2011 Nissan Sentra recalls and problems

The 2011 Nissan Sentra has 2 recalls and 142 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is electrical system.

How the 2011 compares

Low

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Low complaint count among 27 Sentra model years — 19th most.

2recalls

142complaints

19crashes

6fires

14injuries

72,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

2 recalls

Electrical System

Dec 15, 2011 · NHTSA campaign 11V579000 · 33,803 vehicles

Problem: Nissan is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 sentra vehicles equipped with MR20 engines, manufactured from May 11, 2010, to May 22, 2010, and July 8, 2010, to October 25, 2010. The zinc coating applied to the terminal stud bolt was thicker than specification. This can result in a voltage drop that May cause difficulty starting the vehicle and could cause damage to the engine control module (ECM).

Original NHTSA wording

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 SENTRA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MR20 ENGINES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 11, 2010, TO MAY 22, 2010, AND JULY 8, 2010, TO OCTOBER 25, 2010. THE ZINC COATING APPLIED TO THE TERMINAL STUD BOLT WAS THICKER THAN SPECIFICATION. THIS CAN RESULT IN A VOLTAGE DROP THAT MAY CAUSE DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE AND COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM).

Risk: This issue can cause the engine to stall while the vehicle is in motion and it May not be possible to restart the engine after it stopped, increasing the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS ISSUE CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND IT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AFTER IT STOPPED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Nissan will notify owners and dealers will replace the positive battery terminal and cover, free of charge. The recallbegan on January 23, 2012. Owners May contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Electrical System

Nov 12, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V555000 · 13,737 vehicles

Problem: Nissan is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 sentra vehicles, manufactured from May 22, 2010, through July 8, 2010. Due to a machining irregularity, the bolt/washer surface on the positive battery terminal cable end May allow for a gap to occur in the contact area of the terminal. This can result in a voltage drop that May cause difficulty starting the vehicle and could cause damage to the engine control module.

Original NHTSA wording

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 SENTRA VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 22, 2010, THROUGH JULY 8, 2010. DUE TO A MACHINING IRREGULARITY, THE BOLT/WASHER SURFACE ON THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL CABLE END MAY ALLOW FOR A GAP TO OCCUR IN THE CONTACT AREA OF THE TERMINAL. THIS CAN RESULT IN A VOLTAGE DROP THAT MAY CAUSE DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE AND COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE.

Risk: This issue can cause the engine to stop running while the vehicle is in motion at low speed with a difficult or no start increasing the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS ISSUE CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AT LOW SPEED WITH A DIFFICULT OR NO START INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the positive battery terminal cable end with a new one free of charge. The safety recall began pn November 29, 2010. Owners May contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Electrical System34

Engine34

Air Bags20

Power Train18

Unknown or other18

Electronic Stability Control17

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

2011 vs. other Nissan Sentra years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2011. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2011 Nissan Sentra have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns covering the 2011 Nissan Sentra, the latest from Dec 15, 2011 (electrical system). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2011 Nissan Sentra?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention electrical system (34), engine (34), air bags (20). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.