Problems · NHTSA complaints

2015 Nissan Sentra problems

Owners filed 352 complaints about the 2015 Nissan Sentra with NHTSA between Mar 2015 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is power train (173).

Complaints
352
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
23
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
23
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  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
  10. Seat belts6
  11. Suspension5
  12. Seats4
  13. Electronic stability control (esc)4
  14. Tires3

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 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20157
201641
201725
201827
201964
202044
202124
202227
202330
202433
202517
202613

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

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

Air bags

44 reports16 crashes1 fire2 related recalls
“When a passenger sits in the passenger seat it doesn't register them in the seat and doesn't turn passenger airbag on. It always stays off and my air bag light on the dash never turns off. It's been like that since I bought the car in May of 2025. So any additional details are unknown.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 2, 2026Air bagsODI 11708284

Electrical system

25 reports2 fires
“My car would we still in the middle of the road and one day I was turning to go home and it cut off with everything on the dashboard was still on and the power steering went out and I tried to turn real fast to get my driveway and next thing I know my Cortizone fire meanwhile every now and then I would see a light blinking my dashboard fast and then go away. It was the battery light barely show up.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 28, 2026Steering, Power train, Electrical systemFire reportedODI 11727684

Service brakes

17 reports5 crashes
“while actively pressing on brake at a stop sign, car started moving. car only stopped when it bumped into car in front and had to be completely turned off. even with hand brake and in park, car kept moving.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 26, 2025Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11683277
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026

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