2020 Nissan SENTRA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
204 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
28,879 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 57 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 54 of 204 complaints (26.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 51 | 25.0% |
| Steering behavior | 45 | 22.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 14 | 6.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 3.4% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 1.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering | 54 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 50 |
| Unknown Or Other | 47 |
| Electrical System | 43 |
| Service Brakes | 25 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 22 |
| Suspension | 10 |
| Engine | 9 |
Steering: 54; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 50; Unknown Or Other: 47; Electrical System: 43; Service Brakes: 25; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 22; Suspension: 10; Engine: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 27 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 14 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 27; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (27). 147 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 |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 32 |
| 2022 | 21 |
| 2023 | 41 |
| 2024 | 56 |
| 2025 | 33 |
| 2026 | 11 |
2020: 10; 2021: 32; 2022: 21; 2023: 41; 2024: 56; 2025: 33; 2026: 11
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 51 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 45 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 14 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 11331732 · 2020-06-30 (June 30, 2020)
COLLISION ALARM SOUNDS, BRAKES ARE AUTOMATICALLY APPLIED CAR ALMOST STOPS WHEN THERE IS NOTHING CLOSE TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR. THIS HAS OCCURRED ABOUT 4 OR 5 TIMES SINCE I GOT THE CAR IN APRIL 2020. IT HAS HAPPENED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, SOMETIMES IN AN URBAN AREA. THE DEALER TAKES IT ON A TEST DRIVE, AND PROCLAIMS "NO TROUBLE FOUND". THIS HAPPENED AT 45 MPH AND LESS THAN 30. TIME OF DAY DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER, NOR DOES WEATHER. LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS ABOUT 2 OR 3 JUNE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 11,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11331732 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11340801 · 2020-07-22 (July 22, 2020)
THIS CAR'S EMERGENCY BRAKE SENSORS HAVE GONE OFF TWICE NOW IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS. THERE IS NO CAR OR ANY OBJECT IN FRONT OF ME AND THE SENSOR APPLIES THE BRAKES WHILE IN MOTION. ALSO, WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP AT CITY SPEEDS THE CAR JERKS AND/OR SURGES FORWARD AND I HAVE TO APPLY THE BRAKES HARDER OTHERWISE THE CAR CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,710 miles reported. Look up ODI 11340801 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11386761 · 2021-01-06 (January 6, 2021)
ON THE MORNING OF DECEMBER 6, 2020. I LEFT MY PARKING LOT AND PROCEEDED UP WARWICK AVE, TOWARDS FRANKLIN ST AND I SLOWED TO GO OVER A BUMP , WHEN I WENT OVER THE BUMP AS I HAVE MANY TIMES , MY STEERING WHEEL SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT , SENDING ME INTO A PARKED CAR AND EVEN THOUGH I TRIED TO TURN MY WHEEL MY CAR WOULDN'T GO LEFT. WHEN I GOT OUT OF MY CAR TO LOOK I NOTICED A CLEAN BREAK ON MY INNER OUTER TIE RODS WHICH IS WEIRD BECAUSE THIS IS A 2020 CAR AND I JUST GOT IT IN MARCH 2020. I NEED HELP BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD TO GET THIS FIXED.
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11386761 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11419953 · 2021-06-07 (June 7, 2021)
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 mph, the full brake assist radar illuminated independently. The contact mentioned that the emergency brake illuminated and was only able to operate the steering wheel. In addition, once the vehicle was stopped, the vehicle operated normally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they informed the contact that the failure was caused by a bug splatter. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer but was not…
Owner-reported narrative. 24,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11419953 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11389289 · 2021-01-21 (January 21, 2021)
PURCHASED CAR IN OCTOBER 2020. CAR STARTED BRAKING INVOLUNTARY WHILE DRIVING 10-25 MPH. NO OBJECTS WERE IN FRONT OF THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES. THIS HAPPENED ON MY LAST VEHICLE AND NISSAN HAD A MAJOR RECALL TO CHANGE THE SENSORS/CAMERA. AT THIS TIME THERE IS NO FIX. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR IN 5 TIMES REGARDING THE 4 TIMES IT HAS BRAKED INVOLUNTARILY. I AM OVER IT. THE A/C ALSO BLEW HOT AIR DUE TO TOO MUCH FREON. MY BATTERY DIED LESS THAN 90 DAYS FROM PURCHASE. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE!! I LIVE IN MIAMI AND TRAFFIC IS BAD. I…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11389289 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11441419 · 2021-11-23 (November 23, 2021)
Vehicle first developed a issue the following day I got it. The first issue was "Engine Malfunction, Power Reduced, Service Now". So I took it to the service center at Mossy Nissan in El Cajon, CA where they service the vehicle, but I continued to get that error on numerous occasions. Another issue, the instrument cluster and infotainment system would randomly restart while driving that has happened numerous times as well. Another issue, the panorama vehicle camera system would crash and not function any more, that occured numerous times.…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11441419 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11438576 · 2021-10-28 (October 28, 2021)
I had brought my car up to the dealership for an oil change, and they said there was a recall on the tie rods. They said they checked them out, but never gave me paperwork for it. And I’ve looked it up and it said no recall have been serviced on. A week or two later me and another passenger got in my car and put it in reverse, and heard a small pop as I turned the wheel I didn’t think anything of it at first. Then we started heading down the road we got to a stop light and my car was stalling the transmission didn’t sound right for a little whi…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11438576 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11493985 · 2022-11-17 (November 17, 2022)
1) The front passenger door will not open. This is a recurring problem and I have experienced it four times already. 2) CVT Malfunction warning is persistent. CVT resets when the engine is turned off and comes back on after about 10 to 15 minutes after the engine is started again, which creates a problem when you come to a complete stop. The transmission does not immediately get in gear and there is a very slow start-up in moving forward. The "ECO" engaged by itself and this problem started when I disengaged the "ECO" when I was headed up a…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11493985 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11437080 · 2021-10-17 (October 17, 2021)
When accelerating, the entire vehicle jerks vigorously. Causing the vehicle to temporarily stall. After few seconds it gains control. Big orange error message displays. Saying vehicle malfunction with 6 different error messages.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11437080 at NHTSA ↗