The Lemon Index2009 Nissan Sentra.
The 2009 Nissan Sentra has too few complaints to score: 12 in its first 3 years. Owners complain most about tires, it has 1 recall, and it gets 24 to 29 mpg combined. The best Nissan Sentra year is 2011.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 55 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Nissan Sentra year. 2009 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 19K to 88K miles on the car (48 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 1
- equipment 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750 NAVIGATION SYSTEM.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Nissan told dealers about
Nissan sent dealers 86 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Tire pressure monitoring system (tpms) warning light on/flashing
- Vent control valve replacement
- Fuel gauge issues and/or dtc p0461/p0461/p0462/p0463
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $2200–3300 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
Front passenger side airbag on our 2009 Nissan Sentra is not disarming when our 8 year old son, who is 67 pounds, is sitting in the front passenger seat.
2009 Nissan Sentra owner · NHTSA complaint 10315837
More owner reports
2009 Nissan Sentra frontal impact 40mph with no airbag deployment.
NHTSA complaint 10358181
Quick answers
Is the 2009 Nissan Sentra reliable?
There isn't enough data to score it: owners filed only 12 complaints in its first 3 years.
What are the most common 2009 Nissan Sentra problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are tires (25%), airbags (25%) and brakes (25%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2009 Nissan Sentra have?
1 safety recall (latest: equipment). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2009 Nissan Sentra get?
24 to 29 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2009 Nissan Sentra problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 19,300 and 88,500 miles. The middle report was at 57,000 miles, from 48 complaints.
Does the 2009 Nissan Sentra have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2009 Nissan Sentra cost in fuel a year?
About $2200 to $3300 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2009 Nissan Sentra have?
2.0L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl.
What Nissan Sentra year is better than the 2009?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2011, 2017 and 2010.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works