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Nissan Sentra Problems by Year

Which Nissan Sentra years have the most owner complaints, what goes wrong, and how many recalls each year has.

Nissan Sentra, 2020 to 2024 model years
Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0

Owners have filed 2,943 complaints with NHTSA about the Nissan Sentra from 2012 to 2024. Across every year, the most reported problem areas are the transmission and drivetrain, the engine and cooling and the electrical system. The years with the most complaints are 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Years to avoid

2013

The most complaints compared with other Sentra years.

Safer bets

2021

Clearly fewer complaints than a typical Sentra year. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate.

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Complaints by year

Tap a year to see its most reported problems, its recalls and what to check before you buy. Newer years have had less time on the road, so they always look better here. Red marks the worst years, orange years worse than most, and green the better ones.

2012180201363820143812015352201627020172312018185201922320202082021133202281202320202441

Every year at a glance

YearVs. other yearsComplaintsRecallsMost reported
2012 SentraAbout average1800Transmission and drivetrain
2013 SentraAmong the worst years6386Transmission and drivetrain
2014 SentraWorse than most years3815Transmission and drivetrain
2015 SentraWorse than most years3523Transmission and drivetrain
2016 SentraAbout average2706Transmission and drivetrain
2017 SentraAbout average2313Transmission and drivetrain
2018 SentraAbout average1852Transmission and drivetrain
2019 SentraAbout average2232Electrical system
2020 SentraAbout average2084Driver assist systems
2021 SentraOne of the better years1333Driver assist systems
2022 SentraToo new to judge812Steering
2023 SentraToo new to judge201Electrical system
2024 SentraToo new to judge413Electrical system

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Nissan Sentra questions

What are the worst Nissan Sentra years?

Compared with its other years, the Sentra years with the most owner complaints to NHTSA are 2013. The most reported problem area across all years is the transmission and drivetrain.

What are the best Nissan Sentra years?

The Sentra years with clearly fewer complaints than a typical year are 2021. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate fairly, since complaints keep coming in as cars age.

What are the most common Nissan Sentra problems?

Across 2012 to 2024, owners report problems with the transmission and drivetrain, the engine and cooling and the electrical system most often. Each model year has its own pattern, so check the year you are looking at.

How many recalls does the Nissan Sentra have?

NHTSA lists 40 recalls across the 2012 to 2024 Sentra, counted per model year. A recall can cover several years.

Check the exact car

These problems are for the model year as a whole. Here is how to find out about the one you are looking at.

Decode its VINConfirm the year, trim and engine, and see recalls and safety ratings.Walk around and test drive itA step-by-step checklist you can use on your phone at the car.Read the history reportThe red flags in a Carfax or AutoCheck report, in plain English.

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Where these numbers come from. Complaints are reports that owners filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), counted from NHTSA’s complaint database as of November 5, 2026. Owners do not have to prove a problem to file one, so a complaint is a report, not a confirmed defect. Models that sell in big numbers get more complaints, and newer model years have had less time on the road, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Recalls come from NHTSA’s recall database and cover every vehicle of that model year, not one particular car. Quotes are trimmed, and anything that looks like a VIN is hidden.