Home · 2011 Nissan Sentra · Complaints

What 141 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Nissan Sentra

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (141)Crash / fire / injury (25)Electrical system (33)Engine (30)Airbags (20)Transmission & drivetrain (18)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (17)Brakes (13)Steering (8)Body & structure (7)Fuel system (6)Speed control (6)

13 of 141 complaints match · Brakes · clear filters

Apr 29, 2020Electronic Stability Control (esc)Brakes

HAVING ISSUE WHILE DRIVING. ABS BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON AND CAR JERKS VIOLENTLY. HAVE TO STOP AND TURN OFF CAR AND ALL LIGHTS. PUSH THE ABS LIGHT BUTTON AND START CAR AGAIN TO REPEAT. HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. CAR HAS STOPPED TWICE ON ITS ON WHEN THIS HAS OCCURRED. WAS DRIVING FROM OUT OF TOWN ON BACK ROADS AND HAD TO STOP ABOUT EVERY 10 MINUTES TO STOP AND TURN OFF CAR. NOTICE IT WAS WORSE THAN BEFORE. DIFFERENCE IN ROADS FROM HOME. ROADS I WAS ON WERE SEVERAL WINDING ROAD. DID NOT GOT BETTER EVEN IF I DROVE SLOWLY.

NHTSA ODI 11322695

Mar 4, 2020Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Brakes

PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN JUNE 2016, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN OCTOBER (APPROXIMATELY 60,000-70,000 MILES) WHEN TEMP DROPPED BELOW 55 DEGREES. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC, CODE READ P0101. FIND NISSAN HAS POSTED A BULLETIN ON THIS.FOLLOWED ALL GUIDELINES. HE CLEANED THE MAF SENSOR. LIGHT WENT OFF. NEXT, DAY LIGHT COMES BACK ON. GO BACK, HAVE SENSOR REPLACED. LIGHT COMES BACK ON. CHECKS FOR VACUUM LEAKS, CHANGE AIR FILTER BLOW OUT AIR BOX AND SURROUNDING COMPONENTS. LIGHT STILL ON. TAKE CAR FOR A DIAGNOSIS EVERY FEW MONTHS TO ENSURE ITS STILL THE SAME THING AND NOTHING ELSE. NO PROBLEM WITH CARS DRIVABILITY. FAST FORWARD TO 2019, VDC/ ABS LIGHTS COME ON. CALL NISSAN, TELL ME THEY CANT HELP BECAUSE MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. NISAN HAS POSTED BULLETIN FOR THIS ISSUE FOLLOW ALL GUIDELINES FOR REPAIRS VIA THEIR BULLETIN, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE $700 WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. LIGHTS GO OFF. BUT THAT STARTED A NEW ISSUE. MY VDC/ABS LIGHTS WILL SPONTANEOUSLY COME ON CAUSING MY CAR TO JERK VIOLENTLY AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 20-30MPH (OR 2,500 RPM) CAUSING ME TO STOP DEAD IN TRAFFIC, PARK THE CAR, TAKE THE KEY OUT (IT MUST BE OUT!), WAIT A FEW SECONDS, TURN IT BACK ON. FAST FORWARD TO THIS WEEK (3/2/20) MY CAR STALLS OUT GOING 70 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY BETWEEN TO SEMIS. EVERYTHING JUST SHUTS DOWN. I LITERALLY ALMOST DIED. CALL NISSAN AND THEY TELL ME, MY CAR ISN'T PART OF THE RECALL, OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY, NOTHING WE CAN DO. GO TO NISSAN DEALER. THEY WANT TO CHARGE $150 TO DIAGNOSE. SO I WENT ELSEWHERE, GOT IT DIAGNOSED FOR FREE HAD MAF CLEANED, NEW AIR FILTER, CODES RESET. LIGHT GOES OFF. DRIVING HOME, CAR STALLS AGAIN AT 70 MPH. NO LIGHTS ON DASH. HAVE CODES READ IMMEDIATELY, NO CODES. NOTHING. WAKE UP, DRIVE TO SCHOOL, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, IMMEDIATELY STALLS ON HIGHWAY. IMMEDIATELY HAVE DOES READ: THREE P0101 CODES IN ROW. I LITERALLY FEAR FOR MY LIFE AND HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE.

NHTSA ODI 11316169

Oct 11, 2019Brakes

I WAS DRIVING MY NISSAN SENTRA 2011 WITH AN APPROX SPEED OF 35 MPH AND THEN SUDDENLY HEARD SOME NOISE FROM THE BONNET. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE CAR BUT STILL ABLE TO HEAR SOUND COMING FROM THE ABS MODULE. I TOOK IT TO MECHANIC AND HE SUGGESTED TO CHECK FOR THE RECALL AS LIGHT FOR VDC,ABS & BRAKE TURNED ON. I CHECKED WITH NISSAN CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY SAID THEY DONT HAVE ANY INFORMATION WITH MY VIN# FOR ANY RECALL. I AM SURPRISED TO SEE THIS AS THE CAR DIDNT MEET ANY ACCIDENT WHEN ALL THIS HAPPEN. NISSAN AUTHORISED CENTER DID DIAGNOSTIC AFTER CHARGING $244 JUST TO COME OUT THAT ABS ACTUATOR(47660-9AA1A) NEED TO BE REPLACED WHICH WILL FURTHER COST ME ABOUT $1900. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO COVER UP THIS COST AS THIS SEEMS TO BE COMPLETELY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE UNDER A CAMPAIGN.

NHTSA ODI 11268025

Sep 27, 2019Body & structureElectronic Stability Control (esc)BrakesCrash1 injury

ON SUNDAY, SEPT 22 2019 AT AROUND 1:40PM WE WERE HEADED HOME FROM AN VACATION AT A CABIN RENTAL PROPERTY IN SEVIERVILLE, TN. NOT EVEN QUARTER MILE FROM OUR CABIN ON A STRAIGHT AND DOWN HILL ROAD ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKES STOPPED FUNCTIONING. I APPLIED BRAKES MULTIPLE TIMES BUT THE CAR DIDN'T STOP AND IN ORDER TO AVOID A SMALL POND ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE AND THE CAR IN FRONT I HAD TO DIVERT MY CAR ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. AS I HIT SHOULDER OF THE ROAD THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL BUSTED AND THE CAR EVENTUALLY STOPPED FURTHER AT THE UP HILL. I DON'T KNOW IF THE BRAKES FAILED AND/OR THE ABS AND/OR THE ONBOARD COMPUTER MALFUNCTIONED. I DID SEE ABS AND VDC LIGHTS SIGN COMING ON THE DASHBOARD FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS BEFORE DISAPPEARING ON ITS OWN. ALSO SINCE THEN THE TIRE PRESSURE SIGN HAS NEVER GONE OFF. THE TIRE PRESSURE SIGNS BLINKS FOR A LITTLE WHILE EVERY TIME START THE CAR AND THEN GETS STEADY. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN SAFETY CONCERN TO ME AS I STILL CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW WOULD THE CAR DO NOTHING EVEN AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES SO MANY TIMES. WITH AN 2011 MODEL AND ONLY 56000 MILES ON IT I WOULD NEVER EXPECT SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO HAPPEN. SO SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR NOW AS WE HAVE AN TWO YEAR OLD WHO WAS IN THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT & MY WIFE GOT AN MINOR INJURY TO HER LEFT ELBOW. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO NISSAN BY CALLING 800-647-7261 ON SEPT 24 2019 AND HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING BACK FROM THEM SINCE THAN.

NHTSA ODI 11258642

Dec 16, 2018SteeringBrakesEngine

I HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WHEN IT WAS ONLY 20K MILES { 2 YEARS WITH WARRANTY}. THEY DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM AND I WAS NOT HAPPY. ON 3RD YEAR (BEFORE 3 YEARS OR 36 MONTHS EXPIRATION DATE), I SENT IT TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO INSPECT AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY ISSUE (NO ACTION OR ANYTHING BEEN FIXED). IT KEEP HAPPENING AND I HAD TO SEND IT BACK AGAIN TO RECHECK WHEN IT WAS 50K. AND NOW IT'S 80K MILES AND THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I KEEP CALLING NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND ASKING FOR ADVICES. THEY CAN NOT HELP ME OR FIX IT. I WAS ALMOST GOT HIT FEW TIMES WHEN I DROVE THIS NISSAN

NHTSA ODI 11161860

Jun 20, 2016BrakesCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE PARKING AND ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CONTACT'S FOOT BECAME TRAPPED BETWEEN BOTH THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BROKEN NOSE THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 08/17/16*LJ THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED TOTALED. UPDATED 08/22/16.*JB *JS *JS *JS

NHTSA ODI 10875364

Jul 18, 2014BrakesCrash

VEHICLE "A" AT REST AT STOPLIGHT. VEHICLE "B" ACCELERATES REAR ENDING VEHICLE "A". *TR

NHTSA ODI 10611420

Mar 28, 2013Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BRAKES WOULD EXHIBIT A LOUD GRABBING NOISE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,500.

NHTSA ODI 10504868

Aug 15, 2012Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND THE DOORS LOCKED, THE BRAKES STARTED TO MAKE A CLUNKING A RATTLING NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED THIS CONTINUED UNTIL THE VEHICLE REACHED 20-25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER IN THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,600.

NHTSA ODI 10470736

Sep 27, 2011Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKE PEDAL; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. AFTER APPLYING FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAME TO A STOP. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER REGARDING THE UNEXPECTED BRAKE MALFUNCTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,500.

NHTSA ODI 10427535

Jun 17, 2011Brakes

WHEN THE CAR REACHED 15-20 MPH (THE DOORS LOCK) A RATTLING, CLUNKING NOISE OCCURS IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS STARTED AND THAT SPEED IS REACHED. I WAS TOLD FROM THE DEALERSHIP THIS IS NORMAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10407230

Apr 22, 2011Brakes

UPON THE CAR REACHING 20 MILES PER HOUR THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM CHARGES UP. THIS CREATES A LOT OF NOISE AND CAUSE THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDAL TO VIBRATE. THIS CONDITION OCCURS ONCE EVERY IGNITION CYCLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10397132

Feb 7, 2011Brakes

THE VEHICLE HAS HAD ISSUES WITH ABS ACTUATOR MAKING NOISES AND VIBRATING. DEALERSHIP COULD FIND NO PROBLEMS, BUT REFERRED TO NISSAN SERVICE BULLETIN. ON FEBRUARY 2, 2011, I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 20-25 MPH. AS I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT I ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS MY BRAKES. AT THAT TIME THE PEDAL TRAVELED MORE THAN 3/4 OF THE WAY TO THE FLOOR ALMOST INSTANTLY. THERE WAS A LOUD METALLIC CLANKING AND GRINDING SOUND AND A VERY STRONG VIBRATION COMING FROM UNDER BRAKE PEDAL. I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AS IT PULLED TO THE LEFT AND ALMOST TRAVELED INTO THE ONCOMING LANE. AFTER 2-3 SECONDS I REGAINED THE USE OF MY BRAKES. *LN

NHTSA ODI 10380927

Working with the data? Download all 141 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 10, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 Nissan Sentra verdict →