The Lemon Index2020 Nissan Sentra.
The 2020 Nissan Sentra is about average by owner complaints: 104 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 93, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about automatic emergency braking, it has 4 recalls, and it gets 32 to 33 mpg combined. The best Nissan Sentra year is 2011.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 206 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Nissan Sentra year. 2020 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 5K to 50K miles on the car (57 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- steering complaints mostly came at 31K–67K miles
Recalls 4
- back over prevention 2023
Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image.
- steering 2023
The left and/or right tie rod may bend.
- lights 2022
The right-hand headlight aim may be misaligned.
Show all 4 recalls
- steering 2021
The left and/or right tie rod may be bent.
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 115 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- LANE CAMERA OVER TEMPERATURE DTC STORED SERVICE INFORMATION The Lane Camera can become…
- LOSS OF POWER, ENGINE NOISE, AND/OR BATTERY LIGHT ON IF YOU CONFIRM The customer describes…
- SERVICE INFORMATION If one of the APPLIED VEHICLES has DTC P2100 for ETC MOT PWR-B1 or P2101…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Sentra 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $1950–2000 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
Car suddenly stops while driving down the road. There were no obstacles or other vehicles in front of the car.
2020 Nissan Sentra owner · NHTSA complaint 11473180
More owner reports
Automatic emergency braking engaged while was approximately 4 car lengths behind a white Ford f150 making a left turn.
NHTSA complaint 11405728
The car brakes on its own when nothing is around . I was on city street
NHTSA complaint 11402533
Quick answers
Is the 2020 Nissan Sentra reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew about the average number of complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 93; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Nissan Sentra year by this measure since 2010 is 2023.
What are the most common 2020 Nissan Sentra problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are automatic emergency braking (53%), steering (22%) and electrical (18%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2020 Nissan Sentra have?
4 safety recalls (latest: back over prevention). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2020 Nissan Sentra get?
32 to 33 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2020 Nissan Sentra safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2020 Nissan Sentra problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 5,500 and 50,000 miles. The middle report was at 28,900 miles, from 57 complaints.
Does the 2020 Nissan Sentra have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2020 Nissan Sentra cost in fuel a year?
About $1950 to $2000 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2020 Nissan Sentra have?
2.0L 4-cyl.
What Nissan Sentra year is better than the 2020?
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