2016 Nissan Sentra Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 11/01/2026

48Engine complaints

17.8%Of all 270 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 TRAIN122 · 45.2%

ENGINE48 · 17.8%

Unspecified / other43 · 15.9%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM40 · 14.8%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL27 · 10%

Share of the 270 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: 48 of 270 complaints on file (17.8%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

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

270 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 11/01/2026. 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 11/01/2026.