CarBrief

Optional: drop 'two of them about the passenger air bag sensor' or the count of 3., so check recall status before you buy[1][2][3].

352owner complaints[4]
3recalls[5]
30–33MPG combined (EPA)[6]
4★NHTSA overall rating[7]

Most reported problems

NHTSA lists 352 owner complaints for the 2015 Sentra[4]. 23 mention a crash, 3 a fire and 23 injuries, and none report a death[4]. These are unverified reports from owners[4], and one complaint can name more than one part.

Here is how the complaints split by component group.

Component group Complaints Median miles at failure
Power train[8] 173 75,500
Engine[9] 70 63,350
Unknown or other[10] 54 51,000
Speed control[11] 50 48,520
Air bags[12] 44 17,000
Electrical system[13] 25 36,000
Brakes[14] 18 19,000
Structure[15] 14 43,500

Power train. In a sample of complaints we read, owners describe a transmission that fails to shift properly, slips, or leaves the car unable to move or speed up, often with engine speed climbing. Some say the dealer could not find a fault code[8].

Air bags. This group has fewer complaints than the power train, but its complaints mention 16 crashes and 17 injuries, more than any other group[12]. That count only tells you what the complaint mentioned, not what caused it. In the sample we read, owners describe the passenger air bag light turning on or off at the wrong times, including after the recall repair. Some say they were told repair parts were not available yet[12].

Speed control. In the sample we read, owners describe the car being slow to respond or not speeding up when they press the pedal. Some say turning the car off and on again sometimes cleared it[11].

Engine. In the sample we read, owners describe stalling, sudden slowing or loss of power while driving[9]. Engine complaints also include 2 that mention a fire[9].

Recalls

NHTSA lists 3 recalls that cover this car[5]. Newest first:

Fuel economy

The EPA lists three ratings for the 2015 Sentra. All use a 1.8L 4-cylinder engine, regular fuel and front-wheel drive[16][17][6].

Version City / highway / combined MPG Annual fuel cost
Manual 6-speed[16] 27 / 35 / 30 $2,250
Automatic (variable gear ratios)[17] 29 / 37 / 32 $2,100
Sentra FE, automatic (variable gear ratios)[6] 30 / 38 / 33 $2,050

Safety ratings

NHTSA gives the 4-door front-wheel-drive Sentra 4 stars overall[7]. Frontal crash is 4 stars, side crash is 5 stars and rollover is 4 stars[7]. The rollover risk is listed at 11.8%[7].

Engine and size

The 1.8L 4-cylinder is rated at 124 to 130 hp, depending on version[18].

These dimensions are Canadian-market specifications for the 4-door sedan These dimensions are Canadian-market specifications for the 4-door sedan[19]..

Measure Value
Length[19] 182 in
Width[19] 69 in
Height[19] 59 in
Wheelbase[19] 106 in
Curb weight[19] 2,851 lb

How 2015 compares with other years

1995: 117 complaints, 3 recalls19952000: 171 complaints, 6 recalls2001: 236 complaints, 7 recalls2002: 304 complaints, 10 recalls20022003: 180 complaints, 7 recalls2004: 197 complaints, 4 recalls2005: 170 complaints, 5 recalls20052006: 116 complaints, 5 recalls2007: 154 complaints, 1 recalls2008: 167 complaints, 3 recalls20082009: 55 complaints, 1 recalls2010: 144 complaints, 3 recalls2011: 142 complaints, 2 recalls20112012: 180 complaints, 0 recalls2013: 638 complaints, 6 recalls2014: 380 complaints, 5 recalls20142015: 352 complaints, 3 recalls35220152016: 270 complaints, 6 recalls2017: 231 complaints, 3 recalls20172018: 185 complaints, 2 recalls2019: 223 complaints, 2 recalls2020: 206 complaints, 4 recalls20202021: 132 complaints, 3 recalls2022: 81 complaints, 2 recalls2023: 20 complaints, 1 recalls20232024: 41 complaints, 3 recalls2025: 31 complaints, 4 recalls2026: 19 complaints, 1 recalls2026
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Sentra model year. The 2015 is highlighted[5].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
19951173
20001716
20012367
200230410
20031807
20041974
20051705
20061165
20071541
20081673
2009551
20101443
20111422
20121800
20136386
20143805
20153523
20162706
20172313
20181852
20192232
20202064
20211323
2022812
2023201
2024413
2025314
2026191

Among the Sentra model years NHTSA lists, 2015 has the third highest complaint count at 352[5]. Only 2013 (638) and 2014 (380) have more[5]. The next highest are 2002 with 304 and 2016 with 270[5].

The count for 2015 is above every later year, for example 2016 with 270, 2017 with 231 and 2018 with 185[5]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales, so they show how many reports exist, not how likely a problem is.

On recalls, 2015 has 3[5]. That is fewer than 2013 (6), 2014 (5) and 2016 (6), and the same as 2017 (3)[5].

Should you buy a used 2015 Sentra?

The 2015 Sentra is rated at 32 to 33 combined MPG for the automatic versions and a 4-star overall safety rating[17][6][7]. Against that, it sits near the top of the Sentra years for complaints, and the power train leads them[5][8]. Two recalls involve the passenger air bag sensor, and for one of them owners were to get a second notice when remedy parts become available[1][2]. Before you buy, confirm that every recall has been completed, and ask for service records on the transmission. A test drive that includes starts from a stop and highway speeds is a fair way to check for the behavior owners describe[8].

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2015 Nissan Sentra?
The power train group is named in 173 of the 352 complaints on file[4][8]. Engine has 70, speed control 50 and air bags 44[9][11][12].
Has the 2015 Nissan Sentra been recalled?
Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls: two for the passenger air bag occupant sensor (16V244 and 16V242) and one for door latches (15V453)[1][2][3].
What MPG does a 2015 Nissan Sentra get?
The EPA rates it 30 combined MPG with the manual, 32 with the automatic and 33 for the Sentra FE automatic[16][17][6].
How safe is the 2015 Nissan Sentra?
NHTSA rates the 4-door front-wheel-drive version 4 stars overall and 5 stars for side crash[7].
Is 2015 a bad year for the Nissan Sentra?
It has the third highest complaint count of the listed years, 352, behind 2013 and 2014[5]. Counts are not adjusted for sales.

Facts and sources

  1. Recall 16V244, filed April 26, 2016: Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification. NHTSA recall database
  2. Recall 16V242, filed April 26, 2016: Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification. NHTSA recall database
  3. Recall 15V453, filed July 21, 2015: Latches / Locks / Linkages. NHTSA recall database
  4. NHTSA has 352 owner complaints on file for the 2015 Nissan Sentra (23 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 23 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  5. Owner complaints and recalls for every Nissan Sentra model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  6. EPA rating for Sentra FE, 1.8L 4-cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 30 city / 38 highway / 33 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  7. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: overall 4 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 11.8%. NHTSA vehicle records
  8. 173 complaints name the power train component group (3 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 75,500). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 70 complaints name the engine component group (1 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 63,350). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 54 complaints name the unknown or other component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 51,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 50 complaints name the speed control component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 48,520). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. 44 complaints name the air bags component group (16 crashes, 1 fires, 17 injuries, median mileage at failure 17,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  13. 25 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 36,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  14. 18 complaints name the brakes component group (5 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, median mileage at failure 19,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  15. 14 complaints name the structure component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 43,500). NHTSA vehicle records
  16. EPA rating for Sentra, 1.8L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 27 city / 35 highway / 30 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,250. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  17. EPA rating for Sentra, 1.8L 4-cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 29 city / 37 highway / 32 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,100. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  18. EPA Test Car List, 2015 Nissan Sentra with 1.8L 4-cylinder: rated 124 to 130 hp depending on version. www.epa.gov
  19. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, SENTRA S/SV/SR/SL 4DR SEDAN: length 182 in, width 69 in, height 59 in, wheelbase 106 in, curb weight 2,851 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.