2016 Nissan Sentra Recalls, Problems & Safety Rating

6 safety recalls on file

The 2016 Nissan Sentra has 6 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.

Owners have filed 270 complaints with NHTSA, including 18 crashes, 2 fires, 13 injuries.

The most-reported problem area is Power Train (127 reports).

6Recalls
270Owner complaints
18Crashes reported
n/aNHTSA safety rating
Is the repair still open on your Sentra?

A recall covers specific vehicles. Your VIN shows whether yours still needs the free repair.

2016 Nissan Sentra recalls

Brake lights may fail to illuminate, raising crash risk

Recall 21V135Mar 3, 2021807,376 vehicles affected

The brake light switch on certain Nissan Sentra vehicles may become contaminated.

Passenger Front Airbag May Not Deploy in a Crash

Recall 17V253Apr 13, 201730,038 vehicles affected

A manufacturing error in the passenger front airbag inflators means the airbag may not deploy properly in a crash.

Engine May Stall or Not Start, Raising Crash Risk

Recall 16V485Jun 29, 20161,522 vehicles affected

Certain 2016 Nissan Sentra vehicles built between April 11, 2016 and April 26, 2016 may have a wiring problem in the engine room harness.

Passenger Air Bag May Fail to Deploy in a Crash

Recall 16V436Jun 15, 20164,355 vehicles affected

A wiring harness connector for the front passenger air bag may disconnect from the dual-stage inflator module.

Passenger Air Bag May Not Turn Off With Child Seat

Recall 16V242Apr 26, 2016645,898 vehicles affected

The front passenger seat belt bracket can become deformed when it is used to secure a child restraint system.

Passenger airbag may stay off in a crash

Recall 16V244Apr 26, 20163,296,947 vehicles affected

The front passenger occupant classification system can wrongly read an adult as a child, or read an occupied seat as empty.

Most common 2016 Nissan Sentra problems

Problem areas named in the 270 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.

Problem areaReports
Power Train127
Engine48
Electrical System45
Unknown Or Other43
Vehicle Speed Control27
Air Bags24
Fuel/Propulsion System18
Service Brakes18
Structure10
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)10

What owners report

2026-09-09, Electrical System
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 told this was a issue back in July 2017 The same issue has occurred again with safety concerns .
2026-09-02, Exterior Lighting
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: C1116 “Stop Lamp Switch" was retrieved. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V135000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). The failure mileage was 130,000.
2026-08-21, Power Train
In 2023, my vehicle experienced a transmission/CVT-related failure that resulted in a loss of propulsion. The vehicle became unable to continue driving and was stopped in Chino Hills, California. A neighbor called the police, and officers responded to the scene, although no police report was filed. The vehicle was subsequently towed to an authorized Nissan dealership, where the transmission/transaxle was replaced. After the replacement, the vehicle later developed a transmission fluid leak. I returned the vehicle to the authorized dealership regarding the leak, and the concern was addressed at no charge. However, the transmission fluid leak has since recurred. An independent repair facilit
2026-08-05, Power Train
On Friday, July 3, 2026, at approximately 9:30 PM, while driving on the parkway at an approximate speed of 65 miles per hour and preparing to merge onto the highway, the vehicle unexpectedly stalled completely. I was able to safely maneuver the vehicle to the shoulder of the road. After a few minutes, once the immediate traffic situation on the highway entrance cleared, I attempted to re-engage the vehicle. While the engine started, it immediately began revving excessively high without corresponding forward momentum. The vehicle moved at an extremely slow pace despite the high engine RPMs, indicating a severe loss of power transfer to the wheels. Current Status: The vehicle is presently park
2026-06-02, Electrical System
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2016 Niss. The contact stated that they discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale/dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 107,242. It was later discovered upon checking Carfax, that the mileage was 149,244.

2016 Nissan Sentra questions

Does the 2016 Nissan Sentra have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls for the 2016 Nissan Sentra: Brake lights may fail to illuminate, raising crash risk; Passenger Front Airbag May Not Deploy in a Crash; Engine May Stall or Not Start, Raising Crash Risk; Passenger Air Bag May Fail to Deploy in a Crash; Passenger Air Bag May Not Turn Off With Child Seat. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.

What are the most common problems with the 2016 Nissan Sentra?

Based on 270 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Power Train (127), Engine (48), Electrical System (45).

How do I check if a recall on my 2016 Nissan Sentra has been fixed?

Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.

Other Nissan Sentra years

Other 2016 Nissan models