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Your vehicleHome›Nissan›Sentra› 2016
Nissan · Midsize Sedan

2016 Nissan Sentra

Gas
Midsize Cars
3 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
D
Safety Signal
67 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Counts recalls, not crash safety — this vehicle earned 4 of 5 stars from NHTSA. A much-recalled best-seller scores low here; see the methodology.
RecallsNHTSA campaigns 6
Complaints18 crash · 2 fire · 13 injured reported 270
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 4★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 33 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2016 Nissan Sentra is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize sedan with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Sentra FE, is EPA-rated at 33 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 270 complaints, most often about the power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

Nissan Sentra — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Nissan Sentra · Photo: Deathpallie325 · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Sentra FEGasFWD1.8L 4-cyl303833$2,050
SentraGasFWD1.8L 4-cyl293732$2,100
SentraGasFWD1.8L 4-cyl273530$2,250

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 37196, 37195, 37194.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Sentra FE5 / 10Bin 5 / LEV-II LEVAll 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standardsSmartWay
Sentra5–8 / 10LEV-III SULEV30 / Bin 5 / LEV-II LEVAll 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standardsSmartWay
Sentra5 / 10Bin 5 / LEV-II LEVAll 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleSedan/Saloon
Doors4
GVWR classClass 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders4
Displacement1.8 L

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Transmission

Drivetrain4x2

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim. Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length182.3 in
Width (body, without mirrors)69.3 in
Height59.1 in
Wheelbase106.3 in
Track, front60.2 in
Track, rear60.2 in
Curb weight2,879 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear60/40

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here one configuration: 4-door Sedan. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Also on file Beside the 2016 Sentra
Other years The 2027 Sentra Recalls Nissan recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2016 Nissan Sentra is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (6)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Exterior Lighting

PM971
807,376 vehicles 61% reported repaired
Problem Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Nissan Sentra vehicles. The brake light switch may become contaminated, preventing the circuit from closing and the brake lights from illuminating. Risk The brake lights may not illuminate, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the brake light switch and install a protective grommet, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 1, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800867-7769. Nissan's number for this recall is PM971.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V135000 reported Mar 3, 2021 Nissan North America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Air Bags

30,038 vehicles 67% reported repaired built Jan 4, 2016 – Dec 23, 2016
Problem Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 LEAF and 2014, 2016 and 2017 Sentra vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error within the air bag inflators, the passenger frontal air bag may not properly deploy in the event of a crash. Risk In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag doesn't deploy properly, it can increase the risk of injury to passengers. Fix Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 17V253000 reported Apr 13, 2017 Nissan North America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Electrical System

1,522 vehicles 74% reported repaired built Apr 11, 2016 – Apr 26, 2016
Problem Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 Sentra vehicles manufactured April 11, 2016, through April 26, 2016. The engine room harness may have a terminal pin too large to maintain a connection with the Engine Control Unit (ECU). Risk If the engine room harness loses connection to the ECU, the vehicle may not start or the engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the terminal pin on the engine room harness, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 16V485000 reported Jun 29, 2016 Nissan North America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Electrical System

4,355 vehicles 77% reported repaired built Feb 9, 2016 – Mar 4, 2016
Problem Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 LEAF vehicles manufactured February 24, 2016, to March 23, 2016, and Sentra vehicles manufactured February 9, 2016, to March 4, 2016. The wiring harness connector may disconnect from the dual-stage passenger air bag. Risk If the wiring harness disconnects, the passenger air bag may not to deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Fix Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wiring harness connector for proper engagement and, if necessary, replace the passenger air bag module and main body harness, free of charge. The recall began on August 9, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 16V436000 reported Jun 15, 2016 Nissan North America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Air Bags

3,296,947 vehicles 77% reported repaired built Jun 4, 2012 – Apr 9, 2016
Problem Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash Risk If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury. Fix Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy par
NHTSA campaign 16V244000 reported Apr 26, 2016 Nissan North America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Air Bags

645,898 vehicles 70% reported repaired built Jun 4, 2012 – Apr 9, 2016
Problem Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Sentra vehicles manufactured June 4, 2012, to April 9, 2016. The front passenger seat belt bracket may become deformed if it is used to secure a Child Restraint System (CRS). The deformed seat bracket may cause the Occupant Classification System (OCS) to incorrectly classify the installed CRS, resulting in the front passenger air bag to not be turned off as designed when a CRS is in the seat. Risk If the frontal passenger air bag deploys in the event of a crash when a child seat is installed in the front passenger seat, there will be an increased risk of injury to the child in the CRS. Fix Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will reinforce the seat belt bracket as well as reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU), free of charge. The recall began on June 13, 2016. Owners are warned not to install a CRS in the front seat. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 16V242000 reported Apr 26, 2016 Nissan North America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

Whether any of this applies to one specific Sentra

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2016 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Nissan publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Nissan’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2016 Nissan Sentra, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2016 Nissan Sentra

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

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Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
270complaints filed

18 involved a crash · 2 a fire · 13 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2016: 5 · 2017: 16 · 2018: 43 · 2019: 36 · 2020: 34 · 2021: 22 · 2022: 36 · 2023: 18 · 2024: 23 · 2025: 27 · 2026: 10

Most-cited components

Power Train → 127
Engine 48
Electrical System 45
Unspecified 43
Vehicle Speed Control 27
Air Bags 24

In depth: transmission and drivetrain problems →

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

Purchased from Nissan of newnan, in october of 2016 Sentra - while driving the car it started hesitating before picking up any speed from a stopped position, while trying to accelerate, then check engine light came on, pulled over to read the manual and it stated to check the gas cap, it was not on tight so I removed it a placed it back…
Electrical System at 70,000 miles Feb 13, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11072806
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Sentra. While driving 60 MPH, a loud noise was heard coming from outside the vehicle, and the vehicle pulled to the right. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. There were no warning indicators illuminated.
Suspension at 9,000 miles Feb 8, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11071834
When I drive on the freeway I lose power, the RPM' s jump around and the car loses speed. Like the car is not shifting gears or is having a hard time finding the right gear given the speed
Fuel/Propulsion System at 28,000 miles Feb 7, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11067386
The tranmisson not enough power and seems to me not good gas because the not correctly on city and highway.. Need improve
Engine Jan 27, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11065437
Takata passenger air bag off light sometimes comes on when there is a passenger of weight where it should not be off. The car also sometimes feels as if it's losing power almost jerks some when stopped & you press the gas especially if heat or air is on
Air Bags Jan 3, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11058399
Break failed to stop the car. Break pedal was depressed all the wayto the floor. Just didn't come to full stop. Happened 2 days in a row. The latter incident hit the car in front. It's a real hazard on the road. Now the car is being serviced and loaner car is being provided by the dealer. Carson Nissan in california
Service Brakes at 16,000 miles Jun 1, 2017 NHTSA owner report · ODI 10992768

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Nissan itself: 11 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 2 killed, 14 injured, as claimed, not verified. Every Sentra model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 63k

miles, typically

Half the 139 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 36,000 and 96,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

under 10k 13
10k–20k 8
20k–30k 8
30k–40k 9
40k–50k 13
50k–60k 11
60k–70k 14
70k–80k 10
80k–90k 8
90k–100k 13
100k–150k 29
150k + 3

Median mileage by component

ComponentReportsMedian milesVs same age
Power Train6691,0001.75×
Electrical System2455,0001.22×
Engine2160,0000.97×
Vehicle Speed Control1750,0001.67×
Unspecified1448,000—
Service Brakes1248,0001.2×

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2016-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Here, owners reported later: power train (1.75×), vehicle speed control (1.67×). Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR FWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆12%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 197
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-04-13
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 197 service bulletins

Most often about: Equipment, Electrical System, Power Train, Engine, Equipment Adaptive/Mobility.

  • NTB09-131C Service bulletin
    2026-04-13 · Structure — Body
  • CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “Certification Label” or “VIN Plate/Label” may be needed. HINT: Certification Label = FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) label. These items may be available from Nissan by request if certain criteria are met. This bulletin lists the criteria and provides
  • NTB09-131C Service bulletin
    2026-04-13 · Structure — Body
  • CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “Certification Label” or “VIN Plate/Label” may be needed. HINT: Certification Label = FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) label. These items may be available from Nissan by request if certain criteria are met. This bulletin lists the criteria and provides
  • NTB19-033G Service bulletin
    2025-02-20 · Electrical System
  • INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE AND AEB/FEB WARNING LIGHT ON OR RADAR OBSTRUCTION MESSAGE DISPLAYED WITH DTC C1A16 OR C2582 IF YOU CONFIRM IMPORTANT: The purpose of ACTION (on the next page) is to give you a quick idea of the work you will be performing. You MUST closely follow the entire SERVICE PROCEDURE as it contains information that is essential to successfully completing this repair.
  • NTB19-071D Service bulletin
    2024-09-19 · Air Bags
  • DTC B00A0-00 STORED This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin. IF YOU CONFIRM DTC B00A0-00 (OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR UNIT) is stored, AND OCS zero point reset cannot be performed, (continued on the next page)
  • NTB13-107G Service bulletin
    2024-05-21 · Electrical System
  • VEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
  • NTB13-027D Service bulletin
    2024-05-21 · Electrical System
  • CAN COMMUNICATION – NETWORK DIAGNOSTIC FLOW CHART This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
  • NTB10-066C Service bulletin
    2024-05-21 · Electrical System
  • CAN COMMUNICATION CODES – DIAGNOSTIC TIPS AND GUIDELINES This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
  • NTB13-028I Service bulletin
    2024-04-30 · Visibility/Wiper
  • REMOVING FOREIGN MATERIAL FROM THE WINDOW GLASS This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
P0965
P0965 on Nissan →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train7 bulletins · 1 owner report
P0746
P0746 on Nissan →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train7 bulletins
P0456
P0456 on Nissan →		A very small leak in the evaporative emissions system.Fuel/Propulsion System · Gas cap →6 bulletins
B130C
B130C on Nissan →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Equipment5 bulletins
B2EF0
B2EF0 on Nissan →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Equipment5 bulletins
P17F0
P17F0 on Nissan →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train4 bulletins
C1A16
C1A16 on Nissan →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →3 bulletins
P0101
P0101 on Nissan →		The mass air flow sensor is reporting a figure the engine computer does not believe for the conditions.Equipment Adaptive/Mobility · Mass air flow sensor →2 bulletins · 1 owner report
P0442
P0442 on Nissan →		A small leak in the evaporative emissions system.Fuel/Propulsion System · Gas cap →3 bulletins
P0455
P0455 on Nissan →		A large leak in the evaporative emissions system — often a fuel cap left off.Fuel/Propulsion System · Gas cap →3 bulletins
P0603
P0603 on Nissan →		The engine control module has lost its keep-alive memory.Electrical System · Battery →3 bulletins
C1A12Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →2 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2016 Nissan Sentra failed the emissions check on 6.2% of first inspections — higher than the 4.2% for every 2016 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.6% (every 2016 vehicle: 2.2%).

New York inspections 6.2%

failed emissions

2,995 initial inspections of 2,909 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2016 SentraEvery 2016 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check6.2%4.2%2,985
Failed the safety inspection2.6%2.2%2,995
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.27%0.27%2,995
Miles driven a year9,34710,028odometer at inspection
Average odometer96,040103,109odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2016 vehicle” is every 2016 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Sentra by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2027 A* 0 0 33 mpg2026 A 1 19 33 mpg2025 C 4 31 34 mpg2024 B 3 41 34 mpg2023 A 1 20 33 mpg2022 B 2 81 33 mpg2021 B 3 132 33 mpg2020 C 4 206 33 mpg2019 B 2 223 32 mpg2018 B 2 185 32 mpg2017 C 3 231 32 mpg2016 this page D 6 270 33 mpg

Common questions about the 2016 Sentra

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2016 Nissan Sentra have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 6 recall campaigns for the 2016 Nissan Sentra. The most serious on file is 21V135000, covering Exterior Lighting. 1 of them was filed with no repair available at the time — NHTSA's file records what the manufacturer had in hand on the filing date, not what exists today. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2016 Nissan Sentra?

NHTSA gave the 2016 Nissan Sentra 4 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it D (67/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Nissan Sentra?

Across the 3 EPA-rated configurations of the 2016 Nissan Sentra, the best EPA combined figure is 33 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2016 Nissan Sentra?

Transport Canada measured it at 182.3 in long, 69.3 in wide (body, without mirrors), 59.1 in tall, on a 106.3 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 2,879 lb. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2016 Nissan Sentra?

Owners have filed 270 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Nissan Sentra, most often about power train, engine, electrical system. Of those, 18 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 13 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2016 Nissan Sentra?

The EPA smog rating for the 2016 Nissan Sentra runs 5 to 8 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — Bin 5, LEV-II LEV, LEV-III SULEV30 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2016 Nissan Sentra?

The manufacturer has filed 197 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2016 Nissan Sentra, most often covering equipment, electrical system, power train. The most recent is dated 2026-04-13. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2016 Nissan Sentra do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2016 Nissan Sentra failed the emissions check on 6.2% of first inspections — higher than the 4.2% for every 2016 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.6% (every 2016 vehicle: 2.2%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations3 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates3 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls6NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints270NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings1 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins197NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
InvestigationsnoneNHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationNo defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA7 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Other years The 2027 Sentra The Sentra model year with the cleanest record on file — grade A, 0 recalls.Recalls Every Nissan recall on file All campaigns filed against Nissan vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this Sentra by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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