2011 Nissan SENTRA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
142 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
71,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 116 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 31 of 142 complaints (21.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 24 | 16.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 22 | 15.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 19 | 13.4% |
| Engine operation | 18 | 12.7% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 6.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 2.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 31 |
| Engine | 30 |
| Air Bags | 20 |
| Power Train | 18 |
| Unknown Or Other | 18 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 17 |
| Service Brakes | 8 |
| Steering | 8 |
Electrical System: 31; Engine: 30; Air Bags: 20; Power Train: 18; Unknown Or Other: 18; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 17; Service Brakes: 8; Steering: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 33 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 18 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 21 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 31 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 33; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 18; 75,000 to 99,999: 21; 100,000 to 149,999: 31; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (33). 26 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 19 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 15 |
| 2015 | 14 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2018 | 21 |
| 2019 | 16 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2011: 19; 2012: 7; 2013: 6; 2014: 15; 2015: 14; 2016: 13; 2017: 9; 2018: 21; 2019: 16; 2020: 8; 2021: 2; 2023: 5; 2024: 4; 2025: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 24 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 22 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 19 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10377127 · 2011-01-19 (January 19, 2011)
ON MONDAY, JANUARY 17, BETWEEN 7:00PM AND 7:15PM, I AS WELL AS A PASSENGER THAT WAS WITH ME THAT EVENING WERE INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WITH A SEMI DUE TO A FAILURE OF OUR 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. WE DON'T REALLY KNOW IF IT WAS EITHER THE BRAKES OR THE ABS SYSTEM OR THE ONBOARD COMPUTER. AS WE WERE ON BELTLINE RD., HEADING TOWARDS ADDISON, TX FOR A DINNER PARTY AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT, WE CAME TO AN INTERSECTION AND ATTEMPTED TO COME TO A HALT, BUT, WHEN DOING SO THE CAR CAME TO A SLOW STEADY SPEED AND CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD, LESS THAN 5MPH BUT MORE …
Owner-reported narrative. 658 miles reported. Look up ODI 10377127 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10380927 · 2011-02-07 (February 7, 2011)
THE VEHICLE HAS HAD ISSUES WITH ABS ACTUATOR MAKING NOISES AND VIBRATING. DEALERSHIP COULD FIND NO PROBLEMS, BUT REFERRED TO NISSAN SERVICE BULLETIN. ON FEBRUARY 2, 2011, I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 20-25 MPH. AS I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT I ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS MY BRAKES. AT THAT TIME THE PEDAL TRAVELED MORE THAN 3/4 OF THE WAY TO THE FLOOR ALMOST INSTANTLY. THERE WAS A LOUD METALLIC CLANKING AND GRINDING SOUND AND A VERY STRONG VIBRATION COMING FROM UNDER BRAKE PEDAL. I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AS IT PULLED TO THE LEFT AND ALMO…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10380927 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10444404 · 2012-01-18 (January 18, 2012)
THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM WITH THE CAR CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE BODILY INJURY. PLEASE RECORD AND COMPARE WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS WARMED UP (AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES OF DRIVING) AND THE GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED GENTEELLY, IT EXPERIENCES SEVERE ROCKING BACK AND FORTH MOTION DURING THE DRIVING. IT UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATES AND THEN UNEXPECTEDLY DECELERATES, OCCASIONALLY TO ALMOST COMPLETE STOP, REPEATEDLY. THE TACHOMETER READING WILL SUDDENLY JUMP TO ABOVE 3000 RPM AND SWIFTLY JUMP BACK DOWN BELOW 1000 --' ALL WITHIN 2-3 SECONDS. TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10444404 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10470736 · 2012-08-15 (August 15, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND THE DOORS LOCKED, THE BRAKES STARTED TO MAKE A CLUNKING A RATTLING NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED THIS CONTINUED UNTIL THE VEHICLE REACHED 20-25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER IN THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,600.
Owner-reported narrative. 6 miles reported. Look up ODI 10470736 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10390362 · 2011-03-16 (March 16, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO START AND BELIEVED THE FAILURE TO BE RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V555000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: BATTERY: CABLES). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY CABLES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS THEN CONTACTED AND INFORMED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PREVIOUS RECALL. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10390362 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10403738 · 2011-05-30 (May 30, 2011)
I HAVE A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA THAT CAUGHT FIRE INSIDE DUE TO SOME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS NISSAN WONT ADDRESS THE ISSUE SATISFACTORILY I WANT SOMEONE TO LOOK INTO THIS BEING AS THOUGH THEY ARE NOT THE CAR IS BRAND [XXX] NEW AND SHOULDNT HAVE THIS PROBLEM WHERE NO ONE IS ABLE TO TELL US WHY IT HAPPENED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 3,987 miles reported. Look up ODI 10403738 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10426779 · 2011-09-22 (September 22, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE BLOT/WASHER ON THE END OF THE BATTERY TERMINAL AND THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V555000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BATTERY:CABLES) MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10426779 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10605316 · 2014-06-23 (June 23, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A GATE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10605316 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10390423 · 2011-03-16 (March 16, 2011)
1. VIBRATIONS COMING FROM STEERING WHEEL AND PEDALS WHILE DRIVING 60+ MPH ON MY NEW 2011 NISSAN SENTRA SINCE I BOUGHT IT. 2. DEALERSHIP HAS BALANCED THE TIRES AT LEAST 4 TIMES AND I WENT AND BOUGHT A NEW SET OF TIRES THINKING IT WAS THE TIRES IT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO LOOSED SOME COMPONENTS THINKING IT WOULD FIX IT BUT IT HASN'T. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 88 miles reported. Look up ODI 10390423 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10639734 · 2014-09-29 (September 29, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT CONTINUOUSLY EMITTED WARM AIR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CONTROLLER UNIT. ALSO, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO LOCKED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKE PEDAL AND FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER MORE THAN THREE TIMES, BUT THE FAILURES RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE …
Owner-reported narrative. 21,010 miles reported. Look up ODI 10639734 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10544058 · 2013-09-17 (September 17, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BEFORE ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT SMELLED GASOLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10544058 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10611166 · 2014-07-17 (July 17, 2014)
I AM WANTING TO FILE A COMPLAINT AND NOT SURE HOW. I HAVE A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA WITH A LITTLE OVER 120,000 MILES AND HAD TO GET A NEW FUEL INJECTOR REPLACED TODAY. MY MECHANIC GAVE ME THE ORIGINAL PART SHOWING THE BACK END AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT ERODED AT THE ELECTRICAL END OF THE INJECTOR WITH NO APPARENT REASON. I BELIEVE THIS IS GROSS NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF THE MANUFACTURER AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW TO GO ABOUT FILING A COMPLAINT TO GET THIS INVESTIGATED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP AND TIME. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10611166 at NHTSA ↗