Short answer
Among Nissan Sentra model years through 2024, 2012 has the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2002 has the most (10). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Nissan Sentra: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 27 (2000–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 47
- Fewest recalls
- 2012 (0)
- Most recalls
- 2002 (10)
- Most recalled system
- Air bags (32)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2020, 2021, 2022 and 3 more years
Nissan Sentra Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 1 | Not rated | Seats |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 4 | 5 stars | Latches/locks/linkages, Power train, Seats |
| 2024 | 3 | 5 stars | Air bags, Power train, Visibility |
| 2023 | 1 | 5 stars | Air bags |
| 2022 | 2 | 5 stars | Steering, Structure |
| 2021 | 3 | 5 stars | Steering, Back over prevention |
| 2020 | 4 | 5 stars | Steering, Back over prevention, Exterior lighting |
| 2019 | 2 | 4 stars | Back over prevention, Exterior lighting |
| 2018 | 2 | 4 stars | Back over prevention, Exterior lighting |
| 2017 | 3 | 4 stars | Air bags, Electrical system, Exterior lighting |
| 2016 | 6 | 4 stars | Air bags, Electrical system, Exterior lighting |
| 2015 | 3 | 4 stars | Air bags, Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2014 | 5 | 4 stars | Air bags, Electrical system |
| 2013 | 6 | 4 stars | Air bags, Electrical system, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2012 | 0 | 4 stars | None on record |
| 2011 | 2 | 4 stars | Electrical system |
| 2010 | 3 | Not rated | Electrical system, Equipment |
| 2009 | 1 | Not rated | Equipment |
| 2008 | 3 | Not rated | Service brakes, hydraulic, Equipment |
| 2007 | 1 | Not rated | Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2006 | 5 | Not rated | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2005 | 5 | Not rated | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2004 | 4 | Not rated | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2003 | 7 | Not rated | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system |
| 2002 | 10 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling, Air bags, Electrical system |
| 2001 | 7 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Exterior lighting |
| 2000 | 6 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Suspension |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20261 recall
- 20254 recalls
- 20243 recalls
- 20231 recall
- 20222 recalls
- 20213 recalls
- 20204 recalls
- 20192 recalls
- 20182 recalls
- 20173 recalls
- 20166 recalls
- 20153 recalls
- 20145 recalls
- 20136 recalls
- 20120 recalls
- 20112 recalls
- 20103 recalls
- 20091 recall
- 20083 recalls
- 20071 recall
- 20065 recalls
- 20055 recalls
- 20044 recalls
- 20037 recalls
- 200210 recalls
- 20017 recalls
- 20006 recalls
Nissan Sentra: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Nissan Sentra recalls are air bags (32), engine and engine cooling (17), electrical system (12), exterior lighting (7) and steering (5). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 15 of these 27 model years, and 2020, 2021, 2022 and 3 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Nissan Sentra Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Nissan Sentra?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2012 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Nissan Sentra model years have the most recalls?
2002 has the most, with 10 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Sentra", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy