Are Nissan Sentras Good Cars?
Nissan Sentra by Kevauto - CC-BY-SA-4.0
Wondering “Are Nissan Sentras good cars?” is only natural when shopping for an affordable and efficient small vehicle. The response to the question varies significantly, depending on the Sentra model year and who’s doing the reliability ranking.
To find out if Nissan Sentras are good cars, we’re taking an expanded approach to identifying the definitive answers. We’ve reviewed traditional information sources, including Consumer Reports, J.D. Power, carcomplaints.com, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and merged the data for a year-by-year reliability verdict.
However, we’re not looking at the most recent Sentra model years (2021-2023). These editions are expected to be more reliable simply because they’re newer. They’re also likely to be covered by a manufacturer’s warranty, making owners more accepting of any problems (because Nissan is picking up the repair tab).
Rather, we’ll analyze earlier Sentra model years (2011-2020) because these cars have endured (or haven’t endured) the test of time. In addition to giving each year a pass or fail reliability verdict, we’ll wrap up with an overall look at this car so we can answer the “Are Nissan Sentras good cars?” question.
2011 Nissan Sentra
Reliability Ruling: Pass
The 2011 Sentra gets a passing grade for not having lots of complaints about the engine or transmission. These reports exist, but not at troubling levels. J.D. Power gives this Nissan a 79 (out of 100) for reliability. That’s not a home run, but it still keeps the 2011 Sentra as a reasonable used car option. It’s worth mentioning that there are two recalls related to the battery, including one that can damage the expensive-to-fix engine control module. Visit the NHTSA website to confirm that repairs have been completed before buying.
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2012 Nissan Sentra
Reliability Ruling: Fail
Looking only at what groups like Consumer Reports and J.D. Power say about a particular vehicle’s reliability can lead to headaches later. Both these outfits gave the 2012 Sentra passing grades for reliability, but a dive into NHTSA data proves otherwise. Over one-third of the complaints on file point to a troublesome transmission. That’s particularly worrisome and something savvy car buyers will want to stay away from.
2013 Nissan Sentra
Reliability Ruling: Fail
The 2013 model year marks the launch of the seventh-generation Sentra. We advise skipping an all-new vehicle design because it can be home to gremlins that are worked out in subsequent years. We see no reason to think differently about the 2013 Sentra. Meanwhile, Carcomplaints.com summarizes this car more pointedly by advising to avoid it “like the plague.” Why? Almost half of the reports submitted to NHTSA about the 2013 Sentra mention transmission troubles.
2014 Nissan Sentra
Reliability Ruling: Fail
J.D. Power calls the 2014 Sentra’s reliability “great.” But we beg to differ, reinforced by a 2 out of 5 reliability rating from Consumer Reports. Yet there’s more to worry about than contrasting opinions. Transmission problems continue to dominate the complaints about this Nissan. And carcomplaints.com assigns another “avoid like the plague” tag to the 2014 Sentra. Enough said.
2015 Nissan Sentra
Reliability Ruling: Fail
Regrettably, the 2015 model year continues the sad trend of Nissan Sentras and bad transmissions. NHTSA records show that almost half of the owner-filed complaints deal with problematic gearboxes. Similarly, carcomplaints.com continues to give a firm thumbs down due to the faulty continuously variable transmission (CVT).
2016 Nissan Sentra
Reliability Ruling: Fail
Not to pour salt on Nissan’s wounds, but the 2016 Sentra is a repeat of the previous years with a problematic CVT. And while the overall number of reports submitted to NHTSA about this Nissan is down, this small bit of good news can’t compensate for the transmission issue. Repairing these components is expensive, with costs amounting to a large chunk of a Sentra’s value. No one wants to worry about this.
2017 Nissan Sentra
Reliability Ruling: Fail
Dare we say it? The 2017 Sentra still has the same CVT transmission that’s plagued earlier model years. So, regardless of a declining number of overall complaints, nothing else can counterbalance a severe core reliability issue. What’s equally troubling is that the problem continued for five model years.
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2018 Nissan Sentra
Reliability Ruling: Pass
The 2018 model year marks the first seven-generation Sentra worth buying. Reports about the pesky CVT are down substantially, and data doesn’t point to any other major patterns of undependability to worry about. J.D. Power rates the reliability of the 2018 Sentra as 71 out of 100; that’s a C- if you remember your school days.
2019 Nissan Sentra
Reliability Ruling: Pass
2019 closes the final year of the seventh-generation Sentra. And like the previous edition, this model year makes the cut for reliability. The transmission issue appears to be licked (there are some reports, but not an abnormal amount like some earlier years). This Nissan even gets a better reliability grade from J.D. Power with a score of 80.
2020 Nissan Sentra
Reliability Ruling: Fail
Nissan gives the Sentra a much-needed do-over with the debut of the all-new eighth generation for the 2020 model year. Its stodgy and economy car looks get swapped for a sleek exterior and modern cabin. Impressively, there are few complaints about the engine or transmission. These issues can be counted on one hand. But we’ll stand by our advice about avoiding the first year of a new design. This car is just too new to tell if reliability issues will arise later. Function is more of a concern than form with the Nissan Sentra.
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Are Nissan Sentras Good Cars? Final Words
Here’s an overview of reliability pass/fail ratings for the 2011-2020 Nissan Sentras.
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No matter how you look at it, the Nissan Sentra does a poor job of providing reliable transportation. Its faulty CVT transmission is a well-known issue among mechanics and car enthusiasts. This problem escapes only a few model years.
Buyers should be highly cautious about the Sentra and concentrate just on the 2011 and 2018-2019 models. Even with this approach, have any Sentra checked out by a professional mechanic before signing the paperwork.
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