2016 Nissan SENTRA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
269 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
60,255 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 146 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 122 of 269 complaints (45.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 130 | 48.3% |
| Engine operation | 40 | 14.9% |
| Braking behavior | 24 | 8.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 19 | 7.1% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 3.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 2.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 122 |
| Engine | 47 |
| Unknown Or Other | 43 |
| Electrical System | 39 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 27 |
| Air Bags | 24 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 18 |
| Service Brakes | 18 |
Power Train: 122; Engine: 47; Unknown Or Other: 43; Electrical System: 39; Vehicle Speed Control: 27; Air Bags: 24; Fuel/Propulsion System: 18; Service Brakes: 18
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 32 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 26 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 31 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 25 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 29 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 32; 25,000 to 49,999: 26; 50,000 to 74,999: 31; 75,000 to 99,999: 25; 100,000 to 149,999: 29; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (32). 123 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 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 16 |
| 2018 | 43 |
| 2019 | 36 |
| 2020 | 34 |
| 2021 | 22 |
| 2022 | 36 |
| 2023 | 18 |
| 2024 | 23 |
| 2025 | 27 |
| 2026 | 9 |
2016: 5; 2017: 16; 2018: 43; 2019: 36; 2020: 34; 2021: 22; 2022: 36; 2023: 18; 2024: 23; 2025: 27; 2026: 9
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 130 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 40 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 24 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 10954413 · 2017-02-14 (February 14, 2017)
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 HEATING SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SMOKE ODOR, AND WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE VEHICLE SHUTTERS AS IF IT IS ABOUT TO STALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43.
Owner-reported narrative. 43 miles reported. Look up ODI 10954413 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11051018 · 2017-11-28 (November 28, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE. THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALER (TEDDY NISSAN, 3660 BOSTON RD, BRONX, NY 10469 [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11051018 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10954868 · 2017-02-15 (February 15, 2017)
I WILL DO MY UTMOST TO DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM THAT I AM ENCOUNTERING WITH MY 2016 NISSAN SENTRA... WHEN I FIRST TAKE-OFF IT BEGAN TO STALL AND SOON IT INCREASE SPEED AND I HARDLY HAVE MY FEET ON THE ACCELERATOR AND I FEAR FOR MY SAFETY ALSO OTHER PEOPLE THAT I TRANSPORT INTO MY VEHICLE...DEFINITELY WHILE MAKING TURNS ON CITY STREET AND HIGHWAYS AND THERE IS AN INDESCRIBABLE STRANGE SOUND THAT THE CAR IS MAKING IT APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM THE PASSAGE SIDE...THIS PARTICULAR CAR IS SUPPOSE TO BE A GAS SAVER, BUT IS BURNING A RIGHT AMOUNT OF FUEL.…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10954868 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10883013 · 2016-07-06 (July 6, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD, THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT A FAILURE COULD NOT BE FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,500.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10883013 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11060648 · 2018-01-04 (January 4, 2018)
2016 NISSAN SENTRA SV WITH 10K MILES ONLY, CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH. ENGINE LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT FLASHED FOR FEW SECONDS. CAR STALLED AND DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF ROAD FOR FEW MINUTES. AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO START THE CAR, IT WORKED AND STARTED BEHAVING NORMALLY AS NOTHING EVER HAPPENED. WAS NOT EXPECTING THIS ISSUE FROM 1 YEAR OLD CAR WITH ONLY 10K MILES.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11060648 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11072806 · 2018-02-13 (February 13, 2018)
PURCHASED FROM NISSAN OF NEWNAN, IN OCTOBER OF 2016 SENTRA - WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT STARTED HESITATING BEFORE PICKING UP ANY SPEED FROM A STOPPED POSITION, WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, PULLED OVER TO READ THE MANUAL AND IT STATED TO CHECK THE GAS CAP, IT WAS NOT ON TIGHT SO I REMOVED IT A PLACED IT BACK, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. THE NEXT DAY WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL THE ENGINE WOULD REV UP BUT THE CAR STARTING JERKING BEFORE GAINING TO 40 MILES PER HOUR, THE RMP GAUG…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11072806 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11020019 · 2017-08-28 (August 28, 2017)
WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED THE SEAT BELT DIDN'T SUPPORT THE UPPER PART OF MY BODY CHEST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND SEAT BELTS NEVER LOCKED IN PLACE AND NOW SEATBELT LIGHT ON DASH
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11020019 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11054560 · 2017-12-13 (December 13, 2017)
DRIVERS AIR BAG POPPED WHEN THE DOOR WAS SLAMMED STATIONARY,, THE STEERING WHEEL AND DASH AIRBAGS POPPED WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION MOVING APPX 35 M P H, ON RURAL ROAD.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11054560 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11204626 · 2019-04-29 (April 29, 2019)
CAR NOT EVEN 24 HOURS OLD, THE CAR WOULD NOT START WITH PUSHING THE STARTER BUTTON, THE RMP WOULD BE AT 3 AT IDLEING. MARCH 2019, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND WENT TO THE DEALER. SENSOR IN FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED, FEW WEEKS POWER TRAIN PROBLEMS. IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION OF ROUTE 45 IN GREYS LAKE, IL. THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR AND ALMOST DIES IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION. SHUT THE CAR OFF, THE CAR WOULD RUN NORMAL FOR AWHILE, THEN THE SHIFTING GEARS AND BOGGING WOULD START ALL OVER AGAIN. A WEEK LATTER THE ENGINE IS MA…
Owner-reported narrative. 81 miles reported. Look up ODI 11204626 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11325107 · 2020-05-19 (May 19, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING WHILE DRIVING AND THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP PRESSURE SENSOR WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 160,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11325107 at NHTSA ↗