2009 NISSAN SENTRA

What owners reported to NHTSA, ranked by how often and how seriously.

This is complaint data, not a random sample.

It only includes owners who chose to file a federal complaint, so it over-represents dramatic and safety-related problems and under-represents minor issues an owner just had fixed without reporting. Read this as what NHTSA complainants report most, not as this vehicle's true failure rate. Full methodology.

Component ranking

  1. #1

    airbag system

    10 unsafe

    10
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=13, median 79,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG ON OUR 2009 NISSAN SENTRA IS NOT DISARMING WHEN OUR 8 YEAR OLD SON, WHO IS 67 POUNDS, IS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. *TR"~4,500 mi, complaint #769170
    • "BOMBILLA QUE INDICA BOLSAS DE AIRE PARPADEA EN EL PANEL DE CONTROL Y DICE AIR BAG OFF"~59,966 mi, complaint #1402986
    • "DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG ALERT BLINKING. NISSAN CLAIMS NO RECALL AND STATES THAT THEY MUST REPLACE THE AIR BAG IN ORDER TO RUN DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. MY CAR IS IN PERFECT WORKING ORDER SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS; WHAT CONSTITUTES A MANDATORY RECALL? MUST CONSUMERS WAIT UN…"~79,000 mi, complaint #1171820
    • "THE AIRBAG EXPLODED ON DRIVER'S SIDE, KNOCKED BE UNCONSCIOUS FOR A FEW MINUTES, WHEN I CAME TOO THE CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL. I HIT A IRON POLE IN FRONT OF WAL-GREEN'S. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT THE TIME.THE CAR WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY, IN WHICH…"~97,000 mi, complaint #1424958
    • ""TAKATA RECALL" WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED THE AIRBAG LIGHT STARTS BLINKING .I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO 2 DEALERSHIPS AND THEY HAVE INFORMED ME THAT IT IS THE CLOCK SPRING IN THE CAR. AND THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE IF I WERE TO GET INTO A WRECK OR IF SOMEO…"~200,000 mi, complaint #1571824
  2. #2

    engine stall or no start

    1 stranded, 7 unsafe

    8
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=12, median 68,500 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE FORWARD, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD NO PRIOR FAILURES AND…"~9,070 mi, complaint #849594
    • "CARS SPUTTERED, DIED. RE-STARTED SEVERAL TIMES, DROVE TO SAVE PLACED PULLED OVER. THE INTAKE DUCK WAS MISSING. WHEN WE TOOK IT TO DEALER, THEY SAID THEY HAD SEEN THIS BEFORE. THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED ON THE CAR ARE NISSAN DEALERS. *TR"~61,000 mi, complaint #1095055
    • "MY CAR WAS STATIONARY. I HAD JUST DROVE THROUGH A PARKING LOT AND STOPPED TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN ACROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC. ONCE TRAFFIC CLEARED I ACCELERATED THROUGH THE FIRST LANE BUT MY CAR WOULD NOT GO FASTER. MY FOOT WAS ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE ACCELE…"~67,000 mi, complaint #1391283
    • "TAKATA RECALL CAR STALLS OUT AND DASH BOARD LIGHTS UP WITH EVERY WARNING SIGNAL, EVERY TIME I BRAKE TO QUICKLY WHEN HITTING A RED LIGHT BUT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ISN'T REGULARLY ON. MY PROBLEM MATCHES ANOTHER TYPE OF 2009 NISSAN SENTRA PROBLEM BUT MY EXACT M…"~70,000 mi, complaint #1520715
    • "AFTER WARMING UP AND DRIVING FOR A BIT, MY CAR DIES AT RANDOM TIMES. I AM ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY RESTART IT AND GO. USUALLY IT DIES WHEN I AM COMING TO A STOP AT A LIGHT BUT IT HAS DIED WHILE SITTING IN REVERSE IN A PARKING SPOT WAITING TO BE ABLE TO PULL OUT.…"~160,000 mi, complaint #1287632
  3. #3

    brake hydraulics

    6 unsafe

    6
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=6)

    • "MY CAR ACCELERATED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WITH ME PUSHING AS HARD AS I COULD. I HAD STOPPED TO GET THE MAIL IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, SO HAD MY SEAT BELT OFF. I HAVE TO ALSO OPEN THE DOOR JUST A TAD, BECAUSE THE PAPER CONTAINER IS DOWN LOWER. WHEN IT WOULDN'…"~10,462 mi, complaint #775388
    • "THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP DUE TO BRAKE VIBRATION AND INSTABILITY AND HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND MY SON DIED IN THE ACCIDENT DUE TO SEVERER INJURIES"~39,000 mi, complaint #1141883
  4. #4

    steering column

    4 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 2 MPH MAKING A SHARP LEFT TURN, A CLUNKING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED T…"~16,800 mi, complaint #934189
    • "WHEN STARTING THE CAR YOU HEAR RELAY CLICKING IN AND OUT AND POWER STEERING FAIL SHOWS UP. HAD TO RESTART CAR SEVERAL TIMES TO GET POWER STEERING TO WORK. CAR WAS PUT IN THE SHOP AND DEALER TOLD ME HAD TO REPLACE STEERING COLUNM. CONTACT NISSAN TO FILE A COMPL…"~47,350 mi, complaint #808073
    • "SEVERAL MONTHS OF INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING LOSS AND STEERING WOULD NOT RETURN UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF THEN BACK ON. CAR ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER WHEN HAPPENS. FINALLY LOST STEERING ON 2-21-14 AND DID NOT COME BACK AFTER TURNING CAR ON AND OFF. N…"~64,599 mi, complaint #1042103
    • "THIS IS A 2009 NISSAN SENTRA PURCHASED NEW FROM REED NISSAN IN 2009. IN JANUARY 2016 THE HORN FAILED COMPLETELY. FOR SOME TIME BEFORE THAT THE HORN WAS WORKING ONLY INTERMITTENTLY, AND FOR APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS BEFORE THAT THE CAR WOULD MAKE A CLACKING SOUN…"~145,694 mi, complaint #1277634
  5. #5

    brake pads and rotors

    2 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "I PURCHASED AN 09 SENTRA BRAND NEW SEPT 24TH 09 SINCE DAY ONE WHEN I BRAKE THEY GRIND AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES THEY FIXED IT AROUND 8200 MILES AND IT STARTED AGAIN 7 THOUSAND LATER. ORIGINALLY THEY SAID THE PADS WERE GLAZED AND THE ROTORS HAD HOTSPOTS! AN…"~8,200 mi, complaint #850276
    • "BRAKES MAKE LOUD SQUEALING AND GRINDING NOISE STARTING AS LITTLE AS 8 TO 10 THOUSAND MILES EVEN WHEN PADS AND ROTORS ARE FINE. THE STEERING COLUMN POPS AND JOLTS SLIGHTLY WHEN TURNING STARTING AT 27 THOUSAND MILES. THE CAR MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TAKING MO…"~12,000 mi, complaint #1074648
    • "ANY TIME YOU STEP ON THE BRAKES THEY HAVE A VERY LOUD SQUEAL WHEN BACKING UP. (BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT IN A PARKING LOT). HAVE TO PUMP BRAKES WHILE BACKING UP TO GET SQUEAL TO STOP. HAS DONE THIS SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN AUGUST 2009 TO DATE. HAVE H…"~56,000 mi, complaint #1070231
  6. #6

    power windows and locks

    2 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK WITH CAR REMOTE. BATTERY WAS CHANGED IN REMOTES AND STILL DOES NOT WORK. KEY TO OVERRIDE DOOR LOCKS DOES NOT WORK. AFTER HITTING THE OPEN LOCK BUTTON ON KEY REMOTE FOR 5 MIN NON STOP IT FINALLY OPENED ALL DOORS. EXTREME SAFET…"~58,000 mi, complaint #1132102
    • "AT FIRST THE REAR DOORS STARTED NOT TO UNLOCK, NOW ALL THE DOORS EXCEPT FOR THE DRIVERS WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH THE POWER LOCKS. YOU MUST MANUALLY FLIP EACH LOCK TO OPEN THE DOORS. *TR"~84,000 mi, complaint #1016605
    • "I HAVE A 2009 NISSAN SENTRA I BOUGHT IT A FEW MONTHS AGO AND EVERYTHING IS FINE UNTIL I NEED TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO DO ANYTHING OUTSIDE IT THE DOOR AUTOMATICALLY LACKS WHEN I'M OUTSIDE AND CLOSE IT CLOSED AND IT HAPPENED TO ME 4 TIMES I HAD TO GET OUT OF…"~108,500 mi, complaint #1455795
  7. #7

    tpms

    1 unsafe, 2 annoyance

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THREE TIMES IN A THREE WEEK PERIOD. I ADDED AIR THE FIRST TWO TIMES AND THE LIGHT WENT OFF. I DID NOT ADD AIR, BUT WENT TO THE DEALER ON THE THIRD OCCASION. THE SERVICE WRITER SAID THAT THE TIRE PRESSURES WERE LOW, TH…"~4,300 mi, complaint #743596
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN SENTRA. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION, THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM ILLUMINATED A LOW PRESSURE READING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS PROPERLY INFLATED AND THE WARNING INDICATOR NO LO…"~34,000 mi, complaint #902249
    • "WHEN TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 40F LOW TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT COMES ON AND WILL NOT TURN OFF. TIRE PRESSURE IS FINE UPON CHECKING. *TR"~40,000 mi, complaint #1137769
  8. #8

    steering electric assist

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "MY GIRL FRIEND WAS DRIVING ARE, 2009 NISSAN SENTRA AT ABOUT 40 MPH , SHE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN,THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN , SO SHE HAD TO GO STRAIGHT ,AND TRY TO TURN INTO A PARKING LOT. THE PROBLEM IS THE ELECTRIC MOTOR (SERVO) SHORTING OUT IN THE S…"~33,000 mi, complaint #956515
    • "WHILE CROSSING THE STREET FROM ONE PARKING LOT TO ANOTHER THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON MY 09 NISSAN SENTRA. WAS GOING LESS THAT 5MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL COULD NOT BE TURNED AT ALL. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AND WAS IN DRIVE. AFTER ABOUT 30 OR 40 SECONDS…"~55,500 mi, complaint #1114135
  9. #9

    tire failure

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "SO I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AT NIGHT AND IT WAS RAINING THAT DAY. MY SPEED WAS 40MPH WHEN I WAS MAKING LEFT TURN ON A HIGHWAY, AND THEN ALL OF SUDDEN ONE OF MY BACK TIRE ON THE RIGHT POP. MY CAR GOES OUT OF CONTROL AND MADE 180 DEGREES TURN. SO I END UP ROLLING MY…"~50,000 mi, complaint #885571
  10. #10

    abs module

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "CAR PARKED ON PARKING LOT, TURNED ON, PRESSED BRAKE TO SHIFT TO REVERSE, LET BRAKE PEDAL GO STARTING BACKWARDS MOVEMENT, PRESSED BRAKE PEDAL AND STUCK IN UP POSITION, HIT SEVERAL TIMES THE BRAKE AND BRAKE SYSTEM DID NOT RESPOND, HIT A WALL, PULLED THE EMERGENC…"~7,000 mi, complaint #794293
  11. #11

    alignment and pull

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "MY CAR SWERVES TOO MUCH ON THE FREEWAY. SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR IN 2009, I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE CAR. EVEN AFTER TAKING IT TO SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS, I AM STILL SCARED I AM GOING TO DIE DUE TO THE CAR. THE SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS I AM TAKEN THE CAR TO HAV…"~9,500 mi, complaint #815106
  12. #12

    battery and charging

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "I HAVE GONE THROUGH 5 BATTERIES IN 6 YEARS ONE BLEW UP UNDER MY HOOD. I CHANGED THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE ASSEMBLY AFTER THAT HAPPENED. IT HASN'T HELPED IN KEEPING BATTERIES FOR MORE THAN A YEAR IN THIS CAR. I HAVE HAD THE SYSTEM CHECKED EVERYTHING COMES BAC…"~47,000 mi, complaint #1299731
  13. #13

    engine oil consumption

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "I'M CURRENTLY FINANCING A CAR. MY OIL RUNS OUT TOO FAST. IN ONE MONTH I PROBABLY USED 1000 MILES MAX AND I'VE ALREADY HAD TO GET A OIL CHANGE 3 TIMES. I'M AFRAID MY ENGINE IS EITHER GOING TO LOCK UP OR BLOW UP AND AS A YOUNG DRIVER I'M VERY SCARED OF MY SAFETY…"complaint #1327555
  14. #14

    fuel tank and lines

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "APPROX. 5/26/15 AFTER OPENING AND TRYING TO FUEL MY CAR AT THE GASOLINE STATION I NOTICED THE FUEL FILLER TUBE WAS LOOSE. THIS STATION (USA GASOLINE) HAD RECENTLY INSTALLED NEW NOZZLES ON THE GAS PUMPS. DUE TO THE LOOSE FILLER TUBE ON MY CAR, I HAD TO DRIVE…"~26,700 mi, complaint #1189905
  15. #15

    other

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "THE FRONT AND DRIVERS SIDE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED IN MY 2009 NISSAN SENTRA AFTER BEING HIT BY A FORD F250 SUPER DUTY. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN THIS ACCIDENT. THERE WERE INJURIES FROM THE DRIVER OF THE CAR AND THE PASSENGER OF THE VEHICLE. THE GLASS IN THE CAR SH…"~34,588 mi, complaint #978313
  16. #16

    seatbelt and pretensioner

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "VEHICLE DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT IS LOOSE AND WILL NOT TIGHTEN TO SECURE DRIVER IS SAFE, PASSENGER SEATBELT (FRONT SIDE OF DRIVER) IS LOCKED UP AND WILL NOT ALLOW PASSENGER TO BUCKLE UP."~200,000 mi, complaint #1453412
  17. #17

    suspension arms and bushings

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "WAS TOWED IN AND THE LF BALL JOINT IS RUSTED AND FELL APART. THE STUD AND NUT ARE STILL ATTACHED TO THE KNUCKLE AND THE BALL PULLED OUT OF THE SOCKET. THIS ALLOWED THE SUSPENSION OF DROP THAT CORNER OF THE CAR DOWN AND PULL THE CV AXLE OUT OF THE TRANSMISSIO…"~76,535 mi, complaint #1524467
  18. #18

    transmission automatic

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "I HAVE BEEN GETTING GRINDING NOISES FROM MY TRANSMISSION SINCE THE FALL OF 2016. TOOK THE CAR INTO THE GEORGESVILLE NISSAN SHOP IN COLUMBUS, OH WHERE THEY STATED THEY CAN'T RECREATE THE NOISE OR HEAR IT EVEN THOUGH THE NOISE IS NOTICEABLE WHEN THE CAR STARTS T…"~90,000 mi, complaint #1601499
  19. #19

    transmission cvt

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "MY VEHICLES TRANSMISSION WARRANTY ENDED AT 120,000 MILES. MY VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 145,500 MILES. I'VE READ ONLINE THESE VEHICLES WITH CVT TRANSMISSION HAVE ISSUES WITH REPAIR CODE P0744. THEY HAVE A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR OLDER VEHICLES EXCEPT MINE TO REPLACE TRA…"~145,500 mi, complaint #1589445

Search NHTSA's own recall and complaint database for NISSAN SENTRA directly.