2016 Nissan Sentra problems
What owners report to NHTSA, grouped by component, with the recalls that cover them.
NHTSA has 270 owner complaints on file for the 2016 Nissan Sentra, filed between 2016-07-06 and 2026-09-09. The most common problem areas are the power train (127, 47%), engine (48, 18%) and electrical system (45, 17%). Owners reported 18 crashes, 2 fires and 13 injuries in these complaints. NHTSA lists 6 recalls for this model year.
Last updated: · Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls databases
2016 Nissan Sentra complaints by component
| Component | Complaints | Share | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power train | 127 | 47% | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| Engine | 48 | 18% | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 45 | 17% | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Unknown or other | 43 | 16% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 27 | 10% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 24 | 9% | 10 | 0 | 8 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 18 | 7% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 18 | 7% | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 10 | 4% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 10 | 4% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Exterior lighting | 8 | 3% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 5 | 2% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 5 | 2% | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Seat belts | 3 | 1% | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 3 | 1% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint can name several components, so shares can add up to more than 100%. Crashes, fires and injuries are as reported by owners.
The top problem areas, in plain English
Each summary is built from the complaint counts and NHTSA recall notices, not from individual owner stories.
Power train: 127 complaints
- 127 complaints of 270 (47%) name the power train — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts and axles.
- 19 of them also name the engine; owners reported 6 crashes, 1 fire and 1 injury in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2016 Nissan Sentra covers this system.
Engine: 48 complaints
- 48 complaints of 270 (18%) name the engine.
- 19 of them also name the power train; owners reported 1 crash and 2 fires in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2016 Nissan Sentra covers this system.
Electrical system: 45 complaints
- 45 complaints of 270 (17%) name the electrical system — wiring, battery and charging, fuses, control modules and in-car electronics.
- 14 of them also name the engine; owners reported 1 fire in these complaints.
- One NHTSA recall covers this system on the 2016 Nissan Sentra; the recall, campaign 16V485000, says: “The engine room harness may have a terminal pin too large to maintain a connection with the Engine Control Unit (ECU).”
Vehicle speed control: 27 complaints
- 27 complaints of 270 (10%) name the vehicle speed control — cruise control and accelerator/throttle control.
- 12 of them also name the power train; owners reported 1 crash in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2016 Nissan Sentra covers this system.
Air bags: 24 complaints
- 24 complaints of 270 (9%) name the air bags — frontal, side and curtain air bags, their crash sensors and control module.
- 2 of them also name the electrical system; owners reported 10 crashes and 8 injuries in these complaints.
- 4 NHTSA recalls cover this system on the 2016 Nissan Sentra; the latest, campaign 17V253000, says: “Due to a manufacturing error within the air bag inflators, the passenger frontal air bag may not properly deploy in the event of a crash.”
Fuel/propulsion system: 18 complaints
- 18 complaints of 270 (7%) name the fuel/propulsion system — the fuel tank, pump, lines, injectors and fuel-system controls.
- 7 of them also name the power train; owners reported 1 crash in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2016 Nissan Sentra covers this system.
When the complaints were filed
| Year filed | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 16 |
| 2018 | 43 |
| 2019 | 36 |
| 2020 | 34 |
| 2021 | 22 |
| 2022 | 36 |
| 2023 | 18 |
| 2024 | 23 |
| 2025 | 27 |
| 2026 | 10 |
What is counted
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the model names SENTRA, model year 2016. Complaints are unverified owner reports; a recall is NHTSA's confirmed safety defect. See the 2016 Nissan Sentra recalls.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Nissan Sentra?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the 2016 Nissan Sentra's most common problem areas are the power train (127 of 270 complaints), engine (48 of 270 complaints) and electrical system (45 of 270 complaints).
How many complaints does the 2016 Nissan Sentra have?
NHTSA has 270 owner complaints on file for the 2016 Nissan Sentra, including 18 reported crashes and 2 reported fires.
Is there a recall for the 2016 Nissan Sentra's problems?
NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2016 Nissan Sentra; 2 of the top 6 complaint areas have a matching recall. Recall repairs are free at a dealer; check your VIN for open recalls.