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NHTSA-Verified · Common Problems

2021 Nissan Sentra
Common Problems

Ranked from 54 federal NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.

3
Safety
1
High severity
4
Medium
2
Low
3 problems on this vehicle involve a crash, fire, or injury risk. If you are experiencing one, stop driving and have it inspected.

10 Common Problems

Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.

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  1. 1

    Steering Issues Due to Recall Non-Resolution

    17complaints
    Safety riskSteering

    Recall for steering components remains unresolved, leading to steering failures and loss of control.

    Related recalls: 21V461000, 23V581000

  2. 2

    Automatic Emergency Braking System Malfunctions

    14complaints
    Safety riskOther

    The automatic emergency braking system activates unexpectedly at low speeds, posing a risk of accidents.

  3. 3

    Electrical System Issues with Window Operation

    12complaints
    Medium severityElectrical

    Windows intermittently fail to operate, especially in cold conditions, affecting usability and safety.

  4. 4

    Steering Wheel Shakes During Driving

    7complaints
    Medium severitySteering

    The steering wheel starts to shake during driving, potentially leading to loss of control and accidents.

    Related recalls: 21V461000, 23V581000

  5. 5

    Brake System Malfunction Leading to Loss of Control

    4complaints
    Safety riskBrakes

    The brake system locks up unexpectedly, causing the vehicle to spin out and crash into guardrails.

    $150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  6. 6

    Headlight Malfunction

    2complaints
    Low severityOther

    The headlights turn off unexpectedly while driving, especially at night, and do not respond to switching or power cycling.

    $100–$900est. lighting assembly repair · 0.5–2 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  7. 7

    Parking Brake Malfunction

    2complaints
    Medium severityOther

    The parking brake activates unexpectedly, causing the vehicle to stop abruptly without warning.

    $150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  8. 8

    Random Engine Stall

    2complaints
    Medium severityEngine

    The engine stalls unexpectedly, often at idle, without any warning signs before the stall occurs.

    $150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  9. 9

    Steering Column Noise and Steering Box Failure

    2complaints
    High severitySteering

    The steering column produces a crackling noise and the steering box may fail, leading to loss of control.

    $200–$1,500est. power-steering / eps repair · 1–6 hrs labor
    Get local quotes

    Related recalls: 21V461000, 23V581000

  10. 10

    Window Actuator Malfunction

    2complaints
    Low severityElectrical

    Passenger side and rear windows malfunction, causing them to stop working or operate slowly.

Other years & sources

2010 Nissan Sentra2016 Nissan Sentra2017 Nissan Sentra2018 Nissan Sentra2019 Nissan Sentra2020 Nissan SentraAll NHTSA complaints for this vehicle →

Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.