The 2016 Nissan Sentra has six NHTSA recalls and 165 complaints, with its CVT and unreliable airbags noted as its biggest trouble spots. Despite some setbacks, the Sentra is still a solid, reasonably-priced compact sedan with good fuel economy.
Key Points
- A class-action lawsuit was filed against Nissan in 2018 for defective transmissions in Sentra, Juke, and Versa Note models. The lawsuit alleged that the defect could lead to sudden and unexpected shaking and jerking while the vehicle was being driven.
- A settlement for this lawsuit was reached in 2019. Under the settlement, owners received an extension of their original warranty to 84 months or 84,000 miles. Owners of affected vehicles were also eligible to have their repair expenses reimbursed.
- There are several complaints and recalls for electrical problems on the 2016 Nissan Sentra including failing brake lights as well as poor connections on the engine harness and passenger airbag system.
- The passenger airbag also suffers from issues related to the inflator and occupant identification system. There are recalls for both issues which could pose a serious safety threat if they are not addressed.
Nissan Sentra’s Continuously Variable Transmission Was the Subject of a Class Action Lawsuit
The 2016 Nissan Sentra was included in a 2018 class-action lawsuit for failing transmissions. It is alleged that the CVTs had a defect that could cause sudden shaking while driving. Owners also say they were unable to accelerate properly.
A settlement was reached in 2019, which resulted in owners receiving an extension of their powertrain warranty. Owners also had repair expenses reimbursed.
Prospective buyers of 2016 Sentra models should pay close attention to the transmission during a test drive, and confirm that the transmission has had regular fluid changes.
Or you can avoid the issue altogether by opting for the six-speed manual transmission.
2016 Nissan Sentra Suffers from Electrical Issues, like Failing Brake Lights and Poor Connections on the Engine Harness
Of the 165 complaints about the 2016 Nissan Sentra registered with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), almost 100 are related to electrical issues and powertrain problems.
Nissan issued a recall in 2016 for a faulty engine harness that could lead to the engine running rough, shutting off, or not starting at all. To fix the issue, dealers replaced the defective harness.
Another recall for an electrical issue on the 2016 Sentra was related to the brake lights that failed to illuminate when the driver depressed the pedal.
The recall affects 2016-2019 Sentras and was issued in 2021, so it’s possible that many of the affected vehicles have not had this issue addressed yet.
Unreliable Airbags May Not Deploy Properly in a Crash, Resulting in Three Related Recalls
There have been several issues noted with the 2016 Nissan Sentra’s airbags, which have resulted in recalls. One recall is for a manufacturing error made to the airbag inflator for the passenger airbag, which may not deploy properly.
There is also a recall for a malfunctioning passenger-side wiring harness connector that can result in the passenger airbag not activating in a crash.
An issue with the front passenger airbag sensor resulted in another recall. It may incorrectly identify an adult passenger as a child or identify the seat as empty despite it being occupied.
If this occurs, the airbag may be turned off and not deploy in a crash.
2016 Nissan Sentra is a Reasonably Reliable Sedan with a Fickle CVT
In total, the 2016 Nissan Sentra has six NHTSA recalls and 165 complaints, which compares favorably to its biggest rival, the Honda Civic (three recalls, 621 complaints).
The 2016 Sentra’s biggest trouble spot, the CVT, is a well-documented issue, but preventive maintenance can go a long way. The Sentra is still a solid, reasonably-priced compact sedan with good fuel economy.
You can also avoid the CVT issues by picking up a Sentra with the standard six-speed manual transmission, which will also require less service over the vehicle’s life.
Photos: Nissan
