2021 Nissan Sentra Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 3 NHTSA recalls and 132 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

52/100

High Reported Activity — 2021 Nissan Sentra

The 2021 Nissan Sentra shows high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Review the issues below and have a thorough pre-purchase inspection done by an independent mechanic.

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NHTSA Recalls

3 recalls on record

132

Owner Complaints

Filed with NHTSA

Crash Reports

1 fire report

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NHTSA Recalls — 2021 Nissan Sentra (3)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Nissan dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Steering: Linkages: Tie Rod Assembly

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…

NHTSA #21V461000

🔧 Steering: Linkages: Tie Rod Assembly

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…

NHTSA #23V581000

🔧 Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera

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…

NHTSA #23V628000

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Most Common Problems — 2021 Nissan Sentra

Based on 132 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Steering

Electrical System

Forward Collision Avoidance

Service Brakes

Unknown Or Other

Suspension

Power Train

Engine

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Nissan Sentra — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2021 model year is highlighted.

→ Recently checked Nissan Sentra VINs — free recall, safety and specs report for any VIN.

→ Decode a Nissan VIN — free Nissan VIN decoder guide: where to find the VIN and what each part means.

⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2015 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.

✅ Best model years: 2023, 2024, 2025 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2021 Nissan Sentra

Is the 2021 Nissan Sentra reliable?

Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 Nissan Sentra has 3 recall campaigns and 132 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How many recalls does the 2021 Nissan Sentra have?

The 2021 Nissan Sentra has 3 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.

What are the most common problems with the 2021 Nissan Sentra?

The most commonly reported problems for the 2021 Nissan Sentra are: Steering, Electrical System, Forward Collision Avoidance, Service Brakes. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.

Is the 2021 Nissan Sentra safe to buy?

The 2021 Nissan Sentra has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 3 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.

What year Nissan Sentra should I buy?

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Nissan Sentra are: 2023, 2024, 2025. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2015.

How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.

Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.