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Nissan · vehicle model

Nissan Sentra

8,126 NHTSA complaints and 111 safety recalls across model years 1982–2026.

Complaints
8,126
Recalls
111
Model years
45

The verdict

The Nissan Sentra pairs above-average complaint volume with 111 recalls (heavily recalled).

2nd pctile
complaint volume, US models
111
recall campaigns
Follow this model's NHTSA record changes

Nissan Sentra vs. all tracked models

Total NHTSA ODI complaints across models with substantive safety data

8,126 Higher than most more complaints than 98% of 3,088 models

tracked vehicle models, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more models. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · August 2026

The Nissan Sentra appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 8,126 consumer safety complaints and 111 recall campaigns across 45 model years (1982–2026). That averages roughly 181 complaints per model year. Report counts can differ between model years for many reasons; this dataset does not establish the cause of a difference.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller can accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model because more vehicles are on the road. The table below shows report counts and published NHTSA crash-test ratings side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram shows the timing of submitted reports, not a causal trend.

NHTSA has 2 investigation files tied to this model, with 1 currently open. Investigation records, complaint reports, and recall campaigns each provide different context. Use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and the underlying notices to research a specific vehicle; PlainCars does not infer a vehicle-risk or pricing conclusion from these records.

Complaints by Year

Year Complaints
2026 2
2025 29
2024 43
2023 25
2022 126
2021 198
2020 306
2019 346
2018 283
2017 330
2016 395
2015 488
2014 522
2013 866
2012 260
2011 199
2010 212
2009 81
2008 233
2007 214
2006 155
2005 224
2004 235
2003 239
2002 371
2001 307
2000 236
1999 74
1998 76
1997 138
1996 177
1995 158
1994 130
1993 89
1992 81
1991 77
1990 45
1989 49
1988 40
1987 46
1986 9
1985 6
1984 4
1983 1
1982 1

Complaint Filing Trend

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

Filings moved from 2,435 in 2017-2021 to 1,756 in 2022-2026, a fall of 27.9% . That is the 52th percentile of change across the 763 nameplates with enough filings in both windows to compare, where 0 is the steepest fall and 100 the steepest rise.

Filing volume, not a reliability verdict: counts also move with how many vehicles are on the road, how old they are, and whether a recall drew attention. Computed from this portal's NHTSA filing-year records over the same two windows the trend rankings use.

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

Year filed (bar labels show the complaint count).

View all trending models →

Compare Nissan Sentra to Similar Vehicles

Nissan Sentra vs Dodge Charger → Nissan Sentra vs Pontiac Grand AM → Nissan Sentra vs Dodge RAM 2500 → Nissan Sentra vs Dodge Intrepid →

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

DP16002 Defect Petition Closed 2016-12-20

Scope of Recalls 08V311 and 09V431
SQ99018 SQ Open 1999-06-17

CORRISION FATIGUE OF FRONT COIL SPRINGS

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 111 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 vintage: August 2026. 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.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. Nissan Sentra totals are aggregated from the linked NHTSA model-year rows; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.