Compact cars · B17 generation
Fair Below average
It scores 25 out of 100 for reliability compared with other compact cars. Over the next 5 years we expect it to cost about $10,285 to own, including $2,353 in repairs.
Early estimate: this rating uses our own sales estimate for the Nissan Sentra.
Reliability
25/100
Below average
Repairs, 5 years
$2,353
at 12,000 mi a year
Fuel, 5 years
$6,182
33 mpg, $3.40/gal
Price today
$6,476
$5,699 – $7,254, estimate
Recalls
6
on record
Owner complaints
270
filed with NHTSA
These are estimates, not guarantees. They come from public NHTSA complaint and recall data and EPA fuel economy, assuming 5 years of ownership and 12,000 miles a year. Change the assumptions or see how it works.
Expected over 5 years, by area of the car.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehi
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 incorrectly classify the installed CRS, resulting in the front pa
Check whether a specific car still has open recalls with its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
These links go to independent sites. We don't earn anything from them.
Of the years we rate, the 2023 scores best (95/100) and the 2015 worst (16/100).
| Year | Reliability |
|---|---|
| 2027 | Not rated yet |
| 2026 | Not rated yet |
| 2025 | Not rated yet |
| 2024 | 80/100 |
| 2023 | 95/100 |
| 2022 | 82/100 |
| 2021 | 81/100 |
| 2020 | 69/100 |
| 2019 | 42/100 |
| 2018 | 51/100 |
| 2017 | 34/100 |
| 2016 | 25/100 |
| 2015 | 16/100 |
Not especially. It scores 25 out of 100, below average for compact cars; the 2021, 2022 and 2023 scored better.
It scores 25 out of 100 against other compact cars from 2015 to 2024, which is below average. Based on 270 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, we expect about $2,353 in repairs over the next 5 years at 12,000 miles a year.
About $10,285 over 5 years: $1,750 in lost value, $2,353 in repairs and $6,182 in fuel at $3.40 a gallon. A typical one sells for about $6,476 today.
Of the years we rate, the 2023 scores best (95/100) and the 2015 worst (16/100).
6 recalls on record with NHTSA.