CarBrief

The 2016 Nissan Sentra has 270 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, and the largest group names the power train[1][2]. It also has 6 recalls, and four of them involve air bag systems[3][4][5][6][7].

270owner complaints[1]
6recalls[3]
30–33MPG combined (EPA)[8]
4★NHTSA overall rating[9]

Most reported problems

NHTSA lists 270 owner complaints for this car[1]. Of those, 18 mention a crash, 2 mention a fire and 13 mention an injury[1]. No deaths are reported[1]. These are unverified owner reports, and one complaint can name more than one component. The counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.

Here are the biggest component groups, with the median mileage at failure.

Component group Complaints Median miles
Power train[2] 127 87,000
Engine[10] 48 54,500
Electrical system[11] 45 47,000
Unknown or other[12] 43 47,500
Speed control[13] 27 46,750
Air bags[14] 24 26,000
Brakes[15] 21 47,750
Fuel/propulsion system[16] 18 50,000

We read a small sample of complaint texts in several of these groups. Here is what owners describe in that sample.

Air bag complaints are fewer than power train complaints, but 10 of the 24 mention a crash and 8 mention an injury[14]. The power train group has 6 crashes and 1 injury among its 127 complaints[2]. The recalls below deal with air bag systems too.

Recalls

NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2016 Sentra[3]. Some cover only certain build dates, so a recall that applies to one car may not apply to another. Newest first.

Fuel economy

EPA lists three ratings for the 2016 Sentra, all with a 1.8L 4-cylinder engine, regular fuel and front-wheel drive[19][20][8].

Version City / Highway / Combined MPG Est. annual fuel cost
Sentra, manual 6-speed[19] 27 / 35 / 30 $2,250
Sentra, automatic (variable gear ratios)[20] 29 / 37 / 32 $2,100
Sentra FE, automatic (variable gear ratios)[8] 30 / 38 / 33 $2,050

EPA's annual cost uses its current fuel price assumptions, not prices from when the car was new.

Safety ratings

NHTSA rated the 4-door front-wheel-drive Sentra 4 stars overall[9]. Frontal crash is 4 stars, side crash is 5 stars and rollover is 4 stars[9]. The rollover risk is listed at 11.8%[9].

Engine and size

EPA lists the 2016 Sentra with a 1.8L 4-cylinder engine rated at 124 to 130 hp, depending on version[21].

The size figures below are Canadian-market specifications for the 4-door sedan, converted to US units, and they can differ slightly from US cars[22].

Measure Value
Length[22] 182 in
Width[22] 69 in
Height[22] 59 in
Wheelbase[22] 106 in
Curb weight[22] 2,879 lb

How 2016 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 recalls2016: 270 complaints, 6 recalls27020162017: 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 2016 is highlighted[3].
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

The 2016 Sentra has 270 complaints and 6 recalls on file[3]. Four listed model years have more complaints: 2013 (638), 2014 (380), 2015 (352) and 2002 (304)[3]. That puts 2016 fifth-highest for complaints[3].

For recalls, 2002 has 10, and 2001 and 2003 have 7 each[3]. The 2016, 2013 and 2000 model years each have 6[3].

The model years on either side look different. The 2015 Sentra has 352 complaints and 3 recalls, and the 2017 has 231 complaints and 3 recalls[3].

Should you buy a used 2016 Sentra?

The record is mixed. Fuel economy is 30 to 33 MPG combined, safety ratings are 4 or 5 stars and NHTSA reports no deaths[19][20][8][9][1]. On the other side, the largest complaint group is the power train, and 10 of the 12 owner texts we read in that group describe shifting or transmission trouble[2]. The car also has 6 recalls, several tied to air bags[3]. Before you decide, ask for proof that every recall that applies to the car has been done and take a long test drive that includes highway speeds, and remember that our data does not show price, trim, repair costs or service history.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2016 Nissan Sentra?
The power train is the largest group, with 127 of the 270 complaints on file[2][1]. In a sample of 12 power train complaints we read, 10 describe transmission or shifting trouble[2].
How many recalls does the 2016 Nissan Sentra have?
NHTSA lists 6 recalls, covering a brake light switch, passenger air bag parts, an engine harness pin, a passenger seat sensor and a seat belt bracket[3][17][4][18][5][6][7].
What is the gas mileage of the 2016 Nissan Sentra?
EPA rates it at 30 MPG combined with the manual, 32 with the automatic and 33 for the Sentra FE automatic[19][20][8].
How safe is the 2016 Nissan Sentra?
NHTSA gives the 4-door front-wheel-drive version 4 stars overall and 5 stars for side crash[9].
Is the 2016 Sentra a better year than 2015 or 2017?
By complaint counts on file, 2016 has 270, fewer than 2015 (352) and more than 2017 (231)[3]. Recalls are 3 for 2015, 6 for 2016 and 3 for 2017[3].

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 270 owner complaints on file for the 2016 Nissan Sentra (18 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 13 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. 127 complaints name the power train component group (6 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 87,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  3. Owner complaints and recalls for every Nissan Sentra model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  4. Recall 17V253, filed April 13, 2017: Air Bags. NHTSA recall database
  5. Recall 16V436, filed June 15, 2016: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
  6. Recall 16V244, filed April 26, 2016: Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification. NHTSA recall database
  7. Recall 16V242, filed April 26, 2016: Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification. NHTSA recall database
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. 48 complaints name the engine component group (1 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 54,500). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 45 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 47,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. 43 complaints name the unknown or other component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 47,500). NHTSA vehicle records
  13. 27 complaints name the speed control component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 46,750). NHTSA vehicle records
  14. 24 complaints name the air bags component group (10 crashes, 0 fires, 8 injuries, median mileage at failure 26,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  15. 21 complaints name the brakes component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 47,750). NHTSA vehicle records
  16. 18 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 50,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  17. Recall 21V135, filed March 3, 2021: Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights › Switch. NHTSA recall database
  18. Recall 16V485, filed June 29, 2016: Electrical System › Wiring. NHTSA recall database
  19. 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
  20. 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
  21. EPA Test Car List, 2016 Nissan Sentra with 1.8L 4-cylinder: rated 124 to 130 hp depending on version. www.epa.gov
  22. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, SENTRA 4DR SEDAN: length 182 in, width 69 in, height 59 in, wheelbase 106 in, curb weight 2,879 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.