Representative model. Photo: Ryan Hildebrand, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2016 Nissan Sentra recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2016 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 6
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 270
Latest campaign: Mar 3, 2021

Recall summary by component6

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Air bags	4	Apr 13, 2017	17V253000 16V436000 16V244000 16V242000
Exterior lighting	1	Mar 3, 2021	21V135000
Electrical system	1	Jun 29, 2016	16V485000

Safety recalls6

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

Mar 3, 2021Latest campaign


Mar 3, 202121V135000	Exterior lighting: brake lights switch The brake lights may not illuminate, increasing the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 21V135000 What's wrong 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 The brake lights may not illuminate, increasing the risk of a crash. 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. Campaign NHTSA 21V135000 · Mar 3, 2021
Apr 13, 201717V253000	Air bags In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag doesn't deploy properly, it can increase the risk of injury to passengers. DetailsHide details for campaign 17V253000 What's wrong 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 In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag doesn't deploy properly, it can increase the risk of injury to passengers. 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. Campaign NHTSA 17V253000 · Apr 13, 2017
Jun 29, 201616V485000	Electrical system: wiring If the engine room harness loses connection to the ECU, the vehicle may not start or the engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 16V485000 What's wrong 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 If the engine room harness loses connection to the ECU, the vehicle may not start or the engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. 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. Campaign NHTSA 16V485000 · Jun 29, 2016
Jun 15, 201616V436000	Air bags: frontal passenger side If the wiring harness disconnects, the passenger air bag may not to deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. DetailsHide details for campaign 16V436000 What's wrong 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 If the wiring harness disconnects, the passenger air bag may not to deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. 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. Campaign NHTSA 16V436000 · Jun 15, 2016
Apr 26, 201616V244000	Air bags: sensor occupant classification If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury. DetailsHide details for campaign 16V244000 What's wrong 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 If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury. 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. Campaign NHTSA 16V244000 · Apr 26, 2016
Apr 26, 201616V242000	Air bags: sensor occupant classification If the frontal passenger air bag deploys in the event of a crash when a child seat is installed in the front passenger seat, there will be an increased risk of injury to… DetailsHide details for campaign 16V242000 What's wrong 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 If the frontal passenger air bag deploys in the event of a crash when a child seat is installed in the front passenger seat, there will be an increased risk of injury to the child in the CRS. 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. Campaign NHTSA 16V242000 · Apr 26, 2016

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Nissan recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Buying a used 2016 Nissan Sentra? Recalls cover the model; a history report checks one car's title, odometer and accident records. VinAudit history report → Sponsored · disclosure

Owner complaints by component270

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

270Complaints filed

18Involving a crash

2Involving a fire

13Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires	Injuries
Power train	127	47	6	1	1
Engine	48	18	1	2	0
Electrical system	45	17	0	1	0
Unknown or other	43	16	1	0	0
Vehicle speed control	27	10	1	0	0
Air bags	24	9	10	0	8
Service brakes	21	8	3	0	3
Fuel/propulsion system	18	7	1	0	0
Structure	10	4	2	0	2
Electronic stability control (ESC)	10	4	0	0	0
Exterior lighting	8	3	0	0	0
Forward collision avoidance	5	2	1	0	0
Steering	5	2	1	0	2
Seat belts	3	1	1	0	2
Visibility/wiper	3	1	0	0	0

7 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number.

Latest reports

Electrical system
“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.”
Filed 09/09/2026 · ODI 11763062
Exterior lighting
“The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the traction control warning light illuminated.”
Filed 09/02/2026 · ODI 11761719
Power train
“In 2023, my vehicle experienced a transmission/CVT-related failure that resulted in a loss of propulsion. The vehicle became unable to continue driving and was stopped in Chino Hills, California.”
Filed 08/21/2026 · ODI 11758638

Other Nissan Sentra model years

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Other Nissan models

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2016 Nissan Sentra recall questions

How many recalls does the 2016 Nissan Sentra have?

NHTSA lists 6 safety recall campaigns for the 2016 Nissan Sentra. The most recent, 21V135000 (reported March 3, 2021), concerns exterior lighting. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What are the 2016 Nissan Sentra recalls for?

The largest group is air bags, with 4 campaigns. Others: exterior lighting (1), electrical system (1). Each campaign below lists the defect, the risk and the free remedy.

What is the most common complaint about the 2016 Nissan Sentra?

Power train is the most-reported component, named in 127 complaints out of 270 filed with NHTSA (47%). Across all complaints, owners reported 18 crashs and 2 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2016 Nissan Sentra?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Nissan recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Nissan dealer.

Check a specific Nissan by VIN

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