NISSAN SENTRA · model year

2009 NISSAN SENTRA

81 NHTSA complaints, 18 crash reports, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2009NISSANSENTRA carries 81 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 18 crashes, 0 fires, 23 injuries, and 1 fatality. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2009 SENTRA is air bags with 14 filings, followed by steering (11) and service brakes (7). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle, the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 2009 SENTRA, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

81
Complaints
18
Crashes
0
Fires
23
Injuries
1
Deaths

Total Complaints

81 filings

Crashes Reported

18 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS14
STEERING11
SERVICE BRAKES7
STRUCTURE:BODY6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6
SUSPENSION5
ENGINE4
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
POWER TRAIN3
TIRES2
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
WHEELS2

Recalls (1)

10V40100010/09/2010

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750 NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE BATTERIES CONTAINED IN THE AFFECTED GPS UNITS CAN OVERHEAT.

Recent Complaints

20240603AIR BAGS

My car is included by year in the current airbag recall. However it comes up negative and the airbag icon started blinking last week. There were no incidents prior to the blinking.

20230414SUSPENSION

My brake line broke in three pieces while I was driving on the highway visiting my son I almost lost my life the brakes did not work all of the fluid came out thank God I didn’t die there was no sign on the dashboard also my brakes even when I change the pads the rotors and calipers they always make noise. I change brake pads every year and that’s not right I don’t think so. I always buy the best quality even when purchased fluids always buy CVT oil and I get it from the Nissan dealership.

20230414SERVICE BRAKES

My brake line broke in three pieces while I was driving on the highway visiting my son I almost lost my life the brakes did not work all of the fluid came out thank God I didn’t die there was no sign on the dashboard also my brakes even when I change the pads the rotors and calipers they always make noise. I change brake pads every year and that’s not right I don’t think so. I always buy the best quality even when purchased fluids always buy CVT oil and I get it from the Nissan dealership.

20221104SERVICE BRAKES

I was driving on the interstate to go and visit my granddaughter from PA to New York when all of a sudden I press on the break pedal and the brakes stopped working there was no warning sign on the dashboard I was alone in the car and afraid I started to slow down there was a lot of traffic trucks and I pulled over on the side slowly and use the emergency break and thank God I’m alive today to tell you my ordeal thank God I didn’t get hurt and no one got hurt and the best part I got to see my granddaughter 9 hours later. Basically I was informed that my brake line was broke in three pieces I cannot believe it just be careful always check your brake line thank you stay safe out there!!

20200923AIR BAGS

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT POP ON WHEN I WAS STOPPING FOR RED LIGHT. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN A CRASH ,FIRE , OR FLOOD. THE AIR BAG MODULE MUST BE A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM, THIS IS NOT NO ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PROBLEM. THERE ARE OTHER NISSAN MODELS WITH SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE DON'T LET MANUFACTURERS GET AWAY WITH THIS, IT IS PUTTING ME AND MY PASSENGERS IN VERY HIGH DANGER. THIS IS A ITEM ONLY MANUFACTURERS HAVE EASY ACCESS TO.I PAYED ALOT OF MONEY FOR VEHICLE, PLEASE ADD MY VEHICLE FOR RECALL , THERE'S NO WHERE ELSE TO TURN TO. THANK FOR YOUR HELP AND CONSIDERATION.

Mileage: 94,000

20200915AIR BAGS

AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES CONTINUESLY

Mileage: 92,550

20190910POWER TRAIN

I HAVE BEEN GETTING GRINDING NOISES FROM MY TRANSMISSION SINCE THE FALL OF 2016. TOOK THE CAR INTO THE GEORGESVILLE NISSAN SHOP IN COLUMBUS, OH WHERE THEY STATED THEY CAN'T RECREATE THE NOISE OR HEAR IT EVEN THOUGH THE NOISE IS NOTICEABLE WHEN THE CAR STARTS TO MOVE AFTER SITTING STILL FOR AT LEAST HALF AN HOUR. IT SOUNDS AS IF SOMEONE ISN'T PUSHING ON THE CLUTCH BEFORE CHANGING GEARS, THE PROBLEM IS THOUGH THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I HAVE GONE TO THE SHOP A FEW TIMES WHERE I'VE BEEN GIVEN THE SAME THING, THEY CAN'T RECREATE IT. MY CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AT THE TIME AND NOW IT'S NOT. I FEEL AS THOUGH THIS WAS THEM TRYING TO NOT REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION UNDER WARRANTY. THE CAR WAS AROUND 90K MILES WHEN THE PROBLEM STARTED AND I'VE BEEN THERE TWO OR THREE TIMES. NOW MY CAR IS AT 123K MILES AND I AM NO LONGER COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. I AM CURRENTLY AT WORK AND CAN NOT UPLOAD MY RECEIPTS FROM MY VISIT BUT WILL SEND PICTURES WHEN NEED BE. I'M SURE I HAVE A VIDEO I RECORDED OF THE NO

Mileage: 90,000

20190729POWER TRAIN

MY VEHICLES TRANSMISSION WARRANTY ENDED AT 120,000 MILES. MY VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 145,500 MILES. I'VE READ ONLINE THESE VEHICLES WITH CVT TRANSMISSION HAVE ISSUES WITH REPAIR CODE P0744. THEY HAVE A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR OLDER VEHICLES EXCEPT MINE TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY ASSEMBLY. I CALLED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND WAS TOLD THEY CANNOT HELP BECAUSE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND VEHICLE IS OLD. ALL I'M ASKING FOR THEM TO COVER MOST OF THE REPAIRS OR ALL OF IT. IN THIS CASE VEHICLE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN. VEHICLES RPM FLUCTUATED? JERKED AND LOST SPEED, THEN SPEED WOULD INCREASE. REPAIRS IS GOING TO COST ME OVER $1200.00.

Mileage: 145,500

20190604AIR BAGS

"TAKATA RECALL" WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED THE AIRBAG LIGHT STARTS BLINKING .I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO 2 DEALERSHIPS AND THEY HAVE INFORMED ME THAT IT IS THE CLOCK SPRING IN THE CAR. AND THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE IF I WERE TO GET INTO A WRECK OR IF SOMEONE WAS TO HIT ME AND MY CHILDREN THE AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY . THE CLOCK SPRING IN THE STARING WILL ALSO CONTROLS THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND THAT WILL NOT DEPLOY AS WELL .

Mileage: 200,000

20181217SUSPENSION

WAS TOWED IN AND THE LF BALL JOINT IS RUSTED AND FELL APART. THE STUD AND NUT ARE STILL ATTACHED TO THE KNUCKLE AND THE BALL PULLED OUT OF THE SOCKET. THIS ALLOWED THE SUSPENSION OF DROP THAT CORNER OF THE CAR DOWN AND PULL THE CV AXLE OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION. JUST PULLING OUT FROM HOME.

Mileage: 76,535

20181203ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TAKATA RECALL CAR STALLS OUT AND DASH BOARD LIGHTS UP WITH EVERY WARNING SIGNAL, EVERY TIME I BRAKE TO QUICKLY WHEN HITTING A RED LIGHT BUT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ISN'T REGULARLY ON. MY PROBLEM MATCHES ANOTHER TYPE OF 2009 NISSAN SENTRA PROBLEM BUT MY EXACT MODEL IS NOT RECALLED. PURCHASED BRAND NEW STARTER, ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY TO NO AVAIL ANOTHER RECALL SAYS MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR AND FUEL PUMP.

Mileage: 70,000

20181203FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TAKATA RECALL CAR STALLS OUT AND DASH BOARD LIGHTS UP WITH EVERY WARNING SIGNAL, EVERY TIME I BRAKE TO QUICKLY WHEN HITTING A RED LIGHT BUT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ISN'T REGULARLY ON. MY PROBLEM MATCHES ANOTHER TYPE OF 2009 NISSAN SENTRA PROBLEM BUT MY EXACT MODEL IS NOT RECALLED. PURCHASED BRAND NEW STARTER, ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY TO NO AVAIL ANOTHER RECALL SAYS MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR AND FUEL PUMP.

Mileage: 70,000

20181203UNKNOWN OR OTHER

TAKATA RECALL CAR STALLS OUT AND DASH BOARD LIGHTS UP WITH EVERY WARNING SIGNAL, EVERY TIME I BRAKE TO QUICKLY WHEN HITTING A RED LIGHT BUT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ISN'T REGULARLY ON. MY PROBLEM MATCHES ANOTHER TYPE OF 2009 NISSAN SENTRA PROBLEM BUT MY EXACT MODEL IS NOT RECALLED. PURCHASED BRAND NEW STARTER, ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY TO NO AVAIL ANOTHER RECALL SAYS MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR AND FUEL PUMP.

Mileage: 70,000

20180722ENGINE

DURING NORMAL DRIVING, REACH THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS, ENGINE STALL WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED AT THE STOP LIGHT. AFTERWARDS, I CAN RESTART THE CAR NORMALLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES, ABOUT ONE MONTH APART.

Mileage: 56,000

20180722POWER TRAIN

DURING NORMAL DRIVING, REACH THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS, ENGINE STALL WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED AT THE STOP LIGHT. AFTERWARDS, I CAN RESTART THE CAR NORMALLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES, ABOUT ONE MONTH APART.

Mileage: 56,000

20180320ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE A 2009 NISSAN SENTRA I BOUGHT IT A FEW MONTHS AGO AND EVERYTHING IS FINE UNTIL I NEED TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO DO ANYTHING OUTSIDE IT THE DOOR AUTOMATICALLY LACKS WHEN I'M OUTSIDE AND CLOSE IT CLOSED AND IT HAPPENED TO ME 4 TIMES I HAD TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO DO NOT STAY OUT OF THE VEHICLE I HAVE TO LOWER THE WINDOWS OR HAVE A SPARE KEY IN MY WALLET

Mileage: 108,500

20180309SEAT BELTS

VEHICLE DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT IS LOOSE AND WILL NOT TIGHTEN TO SECURE DRIVER IS SAFE, PASSENGER SEATBELT (FRONT SIDE OF DRIVER) IS LOCKED UP AND WILL NOT ALLOW PASSENGER TO BUCKLE UP.

Mileage: 200,000

20171121TIRES:SIDEWALL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN SENTRA EQUIPPED WITH HANKOOK ROADHANDLER SPORT TIRES, SIZE: 215/55R/16 (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE SIDEWALL WAS SEVERELY CRACKED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON BOTH FRONT TIRES. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO SEARS AND THEN TO THE MANUFACTURER; HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. THE DOT NUMBER, VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE, AND VIN WERE NOT PROVIDED.

20171114CrashAIR BAGS

THE AIRBAG EXPLODED ON DRIVER'S SIDE, KNOCKED BE UNCONSCIOUS FOR A FEW MINUTES, WHEN I CAME TOO THE CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL. I HIT A IRON POLE IN FRONT OF WAL-GREEN'S. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT THE TIME.THE CAR WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY, IN WHICH THEY PICKED UP THE CAR AND TOOK IT AWAY.

Mileage: 97,000

20171114CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY

THE AIRBAG EXPLODED ON DRIVER'S SIDE, KNOCKED BE UNCONSCIOUS FOR A FEW MINUTES, WHEN I CAME TOO THE CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL. I HIT A IRON POLE IN FRONT OF WAL-GREEN'S. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT THE TIME.THE CAR WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY, IN WHICH THEY PICKED UP THE CAR AND TOOK IT AWAY.

Mileage: 97,000

Compare 2009NISSANSENTRA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2009 NISSAN SENTRA have?
The 2009 NISSAN SENTRA has 81 NHTSA complaints, 18 crashes, 0 fires, 23 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2009 NISSAN SENTRA?
Yes, the 2009 NISSAN SENTRA has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM). Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 NISSAN SENTRA?
The most-complained component for the 2009 NISSAN SENTRA is AIR BAGS with 14 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING and SERVICE BRAKES.
Is the 2009 NISSAN SENTRA safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

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.