2019 Nissan Sentra Problems & Complaints

Use caution1.9× as many complaints as a typical year of the Sentra at the same age

Owners have filed 223 complaints about the 2019 Nissan Sentra with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is 1.9× as many as a typical Sentra model year at the same age — above average, so look closely at the problem areas below before you buy. The most reported problem area is the electrical system (65 complaints, typically around 34,000 miles). 2 recalls cover this model year.

223complaints
2recalls
16crashes
1fires
18injuries
0deaths

Most common 2019 Nissan Sentra problems

  • Electrical system~34,000 miles
    6529%
  • 5424%
  • Other / not specified~12,000 miles
    4721%
  • Brakes~16,000 miles
    3817%
  • Driver assistance~20,000 miles
    3817%
  • Lights~46,000 miles
    2813%
  • Engine & cooling~62,000 miles
    209%
  • Air bags~30,000 miles
    146%
  • Speed control & acceleration~5,000 miles
    125%
  • Fuel & propulsion system~60,000 miles
    63%
  • Body & structure~63,000 miles
    52%
  • Stability & traction control~8,000 miles
    52%
  • Seat belts~40,000 miles
    42%
  • Suspension~257,000 miles
    42%
  • Steering~4,000 miles
    31%
  • Equipment & accessories
    21%
  • Windows, wipers & sunroof
    21%
  • Seats~6,000 miles
    21%
  • Locks & latches~39,000 miles
    10%

Share of the 223 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Nissan Sentra complaints by model year

’95’96’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25’261171411085859171236304180197170116154167551441421806383803522702311852232061328120413119
Owner complaints per model year, Nissan Sentra. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best Sentra years: 2023, 2024. Years to avoid: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2020, 2016. Compare all years →

2019 Nissan Sentra recalls (2)

Exterior lighting › Brake lights › Switch

NHTSA recall 21V-135 · Mar 3, 2021 · 807,376 vehicles

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.

Remedy: 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.

Back over prevention › Sensing system › Camera

NHTSA recall 19V-654 · Sep 12, 2019 · 1,228,830 vehicles

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated.

What 2019 Nissan Sentra owners say

Electrical system all 65 →

The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while his daughter attempted to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start immediately. The contact's daughter pressed the engine Auto Start/Stop button again, the vehicle restarted. The contact had AAA test that the battery, which had no failure, and it was determined that the brake light switch had failed. The cruise control later failed to operate as needed, and the message "Automatic Emergency Braking Malfunction" was displayed. The contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle had previously been repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V135000 (Exterior Lighting). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 46,000.

46,000 miles · Apr 2026

The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the battery was replaced. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and repaired with a software update. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 44,000.

44,000 miles · Dec 2024

Transmission & drivetrain all 54 →

The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that the transmission would slip or jerk intermittently while driving at various speeds. While depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle lunged before accelerating or occasionally failed to accelerate as intended, causing the contact to restart the vehicle to accelerate as desired. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed the vehicle with transmission failure. The dealer had not repaired the vehicle; but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to inquire about a possible recall. The contact spoke with a second dealer, Hudson Nissan of Charleston (1714 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC 29407) and it was confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. …

169,000 miles · Oct 2024

The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH and depressing on the accelerator pedal, the vehicle would not fully accelerate as desired. There was an unknown warning light illuminated. The contact activated the hazard lights and pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road. The contact waited a few minutes and restarted the vehicle and was able to continue to drive to her residence. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with a major transmission failure. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and it was agreed that the transmission was faulty. The contact was informed that the mechanic could not repair the vehicle because they could not find the coding for the repair in their system. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. …

36,000 miles · Jan 2021

Brakes all 38 →

The contact's wife owns a 2019 Nissan Sentra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V135000 (Exterior Lighting). The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the stop lamp switch was replaced with a temporary switch. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the automatic braking system applied inadvertently and the vehicle stopped abruptly. The contact stated that the ABS malfunction indicator light (MIL) had been illuminated. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that he was contacted by the dealer and informed that the final remedy was available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 69,300. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

69,000 miles · Mar 2022

The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, she had to forcefully depress the brake pedal in order to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that the tire pressure warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving. The dealer was notified of the failure. The VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V135000 (Exterior Lighting).The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.

38,000 miles · Nov 2021

2019 Nissan Sentra engines & fuel economy

EngineTransmissionDriveMPG city / hwy / combined
1.8L 4-cylCVTFWD29 / 37 / 32
1.8L 4-cyl6-speed manualFWD27 / 35 / 30
1.6L 4-cyl turboCVTFWD27 / 33 / 29
1.6L 4-cyl turbo6-speed manualFWD25 / 31 / 27

EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Nissan Sentra a good car?

Based on 223 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2019 Sentra rates use caution: 1.9× as many complaints as a typical year of the Sentra at the same age. It is one of the Sentra years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.

What is the most common problem with the 2019 Nissan Sentra?

The electrical system — 65 complaints, 29% of all complaints for this model year, most often about instrument panel › speedometer/odometer. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (54) and brakes (38).

How many recalls does the 2019 Nissan Sentra have?

There are 2 recalls for the 2019 Nissan Sentra, the most recent from March 3, 2021 (switch). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.

What are the best and worst years of the Nissan Sentra?

The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2023 and 2024. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2020 and 2016. See the full Nissan Sentra years comparison.

At what mileage do 2019 Nissan Sentra problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 35,000 miles; 66% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.