2021 Nissan SENTRA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
130 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
23,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2021 model year. Data snapshot: . 21 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 38 of 130 complaints (29.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 37 | 28.5% |
| Steering behavior | 29 | 22.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 16 | 12.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 38 |
| Steering | 37 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 28 |
| Service Brakes | 23 |
| Unknown Or Other | 19 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 15 |
| Engine | 7 |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 |
Electrical System: 38; Steering: 37; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 28; Service Brakes: 23; Unknown Or Other: 19; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 15; Engine: 7; Exterior Lighting: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 109 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 |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 13 |
| 2022 | 15 |
| 2023 | 42 |
| 2024 | 26 |
| 2025 | 21 |
| 2026 | 13 |
2021: 13; 2022: 15; 2023: 42; 2024: 26; 2025: 21; 2026: 13
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 37 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 29 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 16 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11422409 · 2021-06-26 (June 26, 2021)
Car will not start. Unexplained battery depletion. Trunk will not close when car is not on. Awful customer service at ORR Nissan in Shreveport Louisiana Address: 1240 E Bert Kouns, Shreveport Louisiana, 71105 Their entire operations need to be shut down. Bunch of incompetent druggies.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11422409 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11422533 · 2021-06-28 (June 28, 2021)
Only happens when driving at night. When driving and keeping your foot on the gas pedal the lights go dim and when you remove your foot of the gas pedal the lights go back to bright. Also the engine is making a rattling noise. Was seen a couple times at the dealership for the lights but was told nothing wrong with it. Its not normal for lights to do that whole driving on the road. Especially for a brand new car that has only gotten 15,000 miles
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11422533 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11424172 · 2021-07-10 (July 10, 2021)
Suddenly the battery ran out on Tuesday, July 6, 2021, 18 days after I bought the car. The car did not want to start from the beeper. When I got into the car to start it, my battery was completely drained. A roadside service technician starts the car with a battery booster. On the way to the auto dealership shop, the vehicle would not accept cruise control. I arrive at the auto dealership workshop and they verify the unit. And according to them it did not duplicate any of the problems that the vehicle presented. Claiming that the chargin…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11424172 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11424547 · 2021-07-13 (July 13, 2021)
The vehicle inexplicably drained the battery again. Monday July 12, 2021, the vehicle does not start. I take it to the dealer's service center and they tell me there is no problem with the car or the charging system.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11424547 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11426757 · 2021-07-28 (July 28, 2021)
Car battery has died 3 times since purchase. Dealership says battery is fine. Have only owned the brand new vehicle about 8 weeks!
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11426757 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11430701 · 2021-08-27 (August 27, 2021)
I was driving at 55 mph this morning while taking my child to the bus stop when the emergency braking system kicked on out of nowhere almost causing me to lose control of the car. There were no vehicles in front of me or any obstruction that would have caused this to occur. The recall for the blind spot sensors has already occurred on this vehicle as well. It is a danger to not only myself but potentially other vehicles that could have been following me to have a vehicle abruptly stop like it did which in then endangered myself and my children.…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11430701 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11430740 · 2021-08-27 (August 27, 2021)
The contact owned a 2021 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated their daughter was driving at 30 mph, when the driver was merging into a lane when the driver heard an unidentified noise and lost control of the vehicle, and crashed into a telephone pole. The air bags did deploy. The driver had a laceration and bruise and swelling in the left knee. The driver declined medical treatment at the scene. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard where it was later deemed as a totaled loss. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11430740 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11430761 · 2021-08-27 (August 27, 2021)
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, she heard an abnormal bumping sound coming from underneath the vehicle and the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver, causing the contact to almost lose control of the vehicle. The contact did not recall whether there were any warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road and replaced the flat tire with the assistance of the towing company. Then, the contact drove to her residence. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diag…
Owner-reported narrative. 474 miles reported. Look up ODI 11430761 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
21V461000 · Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly
Reported: 2021-06-17 (June 17, 2021)
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. The left and/or right tie rod may be bent.
Consequence: A bent tie rod can break, causing a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the left and/or right tie rods as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 5, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PM985.
NHTSA campaign record ↗23V581000 · Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly
Reported: 2023-08-15 (August 15, 2023)
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Sentra vehicles. The left and/or right tie rod may bend.
Consequence: A bent tie rod can break and cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised to contact their dealer for transport assistance if they are experiencing an off-center steering wheel or vibration. As an interim repair, dealers will inspect and replace any bent or broken tie rods, free of charge. Once newly designed parts are available, dealers will replace both left and right tie rods, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed November 27, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23B3. This recall replaces and expands recall number 21V-461. Vehicles previously repaired under 21V-461 will need to have the new remedy completed.
NHTSA campaign record ↗23V628000 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
Reported: 2023-09-08 (September 8, 2023)
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Altima and 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 19, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23C3.
NHTSA campaign record ↗