Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2021 Nissan Sentra. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Rearview Camera Image May Not Display/FMVSS 111
- 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 this recall is R23C3.
Tie Rod May Bend
- 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 may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23B3. This recall replaces and expands recall number 21V-461. Vehicles previously repaired under 21V-461 will need to have the new remedy completed.
Tie Rods May Be Bent
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (132)
132 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The steering is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 132 |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 40 | 30.3% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 39 | 29.5% |
| Electrical system | 38 | 28.8% |
| Service brakes | 24 | 18.2% |
| Unknown or other | 19 | 14.4% |
| Engine | 7 | 5.3% |
| Exterior lighting | 6 | 4.5% |
| Suspension | 6 | 4.5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 4.5% |
| Wheels | 5 | 3.8% |
How 2021 compares with other Sentra years
Best and worst Sentra years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 230 | 3 |
| 2018 | 185 | 2 |
| 2019 | 222 | 2 |
| 2020 | 206 | 4 |
| 2021 | 132 | 3 |
| 2022 | 81 | 2 |
| 2023 | 20 | 1 |
| 2024 | 41 | 3 |
| 2025 | 30 | 4 |
| 2026 | 16 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2021 Nissan Sentra 4 dr fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 33 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,050
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 268 g/mi
- EPA class
- Midsize Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 33 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 L 4-cyl · CVT | Front-Wheel Drive | 29 / 39 / 33 | $2,050 | 268 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · CVT | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 / 37 / 32 | $2,100 | 283 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2021 Sentra for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2021 Nissan Sentra FAQ
How many recalls does the 2021 Nissan Sentra have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 23V628000 (rear camera), 23V581000 (steering), 21V461000 (steering). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2021 Nissan Sentra problems?
Owners filed 132 complaints with NHTSA. Steering (40), Forward collision avoidance (39), Electrical system (38) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2021 Nissan Sentra get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · CVT version at 29 city, 39 highway and 33 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2021 Nissan Sentra get?
NHTSA rated the 2021 Nissan Sentra 4 dr fwd 5 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 5 stars rollover (9.9% rollover risk).
How does the 2021 Sentra compare with other years?
Among the 2017–2021 Nissan Sentra model years at least five years old, the 2021 drew the fewest complaints (132) and the 2017 the most (230). The 2021 drew 132. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.