Nissan Sentra: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Nissan Sentra problems by model year, from 3,180 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2015 (73%, 225 drivetrain complaints), 2014 (71%, 233 drivetrain complaints) and 2013 (71%, 388 drivetrain complaints). 10 of the 13 Nissan Sentra years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 6 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2020 (8%), 2021 (9%) and 2022 (16%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2019 (37%) to 2020 (8%), down 29 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2013 drew the most drivetrain complaints (388 of 1,509 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2023 has fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Nissan Sentra year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Sentra | high | 50% | 56 | 144 | 7/13 | 3 |
| 2011 Sentra | high | 43% | 54 | 142 | 8/13 | 2 |
| 2012 Sentra | very high | 63% | 101 | 180 | 5/13 | 0 |
| 2013 Sentra | very high | 71% | 388 | 638 | 3/13 | 6 |
| 2014 Sentra | very high | 71% | 233 | 380 | 2/13 | 5 |
| 2015 Sentra | very high | 73% | 225 | 351 | 1/13 | 3 |
| 2016 Sentra | very high | 68% | 162 | 270 | 4/13 | 6 |
| 2017 Sentra | very high | 61% | 116 | 230 | 6/13 | 3 |
| 2018 Sentra | high | 43% | 68 | 185 | 9/13 | 2 |
| 2019 Sentra | elevated | 37% | 67 | 222 | 10/13 | 2 |
| 2020 Sentra | no elevated signal | 8% | 16 | 205 | 13/13 | 4 |
| 2021 Sentra | no elevated signal | 9% | 11 | 132 | 12/13 | 3 |
| 2022 Sentra | no elevated signal | 16% | 12 | 81 | 11/13 | 2 |
| 2023 Sentra | too few to score | – | 4 | 20 | – | 1 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Nissan Sentra years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Nissan Sentra fuel system recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the Nissan Sentra involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 21 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2013 | 13V068000 | fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly | 2013 |
20 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2010 | 10V401000 | equipment: electrical: navigational system(global positioning system) | 2010 |
| Nov 2010 | 10V555000 | electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery: cables | 2010–2011 |
| Dec 2011 | 11V579000 | electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery: cables | 2010–2011 |
| Mar 2013 | 13V069000 | air bags | 2013 |
| Mar 2014 | 14V138000 | electrical system: software | 2013–2014 |
| Jul 2015 | 15V453000 | latches/locks/linkages | 2015 |
| Oct 2015 | 15V681000 | air bags: frontal | 2013–2014 |
| Apr 2016 | 16V242000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification | 2013–2016 |
| Apr 2016 | 16V244000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification | 2013–2016 |
| Jun 2016 | 16V436000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2016 |
| Jun 2016 | 16V485000 | electrical system: wiring | 2016 |
| Apr 2017 | 17V253000 | air bags | 2014, 2016, 2017 |
| Aug 2018 | 18V551000 | electrical system: ignition | 2017 |
| Sep 2019 | 19V654000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2018–2019 |
| Mar 2021 | 21V135000 | exterior lighting: brake lights: switch | 2016–2019 |
| Jun 2021 | 21V461000 | steering: linkages: tie rod assembly | 2020–2021 |
| Apr 2022 | 22V244000 | exterior lighting: headlights | 2020 |
| Jun 2023 | 23V421000 | structure: body | 2022 |
| Aug 2023 | 23V581000 | steering: linkages: tie rod assembly | 2020–2022 |
| Sep 2023 | 23V628000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2020–2021 |
What the free pages leave out on the Nissan Sentra
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Nissan Sentra
What are the worst years for the Nissan Sentra?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Nissan Sentra years are the 2015 (73% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2014 (71% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2013 (71% of relevant complaints, very high). 10 of 13 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Nissan Sentra?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Nissan Sentra years are the 2020 (8%), the 2021 (9%) and the 2022 (16%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Nissan Sentra have transmission problems?
In some years. Across the 13 scored years, 1,509 of 2,765 relevant NHTSA complaints (55%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is power train. The years with an elevated share are 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Is the Nissan Sentra reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 10 of 13 Nissan Sentra years we score have an elevated complaint share and 3 do not. Pooled across those years, 55% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Nissan Sentra?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Nissan Sentra years we track, out of 21 in total: 13V068000 (Mar 2013, 2013). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.