When it arrived on U.S. shores in 1982, the Sentra served as the first front-wheel-drive subcompact car in the Nissan lineup. Fast-forward to today, and it has become one of their best-selling models. However, even the popular cars eventually end up with a recall.
How many recalls have been issued for the 2016 Nissan Sentra?
As of August 2020, there have been 5. These include:
- Airbag harness connector might disconnect
- Seat bracket defect causes OCS error
- Occupant classification system failure
- Airbag inflator manufacturing error
- ECU and wiring harness connection failure
Thankfully, in this article, we’ll cover each of these 2016 Nissan Sentra recalls in detail, including how to get them resolved.
Airbag Harness Connector Defect
NHTSA Recall ID: 16V436000
When your car senses an impact, it sends a signal from the sensor to the airbag through the wiring harness. For some 2016 Sentras, a defective connector on the wiring harness for the passenger-side airbag can disconnect without warning and prevent that from happening.
Once it disconnects, the airbag will fail to deploy during a collision, leaving your passenger at risk of serious injury.
To remedy this issue, technicians just have to inspect the wiring harness to see if that problem is occurring. If so, they may replace the entire passenger airbag module and wiring harness for the main body.
Seat Bracket Defect Causing OCS Error
NHTSA Recall ID: 16V242000
The occupant classification system (OCS) automatically determines if an adult or child is sitting in the seat. Using that information, it will decide whether or not to deploy the airbag during a collision.
In the 2016 Sentra, the OCS cannot make that determination correctly due to a defective passenger seat bracket. When using the child restraint system, it may deform and prevent the system from switching off the airbag functionality.
If the airbag then goes off with a child in the seat, it could cause serious to life-threatening injuries.
To resolve the issue, technicians must reinforce the defective bracket to prevent it from deforming when the child restraint system is in use. Then, they have to reprogram the airbag control unit and electronic control unit for the OCS.
Occupant Classification System Failure
NHTSA Recall ID: 17V253000
The OCS system could also work oppositely and fail to detect when an adult is in the passenger seat.
If this happens, the airbag will not deploy during a crash, leaving your passenger at risk of severe injuries. A simple software update fixes this problem in full. Techs just have to update both the OCS electronic control unit and the airbag control unit.
Airbag Inflator Manufacturing Error
NHTSA Recall ID: 16V244000
When the airbags are deployed, the inflators should instantly send them out and puff them up to properly cushion the body from an impact. In the 2016 Nissan Sentra, this may not happen due to a manufacturing error.
Fixing the issue requires replacing the airbag inflator on the front-passenger side.
Poor Connection Between ECU and Wiring Harness
NHTSA Recall ID: 16V485000
The engine room harness is in charge of sending signals to the powerplant to help it start up and keep it running. On the Sentra, this harness has a terminal pin that is much too big, allowing it to disconnect from the engine control unit.
If that happens while driving, the vehicle could stall out and potentially cause an accident. It can also occur while the car is parked, making it so the engine won’t start the next time you try.
Technicians can simply replace the incorrect terminal pin with the right one to prevent it from disconnecting. With that replacement, the engine control unit can send the right signals through, keeping your engine operating as expected.
How Do You Handle an Open Recall on a 2016 Nissan Sentra?
Not sure if your Sentra is included in any of the above recalls? Just head to the NHTSA site and search for your model using the VIN. Then, call the Nissan customer service team at 1-800-647-7261 to find out where to get the work done.
You can also call the vehicle safety hotline from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at 1-888-327-4236. During your call, you will not only learn which authorized shops to go to but also what you can expect during the repairs.
