RecallMyCar

2016 Nissan Sentra Recalls, Complaints & Specs

6 safety recalls list the 2016 Nissan Sentra, and owners have filed 270 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

6
safety recalls
270
owner complaints to NHTSA
18 / 2
complaints citing a crash / fire
30–33
MPG combined (EPA)

6 safety recalls for the 2016 Nissan Sentra

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Switch (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 21V135000 Reported 807,376 vehicles potentially affected Nissan North America, Inc.

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Nissan Sentra vehicles. The brake light switch may become contaminated, preventing the circuit from closing and the brake lights from illuminating.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake light switch and install a protective grommet, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 1, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800867-7769. Nissan's…

  2. Air bags

    NHTSA 17V253000 Reported 30,038 vehicles potentially affected Nissan North America, Inc.

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 LEAF and 2014, 2016 and 2017 Sentra vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error within the air bag inflators, the passenger frontal air bag may not properly deploy in the event of a crash.

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

  3. Electrical system: wiring

    NHTSA 16V485000 Reported 1,522 vehicles potentially affected Nissan North America, Inc.

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 Sentra vehicles manufactured April 11, 2016, through April 26, 2016. The engine room harness may have a terminal pin too large to maintain a connection with the Engine Control Unit (ECU).

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the terminal pin on the engine room harness, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

  4. Inflator module (air bags) and electrical system: wiring

    NHTSA 16V436000 Reported 4,355 vehicles potentially affected Nissan North America, Inc.

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 LEAF vehicles manufactured February 24, 2016, to March 23, 2016, and Sentra vehicles manufactured February 9, 2016, to March 4, 2016. The wiring harness connector may disconnect from the dual-stage passenger air bag.

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wiring harness connector for proper engagement and, if necessary, replace the passenger air bag module and main body harness, free of charge. The recall began on…

  5. Occupant classification (air bags)

    NHTSA 16V242000 Reported 645,898 vehicles potentially affected Nissan North America, Inc.

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Sentra vehicles manufactured June 4, 2012, to April 9, 2016. The front passenger seat belt bracket may become deformed if it is used to secure a Child Restraint System (CRS). The deformed seat bracket may cause the Occupant Classification System (OCS) to…

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will reinforce the seat belt bracket as well as reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU), free of charge. The recall began on June 13, 2016.…

  6. Occupant classification (air bags)

    NHTSA 16V244000 Reported 3,296,947 vehicles potentially affected Nissan North America, Inc.

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express,…

    Remedy: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano,…

270 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2016 Nissan Sentra have filed 270 complaints with NHTSA; 18 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. Reports cite 13 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 63,118 miles. Complaints peaked in 2018 with 43 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“The ECU problem is a major issue the vehicle is stalling, not starting, just malfunctioning tremendously while on the road in traffic while driving it stalls in traffic, shuts off in traffic. I was to”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 9, 2026 · Electrical system

“The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the traction control warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an AutoZone and DTC: C111”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 2, 2026 · Exterior lighting

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2016 Nissan Sentra (Sentra FE). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined30–33 mpg
City / Highway27–30 / 35–38
FuelRegular
EPA classMidsize Cars
Engine4 cyl, 1.8 L
TransmissionAutomatic (variable gear ratios); Manual 6-spd

Compare Nissan Sentra model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Nissan Sentra model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1982 Nissan Sentra11
1983 Nissan Sentra11
1984 Nissan Sentra03
1985 Nissan Sentra06
1986 Nissan Sentra06
1987 Nissan Sentra136
1988 Nissan Sentra137
1989 Nissan Sentra141
1990 Nissan Sentra239
1991 Nissan Sentra263
1992 Nissan Sentra062
1993 Nissan Sentra058
1994 Nissan Sentra099
1995 Nissan Sentra3117
1996 Nissan Sentra3141
1997 Nissan Sentra3108
1998 Nissan Sentra158
1999 Nissan Sentra059
2000 Nissan Sentra6171
2001 Nissan Sentra7236
2002 Nissan Sentra10304
2003 Nissan Sentra7180
2004 Nissan Sentra4197
2005 Nissan Sentra5170
2006 Nissan Sentra5116
2007 Nissan Sentra1154
2008 Nissan Sentra3167
2009 Nissan Sentra155
2010 Nissan Sentra3144
2011 Nissan Sentra2142
2012 Nissan Sentra0180
2013 Nissan Sentra6638
2014 Nissan Sentra5380
2015 Nissan Sentra3351
2016 Nissan Sentra6270
2017 Nissan Sentra3231
2018 Nissan Sentra2185
2019 Nissan Sentra2222
2020 Nissan Sentra4206
2021 Nissan Sentra3132
2022 Nissan Sentra281
2023 Nissan Sentra120
2024 Nissan Sentra341
2025 Nissan Sentra430
2026 Nissan Sentra116

Checking a specific 2016 Nissan Sentra

How do I know if my 2016 Nissan Sentra has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 6 campaigns currently list the 2016 Nissan Sentra; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Nissan dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 16V242000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Nissan models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.