Seventh generation (B17)
2016 Nissan Sentra
The most reported problem on the 2016 Nissan Sentra is transmission shudder, with 51 complaints, usually around 96,000 miles.
- 270owner complaints
- 6recalls
- 18involved a crash
- 64,000median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 9, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
What is your Sentra doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2016 model year.
Is the 2016 Nissan Sentra reliable?
The 2016 Nissan Sentra has 270 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, close to the median of 232 for 2016 sedans on this site. Of the 13 Sentra model years since 2014, it has the 3rd most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2017
- At 25 complaints for each year on the road, the 2016 runs close to the 2017 (23). That's the only adjacent model year with enough complaints to set beside it.
- Top problem
- Two problems run close. Transmission shudder has 51 complaints and stalling has 49, out of 270 in all. It's a high-mileage complaint: half of the 34 owners who gave a mileage for transmission shudder were past about 96,000 miles.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 21 of the 270 complaints (8%) report a crash, a fire or an injury, a little above the 6% typical of vehicles on this site. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 18 reports mention a crash, 2 mention a fire and 13 people were hurt. The most crash reports, 10 of 18, fall under airbag.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- No recall on file is on the same system as transmission shudder, stalling and transmission failure. For those, the complaints are all there is.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2018 at 43 (full calendar years only). In 2025 there were 27. So far in 2026, 10 more have come in.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard, 51 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
270 complaints is about the median for a 2016 model on this site and 1.2 times the median 2016 sedan. Among the 9 Sentra model years here it ranks 3rd for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2016 Nissan Sentra
Nissan filed 197 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2016 Nissan Sentra. 21 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Airbag warning light or recall 3 bulletins · 24 complaints
DTC B00A0-00 STORED IF YOU CONFIRM DTC B00A0-00 (OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR UNIT) is stored, AND OCS zero point reset cannot be performed,
DTC B00A0-00 STORED
1 more on this problem
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHING INDICATING SYSTEM DIAGNOSTIC MODE IF YOU CONFIRM The air bag warning light is flashing slowly (repeating 2 seconds ON, 2 seconds OFF). NOTE: If this should occur, the Air Bag Diagnosis Sensor Unit is in Diagnostic Mode and needs to be returned to User Mode. ACTION 1.
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 1 bulletin · 21 complaints
NISSAN; DTC P0456 CAUSED BY EVAP LEAK AT VENT CONTROL VALVE O-RING The APPLIED VEHICLES and CLAIMS INFORMATION sections have been revised. No other changes have been made.
Check engine light or misfire 10 bulletins · 14 complaints
SERVICE INFORMATION FOR FUEL GAUGE INACCURATE WITH DTCS STORED IN ECM SERVICE INFORMATION If a fuel level sensor has been diagnosed as sending an incorrect level signal, and one or more of the following DTCs are stored in the ECM, do not replace the entire âFuel Level Sensor Unit, Fuel Filter and Fuel Pump Assemblyâ (fuel pump assembly).
DTC P0456 CAUSED BY EVAP LEAK AT VENT CONTROL VALVE O-RING
8 more on this problem
EVAP LEAK DTC P0442, P0455, P0456 INFORMATION
MIL ON WITH P0603 STORED FOR ECM BACK UP CIRCUIT
2013 ? 2018 SENTRA; MIL ON WITH DTC P0448
ALL MODEL YEAR 2012 AND NEWER NISSAN VEHICLES; EVAP LEAK DTC P0442, P0455, P0456 INFORMATION This bulletin does NOT apply to LEAF vehicles and Titan XD vehicles with V8 diesel engine.
NISSAN; DTC P0456 CAUSED BY EVAP LEAK AT VENT CONTROL VALVE O-RING This bulletin does NOT apply to LEAF vehicles and Titan XD vehicles with V8 diesel engine.
2013-2017 SENTRA AND VERSA SEDAN, AND 2014-2017 VERSA NOTE; CVT JUDDER AND/OR P0746/P0965/P17F0 STORED This bulletin applies only to vehicles eqiupped with a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). No other changes were made.
MIL ON WITH P0603 STORED FOR ECM BACK UP CIRCUIT This bulletin does NOT apply to Titan equipped with Cummins V8 Diesel engine. No other changes have been made.
IF YOU CONFIRM The MIL is "ON" with DTC P0603 (ECM BACK UP/CIRCUIT). ACTION 1. Confirm that the battery voltage is 11 volts, or more, with the ignition ON (engine OFF, not running). 2. Erase DTC 3. Perform DTC confirmation steps in the Service Procedure. 4.
Transmission hesitates when accelerating 1 bulletin · 10 complaints
2013-2017 SENTRA; CVT JUDDER IF YOU CONFIRM The customer reports a transmission judder (shake, shudder, single or multiple bumps or vibration), hesitation on acceleration, lack of power or RPM flare. ACTION Refer to the Repair Overview on pages 2 and 3.
Fuel pump failure 1 bulletin · 6 complaints
2013-2019 SENTRA AND 2013-2021 NV200/TAXI; INDIVIDUAL FUEL PUMP SERVICE PARTS SERVICE INFORMATION If the âfuel level sensor, fuel filter and fuel pump assemblyâ (fuel pump assembly) needs to be replaced, due to an in tank fuel level sensor issue or fuel temp sensor DTC, the fuel level sensor (includes fuel temp sensor) can be ordered separately from ...
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 5 bulletins · 5 complaints
INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE AND AEB/FEB WARNING LIGHT ON OR RADAR OBSTRUCTION MESSAGE DISPLAYED WITH DTC C1A16 OR C2582 IF YOU CONFIRM IMPORTANT: The purpose of ACTION (on the next page) is to give you a quick idea of the work you will be performing. You MUST closely follow the entire SERVICE PROCEDURE as it contains information that is essential to successfully completing this repair.
RADIO INTERMITTENTLY REBOOTS DURING AUDIO PLAYBACK VIA BLUETOOTH CONNECTED IPHONE
3 more on this problem
DTC B00A0-00 STORED IF YOU CONFIRM DTC B00A0-00 (OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR UNIT) is stored And OCS zero point reset cannot be performed And The following screen displays: ACTION 1.
2016-2018 NISSAN CONNECT NAVIGATION SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE TO RESOLVE SEVERAL ISSUES This bulletin applies only to vehicles equipped with navigation system. IF YOU CONFIRM One or more of the following is occurring: - The navigation unit intermittently reboots: - At random or while listening to SXM or on a Bluetooth hands-free phone call.
SERVICE INFORMATION If the configuration of the Audio/Navigation unit has not been completed correctly, some of the symptoms that may occur are: * Intermittent or no back up camera operation * No steering wheel switch response to audio inputs * No volume response from volume ...
Complaints filed by year
43 complaints came in 2018, 2.7 times the year before. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
Recalls that include the 2016 Nissan Sentra
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Nissan Sentra vehicles. The brake light switch may become contaminated, preventing the circuit from closing and the brake lights from illuminating.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake light switch and install a protective grommet, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 1, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800867-7769. Nissan's number for this recall is PM971.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 LEAF and 2014, 2016 and 2017 Sentra vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error within the air bag inflators, the passenger frontal air bag may not properly deploy in the event of a crash.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 Sentra vehicles manufactured April 11, 2016, through April 26, 2016. The engine room harness may have a terminal pin too large to maintain a connection with the Engine Control Unit (ECU).
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the terminal pin on the engine room harness, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 LEAF vehicles manufactured February 24, 2016, to March 23, 2016, and Sentra vehicles manufactured February 9, 2016, to March 4, 2016. The wiring harness connector may disconnect from the dual-stage passenger air bag.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wiring harness connector for proper engagement and, if necessary, replace the passenger air bag module and main body harness, free of charge. The recall began on August 9, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Sentra vehicles manufactured June 4, 2012, to April 9, 2016. The front passenger seat belt bracket may become deformed if it is used to secure a Child Restraint System (CRS). The deformed seat bracket may cause the Occupant Classification System (OCS) to incorrectly classify the installed CRS, resulting in the front passenger air bag to not be turned off as designed when a CRS is in the seat.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will reinforce the seat belt bracket as well as reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU), free of charge. The recall began on June 13, 2016. Owners are warned not to install a CRS in the front seat. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
All 6 recalls on the 2016 Nissan Sentra, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide Buying one used? How to research one car’s history before you pay
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2016 Nissan Sentra?
Transmission shudder, with 51 of the 270 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 96,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2016 Nissan Sentra problems start?
Of the 153 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 40,000 miles and half by about 64,000.
Is the 2016 Nissan Sentra better or worse than the 2017?
Counted per year on the road, the 2016 has about as many complaints as the 2017: 25 a year against 23.
How many 2016 Nissan Sentra complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
21 of them (8%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for transmission shudder on the 2016 Nissan Sentra?
No recall on file for the 2016 Nissan Sentra is on the same system as transmission shudder. Another recall may still cover your car, so check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.