Complaint volume
203 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2020 Nissan Sentra Complaints
203 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2020 Nissan Sentra, grouped by component category.
203 Total complaints
8 Crash reports
0 Fire reports
2 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are steering, unknown or other, electrical system. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 8 crash reports, 0 fire reports, 2 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 57 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 32,334 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to steering, unknown or other, electrical system?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2020 Nissan Sentra?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2020 Nissan Sentra
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2020 Nissan Sentra complaints?
8 Crash
0 Fire
2 Injury
0 Fatality
11 Towed
3 Medical attention
What are the most common 2020 Nissan Sentra complaint categories?
STEERING 42
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 31
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 28
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 23
SERVICE BRAKES 11
ENGINE 5
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING 5
SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 5
SUSPENSION 5
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 4
203 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2024 | ENGINE | This Vehicle was bought back in Jun of this year. Since purchasing the vehicle with only 49,933 miles this Sentra has broken down 4 times, been in the shop for 1Month 2weeks consecutively. The first incident was 4.5 hrs after purchase. The Passenger side Tide Rod snapped in half on the highway causing the jam and slow down along with leaving me in fear for my life. The passenger rim was inverted facing the driver. The second time happened to be the same issue but at a different dealership. The car went to Moss Bros San Bernardino where it was bought and was there for about 25days .Later it was sent to Nissan of San Bernardino and was there for 2weeks. The same day It got picked up from Nissan it was taken back the same day. Had same Bumpy and shaking throughout the car. When the tie rod snapped in half it had destroyed the durability of the belt and pulley systems as the vehicle weight was slammed abruptly onto the passenger side of the car leaving it slanted and slid for 2-3 mins on the freeway this caused the engine to become weak which led up to the defective parts breaking over time of driving regularly. The Alternator Pulley, Serpentine Belt, Axle, and balance to become uneven. So as of 09/10 this vehicle has broke down 4-5 times. Been in the shop since. The vehicle has Powertrain warranty but as usual they denied coverage. Total cost is around $2,700 in damages due to the original recall. This Tie rod recall has destroyed the vehicle. Congratulation to me cause I still owe 22K. This hazardous, and dangerous vehicle has also been deemed unsafe by CHP as of 06/11/2024. This particularly Sentra is a ticking time bomb waiting to explode on the freeway. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | I was driving in town, alternator decided to quit working, car went into limp mode on a busy street and I was nearly rear-ended. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | doors do not lock. Doors on drivers' side does not lock on multiple 2020 Nissan Sentra's. Actuators are failing on the doors and causing them to not lock with remote or without remote and making it easily for someone to steal or damage vehicle. Vehicle has been inspected by Nissan and are trying to get $300 to diagnose the issue and then another $600-$1,000 to fix the issue. Requesting this be a recall item for 2020 Nissan Sentra. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The rear back up camera had a recall on my car. I took it to the dealer to have it replaced. The camera would sometimes work and sometimes not work. When it wasn’t working the screen would either remain black or royal blue showing no picture at all. When I arrived at the Wesley Chapel Nissan in Wesley Chapel Fl I explained to them that the camera does not work correctly and that I had been notified by mail that my car had a recall with the camera according to my VIN number. The dealership looked at my car and stated that the camera was working fine. They then closed the case and marked it as being repaired. The camera on my car had never been fixed. I took my car to them at a later date for an oil change and explained the camera was not working. They once again said they would look at it. They never fixed the camera just said nothing was wrong with it. A few more months had passed and the camera was not working at all. I called to ask if they’d look at it again and they told me there would be a charge. I didn’t take the car in because I didn’t feel I should have to pay a diagnostic fee for something they should have fixed prior. I brought my car to them once again for an oil change and asked them to look at it again. This time they said the camera was not working but they couldn’t do anything because the case was closed. I called Nissan motor company, they opened a case and said they would look into it and I would have to apply for financing. At this point I was livid. They ended up stating that I would have to pay for half of the repairs for something that was recalled. I called the local dealer today to see if there was anything else that could be done because they are the ones who closed the recall. They said they couldn’t help me. I am driving a 2020 Nissan Sentra. There was never any warning lamps stating the camera was failing. The screen goes to blue when put in reverse. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2024 | STEERING | The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Sentra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V581000 (Steering); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the front end of the vehicle was vibrating abnormally. Additionally, there was a clicking sound while turning the steering wheel in either direction. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The failure mileage was 114,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available. | Crash: No Fire: No | 114,000 |
| Aug 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | When I shift the car into reverse, the screen turns blue, rendering the camera completely unusable. This malfunction is extremely concerning as it creates a significant hazard when backing up, particularly in areas with pedestrians or other vehicles. The inability to see what is behind my car puts me and others at serious risk. Without a functioning rearview camera, I am at risk of accidentally hitting a person, especially a child or someone walking behind my vehicle. The blue screen also makes it difficult to judge the proximity of other cars or obstacles, increasing the likelihood of a collision. There was a recall issued for this exact issue in September 2023. My car was inspected by a Nissan dealership as part of this recall; however, no parts were replaced during the inspection. Despite the recall service, the issue with the rearview camera persists and is causing considerable concern. Given the severity of the problem and its potential to cause accidents, I believe the recall was insufficient in addressing the underlying issue. Simply inspecting the camera without replacing any parts has not resolved the problem | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2024 | STEERING | Still no fixture for the tie rods its been a year this is rediciolous its the second time i had them replaced | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2024 | SUSPENSION | I bought my car in June 2023 and I’ve been having problems with my steering wheel. The dealership's goal was to fix that issue. They said they fixed it, but I’ve been having the same issue since I bought the car. They had me pay a $500 deductible to fix the same issue since I bought it. Today is August 15, and they haven’t offered to fix it. I believe they are taking advantage of the fact that I’m young, and I'm very aware that I’m paying $27,000 for this car. Please help me I believe the previous owner lied about what was wrong with the car an I was sold a car with unseen issue that the dealership fails to disclose to me, I believe fail to hold there end of the contract. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2024 | STEERING | I got a recall notice on the tie rods of my car the recall started in August 2023 it is now August 2024 and the dealership states to me that they still do not have the parts to fix my recall | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2024 | STEERING | The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Sentra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 23V581000 (Steering). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle became difficult to steer. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer where it was diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact continued driving the vehicle however, the vehicle was difficult to steer. The vehicle was taken to a different dealer, Pat Fischer Nissan (1128 S Hopkins Ave, Titusville, FL 32780) where it was determined that the tie rod and steering rack needed to be replaced. The repair was pending and the vehicle remained with the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 80,000 |
| Jul 2024 | STEERING | MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. For over a year (with a tie rod unresolved recall due to a "national back order") my young son's Nissan Sentra has consistently made noises and vibrations when he turns at low speeds. My husband repeatedly called the local Nissan Dealership in Pensacola, Sandy Sansing Nissan, citing the recall and the issues he was having but was offered no fix. My son was/is having actual safety issues related to the faulty tie rod. We went dealership on January 5, 2024 where they claimed that they fixed the recall, but after, my son noticed no change. Last week July 17, 2024, my son took his Sentra to our local mechanic who we've used and trust for over 20 years, thinking it needed brakes/rotors because the vibration and noise had gotten worse/different. Our local mechanic told him his brakes/rotors were fine but upon inspection said it needed new Rack and Pinion steering, front lower control arms, and left/right CV axles total cost $4600. That afternoon I called the Nissan Dealership, knowing these were related to the recall, and told them what our mechanic said and that we needed the next available appointment. The next morning, Nissan says he needs a new subframe (which he does not need) AND steering rack $5,117.49, Alignment $130 and both CV Axles, but for triple the price that our mechanic quoted. Nissan's total was $9000, and our Nissan service advisor looked up and told us on January 4, they couldn't have fixed the recall since the part isn't available. Now, since the recalled tie rods (that were never fixed) are bad (and the tie rods are directly connected to the steering rack), they have damaged the steering rack. This is my son's first car he financed, and he was so proud of it. The excitement has become a safety nightmare for our whole family. Nissan, please show your customers some integrity. $9,000 bill, but no fix for the recall that caused the issues and could literally cause him (and others) to lose control of the steering at any point and crash? | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The door lock actuators on both of my rear doors suddenly no longer work. When I hit the button to lock all doors, only my 2 front doors lock. My cars 3 year warranty expired about 5 months ago and I have under 19,000 miles on the odometer. This is a safety issue. What if a carjacker walked up to my car while I’m in it, I lock the doors, and my back doors don’t lock. I could be killed. Not only that, but my car alarm does not even trigger when I open the back door after locking the car with my key fob!!! AND, I cannot find any 3rd party manufacturers of the needed replacement parts for this issue!!! So Nissan makes additional money off customers who have no other option than to purchase their defective parts for replacement, and the owner REMAINS stuck with the same defective OEM parts after paying hundreds (thousands?) for the required repairs. So Nissan is incentivized to NOT fix this problem, as they instead make more money off of it. Do a quick Google search and other 2020+ Sentra owners are experiencing the same issue. Unacceptable. Nissan needs to manufacture a replacement version of these door lock actuators that are not defective and issue a recall. Thank you for your time. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The electrical system is a nightmare in this vehicle. My automatic emergency braking system was activating while I was going 60mph on the highway with no vehicles or reasons to have this feature activate. It happened on numerous occasions. I had passengers in the car and they witnessed it. It was very alarming to be cruising along at 50+ mph and the braking system jolted the car to a stop. I also had to replace the battery twice. Had to purchase a portable jump starter. Had to replace alternator. None of these things should be an issue with a 36 mo lease I complained numerous times how I felt the car was a death trap. I asked for a loaner if I left car since it’s a safety hazard and I’m sickly and must get to my dr appts. I was told by dealer that’s not their problem. I broke down at night alone at least 5 times. My gas said a quarter tank yet I broke down for no gas. The radio volume knob never worked. The driver rear door never locked. System malfunction wld constantly flash on my screen. The car made a ticking noise inside when shut down. My heater didn’t work. I opened 2 consumer affairs claims. They put me off everyday. The girl Tyler did NOTHING. This car is a death trap. I think the dealer knew it had electrical problems. I kept car past end of lease for legal proof. I continued to pay. Finally I gave up. 5 hrs b4 inspection they sent a tow truck to take vehicle. I lost all belongings in trunk. They were still using my registration and never contacted me or returned calls or sent any letter to get my belongings. They kept new battery and battery jumper. Plz I need help. Nissan has been nasty to me and my [XXX] mom and instead of offering some money back they want to put me in collections for $1500 for mileage. Which I kept paying lease Plz help us. Nissan resold vehicle. Someone is going to die in that car INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2024 | STEERING | The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Sentra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V581000 (Steering) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2024 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH | The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that the word "Malfunction" was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the brake light switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 41,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 41,000 |
| Jul 2024 | STEERING,WHEELS | The wheel keeps turning to the right and won't go straight. The wheel makes a clicking noise when it turns. It seems to be something to do with the steering column. Must keep turning the steering wheel to the left for it to work properly. I have replaced the steering gear assembly at my own expense, but the problem has not improved, proving to be a design issue near the tire and tie rod. I'm sure the sound is coming from near the tire and tie rod. Yes. I found the recall notice but no solution was given. There doesn't seem to be any plan to fix this design flaw? I need to file a complaint! | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2024 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Malfunction Brakes from glares on the road (especially in the rain) And now has a Malfunction warning. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2024 | STEERING | My front passenger tire rod on my Nissan broke while backing it up out of my driveway in Gillette,Wy. So I contacted the Nissan dealer in Casper,WY and they informed it was on a recall. So I had Quality Auto in Gillette, Wy take it to Vista Nissan in Casper, Wy and they informed me that they could not fix it because Quality Auto welded the tire rod together to get it on to the trailer. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Windows and locks not working properly, risking trapping passengers or theft. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2024 | POWER TRAIN | On Sept 25 23 I was driving and the engine light came on the car stalled in traffic and would not move when I tried to go forward the car would not move. I called my insurance roadside service they had to tow the car to the dealer. The dealer said the cause of the problem was the transmission they had to replace the automatic CVT transaxle assembly. These cars need to be recalled because I had a 2018 nissan sentra with the same transmission problem. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES | There has been numerous battery drains, can't charge phone without draining battery. I got and error code P062F Internal Control Module EEPROM. ERROR. and a battery power supply error code | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | STEERING,SUSPENSION | Bad vibration in steering wheel. Feels extremely unsafe due to tie rods. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I bought my car in June23 I’ve been having a lot of issue with the car dealership fail uphold there end of the contract | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | STEERING | Dealership is refusing to repair recall: NHTSA Recall Number: 23V581000 Manufacturer Recall Number: R23B3 On [XXX] approx [XXX] I backed out of a parking spot in a strip mall parking lot in Oceanside, NY. When I shifted into drive, I completely lost the ability to steer. Luckily I was in a parking lot and was able to avoid a collision with another vehicle or pedestrian. I had my car towed to Nissan of Rockville Centre (Long Island, New York), where they advised that my tie rod broke, which damaged the tire rack, and the repair would be $3200. I was advised to put a claim into my insurance. Upon researching, I found that this part was in fact being recalled for this very issue. Dealership is claiming outside forces, however I was pulling out of a parking spot extremely slowly when this incident occurred, with no potholes or debris in the parking lot that could've caused the damage. Nissan Consumer Affairs and the dealership both have given me the runaround for almost two months waiting on their warranty department to either approve or deny the claim. Meanwhile, I have spent over $4000 on rental vehicles to be able to continue working, still waiting for their decision. This has been going on since late March and it is 5/19/24 at the date of this complaint. My car was inspected when I bought it the lease in January/ February of this year, and has been serviced multiple times without the dealership noting the recall, perhaps because the "remedy is not yet available"? I am thankful that this tie rod didn't snap while I was commuting to work on the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn. Nissan is not taking responsibility for this malfunction and associated damage. They are still in possession of my vehicle since late March, refusing to repair the recalled parts, when I am still receiving email and text alerts from Nissan to have the recall repaired urgently! It already broke and the dealership is blaming me. I am requesting support in having this issue remedied. Thank you. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | STEERING | The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Sentra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V581000 (Steering) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while driving 40-50 MPH, the steering wheel and the vehicle shuddered violently. Additionally, the front wheels were wobbling abnormally. The contact stated that the failure also occurred while driving at a slower speed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the tie rod had fractured. The contact stated that the dealer declined to perform an interim repair because the tie rod was not bent; however, the recall remedy involved replacing bent or broken tie rods, free of charge. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring increasingly while driving. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who declined to perform the interim repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available. | Crash: No Fire: No | 50,000 |