NISSAN · vehicle model

NISSAN SENTRA

8,126 NHTSA complaints and 50 safety recalls across model years 1982–2026.

Complaints
8,126
Recalls
50
Model years
45

The NISSANSENTRA appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 8,126 consumer safety complaints and 50 safety recalls across 45 model years (1982–2026). That averages roughly 181 complaints per model year, but the distribution is almost never even, most nameplates concentrate their defect reports in a handful of cohort years tied to specific platform refreshes, supplier changes, or component redesigns.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller will accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model simply because more of them are on the road. What matters is the year-over-year shape and the component concentration, which the table below isolates for the SENTRA by showing complaint count, crash count, fire count, and NHTSA safety rating side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram below the table shows whether complaints are still being submitted against this nameplate or whether the pattern has plateaued, an important distinction for used-car shoppers weighing older cohort years.

NHTSA has 2 investigation files tied to this model, with 1 currently open. Investigations precede recalls and signal that the Office of Defects Investigation is actively testing a theory about a specific component cluster. Together with the complaint-by-year breakdown and recall remedy status, they are the primary signals used by insurance actuaries, fleet managers, and used-vehicle appraisers when pricing NISSANSENTRA risk. Compare this nameplate against siblings in the same platform family to see whether a given defect pattern is model-specific or shared across the parent architecture.

Complaints by Year

YearComplaints
20262
202529
202443
202325
2022126
2021198
2020306
2019346
2018283
2017330
2016395
2015488
2014522
2013866
2012260
2011199
2010212
200981
2008233
2007214
2006155
2005224
2004235
2003239
2002371
2001307
2000236
199974
199876
1997138
1996177
1995158
1994130
199389
199281
199177
199045
198949
198840
198746
19869
19856
19844
19831
19821

Complaint Filing Trend

NHTSA complaint volume by year filed (not model year).

155
95
186
96
126
97
109
98
159
99
119
00
135
01
141
02
212
03
273
04
128
05
112
06
129
07
179
08
145
09
206
10
154
11
119
12
193
13
302
14
329
15
324
16
351
17
495
18
667
19
491
20
431
21
460
22
463
23
406
24
391
25
36
26
View all trending models →

Compare NISSANSENTRA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the NISSAN SENTRA?
The NISSAN SENTRA has received 8,126 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 1982 to 2026, with 50 recalls. That averages about 181 complaints per model year.
What years of NISSAN SENTRA are available?
PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the NISSAN SENTRA from 1982 to 2026 (45 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.
Does the NISSAN SENTRA have safety ratings?
NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many NISSAN SENTRA model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.
What are the most common NISSAN SENTRA complaints?
NHTSA complaints for the NISSAN SENTRA are categorized by component, common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.
How do I check if my NISSAN SENTRA has been recalled?
Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.
Data sources

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.