Problems · NHTSA complaints
2019 Nissan Sentra problems
Owners filed 223 complaints about the 2019 Nissan Sentra with NHTSA between Dec 2018 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (65).
Complaints
223
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
16
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
18
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system65
- Power train54
- Service brakes37
- Forward collision avoidance35
- Exterior lighting28
- Engine20
- Air bags14
- Vehicle speed control12
- Fuel/propulsion system5
- Structure5
- Electronic stability control (esc)5
- Suspension4
- Seat belts4
- Steering3
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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
22
24
38
34
44
30
17
13
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 22 |
| 2020 | 24 |
| 2021 | 38 |
| 2022 | 34 |
| 2023 | 44 |
| 2024 | 30 |
| 2025 | 17 |
| 2026 | 13 |
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
Electrical system
65 reports1 crash
“I purchased the vehicle [XXX] from CarMax. At that time, it had an active recall which the previous owner did not resolve. I brought the vehicle to Nissan of Irvine on [XXX], at which time they installed new stop lamp switch and rubber grommet. The car proceeded to work fine until it would not turn on at all, and I had to have it towed to the dealership on [XXX]. At that time, they diagnosed it again to be a faulty brake switch and replaced it then. The car worked fine until around August 2026, where it occasionally would not start (which is how it presented the other times). On [XXX], I took it to the dealership again due to the same reason and they diagnosed it again to be a faulty brake switch. They said it would not be covered under the warranty because the car was over by around 500 miles. They quoted the price of around $700 for the inspection, part and labor. I do not feel that I should be responsible for the issue since it was not taken care of correctly the 2 previous times I brought the car in. I also feel that the situation was not taken seriously. The service department even joked "haha, hopefully it doesn't happen again" (this was during the second…”
Power train
54 reports1 crash
“I am filing this complaint against Nissan North America due to a recurring transmission failure in my 2019 Nissan Sentra VIN#: [XXX] . Timeline of Events: Initial Purchase: November 2022 (61,000 miles). First Failure: September 2023 (~75,000 miles). Nissan replaced the transmission under the extended CVT warranty (84 months/84,000 miles) established by the Martinez v. Nissan class action settlement. Second Failure: March 2026 (109, 497 miles). The replacement unit has failed after only 31,000 miles of use. Nissan will not cover the repairs due to the mileage being out of warranty. The estimated cost per McGrath Nissan Dealer is $8,000, I am unable to afford this service so the car was towed back to my home until able to get resolution. Issues with Nissan’s Resolution Process: Premature Part Failure: The transmission installed by Nissan in 2023 should have a reasonable life expectancy beyond 31,000 miles. A secondary failure this soon suggests a defective replacement part or improper initial repair. Safety: Luckily, my husband was stopped at a traffic light when the transmission failed. However, had to receive help to push the vehicle out of the busy…”
Service brakes
37 reports6 crashes
“I am writing to formally report a safety-related defect in my 2019 Nissan Sentra and to request reimbursement for repair costs associated with this issue. My vehicle experienced a failure of the brake light switch, which prevented the car from starting and disabled the brake lights—posing a serious safety hazard. Although I have been informed that my vehicle is not currently included in Recall Campaign PM971, the symptoms and defective part match the recall description precisely. I have verified my VIN through the NHTSA recall lookup tool, and I am concerned that the recall scope may be too narrow, excluding vehicles that are clearly affected. This defect required immediate repair to restore basic vehicle functionality and ensure safety. I have attached documentation of the repair, including the invoice and diagnostic notes, for your review. I respectfully request the following: Reimbursement for the cost of the brake light switch repair. A formal review of my vehicle’s eligibility for Recall PM971. Consideration for expanding the recall to include additional affected vehicles, including mine. I am submitting this complaint in the interest of safety and…”
Forward collision avoidance
35 reports4 crashes
“My car just started to have transmission problems. It started to forced especially on hills and the transmission started to force itself and the at 115000 miles the transmission stopped working since it gave us the P 2767. It is just absolutely ridiculous that a new car would not last more than 4 to 5 years without having to replace a vital part of the vehicle. It’s just a shame to find out that issues like this happen to a lot of people with the same type of car as mine and that this issue the manufacturers can’t take responsibility and do the right thing and address this issue . We made an effort to get a new car thinking that it would give us a pease of mind for at least 10 years since it was not a pocket change price tag. We believed it was an investment or reassurance of not having issues since it was a brand new car.”
Exterior lighting
28 reports3 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while his daughter attempted to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start immediately. The contact's daughter pressed the engine Auto Start/Stop button again, the vehicle restarted. The contact had AAA test that the battery, which had no failure, and it was determined that the brake light switch had failed. The cruise control later failed to operate as needed, and the message "Automatic Emergency Braking Malfunction" was displayed. The contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle had previously been repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V135000 (Exterior Lighting). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 46,000.”
Engine
20 reports
“To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally report an ongoing and serious issue regarding the transmission in my Nissan vehicle and to request assistance from Nissan North America. This is my third Nissan Sentra Sport, and unfortunately, I have experienced the same transmission failure in all three vehicles, each occurring before the vehicle reached 100,000 miles. In the two previous vehicles, I replaced the transmission, only to have the same problem occur again. At this time, I am having the same transmission issue with my current vehicle, which I purchased in 2022. I recently took the car to an authorized Nissan dealer for routine maintenance. However, the mechanic informed me that they were unable to flush the transmission and advised against it, stating that they could not guarantee the transmission would continue to function afterward. The vehicle currently has approximately 88,000 miles, and the transmission is already failing. This is extremely concerning, especially because: The car is still under 100,000 miles, I have maintained the vehicle properly, I have not yet finished paying off the loan, and This has happened repeatedly with the same…”
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.