NHTSA vehicle safety data

2016 Nissan Sentra Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2016 Nissan Sentra has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns and 270 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Nissan dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2016 Nissan Sentra, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2016 Nissan Sentra owner complaints

Owners have filed 270 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Nissan Sentra, describing incidents dated May 11, 2016 to September 1, 2026.

Most-cited components

  • Power Train 127 complaints
  • Engine 48 complaints
  • Electrical System 45 complaints
  • Unknown or Other 43 complaints
  • Vehicle Speed Control 27 complaints
  • Air Bags 24 complaints

Of the 270 complaints on file, 18 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 270 complaints, owners report 13 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11763062 · Filed

    The ECU problem is a major issue the vehicle is stalling, not starting, just malfunctioning tremendously while on the road in traffic while driving it stalls in traffic, shuts off in traffic. I was told this was a issue back in July 2017 The same issue has occurred again with safety concerns .

  • ODI #11761719 · Filed

    The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the traction control warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an AutoZone and DTC: C1116 “Stop Lamp Switch" was retrieved. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not…

  • ODI #11758638 · Filed

    In 2023, my vehicle experienced a transmission/CVT-related failure that resulted in a loss of propulsion. The vehicle became unable to continue driving and was stopped in Chino Hills, California. A neighbor called the police, and officers responded to the scene, although no police report was filed…

Read all 270 complaints

Owner-reported

2016 Nissan Sentra mileage at failure

142 of the 270 complaints on file for the 2016 Nissan Sentra give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Power TrainMedian 95,000 milesMiddle half 60,000–115,000 milesBased on 68 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Most complaints NHTSA received since May 17, 2021 give no mileage. So that they aren't undercounted, each one received since then that gives a mileage also stands in for those that gave none, which can put a component's median above most of the mileages it is based on.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

Brake Lights May Not Illuminate

NHTSA #21V135000 · Exterior Lighting — Brake Lights — Switch · NHTSA notice

Reported March 3, 2021 · Nissan North America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 807,376 vehicles

Repair completion: 60.62% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Nissan campaign PM971 · Owners notified July 1, 2022

Defect description

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Nissan Sentra vehicles. The brake light switch may become contaminated, preventing the circuit from closing and the brake lights from illuminating.

Safety consequence

The brake lights may not illuminate, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will replace the brake light switch and install a protective grommet, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 1, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800867-7769. Nissan's number for this recall is PM971.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Front Passenger Air Bag may Deploy Improperly

NHTSA #17V253000 · Air Bags · NHTSA notice

Reported April 13, 2017 · Nissan North America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 30,038 vehicles

Repair completion: 66.88% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified June 7, 2017 · Vehicles built January 4, 2016 – December 23, 2016 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 LEAF and 2014, 2016 and 2017 Sentra vehicles. 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.

Safety consequence

In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag doesn't deploy properly, it can increase the risk of injury to passengers.

Manufacturer remedy

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Engine Room Harness Connection May Fail

NHTSA #16V485000 · Electrical System — Wiring · NHTSA notice

Reported June 29, 2016 · Nissan North America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 1,522 vehicles

Repair completion: 73.65% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified August 15, 2016 · Vehicles built April 11, 2016 – April 26, 2016 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 Sentra vehicles manufactured April 11, 2016, through April 26, 2016. The engine room harness may have a terminal pin too large to maintain a connection with the Engine Control Unit (ECU).

Safety consequence

If the engine room harness loses connection to the ECU, the vehicle may not start or the engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the terminal pin on the engine room harness, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Passenger Air Bag Harness Connector Disconnect

NHTSA #16V436000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Passenger Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice

Reported June 15, 2016 · Nissan North America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 4,355 vehicles

Repair completion: 76.56% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified August 9, 2016 · Vehicles built February 9, 2016 – March 4, 2016 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 LEAF vehicles manufactured February 24, 2016, to March 23, 2016, and Sentra vehicles manufactured February 9, 2016, to March 4, 2016. The wiring harness connector may disconnect from the dual-stage passenger air bag.

Safety consequence

If the wiring harness disconnects, the passenger air bag may not to deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wiring harness connector for proper engagement and, if necessary, replace the passenger air bag module and main body harness, free of charge. The recall began on August 9, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Passenger Air Bag may not Deploy due to OCS Error

NHTSA #16V244000 · Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification · NHTSA notice

Reported April 26, 2016 · Nissan North America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 3,296,947 vehicles

Repair completion: 77.11% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified June 10, 2016 · Vehicles built June 4, 2012 – April 9, 2016 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.

Safety consequence

If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Deformed Seat Belt Bracket Affecting OCS Operation

NHTSA #16V242000 · Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification · NHTSA notice

Reported April 26, 2016 · Nissan North America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 645,898 vehicles

Repair completion: 69.83% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified June 13, 2016 · Vehicles built June 4, 2012 – April 9, 2016 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Sentra vehicles manufactured June 4, 2012, to April 9, 2016. The front passenger seat belt bracket may become deformed if it is used to secure a Child Restraint System (CRS). The deformed seat bracket may cause the Occupant Classification System (OCS) to incorrectly classify the installed CRS, resulting in the front passenger air bag to not be turned off as designed when a CRS is in the seat.

Safety consequence

If the frontal passenger air bag deploys in the event of a crash when a child seat is installed in the front passenger seat, there will be an increased risk of injury to the child in the CRS.

Manufacturer remedy

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will reinforce the seat belt bracket as well as reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU), free of charge. The recall began on June 13, 2016. Owners are warned not to install a CRS in the front seat. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Other Nissan Sentra model years

Check your 2016 Nissan Sentra VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Nissan Sentra at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Nissan VIN