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The Verdict
Worst problem area
Driver Assistance & Speed Control
Driver Assistance & Speed Control leads by volume: 45 of 133 complaints (34%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Steering include more reported injuries (7) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 208 in 2020 to 133 in 2021.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 133
- Recall campaigns
- 3
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $1,900–$1,950
- Combined MPG
- 32–33
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | vs. 2021 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 1,950–2,850 | 1,900–1,950 | 1,900–1,950 | 1,900–1,950 | 1,900–1,950 | |
| Combined MPG | 27–32 | 32–33 | 32–33 | 32–33 | 32–33 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 25–29 / 30–37 | 28–29 / 37–39 | 28–29 / 37–39 | 28–29 / 37–39 | 28–29 / 37–39 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 278–330 | 268–280 | 268–283 | 269–283 | 268–283 | |
| Complaints filed | 223 | 208 | 133 | 81 | 20 | |
| Recalls issued | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 16 | 8 | 15 | 1 | 1 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 18 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 2 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
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 2021 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 2021 Nissan Sentra?
Driver Assistance & Speed Control: 45 of 133 NHTSA complaints (34%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2021 Nissan Sentra get?
EPA rates it 32–33 MPG combined across 2 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2021 Nissan Sentra?
EPA estimates $1,900–$1,950 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (2)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 29 mpg (high) | 39 mpg (high) | 33 mpg (high) | $1,900 (low) | 268 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 28 mpg (low) | 37 mpg (low) | 32 mpg (low) | $1,950 (high) | 283 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 38 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Brakes | 25 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Steering | 40 | 11 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 45 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 19 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 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)
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
- Defect
- 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."
- Consequence
- A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
- 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.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
- Defect
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Sentra vehicles. The left and/or right tie rod may bend.
- Consequence
- A bent tie rod can break and cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- 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.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
- Defect
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. The left and/or right tie rod may be bent.
- Consequence
- A bent tie rod can break, causing a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a crash.
- 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.