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2020 Nissan Sentra: engine and transmission complaints

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
8%
16 of 204 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2020 Nissan Sentra. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 8% of relevant complaints.

Better than 98% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked September 13, 2026
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Drivetrain complaints
16
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
204
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
4
8 crashes · 2 injuries

Complaints by component

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE60 · 29%
STEERING55 · 27%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER47 · 23%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM44 · 22%
SERVICE BRAKES25 · 12%
BACK OVER PREVENTION11 · 5%

The years either side

2010
50%
56 of 144
2011
43%
54 of 142
2012
63%
101 of 180
2013
71%
388 of 638
2014
71%
233 of 380
2015
73%
225 of 351
2016
68%
162 of 270
2017
61%
116 of 230
2018
43%
68 of 185
2019
37%
67 of 221
2020
8%
16 of 204
2021
9%
11 of 131
2022
16%
12 of 81
2023
too few complaints

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

What owners reported

ENGINE07/21/2025
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was shuddering with an abnormal rattling sound coming from under the hood. There was no warning light illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manuf…
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER06/05/2025
The starter and electric problems. The vehicle has been serviced 5 or 6 times each with the problem the issues has not been resolved. Is there a recall in any of the said problems above. No, incident occurred, it is a repair failure. Problem has not been fixed and diver has been back and forth to the dealer over and o…
ENGINE05/18/2025
Tensioner pulley broke

Three of 16 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on this model year (4)

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. The left and/or right tie rod may be bent.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Sentra vehicles, equipped with LED headlights. The right-hand headlight aim may be misaligned. As such, th…
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Sentra vehicles. The left and/or right tie rod may bend.

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2020 Nissan Sentra

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.