The best and worst Nissan Sentra years, by the numbers
Short answer: among Nissan Sentras old enough to judge (2005–2022), the 2006, 2009 and 2018 have the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold. The 2013–2015 and 2020 have the most.
We counted every owner complaint filed with the federal government (NHTSA) for each model year and divided by how many were sold that year, so a year that sold more doesn’t look worse just for being popular. Years newer than 2022 are shown but not ranked — they haven’t been on the road long enough. How this is calculated.
Years with the most complaints
2013 Nissan Sentra · 49.4 per 10,000 sold (4.1× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Harsh, delayed or erratic shifting, typically around 74,000 miles; then cvt belt, pulleys and unit failure.
2014 Nissan Sentra · 20.7 per 10,000 sold (1.7× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Harsh, delayed or erratic shifting, typically around 80,500 miles; then cvt belt, pulleys and unit failure.
2015 Nissan Sentra · 17.2 per 10,000 sold (1.4× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Harsh, delayed or erratic shifting, typically around 60,000 miles; then cvt belt, pulleys and unit failure.
2020 Nissan Sentra · 21.6 per 10,000 sold (1.8× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Driver-assist cameras, radar and calibration, typically around 5,010 miles; then tie rods, linkage, shaft and column.
Years with the fewest complaints
2006 Nissan Sentra · 7.2 per 10,000 sold (0.6× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Airbags, seatbelts and restraints, typically around 125,000 miles.
2009 Nissan Sentra · 6.5 per 10,000 sold (0.5× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Airbags, seatbelts and restraints, typically around 93,275 miles.
2018 Nissan Sentra · 8.7 per 10,000 sold (0.7× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Driver-assist cameras, radar and calibration, typically around 25,325 miles.
Every year: complaints per 10,000 sold
Typical Nissan Sentra year: 12.2 per 10,000 sold.
Complaints are counted once each, even when an owner lists several parts. Sales are US units sold in the calendar year, a close stand-in for the model year.
Common questions
What is the worst year for the Nissan Sentra?
Among Nissan Sentras old enough to judge (2005–2022), the 2013 has the most owner complaints per 10,000 sold: 49.4, about 4.1× a typical Nissan Sentra year. The 2014–2015 and 2020 also stand out.
What is the best year for the Nissan Sentra?
The 2009 has the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold among Nissan Sentras from 2005–2022: 6.5, against 12.2 for a typical year. The 2006 and 2018 are also well below typical.
What goes wrong on the 2013 Nissan Sentra?
The most-reported problem on the 2013 Nissan Sentra is harsh, delayed or erratic shifting, typically around 74,000 miles.
Why aren't the newest Nissan Sentra years ranked?
The 2023–2026 haven't been on the road long enough. Newer cars have fewer complaints mainly because they're newer, so ranking them would flatter them.
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Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; US sales from public industry figures. Complaints are self-reported and not independently verified. This is not an inspection and not a recommendation to buy or avoid any vehicle.