Nissan SENTRA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
5,587 owner complaints analyzed
55 distinct recall campaigns
61,854 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1982 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 3,138 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1,146 of 5,587 complaints (20.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 1,241 | 22.2% |
| Braking behavior | 809 | 14.5% |
| Engine operation | 598 | 10.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 371 | 6.6% |
| Steering behavior | 352 | 6.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 140 | 2.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 1146 |
| Engine | 676 |
| Electrical System | 661 |
| Air Bags | 603 |
| Unknown Or Other | 583 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 378 |
| Service Brakes | 369 |
| Steering | 293 |
Power Train: 1,146; Engine: 676; Electrical System: 661; Air Bags: 603; Unknown Or Other: 583; Vehicle Speed Control: 378; Service Brakes: 369; Steering: 293
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 772 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 500 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 625 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 551 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 518 |
| 150,000 and above | 172 |
Under 25,000: 772; 25,000 to 49,999: 500; 50,000 to 74,999: 625; 75,000 to 99,999: 551; 100,000 to 149,999: 518; 150,000 and above: 172
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (772). 2,449 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 140 |
| 1996 | 81 |
| 2000 | 101 |
| 2001 | 112 |
| 2002 | 98 |
| 2003 | 164 |
| 2004 | 196 |
| 2005 | 103 |
| 2006 | 84 |
| 2007 | 101 |
| 2008 | 148 |
| 2009 | 119 |
| 2010 | 168 |
| 2011 | 133 |
| 2012 | 94 |
| 2013 | 139 |
| 2014 | 223 |
| 2015 | 235 |
| 2016 | 230 |
| 2017 | 248 |
| 2018 | 355 |
| 2019 | 449 |
| 2020 | 330 |
| 2021 | 271 |
| 2022 | 301 |
| 2023 | 298 |
| 2024 | 272 |
| 2025 | 245 |
| 2026 | 149 |
1995: 140; 1996: 81; 2000: 101; 2001: 112; 2002: 98; 2003: 164; 2004: 196; 2005: 103; 2006: 84; 2007: 101; 2008: 148; 2009: 119; 2010: 168; 2011: 133; 2012: 94; 2013: 139; 2014: 223; 2015: 235; 2016: 230; 2017: 248; 2018: 355; 2019: 449; 2020: 330; 2021: 271; 2022: 301; 2023: 298; 2024: 272; 2025: 245; 2026: 149
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1,241 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 809 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 598 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 480550 · 1995-01-11 (January 11, 1995)
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480550 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10097538 · 2004-10-22 (October 22, 2004)
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OR WHILE DRIVING IT WAS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. THIS CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT HARD AND ROUGH. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10097538 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 987207 · 1996-07-23 (July 23, 1996)
CONSUMER HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE ROTORS. *AK CONSUMER STATES SHE NO LONGER OWNES VEHICLE AND THAT SHE WAS DECEIVED BY THE SELLING PRICE OF VEHICLE AND IS TILL PAYING ON VEHICLE THAT SHE DOES NOT HAVE ANYMORE.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 987207 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116060 · 2005-03-30 (March 30, 2005)
1.)ON 11/20/2004, I "RICARDO GUERRERO" DROVE MY CAR (1991 NISSAN SENTRA SE-R) TO THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP KHOA AUTO SERVICE, TO REPLACE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS AND TURN THE ROTORS. I ALSO REQUESTED THE "FRONT RIGHT" ROTOR TO BE REPLACED. WHEN I RECEIVED MY CAR I FELT THE BRAKE PEDAL SLIGHTY DIFFERENT WHENEVER I PUSHED THE PEDAL, THE TIME TO RECEIVE STOPPING DISTANCE WAS INCREASED. UNTIL 3/27/05 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY OUT TO AN EXIT WHEN I WAS REALIZING A QUIET GRIND AT THE END OF STOPPING PROCESS . NOW 3/29/04 THE ROTOR IS COMPLETELY …
Owner-reported narrative. 202,299 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116060 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 972445 · 1995-09-23 (September 23, 1995)
WHEN DRIVING CAR STALL. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 972445 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 985021 · 1996-05-30 (May 30, 1996)
WHILE DRIVING THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND CAUSED THE CAR TO STALL IMMEDIATELY IN ITS TRACKS. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 985021 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 971252 · 1995-08-29 (August 29, 1995)
EXPERIENCED UNDERHOOD FIRE, NO UNUSUAL PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. INSURANCE ADJUSTER CLAIMED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. KT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 971252 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 986961 · 1996-07-17 (July 17, 1996)
ELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSING A UNDER THE HOOD FIRE, VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND LEFT IDLE POSITION, HORN CONTINUE TO BLOW. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 986961 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 958523 · 1995-01-09 (January 9, 1995)
OWNER NOTICED PLAY IN STEERING. FOUR BOLT MOUNTS THAT HOLD RACK AND PINION/MAIN GEAR BOX ARE UNSCREWING. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 958523 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10233294 · 2008-07-06 (July 6, 2008)
WHILE EXECUTING A LOW SPEED LEFT HAND TURN, THE LEFT CONTROL ARM BROKE RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND EXPENSIVE FRONT SUSPENSION REPAIRS. THE LEFT WHEEL TURNED PERPENDICULAR TO THE CAR AND THE CAR SKIDDED TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. WITH THE FRONT TIRES POINTING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE. TOWED IN FOR REPAIRS. THE CV JOINT, STRUT AND STEERING RACK WERE ALL DAMAGED DUE TO THE CONTROL ARM FAILURE. THE CONTROL ARM BROKE JUST IN FRONT OF THE BALL JOINT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 122,487 miles reported. Look up ODI 10233294 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 856935 · 2000-02-15 (February 15, 2000)
WHEN CAR GOES ABOUT 30 MILES CAR WILL START TO SPIT, AND CHOKE LIKE ITS OUT OF GAS. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS BAD COIL, AND THEY REPLACED IT. BUT PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. TOOK TO ANOTHER DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS A FUEL PUMP PROBLEM. REPLACED FUEL PUMP AND STILL HAD SAME PROBLEM. TOOK TO ANOTHER MECHANIC, AND HE SAID IT WAS A DISTRIBUTOR. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 856935 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 974377 · 1995-11-02 (November 2, 1995)
THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES PURCHASE CAR NEW . TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 974377 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2010: 3; 2011: 2; 2012: 0; 2013: 6; 2014: 5; 2015: 3; 2016: 6; 2017: 3; 2018: 2; 2019: 2; 2020: 4; 2021: 3; 2022: 2; 2023: 1; 2024: 3; 2025: 4; 2026: 1
Year-by-year records
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Change in recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 0 | 1 | Not available |
| 1983 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1984 | 2 | 0 | -1 |
| 1985 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | 20 | 1 | +1 |
| 1988 | 23 | 1 | 0 |
| 1989 | 26 | 1 | 0 |
| 1990 | 25 | 2 | +1 |
| 1991 | 39 | 2 | 0 |
| 1992 | 37 | 0 | -2 |
| 1993 | 34 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 | 63 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | 74 | 3 | +3 |
| 1996 | 67 | 3 | 0 |
| 1997 | 68 | 3 | 0 |
| 1998 | 42 | 1 | -2 |
| 1999 | 56 | 0 | -1 |
| 2000 | 171 | 6 | +6 |
| 2001 | 236 | 7 | +1 |
| 2002 | 304 | 10 | +3 |
| 2003 | 180 | 7 | -3 |
| 2004 | 197 | 4 | -3 |
| 2005 | 170 | 5 | +1 |
| 2006 | 116 | 5 | 0 |
| 2007 | 154 | 1 | -4 |
| 2008 | 167 | 3 | +2 |
| 2009 | 55 | 1 | -2 |
| 2010 | 144 | 3 | +2 |
| 2011 | 142 | 2 | -1 |
| 2012 | 180 | 0 | -2 |
| 2013 | 638 | 6 | +6 |
| 2014 | 380 | 5 | -1 |
| 2015 | 351 | 3 | -2 |
| 2016 | 269 | 6 | +3 |
| 2017 | 230 | 3 | -3 |
| 2018 | 185 | 2 | -1 |
| 2019 | 221 | 2 | 0 |
| 2020 | 204 | 4 | +2 |
| 2021 | 130 | 3 | -1 |
| 2022 | 81 | 2 | -1 |
| 2023 | 19 | 1 | -1 |
| 2024 | 37 | 3 | +2 |
| 2025 | 28 | 4 | +1 |
| 2026 | 14 | 1 | -3 |