The Verdict
Worst problem area
Transmission & Drivetrain
Transmission & Drivetrain leads by volume: 76 of 231 complaints (33%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (14) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 270 in 2016 to 231 in 2017.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 231
- Recall campaigns
- 3
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $1,950–$2,850
- Combined MPG
- 27–32
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | vs. 2017 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 1,900–2,100 | 1,900–2,100 | 1,950–2,850 | 1,950–2,850 | 1,950–2,850 | |
| Combined MPG | 30–33 | 30–33 | 27–32 | 27–32 | 27–32 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 27–30 / 35–38 | 27–30 / 35–38 | 25–29 / 30–37 | 25–29 / 30–37 | 25–29 / 30–37 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 268–298 | 268–298 | 278–330 | 279–330 | 278–330 | |
| Complaints filed | 352 | 270 | 231 | 185 | 223 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 23 | 18 | 29 | 17 | 16 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 3 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 23 | 13 | 21 | 10 | 18 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2017 Nissan Sentra have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2017 Nissan Sentra?
Transmission & Drivetrain: 76 of 231 NHTSA complaints (33%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2017 Nissan Sentra get?
EPA rates it 27–32 MPG combined across 6 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2017 Nissan Sentra?
EPA estimates $1,950–$2,850 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (6)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 1.8L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 27 mpg | 35 mpg | 30 mpg | $2,100 | 298 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 1.8L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 29 mpg (high) | 37 mpg (high) | 32 mpg (high) | $1,950 (low) | 278 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 26 mpg | 32 mpg | 28 mpg | $2,750 | 318 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (AV-S7) | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 27 mpg | 33 mpg | 29 mpg | $2,650 | 307 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 25 mpg (low) | 31 mpg | 27 mpg (low) | $2,850 (high) | 330 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (AV-S7) | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 25 mpg (low) | 30 mpg (low) | 27 mpg (low) | $2,850 (high) | 330 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 49 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 76 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 33 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Brakes | 27 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Steering | 14 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 29 | 19 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 33 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 10 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 38 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (3)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
- Defect
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2017 Nissan NV200, Sentra, NV3500 Van, NV3500 Bus, NV200 Taxi, NV1500, NV2500 Van, Chevrolet City Express, 2017-2018 Frontier, Versa Note, and Versa Sedan vehicles that have a mechanical (physical) key ignition system. In these models, over time, the weight on the key ring and road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine.
- Consequence
- If the vehicle stalls, it can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the production information on the ignition switch, and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
AIR BAGS
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.