/article_799d04b4-7c52-11ec-a7c7-5fe7f2b50ccf.html https://kfoxtv.com/amp/news/local/deadly-accident-in-collision-on-i-10-at-lee-trevino https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmond/victims-of-deadly-i-95-crash-identified/amp/ https://www.myleaderpaper.com/news/accidents/arnold-woman-seriously-hurt-in-crash-near-fenton/article_7c734224-8464-11ec-a207-73e06d9d32ee.html https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2022/01/27/crash-shuts-down-hawaii-islands-highway-11-keeau/ Nissan Sentra’s have lost control resulting in fatal crashes against guardrail, train, snowbank, tree (fire), garbage truck, patrol car(s), highway wall, jeep, pedestrian, & some drove into a ditch, little river, river bank, heavy duty truck, injured police officer. Humble Request to investigate please: Nissan recalls + reported accident’s in past month (+ unreported\private), only NHTSA can identify a pattern
Steering, Service brakes, Feb 3, 2022, crash
Ended up in a crash (steering issue, not recalled but rented)!!!
Steering, Feb 3, 2022, crash
bent tie rod condition impaired the driver's ability to steer the vehicle
Steering, Service brakes, Lane departure, Feb 3, 2022, crash
Out of control
Steering, Oct 24, 2021
While driving in the center lane at approximately 40 mph, I heard a loud snap, and immediately lost the ability to steer the vehicle. The vehicle went hard right into the outside lane, I started applying the brakes and brought the vehicle to a stop against the outside curb. The front wheel on the right passenger side had moved forward about 8 inches and pushed the front bumper forward, which had locked up that wheel. The tie rod broke, had I been driving faster or had there been a vehicle beside me, there would have been a major crash. Had this happened at highway speed it could have been fatal. The car had never encountered a pothole, a speed bump or anything else that could have contributed to this. Clearly a manufacturing defect. Any defect that causes a complete loss of the ability to steer has to be the most dangerous defects.
Steering, Sep 15, 2021
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, the contact heard a noise coming from underneath the steering wheel. The contact then lost control of the vehicle momentarily during a rainstorm. The contact was able to regain control of the vehicle. The contact stated that the AEB warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed but was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and told the contact that they were unable to assist. The failure mileage was approximately 4,000. The VIN was not available.
Steering, Aug 27, 2021
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, she heard an abnormal bumping sound coming from underneath the vehicle and the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver, causing the contact to almost lose control of the vehicle. The contact did not recall whether there were any warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road and replaced the flat tire with the assistance of the towing company. Then, the contact drove to her residence. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the passenger’s side front tire and the passenger’s side rear tire needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the tires were replaced. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V461000 (Steering) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not provide any assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 474.
Steering, Aug 27, 2021, crash
The contact owned a 2021 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated their daughter was driving at 30 mph, when the driver was merging into a lane when the driver heard an unidentified noise and lost control of the vehicle, and crashed into a telephone pole. The air bags did deploy. The driver had a laceration and bruise and swelling in the left knee. The driver declined medical treatment at the scene. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard where it was later deemed as a totaled loss. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.