VehicleVerdict

2015 Nissan Sentra problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 496 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 3.2 times the median Sentra year — the 2015 model ranks #3 of 45 Sentra years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Complainants reported 30 injuries in total across these filings.

Transmission leads the complaint categories with 172 reports (35% of the total). In government crash testing it earned 4 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

496

NHTSA complaints

3

Recalls

0

Investigations

34

Crash-involved

8

Fires reported

30

Injuries

0

Deaths

4

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2015 compare to other Sentra years?

See all Sentra years to avoid →

What are the most common 2015 Nissan Sentra problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Transmission17235%
Engine6914%
Other5611%
Speed Control4810%
Airbags449%
Electrical System296%
Brakes184%
Body & Structure143%
Fuel System112%
Seat Belts61%
Steering61%
Suspension51%
Tires & Wheels41%
Seats41%
Visibility & Wipers31%
Lighting31%
Latches & Locks20%
Driver Assistance20%

Does the 2015 Nissan Sentra have recalls?

3 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

16V242000AirbagsApril 26, 2016 · 645,898 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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.

16V244000AirbagsApril 26, 2016 · 3,296,947 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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.

15V453000Latches & LocksJuly 21, 2015 · 6,595 units

Defect

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2015 Nissan Rogue vehicles manufactured June 9, 2015, to June 10, 2015, and 2015 Nissan Sentra and Versa Note vehicles manufactured June 5, 2015, to June 13, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the driver side front and rear doors may not fully latch. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components."

Consequence

A door that does not fully latch may result in the door opening while the car is moving. The distraction may increase the risk of a crash and/or a vehicle occupant may fall out of the vehicle if they are not wearing a seatbelt, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the date, lot number, and cavity code on the left front and rear door latches, and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 31, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

My car would we still in the middle of the road and one day I was turning to go home and it cut off with everything on the dashboard was still on and the power steering went out and I tried to turn real fast to get my driveway and next thing I know my Cortizone fire meanwhile every now and then I…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · March 27, 2026 · fire

FRIDAY 04/172020 AT APPROXIMATELY 515PM MINUTES AFTER PARKING MY CAR AT MY BOYFRIEND HOUSE AFTER TAKING MY COAT AND SHOES OFF ONE OF HIS NEIGHBORS KNOCKED ON THE DOOR TO LET ME KNOW THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED, THEY ARRIVED AND PUT THE FIRE OUT AND LET ME KNOW…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · April 17, 2020 · fire

We bought this vehicle brand new in 2016, and it seem to be a nice vehicle until it hit 30,000 miles. When we hit 30,000 miles in April 2020, the brake system failed, causing a passenger side collision, however, there were no injuries. Then in November 2020, the transmission went out. At that time…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · April 20, 2020 · crash

1-- THE DASHBOARD IS HAS A BIGGER GAP ON THE DRIVER SIDE IN RELATION TO THE DOOR THAN THE PASSENGER SIDE. 2- TIRES DON'T RESPOND IMMEDIATELY WHEN DRIVING OFF FROM A PARKING LOT WHERE THE SURFACE IS NOT TOO SMOOTH(NOT SMOOTH ENOUGH) 3.THE BRAKES DON'T WORK PROPERLY WHEN DRIVING LES THAN 35 MILES AN…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Speed Control · January 1, 2016 · crash

I WAS INVOLVED IN A WRECK GOING OVER 10 MILES PER HOUR ON THE FREEWAY AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT COME OUT AND I FEEL THAT IS UNSAFE, THOUGH THEY CLAIMED THEY FIXED THE RECALL AT NISSAN. I FEEL AS THOUGH THIS CAR IS A DANGER TO MY LIFE AND OTHERS AS WELL. I WAS IN CALIFORNIA ON THE 10 FREEWAY AS MY…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · December 5, 2018 · crash

2015 Nissan Sentra — common questions

Is the 2015 Nissan Sentra reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 496 complaints put the 2015 model at #3 of 45 Sentra years. It is one of the Sentra years to avoid.

What are the most common 2015 Sentra problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are transmission (172 complaints), engine (69 complaints), other (56 complaints).

Does the 2015 Nissan Sentra have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns affecting the 2015 Nissan Sentra. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Which Nissan Sentra years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Sentra years to avoid are 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2002, 2019, 2017, 2020, 2001, 2018, 2012, 2003, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2005, 1996, 1995, 2006, 1994. The cleanest record among Sentra years belongs to 1983.

How safe is the 2015 Nissan Sentra?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2015 Nissan Sentra earned an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.