This page covers 8 recalls, 265 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2016 Nissan Sentra.
30–32 mpg combined
7.4–7.8 L/100km
Midsize Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 2 tested variants for this model year.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The dominant complaint pattern for the 2016 Nissan Sentra centers on the continuously variable transmission (CVT). Owners frequently report the transmission failing without warning while driving at highway speeds, the vehicle suddenly loses power and drops to crawl speeds or stops moving entirely. Many note that no warning light appeared before or during the failure, with the check engine light sometimes illuminating only well after the transmission had already quit. Some owners describe being stranded mid-highway with the vehicle unable to exceed 5–10 mph. Vehicle speed control draws the second-highest complaint volume, with owners reporting sudden loss of acceleration or the vehicle entering a reduced-power state. Engine complaints follow at a similar volume. A smaller number of owners report the panoramic sunroof shattering spontaneously, though that pattern appears in far fewer reports than the drivetrain issues. The most consistent thread across this model year is the CVT failing abruptly at speed with little to no advance warning from the instrument cluster.
265
Total Complaints
18
Crash-Related
2
Fire-Related
10
With Injuries
By System
The 2016 Nissan Sentra has 8 recalls, the most serious involving the front passenger airbag, which may fail to deploy in a crash due to multiple separate defects affecting the inflator, wiring harness connector, and passenger seat sensor.
Three of those airbag concerns overlap: the inflator itself can malfunction, the wiring harness connector can come partially or fully loose from the dual-stage airbag, and the passenger seat sensor system may not correctly detect a child seat in the front passenger position. That last issue matters because if the airbag fires when a child restraint is installed, it raises the risk of injury to the child. There is also an electrical concern where a terminal pin in the engine wiring harness may be too large to hold a reliable connection to the engine control unit, which can cause the engine to stall or prevent the vehicle from starting. Rounding out the list, the brake light switch can fail or become contaminated and stop the brake lights from illuminating, leaving drivers behind unaware the vehicle is slowing down.
At a glance
What can fail
The stop lamp switch may fail, causing brake lights not to illuminate when brakes are applied and preventing engine start.
What the fix does
Dealer will replace the stop lamp switch and install a protective grommet around it.
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The brake light switch may become contaminated, which prevents the circuit from closing and stops the brake lights from turning on.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace the brake light switch and install a protective grommet to prevent contamination.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A manufacturing error in the passenger front air bag inflator may prevent it from deploying properly during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The engine room harness has a terminal pin that is oversized, preventing it from maintaining a secure connection with the Engine Control Unit.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the terminal pin on the engine room harness at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The wiring harness connector for the dual-stage passenger air bag may disconnect, potentially preventing the air bag from deploying.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the connector for proper engagement and replace the passenger air bag module and main body harness if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The wiring connector for the passenger airbag may be improperly made, causing it to partially disconnect from the airbag. In a crash, the second stage of the airbag might not deploy, increasing injury risk.
What the fix does
Dealers will check the connection and replace the passenger airbag module and wiring harness if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger seat belt bracket can bend when used to hold a child car seat. This prevents the air bag system from recognizing the child seat is installed, so the front passenger air bag may not turn off as it should.
What the fix does
Dealers will strengthen the seat belt bracket and update the air bag and occupant detection system software.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger seat's occupant detection system may incorrectly identify an adult as a child or miss an occupied seat. This can cause the passenger airbag to stay off during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram or replace the occupant detection and airbag control units to ensure proper airbag operation.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
