The compact sedan class is potent and filled to the brim with competitive options. Among these, the Nissan Sentra has been a consistent proposition. In its two decades, the Japanese offering has ranked the scales of success with a capacious cabin, an ergonomic setup, and a high degree of frugality. It builds its place as an everyday option for family-oriented buyers and though the safety scores do take a hit, the overall reliability of the vehicle remains decent per class standards. In the current iteration, the sedan records 130 complaints and 2 recalls. None of the issues listed by the users seem to have a widespread impact and for the most part, the ownership experience remains hassle-free. A 2011 Nissan Sentra available for sale is priced at $16,060 and it competes with the likes of the Toyota Corolla, the Kia Forte, and the Hyundai Elantra.
2011 Nissan Sentra User Complaints and Problems
Safety Complaints
- Airbag complaints: In the 2011 Nissan Sentra problems list, the airbags have been a constant cause of concern. In several cases, buyers have either reported the inadvertent illumination of the warning light, which can impede the normal operation of the airbags, or the non-deployment of the airbags. Both situations can result in injuries to the occupants.
Mechanical Complaints
- Loss of power: The 2011 Nissan Sentra stalling problems are highly recurring. In plenty of cases, complainants have recorded the compact sedan losing power and stalling inadvertently. This can be caused due to underlying mechanical concerns, however, a damaged Engine Control Module has been attributed as a common cause of the problem. To deal with this issue, Nissan has introduced two recalls that are listed below.
- Failure of the transmission unit: In the Nissan Sentra known issues list, the CVT unit has been irksome. Akin to most other vehicles using a similar setup, the transmission slips and hesitates while shifting between the gears. This causes the vehicle to shudder excessively and in some cases, buyers have also reported the compact sedan’s transmission failing before breaching the 100,000 miles mark.
- Other mechanical issues: For buyers of the 2011 Sentra, the steering system and braking units have also been troublesome. In a handful of cases, complainants have either reported the brakes failing to bring the vehicle to a halt or the steering freezing while the vehicle is in motion. Both situations can increase the risk of a crash.
Miscellaneous Complaints
- Variegated concerns: Among the structural issues, some buyers of the 2011 Nissan Sentra have reported the explosion of the sunroof, without any impact or incidence. In other cases, the driver-side sun visor has been reported coming in contact with the rearview mirror, which results in constricted visibility.
2011 Nissan Sentra Recalls
|
S. No |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
15th Dec 2011 |
11V579000 |
Damaged Engine Control Module (ECM) |
A voltage drop caused by improper zinc coating on the terminal stud bolt can result in the vehicle not starting or damage to the Engine Control Module (ECM). |
Dealers will replace the positive battery terminal and cover, free of charge. |
|
2. |
12th Nov 2010 |
10V555000 |
Machining issues |
Due to an issue in machining, the bolt/washer surface on the terminal cable end may create a gap, which can result in the vehicle not starting or damage to the Engine Control Module (ECM). |
Dealers will replace the positive battery terminal cable end, free of cost. |
Should you buy the 2011 Nissan Sentra?
For small families and first-time buyers, the 2011 Nissan Sentra brings forth impressive capabilities. It is a concoction of frugality and practical performance at an affordable price. It is neatly designed and offers ample passenger and cargo space that allows it to resonate with pragmatism. Even its reliability is praiseworthy. Despite scoring 4-stars on the safety tests, the number of complaints and recalls registered against the compact sedan remain limited. Nissan’s proactive approach comes in handy to deal with recurring concerns and as a result, the ownership experience is rather easy-going. So, for us, the 2011 Sentra is one vehicle we would not like to veto. However, if you want to look at alternatives, the 2011 Kia Forte is the next best option.
