6th generation (B16) · B16 · 1,202 complaints, 934 with mileage
Owners filed 1,202 complaints with NHTSA about the 2007–2012 Nissan Sentra, and 934 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
This generation has two distinct failure patterns rather than one, which is the most useful thing on this page. 20% of failures occur before 12,000 miles, which looks like a manufacturing defect, and a further 25% occur after 100,000, which looks like wear. Two different problems share one name in the complaint data — and an average of the two describes neither.
The most-reported areas are the airbag system (15.2% of complaints, typically around 81,680 miles), the transmission and driveline (12.1% of complaints, typically around 75,000 miles), the engine (11.1% of complaints, typically around 79,800 miles).
3 recall campaigns cover this generation.
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 183 | 15.2% | 81,680 | 53,000–114,000 |
| Power Train | 145 | 12.1% | 75,000 | 50,000–103,000 |
| Engine | 134 | 11.1% | 79,800 | 52,000–110,000 |
| Electrical System | 125 | 10.4% | 79,000 | 45,000–106,000 |
| Steering | 82 | 6.8% | 51,123 | 20,000–84,488 |
| Unknown Or Other | 77 | 6.4% | 90,415 | 42,000–120,000 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 61 | 5.1% | 62,200 | 10,000–107,000 |
| Suspension | 47 | 3.9% | 18,000 | 1,700–57,000 |
| Structure | 40 | 3.3% | 42,500 | 7,500–92,000 |
| Tires | 37 | 3.1% | 11,500 | 4,300–34,000 |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 215 | 164 |
| 2008 | 233 | 176 |
| 2009 | 81 | 73 |
| 2010 | 212 | 161 |
| 2011 | 201 | 169 |
| 2012 | 260 | 191 |
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 66,430 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The airbag system accounts for 15.2% of complaints (183 reports, 137 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 81,680 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 53,000 and 114,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 12.1% of complaints (145 reports, 117 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 75,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 50,000 and 103,000 miles.
The engine accounts for 11.1% of complaints (134 reports, 103 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 79,800 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 52,000 and 110,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 10.4% of complaints (125 reports, 97 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 79,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 45,000 and 106,000 miles.
The steering accounts for 6.8% of complaints (82 reports, 71 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 51,123 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 20,000 and 84,488 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 6.4% of complaints (77 reports, 53 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 90,415 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 42,000 and 120,000 miles.
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2012 model year drew the most — 260 complaints — while 2009 drew the fewest at 81. The median year sits at 213.
NHTSA records 3 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the electrical system (2), equipment (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Of the 1,202 complaints filed against this generation, 147 reported a crash; 41 reported a fire; 139 reported an injury; 5 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 12.2% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
For a buyer, the two-peak pattern is the useful part. The early cluster — 20% of failures below 12,000 miles — will already have happened on any example you are looking at today, and either been repaired under warranty or not. Ask what was done. The late cluster, 25% above 100,000 miles, is the one still ahead of you if the car has lower mileage than that.
On inspection, the airbag system and the transmission and driveline are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The transmission and driveline in particular shows a median failure mileage of 75,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
CVT fluid-temperature protection logic derates the vehicle after sustained high-speed or uphill operation in hot ambient conditions (documented at roughly 4000+ rpm and 65+ mph above ~96 F), and belt/pulley failures follow overheating. Nissan extended CVT coverage to 10 years / 120,000 miles on affected 2007-2010 vehicles.
Timing chain guide wear and elevated oil consumption at higher mileage.
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 11V579000 | 2012-01-23 | Electrical System:12V/24V/48V Battery:Cables |
| 10V555000 | 2010-11-19 | Electrical System:12V/24V/48V Battery:Cables |
| 10V401000 | 2010-09-16 | Equipment:Electrical:Navigational System(Global Positioning System) |