The Nissan Sentra is a car that gets the job done without much fuss. The sedan is priced at a mere $18,000 and goes against the likes of the Honda Civic and the Chevrolet Cruze. The sedan is pretty vanilla but has experienced issues with its electrical system and transmission. The Sentra has also gathered a lot of complaints regarding the brakes failing as well. To add to the woes, the Japanese carmaker has issued a couple of recalls as well. Let’s see what all issues still stand with the 2019 model year and what the recalls were about.
2019 Nissan Sentra Problems
Electrical issues:
- Battery troubles: Most of the Sentra battery issues have been due to corrosion at the terminals which causes a connection error. This error stalls the car out and shuts it down. There have also been complaints regarding jagged terminals which cut off all the power despite being fully charged.
- Radio issues: There is a small delay in the Sentra’s radio after the car is turned off. In some cases, the radio remains on for a prolonged period and drains the battery. Apart from this, some people have reported the radio rebooting at random while the Bluetooth is connected.
- Faulty sensors: Many complainants have raised concerns about the sensor responsible for assists like AEB and FCA. A malfunction in the sensor causes the safety aids to malfunction, increasing the chances of rear-end collisions.
- Backup camera cut-off: Many 2019 Sentra owners have reported the backup camera getting cut off. This affects the rearward visibility. There have been mounting complaints from other Nissan vehicles as well regarding the same. These complaints compelled the carmaker to issue a recall (NHTSA Campaign Number 19V654000).
Mechanical issues:
- Transmission shudders: People have reported the Sentra transmission to sputter and lose power. This has been a repetitive issue for a long time and is reported to the manufacturer. This issue is reported to result in collisions and cause injuries to the occupants inside. The remedy to this issue is prescribed to be a transmission replacement which comes as a surprise to new car owners.
- Engine starting issues: Many owners have reported issues while starting the car. People claim that there’s no cranking from the starter motor and the car becomes completely dead. In some cases, the car shuts down randomly and has to be towed to the dealership.
Safety issues:
- Forward collision avoidance and automatic emergency braking: Yes, people have faced issues with both the safety features due to a faulty sensor. The sensor hindered the operation of the systems and cause the car to brake without anything in proximity. As such, there have been many close calls reported due to this, some resulting in a crash nonetheless.
- Airbag deployment issues: There have been many complaints regarding Sentra’s front airbags not deploying in a crash. Such a catastrophic failure has resulted in the hospitalization of many people over the years. Thankfully, no fatalities have been reported on the NHTSA’s website.
2019 Nissan Sentra Recalls
|
S. No |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
September 12, 2019 |
19V654000 |
Back Over Prevention |
Improper adjustment of the rear-view camera may not reflect anything in the infotainment screen and affect rearward visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. The affected vehicles also fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS Number 111. “Rear Visibility”. |
The recall began on November 11, 2019. The dealers will update the backup camera settings. |
|
2. |
March 3, 2021 |
21V135000 |
Exterior Lighting |
A contaminated brake light may not illuminate due to an error in the circuit, affecting the visibility of the trailing vehicles and increasing the risk of a crash. |
The recall began on April 20, 2021. The dealers will replace the faulty brake light switch and install a protective grommet. |
Should you buy the 2019 Nissan Sentra?
The 2019 Nissan Sentra is the bread-and-butter sedan for many people but the Japanese manufacturer has cut corners. These compromises are evident in the car's transmission and electricals. The Sentra’s price makes it a pretty compelling offering but you should always beware of all the tremendous costs associated to correct the CVT gearbox. These points should also be at the top of your list when going for a used Sentra.
