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2021 Nissan Sentra

Gas
Midsize Cars
2 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
C
Safety Signal
76 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns3
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA130
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA33 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2021 Nissan Sentra is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize car with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Sentra, is EPA-rated at 33 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 130 complaints, most often about the forward collision avoidance. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
SentraGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl293933$1,900
Sentra SRGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl283732$1,950

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 43539, 43540.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2021 Nissan Sentra is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Back Over Prevention

R23C3
153,376 vehicles
ProblemNissan 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."RiskA rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 23V628000reported Sep 8, 2023Nissan North America, Inc.
▲high

Steering

R23B3
236,238 vehicles
ProblemNissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Sentra vehicles. The left and/or right tie rod may bend.RiskA bent tie rod can break and cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.FixOwners 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.
NHTSA campaign 23V581000reported Aug 15, 2023Nissan North America, Inc.
▲high

Steering

PM985
138,736 vehicles
ProblemNissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. The left and/or right tie rod may be bent.RiskA bent tie rod can break, causing a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 21V461000reported Jun 17, 2021Nissan North America, Inc.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
130complaints filed

14 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 8 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2021: 13 · 2022: 15 · 2023: 42 · 2024: 26 · 2025: 21 · 2026: 13

Most-cited components

Forward Collision Avoidance45
Steering40
Electrical System38
Service Brakes23
Unspecified19
Engine7

What owners describe

“Intermittently the Automatic emergency braking system randomly engaging with no obstructions present.”Jul 19, 2022 · Forward Collision Avoidance · NHTSA owner report
“On 2 July 2022, I was traveling southbound on Interstate 95 in a rented 2021 Nissan Sentra. While DRIVING the brakes unexpectedly LOCKED and did NOT release, affecting the steering, and causing the vehicle to spin out in a circle across major highway lanes crashing head on into a guardrail on the left side of the inter…”Jul 15, 2022 · Service Brakes · NHTSA owner report
“Steer rod recall effective as of 6/17/21 yet ignored by enterprise rental car company. Lost control, car hit guard rails. No cooperation from insurance nor rental company. Police got it Towed on 1/26/2022 to alpine automotive, lake Zurich illinois, enterprise holdings picked it up on 1/28/2022. No other information pro…”Mar 30, 2022 · Service Brakes · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★10%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Compare the 2021 Sentra with

2021 Toyota Camry →2021 Honda Civic →

Other Sentra model years

A

2026 Nissan Sentra

1 recalls · 14 complaints

D

2025 Nissan Sentra

4 recalls · 28 complaints

D

2024 Nissan Sentra

3 recalls · 37 complaints

A

2023 Nissan Sentra

1 recalls · 19 complaints

C

2022 Nissan Sentra

2 recalls · 81 complaints

D

2020 Nissan Sentra

4 recalls · 204 complaints

B

2019 Nissan Sentra

2 recalls · 221 complaints

B

2018 Nissan Sentra

2 recalls · 185 complaints

C

2017 Nissan Sentra

3 recalls · 230 complaints

F

2016 Nissan Sentra

6 recalls · 269 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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