VehicleVerdict

2016 Nissan Sentra problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 400 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 2.6 times the median Sentra year — the 2016 model ranks #4 of 45 Sentra years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Complainants reported 20 injuries in total across these filings.

Transmission leads the complaint categories with 125 reports (31% of the total). In government crash testing it earned 4 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

400

NHTSA complaints

6

Recalls

0

Investigations

29

Crash-involved

4

Fires reported

20

Injuries

0

Deaths

4

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2016 compare to other Sentra years?

See all Sentra years to avoid →

What are the most common 2016 Nissan Sentra problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Transmission12531%
Electrical System5414%
Engine4712%
Other4211%
Speed Control277%
Airbags246%
Brakes215%
Fuel System185%
Body & Structure103%
Lighting72%
Driver Assistance51%
Steering51%
Visibility & Wipers41%
Suspension31%
Tires & Wheels31%
Seat Belts31%
Seats21%

Does the 2016 Nissan Sentra have recalls?

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

21V135000LightingMarch 3, 2021 · 807,376 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

The brake lights may not illuminate, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

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.

17V253000AirbagsApril 13, 2017 · 30,038 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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.

16V485000Electrical SystemJune 29, 2016 · 1,522 units

Defect

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).

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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.

16V436000Electrical SystemJune 15, 2016 · 4,355 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

If the wiring harness disconnects, the passenger air bag may not to deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

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.

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.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

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

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…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · November 23, 2019 · crash

I WAS DRIVING WHEN MY CAR WHICH IS A PUSH TO START COMPLETELY STOPPED. I TRY TO RESTART IT BUT COULDN'T. I LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND THE BATTERY WAS ON FIRE.

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · April 11, 2019 · 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…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · November 3, 2016 · fire

BROUGHT THIS 2016 IN APRIL OF 2020, AFTER I INITIALLY DROVE IT , MY DAUGHTER TOOK OVER DRIVING IT SINCE I'M A DISABLED VETERAN. MY FIANCE DROVE THE VEHICLE IN JUNE AND REALIZED IT WAS A DIFFERENT FEELING WITH THE CAR . TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY REPLACED TWO FRONT TIRES AND PERFORM A TUNE UP . MY…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · September 13, 2020 · crash

NEW CAR WITH SEVERAL INCIDENCES WHEN TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS AND NEEDING TO STOP THE VEHICLE THE BREAKS FELT SLUGGISH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHERE I INTENDED, AND IT MADE SOUNDS. I WENT TO SEVERAL NISSAN DEALERSHIPS AND THEY EACH TOLD ME THE BREAK SYSTEM WAS OK AND I JUST NEEDED TO GET THE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Speed Control · April 9, 2018 · crash

2016 Nissan Sentra — common questions

Is the 2016 Nissan Sentra reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 400 complaints put the 2016 model at #4 of 45 Sentra years. It is one of the Sentra years to avoid.

What are the most common 2016 Sentra problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are transmission (125 complaints), electrical system (54 complaints), engine (47 complaints).

Does the 2016 Nissan Sentra have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns affecting the 2016 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 2016 Nissan Sentra?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2016 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.