Nissan Sentra - Problems, Statistics, and Analysis

Nissan Sentra owners have reported a total of 7,468 problems for their cars built in the 31 model years listed in the chart below. The chart shows the number of problems reported across all service years for each given model year of the Nissan Sentra. The 2013 Nissan Sentra cars have the most problems reported (865 problems).

Table 1. Total number of problems by model year for Nissan Sentra

🔍 Common problems of Nissan Sentra

The following chart shows the 30 most common problems for Nissan Sentra cars. The number one most common problem is related to the vehicle's engine and engine cooling (1,256 problems). The second most common problem is related to the vehicle's power train (1,219 problems).

Table 2. Common problems of Nissan Sentra

Problem Category Number of Problems
  Engine And Engine Cooling
1,256
  Power Train
1,219
  Electrical System
784
  Air Bag
722
  Equipment
612
  Service Brakes
524
  Vehicle Speed Control
397
  Steering
323
  Other Fuel System
190
  Forward Collision Avoidance
187
   
  Suspension
171
  Structure
157
  Visibility
129
  Exterior Lighting
119
  Tire
110
  Electronic Stability Control
104
  Wheel
101
  Gasoline Fuel System
98
  Seat Belt
83
  Unknown Or Other
60
  Seats
38
  Back Over Prevention
24
  Latches/locks/linkage
21
  Lane Departure
16
  Parking Brake
6
 
6
  Interior Lighting
4
  Air Brake
3
  Child Seat
2
  Traction Control System
2

📉 Compare Reliability Across Model Years Using PPMY Index

It would not be fair to compare the Nissan Sentra of an older model year to newer model years since older vehicles have been in service longer and thus are expected to have more problems. In order to compare the reliability across Sentra model years, we use the PPMY index which is defined as the problems reported per thousand vehicles per Year. A smaller PPMY index indicates greater reliability of the given model year cars.

    PPMY = P / S / Y * 1000,

where P = total problems reported during the life of a Nissan Sentra model year; S = total units sold of the model year; Y = years since the debut of the model year (the age of the vehicle).

The results are shown in Table 3.

Table 3. Use PPMY Index to Compare Reliability Across Sentra Model Years

Sentra
Model Year
Problems Sales [1] Vehicle
Age
PPMY Index
  2022 13396,1384    
0.35
  2021 205107,1595    
0.38
  2020 30387,7406    
0.58
  2019 351243,4247    
0.21
  2018 282168,2788    
0.21
  2017 340231,3639    
0.16
  2016 396164,29410    
0.24
  2015 495220,13211    
0.20
  2014 524206,89612    
0.21
  2013 865154,90913    
0.43
  2012 253140,51814    
0.13
  2011 20495,57015    
0.14
  2010 20492,43016    
0.14
  2009 7965,81117    
0.07
  2008 229121,91618    
0.10
  2007 21797,49719    
0.12
  2006 154138,64220    
0.06
  2005 219119,34321    
0.09
  2004 236126,51122    
0.08
  2003 23471,97223    
0.14
  2002 386114,04024    
0.14
  2001 306106,04725    
0.12
  2000 23467,01326    
0.13

📊 Number of Problems Reported During the First Year

Another way to measure the reliability across the model years of the Nissan Sentra is to use the total number of problems reported during the vehicle's first year in service, as shown in the Table 4.

Table 4. Number of problems in vehicle's; first service year

Model YearProblems Reported
  2026 Sentra
21
  2025 Sentra
23
  2024 Sentra
14
  2023 Sentra
10
  2022 Sentra
48
  2021 Sentra
26
  2020 Sentra
27
  2019 Sentra
43
  2018 Sentra
19
  2017 Sentra
24
  2016 Sentra
26
  2015 Sentra
22
  2014 Sentra
36
  2013 Sentra
100
  2012 Sentra
20
  2011 Sentra
24
  2010 Sentra
26
  2009 Sentra
3
  2008 Sentra
34
  2007 Sentra
24
  2006 Sentra
19
  2005 Sentra
13
  2004 Sentra
26
  2003 Sentra
31
  2002 Sentra
37
  2001 Sentra
30
  2000 Sentra
23
  1999 Sentra
6
  1998 Sentra
12
  1997 Sentra
10
  1996 Sentra
29


Sentra Service Bulletins
Sentra Safety Recalls
Sentra Defect Investigations
Compare Reliability: