2021 Nissan Sentra Safety Report
2021 NISSAN SENTRA Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2021 Nissan Sentra
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2021 Nissan Sentra. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | High (3) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (121) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 15 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Steering | Compare steering issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2023 | Compare against the 2023 Nissan Sentra with 17 complaints and 1 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2019 | Check the 2019 Nissan Sentra before buying across this generation. |
Nissan Sentra Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Nissan Sentra years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Nissan Sentra | 75 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Nissan Sentra | 193 | 4 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2023 Nissan Sentra | 17 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Nissan Sentra | 213 | 2 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2024 Nissan Sentra | 27 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2018 Nissan Sentra | 181 | 2 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
2021 Nissan Sentra Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2021 Nissan Sentra, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Steering
21 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Steering issues Nissan onlyElectrical System
16 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Nissan onlyForward Collision Avoidance
9 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Forward Collision Avoidance issues Nissan onlyUnknown Or Other
6 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Nissan onlyElectrical System,Forward Collision Avoidance
5 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System,Forward Collision Avoidance issues Nissan onlyService Brakes,Forward Collision Avoidance
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Service Brakes,Forward Collision Avoidance issues Nissan onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2021 Nissan Sentra
Reliability Score
The 2021 Nissan Sentra receives a reliability score of 55 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates average reliability — some notable concerns exist that prospective buyers should be aware of.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2021 Nissan Sentra
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2021 Nissan Sentra
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2021 Nissan Sentra:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering Tie Rod Assembly Tie rod assemblies in the steering system have been reported to cause violent shaking and safety risks, particularly around 30,000 to 60,000 miles. |
Medium | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
| Forward Collision Avoidance System The forward collision avoidance system has malfunctioned, leading to random emergency braking, which can be a safety concern. |
Medium | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
| Electrical System Issues Issues with the electrical system, including the air conditioning and check engine light, are frequent and can affect the vehicle's performance. |
Medium | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
| Battery Issues The battery has failed multiple times, causing the vehicle to not start, which is a common issue. |
Low | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2021 Nissan Sentra:
Issues with the tie rod assembly in the steering system are a common problem.
The forward collision avoidance system has malfunctioned, leading to random emergency braking.
Issues with the electrical system, including the air conditioning and check engine light, are frequent.
Battery issues have caused the vehicle to not start, which is a common issue.
Recall Details for the 2021 Nissan Sentra
The following 3 recalls have been issued for the 2021 Nissan Sentra by NHTSA:
Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Altima and 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 19, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for t...
Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Sentra vehicles. The left and/or right tie rod may bend.
Consequence: A bent tie rod can break and cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised to contact their dealer for transport assistance if they are experiencing an off-center steering wheel or vibration. As an interim repair, dealers will inspect and replace any bent or broken tie rods, free of charge. Once newly designed parts are available, dealers will replace both left and right tie rods, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed November 27, 2024. Owners ...
Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. The left and/or right tie rod may be bent.
Consequence: A bent tie rod can break, causing a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the left and/or right tie rods as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 5, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PM985.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2021 Nissan Sentra
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2021 Nissan Sentra with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 3 complaints involved crashes.
Some time while driving on empty roads Fuel Economy warning light beeping and automatically emergency brake . It happened on me more than 5 times.
The passenger front, and both back windows no longer function. This appears to be a common issue when searching the internet. There is also an issue with the keyless start, as it often does not recognize that the fob is in the vehicle, or gives a low batter warning (with a new battery). As there was already a recall on the sensor for the blind spot warnings and such, there appears to be wide sprea...
AEB system is initiating emergency braking at random times. Both on surface street, and the freeway on ramp. With and without weather, and without any obstacles or cars in the way. The vehicle comes it a complete stop when this happens and puts the driver in significant danger. At this point the dealer observed warning code on the dashboard, but it did not engage. Message relating to that the AE...
Rattling noise coming from the belt assembly. Tensioner pulley is shaky and alternator had a piece brake off causing metal shavings to fly around.
Purchased brand new with 0 miles. The system malfunction popped up and engine would not turn over after running perfectly fine a hour prior.Had to get towed to dealership and found a faulty battery luckily I still had 100 or so miles left on my warranty.Happened again last month the same exact thing except this time I had to get a jump off after several minutes the engine finally turned over.
I got in the car to start it and it would not start. This happened at the car wash one morning. It didn’t give me any warnings of a bad battery and the only way I started it was to have someone jump it. This has happened 4 times now. It takes several minutes for the battery to charge to start the car. I have been stranded 2 times and could not get to work on time 2 times.
While driving down the highway along with other traffic the car went into limp mode and lost power instantly almost causing an accident. Come to find out the engine bearings caused the engine to go on it without any warning signs. This car has been maintenanced and taken care of and had the same issue happen that the other nissans have had that they have the recall out for.
Electric steering rack has play and causes violent shaking. Huge safety risk as this could have complete failure and cause accidents. Vehicle started showing symptoms at 68,000 miles and after reading separate forums, many others have experienced these same issues. No warning lights appear on the dash and no inspection by safety highway patrol. This is a serious issue especially given I do not app...
purchased my 2021 Nissan Sentra brand new with no prior owner. Around 2023, the air conditioning system stopped working. The AC will not turn on at all the switch or control that activates the system is completely unresponsive. I brought the vehicle to a Nissan dealership, where I was quoted $300 just for a diagnostic test, with no warranty coverage or acknowledgment of a known issue. This failur...
The check engine light comes on with a malfunction symbol. The car has delay acceleration, jerks, hard shifts.
Since having my Nissan 2021 Sentra I have for one, had to replace the battery in it twice. On a more serious note, it is now stopping the car at random and unnecessary times stating an object is in front of me. It happens once a while ago and I did not have any other signs, and it was just for a second, so I tried not to stress about it. Now it is happening more often and just this morning happene...
Passenger side power windows and driver side rear window on occasion will stop working.
I and many others have noticed that the 2020+ Nissan Sentra has a very common issue with its window switch where the driver side window works, but all passenger windows get stuck refusing to roll up or down, or do so very slowly. I have had people try to come up to my window where I could not properly shut it, I have had to leave my window partially open over night, and in the rain.
The rear door locks on my vehicle fail to lock and unlock properly, especially using the power lock switches or key fob. This is not an occasional issue — it happens every single day. This is a major safety concern because the back doors often cannot be opened at all, which puts my children at risk of being trapped inside during an emergency or accident. In addition, the rear windows frequently g...
The competent that continues to fail is the emergency response breaks. They continue to stop at random times creating a very unsafe environment while I drive daily. I do have this on video and my car is available for inspection at any time. I just recently finally got the emergency break system on video since it is so random and plan on making an appointment with my local Nissan Dealer. I did have...
Rear windows and passenger window are malfunctioning. They stay open and will not close. Takes many attempts, and push start car on and off attempts. Takes hours for them to work again. Currently not using rear windows. To be on the safe side.
I've had multiple issues with my vehicle since I purchased the brand new car in 2021. - One year after purchase, I was left stranded when my alternator stopped working. - In 2023, I went i took my car to the Georgesville Nissan dealership in Columbus Ohio to get another key programmed. A process that should of taken one day took several weeks because my Vin# was not properly registered to my ve...
The door lock actuators in my 2021 Nissan Sentra have malfunctioned, causing my doors to unexpectedly lock or unlock. Three of the four doors are affected, including the front driver's side door and both back doors. This is a serious safety concern that can potentially lock me inside the car. This can make it difficult to leave the vehicle during an emergency. It has also put my vehicle at risk fo...
Vehicle: 2021 Nissan Sentra VIN: [XXX] Incident Date: [XXX] Description: On [XXX], the front tie rod on my 2021 Nissan Sentra suddenly failed while I was driving, causing me to lose control of the vehicle and sideswipe a parked car. This mechanical failure led to an accident, property damage, and a traffic citation for careless operation. My insurance premiums have since increased and the citati...
The contact owned a 2021 Nissan Sentra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V581000 (Steering) through mail and email and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list because the vehicle was totaled. The dealer and the manufacturer were contacted.
Showing 20 of 121 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2021 Nissan Sentra
Has the 2021 NISSAN SENTRA been recalled?
Yes, the 2021 NISSAN SENTRA has 3 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2021 NISSAN SENTRA have?
The 2021 NISSAN SENTRA has 121 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 14 involved crashes. 8 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2021 NISSAN SENTRA?
The 2021 NISSAN SENTRA received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 4/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 5/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 NISSAN SENTRA?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2021 NISSAN SENTRA involve steering (21 complaints), electrical system (16 complaints), forward collision avoidance (9 complaints). Other affected components include unknown or other, electrical system,forward collision avoidance, service brakes,forward collision avoidance.
How many crash reports does the 2021 NISSAN SENTRA have?
There are 14 crash reports associated with the 2021 NISSAN SENTRA out of 121 total complaints (11.6% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2021 NISSAN SENTRA have?
There are 1 fire reports for the 2021 NISSAN SENTRA out of 121 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2021 NISSAN SENTRA?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2021 NISSAN SENTRA.
How many injuries are reported for the 2021 NISSAN SENTRA?
8 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2021 NISSAN SENTRA. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2021 NISSAN SENTRA?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 NISSAN SENTRA is acceptable with caveats. It has 121 complaints, 3 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2021 NISSAN SENTRA?
The components with the most failures on the 2021 NISSAN SENTRA are: 1. STEERING (21 complaints), 2. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (16 complaints), 3. FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (9 complaints), 4. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (6 complaints), 5. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (5 complaints). STEERING is the single most-reported problem area with 21 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2021 NISSAN SENTRA?
Be cautious of steering and electrical system issues, especially with tie rod assemblies and forward collision avoidance systems. Regular maintenance is crucial. The 2021 NISSAN SENTRA has 121 NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2021 NISSAN SENTRA?
The 2021 NISSAN SENTRA receives a reliability score of 55/100, indicating average reliability. This is based on 121 owner complaints, 3 recalls, and 15 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Steering Tie Rod Assembly and Forward Collision Avoidance System.
What are the known issues with the 2021 NISSAN SENTRA?
Known issues with the 2021 NISSAN SENTRA include: Steering Tie Rod Assembly, Forward Collision Avoidance System, Electrical System Issues, Battery Issues. These are based on patterns found across 121 NHTSA complaints. 3 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the common electrical system issues with the 2021 Nissan Sentra?
Common electrical system issues include problems with the air conditioning and check engine light.
Are there any known issues with the steering system?
Yes, tie rod assemblies in the steering system can cause violent shaking and safety risks.
What should I do if I experience random emergency braking?
Check the forward collision avoidance system and have it inspected by a professional.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of steering and electrical system issues, especially with tie rod assemblies and forward collision avoidance systems. Regular maintenance is crucial.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2021 Nissan Sentra
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2021 Nissan Sentra. The data includes 121 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 3 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 14 reported crashes, 1 fire incidents, 8 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2021 Nissan Sentra an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 4 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 5 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16