The Lemon Index2021 Nissan Sentra.
The 2021 Nissan Sentra is better than average by owner complaints: 96 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 78, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about steering, it has 3 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 132 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Nissan Sentra year. 2021 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 8K to 49K miles on the car (21 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 3
- 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.
- 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 132 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- 2021 SENTRA; NO START DUE TO BATTERY DISCHARGE THROUGH AUDIO UNIT IF YOU CONFIRM The customer…
- COMBINATION METERS CANNOT BE SWAPPED SERVICE INFORMATION Do not swap combination meter modules…
- NO START DUE TO BATTERY DISCHARGE THROUGH AUDIO UNIT This bulletin has been amended
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
This has happened twice while driving down the road, 2021 Nissan Sentra AEB system locked up the brakes with nothing in front of vehicle to cause the system to be activated.
2021 Nissan Sentra owner · NHTSA complaint 11551744
More owner reports
2021 Nissan Sentra. Consumer writes in regard to nhsta safety recall 21v-461. The consumer stated her granddaughter was driving the vehicle, while merging into traffic, steering went out causing an accident.
NHTSA complaint 11504851
Ended up in a crash (steering issue, not recalled but rented)!!!
NHTSA complaint 11450291
Quick answers
Is the 2021 Nissan Sentra reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.3× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 78; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Nissan Sentra year by this measure since 2010 is 2023.
What are the most common 2021 Nissan Sentra problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are steering (35%), automatic emergency braking (33%) and electrical (26%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2021 Nissan Sentra have?
3 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 2021 Nissan Sentra get?
32 to 33 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2021 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 2021 Nissan Sentra problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 8,600 and 49,100 miles. The middle report was at 23,000 miles, from 21 complaints.
Does the 2021 Nissan Sentra have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2021 Nissan Sentra cost in fuel a year?
About $1950 to $2000 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2021 Nissan Sentra have?
2.0L 4-cyl.
What Nissan Sentra year is better than the 2021?
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