2016 Nissan Sentra · symptom sheet
Engine stalls or loses power while driving
- 49owner reports
- 74,000median miles
- $3,000median quote
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Sep 9, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
187 of the 270 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 49 of those describe stalling. Only transmission shudder is reported more often on this car.
Tick what matches of 49 reports
Stalling on other Sentra years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Stalling reports are some of the most alarming on the site. The engine quits while the car is moving, sometimes on a highway and sometimes at a stop. Many owners say it restarted right away and the dealer found no stored code, which is part of why these complaints pile up before anything gets fixed.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the transmission and drivetrain covers the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The engine room harness may have a terminal pin too large to maintain a connection with the Engine Control Unit (ECU).
All 6 recalls on the 2016 Nissan Sentra, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the transmission and drivetrain on the Sentra
Stalling problems. Closed apr 11, 1985.
None of these investigations covers the 2016 model year.
What owners paid
5 of the 49 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,400 to $4,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 60,000 and 96,000 miles, from the 37 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“The ECU problem is a major issue the vehicle is stalling, not starting, just malfunctioning tremendously while on the road in traffic while driving it stalls in traffic, shuts off in traffic. I was told this was a issue back in July 2017 The same issue has occurred again with safety concerns .”
Filed Sep 9, 2026
“I have a sentra 2016 that has been from day 1 and brand new has had a shake, judder, stall during sudden acceleration or stop and go stop and go with being jolted forward, usually on the highway. I am always terrified to drive it anywhere. I can't believe there is no recall on this. They need to offer a new transmission for the owners.”
Filed Aug 4, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 49 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 51 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 29 reports