1991-2025 model years · 4,570+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
All years · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
Interest applies to the selected vehicle and configuration; it is not a reservation. Voting stores a first-party identifier for up to 180 days to prevent repeat votes. No account or email is needed. Clearing cookies or using another device may count separately. Privacy
Visual coming soon
Your interest helps us choose what to build next.
Visual Known Issues · Coming soon
$4.99/month plus taxes at launch · No payment today
Choose a year to request this visual. Trim and engine are optional; omitted trim is Not specified.
According to Au7o's analysis of 4,570+ owner reports, the 1991-2025 Nissan Sentra has 32 documented known issues, with 11 rated critical. The most serious are CVT Transmission Failure (Jatco CVT7/JF015E) ($300-$5,000 repair), Timing Chain Stretch and Rattle (MR20DD Engine) ($800-$1,500 repair), Front Strut Tower Rust and Corrosion Leading to Suspension Separation Risk ($1,000-$4,000 repair), Brake Light Switch Failure - No Brake Lights / Won't Shift From Park (Recall PM971 / 21V-135) ($0-$0 repair), Tie Rod Bending and Fracture Risk (Recall PM985 / 23V581), P0741 — Torque Converter Clutch Stuck Off from CVT Lockup Solenoid / Valve-Body Wear and Degraded CVT Fluid ($200-$1,800 repair), ECM Power Transistor Failure Causing Engine Stall and Potential Overheating of the ECM ($0-$1,200 repair), Door Striker Weld Failure — Door Can Open While Driving (Recall 26V023000), Forward Emergency Braking (AEB) Phantom Activation ($600-$1,400 repair), Optical crank/cam angle sensor failure inside the distributor (oil-seal leak) causing stalling and no-start ($150-$500 repair) and Front Collision Warning / Automatic Emergency Braking False Activation and Sensor Malfunction ($250-$1,800 repair). The most commonly reported issue is CVT Transmission Failure (Jatco CVT7/JF015E) with 3,200 owner reports. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $10 to $5,000. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
SEATS
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Sentra vehicles. The driver's seat frame may not be fully secured to the outer side of the seat track. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 207, "Seating Systems," and 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Sentra vehicles. The windshield glass may have visible air bubbles, which can obscure the driver's visibility. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 205, "Glazing Materials."
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Altima, Sentra, 2025-2026 Frontier, and 2026 Kicks vehicles. The door strikers may have been improperly welded and break, allowing the door to open while moving. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components."
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Nissan Sentra vehicles. The front left-side driveshaft may not be fully seated in the continuously variable transmission (CVT) assembly, which can cause a transmission fluid leak and loss of drive power.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Titan, Frontier, Infiniti QX60, Pathfinder, 2023-2024 Sentra, Versa, Kicks, Infiniti QX50, and 2023 Rogue vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the driver's air bag inflator may absorb moisture, and cause the air bag to deploy improperly.
+ 6 more recalls. Check all on NHTSA.gov
Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check recalls specific to your vehicle.
Don't see your problem? Describe your symptoms to get a diagnosis, or get a full repair guide.
According to Au7o's analysis of 4,570+ owner reports, the 1991-2025 Nissan Sentra has 32 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: CVT Transmission Failure (Jatco CVT7/JF015E), Timing Chain Stretch and Rattle (MR20DD Engine), Front Strut Tower Rust and Corrosion Leading to Suspension Separation Risk. Of these, 11 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
The 1991-2025 Nissan Sentra has 32 known issues documented across 4,570+ owner reports. 11 issues are rated critical: CVT Transmission Failure (Jatco CVT7/JF015E) and Timing Chain Stretch and Rattle (MR20DD Engine) and Front Strut Tower Rust and Corrosion Leading to Suspension Separation Risk and Brake Light Switch Failure - No Brake Lights / Won't Shift From Park (Recall PM971 / 21V-135) and Tie Rod Bending and Fracture Risk (Recall PM985 / 23V581) and P0741 — Torque Converter Clutch Stuck Off from CVT Lockup Solenoid / Valve-Body Wear and Degraded CVT Fluid and ECM Power Transistor Failure Causing Engine Stall and Potential Overheating of the ECM and Door Striker Weld Failure — Door Can Open While Driving (Recall 26V023000) and Forward Emergency Braking (AEB) Phantom Activation and Optical crank/cam angle sensor failure inside the distributor (oil-seal leak) causing stalling and no-start and Front Collision Warning / Automatic Emergency Braking False Activation and Sensor Malfunction. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
Repair costs for known Nissan Sentra issues range from $0 to $5,000, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, CVT Transmission Failure (Jatco CVT7/JF015E), typically costs $300-$5,000 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
Reliability varies across model years of the Nissan Sentra. Based on documented issues, problems are most commonly reported in earlier model years. Au7o recommends checking the specific known issues for your target year before purchasing, and having a pre-purchase inspection performed by a qualified mechanic. Our known issues database covers the 1991-2025 Nissan Sentra with 32 documented issues documented across 4,570+ owner reports.
The 2013-2021 Sentra uses the Jatco CVT7 (JF015E) transmission which is prone to premature failure, shuddering, and overheating. Nissan extended the CVT warranty to 10 years/120,000 miles under Customer Service Initiative P8242. The transmission can fail as early as 60,000 miles. Repairs typically run $300-$5,000. Severity: high.
The MR20DD 2.0L engine in the 2013-2019 Sentra suffers from premature timing chain stretch causing a rattling noise on cold start and potential engine damage. The chain tensioner and guides also wear prematurely. If the chain jumps, it can cause valve-to-piston contact and catast… Repairs typically run $800-$1,500. Severity: high.
A serious rust issue on 2002-2006 Sentras involves corrosion of the front strut housing/tower area, especially in states using heavy road salt. As corrosion progresses, the strut can break through the surrounding structure, causing sudden changes in steering and suspension geomet… Repairs typically run $1,000-$4,000. Severity: high.
The stop-lamp (brake light) switch becomes contaminated by silicone off-gassing from grease used on nearby components. Electrical arcing oxidizes the contacts and builds up silicon dioxide, opening the circuit. The result is brake lights that do not illuminate (a rear-end-collisi… Repairs typically run $0-$0. Severity: high.
NHTSA 23V-581 covers 2020-2022 Sentra vehicles whose left and/or right tie rod can deform after high input such as a curb impact. A bent tie rod can cause an off-center steering wheel or vibration and may fracture, producing partial loss of steering control. The campaign replaces… Severity: high.
The B17 Sentra's Jatco CVT (JF015E / CVT7, RE0F11A) uses a torque converter with a lockup clutch, and P0741 is set when the TCM sees the converter clutch failing to lock (input-shaft vs converter speed difference exceeding threshold). On these Nissan CVTs the lockup solenoid live… Repairs typically run $200-$1,800. Severity: high.
Certain 2002-2003 Sentras were recalled because the power transistor inside the engine control module could short internally. When this happens, the engine may stall unexpectedly and the ECM itself can overheat, creating both drivability and safety concerns. Owners describe sudde… Repairs typically run $0-$1,200. Severity: high.
Nissan recalled 2025 Sentra sedans because the door strikers — the fixed loops on the body pillar that the door latch grabs onto — may have been improperly welded during manufacturing. An improperly welded striker can break, and if it does the door is no longer retained and can o… Severity: high.
Sentras equipped with Nissan's Forward Emergency Braking / Automatic Emergency Braking apply the brakes hard for non-existent obstacles ('phantom braking'). The Bosch radar module behind the front grille (sensor assembly p/n 28438-5UD0A) produces false positives, frequently trigg… Repairs typically run $600-$1,400. Severity: high.
The defining electrical failure of the 1990s Sentra. On both the GA16DE (1.6L) and SR20DE (2.0L), the crank angle and camshaft position signals are generated by an OPTICAL sensor (a slotted disc read by an LED/photo-diode) housed inside the distributor. Two age-related failure mo… Repairs typically run $150-$500. Severity: high.
Multiple owners of the current B18-generation Sentra report the Forward Collision Warning and Automatic Emergency Braking systems triggering warnings or braking unexpectedly, sometimes with no vehicle or obstacle present. Complaints describe sudden deceleration, repeated warning… Repairs typically run $250-$1,800. Severity: high.
The A/C compressor on 2013-2019 Sentra models is known to fail prematurely, often within 60,000-80,000 miles. The compressor clutch bearings seize or the internal components disintegrate, sending metal debris throughout the A/C system. When the compressor fails internally, the en… Repairs typically run $600-$1,200. Severity: medium.
The 6th generation Sentra with the 2.5L QR25DE engine is known for excessive oil consumption, often burning 1 quart every 1,000-2,000 miles. The issue is caused by worn piston rings and valve stem seals. The QR25DE engine design has tight piston ring tolerances that contribute to… Repairs typically run $50-$4,000. Severity: medium.
In rust-belt climates, the Sentra's steel fuel filler neck commonly corrodes where road salt and debris collect behind the left rear wheel area. Owners report a strong gasoline odor after fill-ups, visible rust holes, EVAP leak codes, and in some cases fuel dripping during refuel… Repairs typically run $250-$700. Severity: medium.
The crankshaft position sensor's internal electronics degrade with heat and fail intermittently. As the engine warms the sensor signal drops out, causing the engine to stall and refuse to restart until it cools, then run normally again. It sets P0335/P0336 and is frequently misdi… Repairs typically run $150-$350. Severity: medium.
Owners have reported the rearview camera display going black, freezing, showing a blank image, or failing to appear when shifting into reverse. This problem has been documented across late-model Nissan vehicles and appears in owner complaints for the Sentra as well. The issue can… Repairs typically run $150-$1,200. Severity: medium.
The B17 and B18 Sentra with the MR20DD engine is prone to premature catalytic converter failure, often before 100,000 miles. The converter substrate breaks down, triggering P0420 efficiency codes. Contributing factors include the direct injection engine's tendency to produce more… Repairs typically run $300-$1,500. Severity: medium.
B17 Sentras develop a pronounced clunk, knock, or loud 'bang' from the front suspension when driving over bumps or turning, traced to worn front strut upper mounts/bearings and the struts themselves. CarComplaints logs multiple owners describing 'a very loud banging as if coil sp… Repairs typically run $400-$1,275. Severity: medium.
Owners of late-model Sentras have reported front-end clunking, rattling, or knocking noises over bumps and rough pavement, sometimes at very low mileage. Reports commonly point to sway bar links, strut mounts, or related front suspension hardware that loosens or develops play pre… Repairs typically run $200-$1,200. Severity: medium.
A recurring owner complaint on newer Sentras involves weak factory batteries, hard starting, no-start conditions, or stalling/rough restart behavior associated with the idle stop/start system. The problem often appears early in ownership and may be aggravated by short-trip drivin… Repairs typically run $180-$700. Severity: medium.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.
