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Nissan Sentra.

The best Nissan Sentra years are 2011, 2017, 2006. Years to avoid: 2013, 2001, 2002. Across 2010-2022, it has a Lemon Index of 59, where 100 is the average car and lower is better.

Reliability by year, 2000 to 2025.

59Lemon Index · 100 = average car

Better than average. Whole model, 2010-2022: 1.7× fewer complaints than average.

Best year 2011 · Worst year 2013

Nissan Sentra
Photo shows a 2013 Nissan Sentra. Mr.choppers, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 · background removed

Every year. Lower is better. Tap a year for its full report.

2000681.5× fewer complaints20011201.2× the complaints20021131.1× the complaints2003611.6× fewer complaints2004442.3× fewer complaints2005502× fewer complaints2006382.6× fewer complaints2007621.6× fewer complaints2008651.5× fewer complaints2009–few complaints2010402.5× fewer complaints2011352.9× fewer complaints2012512× fewer complaints20131241.2× the complaints2014531.9× fewer complaints2015512× fewer complaints2016472.1× fewer complaints2017362.8× fewer complaints2018432.3× fewer complaints2019611.6× fewer complaints202093about average2021781.3× fewer complaints2022641.6× fewer complaints202315early read · 6.7× fewer complaints202431early read · 3.2× fewer complaints202533early read · 3× fewer complaints

Scores before 2010 are rough: fewer owners filed complaints back then.

Best years to buy

2011.

2011352.9× fewer complaints than average2017362.8× fewer complaints than average2006382.6× fewer complaints than average

Years to avoid

2013.

20131241.2× the average car's complaints20011201.2× the average car's complaints20021131.1× the average car's complaints

Compare the Nissan Sentra.

Nissan SentraToyota Camryvs Toyota CamryNissan SentraHonda Civicvs Honda CivicNissan SentraToyota Corollavs Toyota CorollaNissan SentraHonda Accordvs Honda Accord

vs Toyota Camry · vs Honda Civic · vs Toyota Corolla · vs Honda Accord · vs Nissan Altima · vs Ford Fusion · vs Hyundai Elantra · vs Chevrolet Malibu

Quick answers.

Is the Nissan Sentra a good car?

Yes, it draws fewer complaints than the average car, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2010-2022: Lemon Index 59; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: the best is 2011 and the worst is 2013.

What are the best Nissan Sentra years to buy?

By owner complaints per car sold: 2011, 2017, 2006.

What Nissan Sentra years should you stay away from?

The years with the most complaints per car sold: 2013, 2001, 2002.

How many recalls does the Nissan Sentra have?

110 safety recalls across the 26 model years we track. Most: 2002 (14), 2003 (10), 2001 (8). Each year's page lists them.

What are the most common Nissan Sentra problems?

Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name engine, electrical and transmission & drivetrain most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.

Every year in one table
YearIndexCompared with averageComplaintsTop complaintRecallsCrash testMPG
2000681.5× fewer complaints than average74engine (36%)7—23–26
20011201.2× the average car's complaints141engine (40%)8—23–26
20021131.1× the average car's complaints123engine (37%)14—22–27
2003611.6× fewer complaints than average49engine (39%)10—22–28
2004442.3× fewer complaints than average40engine (35%)5—22–27
2005502× fewer complaints than average41engine (49%)6—22–27
2006382.6× fewer complaints than average31airbags (26%)6—22–27
2007621.6× fewer complaints than average60steering (22%)1—24–28
2008651.5× fewer complaints than average64service brakes, hydraulic (16%)3—24–28
2009–too few complaints to score12tires (25%)1—24–29
2010402.5× fewer complaints than average41electrical (27%)3—24–29
2011352.9× fewer complaints than average47engine (19%)2★★★★☆24–29
2012512× fewer complaints than average62transmission & drivetrain (26%)0★★★★☆24–29
20131241.2× the average car's complaints194brakes (36%)6★★★★☆30–33
2014531.9× fewer complaints than average106airbags (27%)5★★★★☆30–33
2015512× fewer complaints than average100airbags (32%)3★★★★☆30–33
2016472.1× fewer complaints than average100transmission & drivetrain (35%)6★★★★☆30–33
2017362.8× fewer complaints than average82transmission & drivetrain (24%)3★★★★☆27–32
2018432.3× fewer complaints than average93brakes (34%)2★★★★☆27–32
2019611.6× fewer complaints than average119electrical (24%)2★★★★☆27–32
202093about average104automatic emergency braking (53%)4★★★★★32–33
2021781.3× fewer complaints than average96steering (35%)3★★★★★32–33
2022641.6× fewer complaints than average72steering (39%)2★★★★★32–33
2023156.7× fewer complaints than average20electrical (40%)1★★★★★32–33
2024313.2× fewer complaints than average41steering (27%)3★★★★★33–34
2025333× fewer complaints than average31tires (16%)4★★★★★33–34

Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the government within 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average, lower is better. How it works

Nissan Sentra transmission problems by year →

Updated

Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data