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Research · Midsize Cars

2015 Nissan SentraRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 352 owner complaints for the 2015 Nissan Sentra. Most complaints involve power train (173) and engine (69). The EPA rates it 30–33 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 4 stars overall.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
30–33mpg
EPA · 3 versions
NHTSA overall
4of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
3campaigns
Latest Apr 2016
Owner complaints
352
Top: power train
Fuel cost / yr
$1,950est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

3 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Air bags: occupant classification

Remedy pending

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.

Air bagsReported Apr 26, 2016NHTSA 16V244000

Air bags: occupant classification

Free remedy

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Sentra vehicles manufactured June 4, 2012, to April 9, 2016. The front passenger seat belt bracket may become deformed if it is used to secure a Child Restraint System (CRS). The deformed seat bracket may cause the Occupant Classification System (OCS) to incorrectly classify the installed CRS, resulting in the front passenger air bag to not be turned off as designed when a CRS is in the seat.

Air bagsReported Apr 26, 2016NHTSA 16V242000

Latches

Free remedy

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2015 Nissan Rogue vehicles manufactured June 9, 2015, to June 10, 2015, and 2015 Nissan Sentra and Versa Note vehicles manufactured June 5, 2015, to June 13, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the driver side front and rear doors may not fully latch. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components."

Latches/locks/linkagesReported Jul 21, 2015NHTSA 15V453000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

352 complaints filed with NHTSA · Mar 2015 – Oct 2026
  1. Power train173
  2. Engine69
  3. Vehicle speed control50
  4. Air bags44
  5. Electrical system25
  6. Service brakes17
  7. Structure14
  8. Fuel/propulsion system11
  9. Steering6

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Sentra model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2000171
2001245
2002333
2003180
2004197
2005170
2006116
2007154
2008167
200955
2010144
2011142
2012180
2013638
2014380
2015352
2016270
2017231
2018185
2019223
2020207
2021133
202281
202320
202441
202531
202619
Crashes reported
23
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
23
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Power train

173 reports3 crashes1 fire
“When accelerating the RPMs jump and the car will not speed up. When trying to accelerate my car, it was not wanting to go.It kept jumping the RPMs between the 1 and 2. I did finally get a video of it.Doing what it has been doing the past week. today just happened to be where it was very prominent, and I was able to get a recording of it. The car struggles getting to 40Mph . But once I get there, it does hold its speed, but we'll struggle if I drop down below it.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 17, 2026Power train, Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11771868

Engine

69 reports1 crash2 fires
“The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly stalled while in traffic. There was an abnormal screeching sound coming from the vehicle. The accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The transmission was shifted into reverse(R), but the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The vehicle was shifted into drive(D), and the vehicle lunged forward and then started moving slowly. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that there was a loose bearing inside the transmission. While completing a road test, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The contact was offered a partial refund and warranty. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 171,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 1, 2026Power train, Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11728439

Vehicle speed control

50 reports2 crashes
“The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving 5 MPH and making a right turn, the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration and the steering wheel turned independently. The brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to stop. The vehicle crashed into an apartment complex wall. The air bags deployed. The contact sustained injuries to her right arm, left elbow, knee, shoulder, and back and burns on the right arm from the air bag deployment. The contact was transported to the hospital by ambulance to receive medical attention. A Police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The insurance company had not yet deemed the vehicle a total loss. The contact stated that the failure had previously occurred in May 2024, and the dealer had performed an unknown repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 17, 2026Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 11757373
All 2015 Sentra problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

3 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Midsize Cars
Engines
1.8L 4-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic (variable gear ratios) · Manual 6-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Sentra FE
Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.8 L · Front-Wheel Drive
303833$1,950268
Sentra
Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.8 L · Front-Wheel Drive
293732$2,000275
Sentra
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L · Front-Wheel Drive
273530$2,150298
  • Sentra FE
    Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.8 L
    30 city · 38 hwy · $1,950/yr
    33
    mpg comb.
  • Sentra
    Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.8 L
    29 city · 37 hwy · $2,000/yr
    32
    mpg comb.
  • Sentra
    Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L
    27 city · 35 hwy · $2,150/yr
    30
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
Overall rating
4/ 5
4 of 5
Nissan Sentra 4 DR FWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
11.8%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 3, 2026Vehicle 9816
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2015 Sentra questions

How many recalls does the 2015 Nissan Sentra have?

3 safety recalls as of Nov 3, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2015 Nissan Sentra problems?

Owners filed 352 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are power train (173), engine (69), vehicle speed control (50). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2015 Nissan Sentra get?

The EPA rates the 2015 Nissan Sentra at 30–33 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (3 versions rated).

How safe is the 2015 Nissan Sentra?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2015 Nissan Sentra 4 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 3, 2026