Problems · NHTSA complaints
2009 Nissan Sentra problems
Owners filed 55 complaints about the 2009 Nissan Sentra with NHTSA between Nov 2009 and Jun 2024. The most-cited component is air bags (15).
Complaints
55
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
9
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
11
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags15
- Steering11
- Service brakes7
- Electrical system6
- Structure6
- Suspension5
- Fuel/propulsion system4
- Engine4
- Tires4
- Power train3
- Service brakes, hydraulic3
- Engine and engine cooling2
- Wheels2
- Latches/locks/linkages2
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
6
3
2
4
11
4
4
7
5
3
2
0
1
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Air bags
15 reports5 crashes
“My car is included by year in the current airbag recall. However it comes up negative and the airbag icon started blinking last week. There were no incidents prior to the blinking.”
Steering
11 reports2 crashes
“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 THEY PICKED UP THE CAR AND TOOK IT AWAY.”
Service brakes
7 reports2 crashes
“My brake line broke in three pieces while I was driving on the highway visiting my son I almost lost my life the brakes did not work all of the fluid came out thank God I didn’t die there was no sign on the dashboard also my brakes even when I change the pads the rotors and calipers they always make noise. I change brake pads every year and that’s not right I don’t think so. I always buy the best quality even when purchased fluids always buy CVT oil and I get it from the Nissan dealership.”
Electrical system
6 reports1 crash
“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 MODEL IS NOT RECALLED. PURCHASED BRAND NEW STARTER, ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY TO NO AVAIL ANOTHER RECALL SAYS MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR AND FUEL PUMP.”
Structure
6 reports4 crashes
“I WAS RECENTLY INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 4/15/17 WHEN MY BRAKES ON MY CAR STOP WORKING WE TRIED TO STOP BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT DIDN'T WE EVEN TRIED TO PUT IT IN PARKING GEAR BUT IT STILL KEEP ON GOING.”
Suspension
5 reports
“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 TRANSMISSION. JUST PULLING OUT FROM HOME.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.