Eighth generation (B18)
2021 Nissan Sentra
The most reported problem on the 2021 Nissan Sentra is brake wear, with 23 complaints.
- 131owner complaints
- 3recalls
- 14involved a crash
- 30,000median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 9, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
Problem sheets
No single problem on the 2021 Nissan Sentra has enough owner reports for a sheet of its own yet. The counts below still cover every complaint on file.
Is the 2021 Nissan Sentra reliable?
The 2021 Nissan Sentra has 131 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, close to the median of 145 for 2021 sedans on this site. Of the 13 Sentra model years since 2014, it has the 8th 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 2020 and 2022
- Complaints ease off across these three model years. Counted per year on the road, the 2020 draws 29, the 2021 22 and the 2022 16.
- Top problem
- Two problems run close. Brake wear has 23 complaints and phantom braking has 21, out of 131 in all. Too few of the brake wear reports give a mileage to say when it starts.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 15 of the 131 complaints (11%) report a crash, a fire or an injury. The typical vehicle on this site sits at 6%, so this one runs well above it. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 14 reports mention a crash, 1 mentions a fire and 8 people were hurt. The most crash reports, 7 of 14, fall under brake wear.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- 3 recalls are on file, but no problem here has enough reports to set against them.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2023 at 42 and have dropped every year since, to 21 in 2025. So far in 2026, 14 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: brakes grind, pulse or wear early, 23 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
131 complaints is 1.5 times fewer than the median 2021 model on this site and about the median for a 2021 sedan. Among the 9 Sentra model years here it ranks 8th 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 2021 Nissan Sentra
Nissan filed 132 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2021 Nissan Sentra. 10 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.
Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) 3 bulletins · 21 complaints
AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING WARNING LIGHT BLINKING APPLIED SYSTEMS: Vehicles equipped with a lane camera (see Figure 1) SERVICE INFORMATION If the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) warning light or is blinking (but not illuminated steadily) or the customer states it is blinking, and there are no related DTCs, inspect the ...
AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING WARNING LIGHT BLINKING
1 more on this problem
FALSE ACTIVATION OF AEB OR FCW IF YOU CONFIRM The customer states they have experienced false activation and/or unexpected braking of the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) or Forward Collision Warning (FCW) system, AND There are no related DTCs stored. ACTION 1.
Battery dies or the car will not start 6 bulletins · 12 complaints
DTC B2E01-96 (INTERNAL BATTERY) STORED AS CURRENT IN IVC SERVICE INFORMATION The APPLIED VEHICLES that come equipped with a factory installed SOS switch, located near the overhead map lamp, also come equipped with a wireless communication device called a Telematics Communication Unit (TCU).
DTC B2E01-96 (INTERNAL BATTERY) STORED AS CURRENT IN IVC
4 more on this problem
B2E01-96 (INTERNAL BATTERY) DTC STORED AS CURRENT IN IVC SERVICE INFORMATION CONSULT has been updated to allow DTC B2E01-96 (Internal battery) to be cleared in the Telematics Control Unit (TCU).
NO START DUE TO BATTERY DISCHARGE THROUGH AUDIO UNIT
2021 SENTRA; NO START DUE TO BATTERY DISCHARGE THROUGH AUDIO UNIT This bulletin has been superseded by: NTB21-066 VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN 2021 SENTRA; AUDIO CONTROL UNIT REPROGRAM Campaign ID: PM991
2021 SENTRA; NO START DUE TO BATTERY DISCHARGE THROUGH AUDIO UNIT IF YOU CONFIRM The customer states that the engine would not crank, or cranked slowly and would not start. ACTION 1. Test the vehicle's 12 volt battery using the Midtronics DSS-5000 and recharge, or replace, the battery if necessary. 2.
Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 1 bulletin · 7 complaints
WHEEL BEARING COLLISION DAMAGE
Complaints filed by year
42 complaints came in 2023, 2.8 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 2021 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 2019-2021 Altima and 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 19, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23C3.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Sentra vehicles. The left and/or right tie rod may bend.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Owners are advised to contact their dealer for transport assistance if they are experiencing an off-center steering wheel or vibration. As an interim repair, dealers will inspect and replace any bent or broken tie rods, free of charge. Once newly designed parts are available, dealers will replace both left and right tie rods, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed November 27, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23B3. This recall replaces and expands recall number 21V-461. Vehicles previously repaired under 21V-461 will need to have the new remedy completed.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. The left and/or right tie rod may be bent.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the left and/or right tie rods as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 5, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PM985.
All 3 recalls on the 2021 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 2021 Nissan Sentra?
Brake wear, with 23 of the 131 complaints.
At what mileage do 2021 Nissan Sentra problems start?
Of the 26 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 15,000 miles and half by about 30,000.
Is the 2021 Nissan Sentra better or worse than the 2020 and 2022?
Counted per year on the road, the 2021 has fewer complaints than the 2020 and more complaints than the 2022: 22 a year against 29 and 16.
How many 2021 Nissan Sentra complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
15 of them (11%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for brake wear on the 2021 Nissan Sentra?
No recall on file for the 2021 Nissan Sentra is on the same system as brake wear. Another recall may still cover your car, so check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.