2016 Nissan Sentra Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

47Engine complaints

17.7%Of all 266 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

POWER TRAIN121 · 45.5%

ENGINE47 · 17.7%

Unspecified / other42 · 15.8%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM39 · 14.7%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL27 · 10.2%

Share of the 266 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2016 Nissan Sentra overview page.

What owners report

“THE CVT IS CAUSING THE CAR TO NOT PICKUP SPEED AND IT'S CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION ON INTERSTATE. I SEE THAT THIS HAS BEEN A…”NHTSA complaint 11241932 — filed 08/06/2019

“MY 2016 NISSAN SENTRA IS BEEN UNSAFE TO DRIVE, I WAS TAKING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL WHEN I WAS TRYING TO HIT THE GAS IT…”NHTSA complaint 11229293 — filed 07/03/2019

“I'VE HAD THIS 2016 NISSAN SENTRA FOR 2 YEARS & 5 MONTHS. TODAY JUNE 29,2019 2:15 PM WHILE DRIVING HOME ON A REGULAR STREET MY…”NHTSA complaint 11228431 — filed 06/29/2019

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2016 Nissan Sentra have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2016 Nissan Sentra: 47 of 266 complaints on file (17.7%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2016 Nissan Sentra have in total?

266 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 18 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, 13 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.