2016 Nissan Sentra problems and recalls

47% of owner complaints on the 2016 Nissan Sentra related to the Power Train (127 of 269).

269
Complaints
6
Recalls
18
Crash reports
2
Fire reports
13
Injuries
67.5
Severity index

Severity index 67.5 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 67.5p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 55 of 141 by severity index among 2016 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 61% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2016 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Power TrainPower Train: 127 complaints (47.2%)127 47%EngineEngine: 47 complaints (17.5%)47 17%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 44 complaints (16.4%)44 16%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 43 complaints (16.0%)43 16%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 27 complaints (10.0%)27 10%Air BagsAir Bags: 24 complaints (8.9%)24 9%Service BrakesService Brakes: 21 complaints (7.8%)21 8%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 18 complaints (6.7%)18 7%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
POWER TRAIN12747.2%
ENGINE4717.5%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4416.4%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4316.0%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2710.0%
AIR BAGS248.9%
SERVICE BRAKES217.8%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM186.7%

Complaints filed per year

022432016: 52017: 162018: 432019: 362020: 342021: 222022: 362023: 182024: 232025: 272026: 9 (partial year)161718431920212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20165
201716
201843
201936
202034
202122
202236
202318
202423
202527
2026 (year to date)9
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (68 against 92).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
17V25300013/04/2017AIR BAGSNissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 LEAF and 2014, 2016 and 2017 Sentra vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error within the air bag inflators, the passenger frontal air bag may not properly deploy in the event of a crash.
16V43600015/06/2016AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULENissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 LEAF vehicles manufactured February 24, 2016, to March 23, 2016, and Sentra vehicles manufactured February 9, 2016, to March 4, 2016. The wiring harness connector may disconnect from the dual-stage passenge
16V48500029/06/2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRINGNissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 Sentra vehicles manufactured April 11, 2016, through April 26, 2016. The engine room harness may have a terminal pin too large to maintain a connection with the Engine Control Unit (ECU).
16V24400026/04/2016AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATIONNissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 N
16V24200026/04/2016AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATIONNissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Sentra vehicles manufactured June 4, 2012, to April 9, 2016. The front passenger seat belt bracket may become deformed if it is used to secure a Child Restraint System (CRS). The deformed seat bracket
21V13500003/03/2021EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCHNissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Nissan Sentra vehicles. The brake light switch may become contaminated, preventing the circuit from closing and the brake lights from illuminating.

Other Nissan Sentra model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 15 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-09-08. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.