2020 Nissan Sentra Problems And Complaints

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Rating6.7

Ranked #5 in 

Compact Sedan
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$19,310 - $21,650
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Users Opinions on 2020 Nissan Sentra

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  • J

    Jeff

    22/04/2022

    Rating:

    (1 Out Of 5 stars)

    ... works now. Car felt too underpowered, very slow pick up even in sport mode didn't feel comfortable over taking and merging. Overall we didn't enjoy the car it made a lot of weird noises, the ride was rough, infotainment system was gimmicky and always lagged, the front collision warning system stopped in the middle of the road very dangerous and almost caused a rear end accident. We ended up trading it in with only 7k miles. Nissan needs to go back to their glory days where they made cars more excitingRead More

    Source: edmunds

  • V

    V

    19/01/2022

    Rating:

    (1 Out Of 5 stars)

    ... broke. Our sensor in our front end had to be replaced. The back sensor screams at us if we so much as park behind a leaf. We started to hear a "clicking noise" when we turned the steering wheel and took the car in for an inspection (this came at the same time as the only recall on the car, so the timing was convenient). They said everything was fine and that they "fixed" the clicking. Not so much. Lastly, the breaks failed and he got intoRead More

    Source: edmunds

  • M

    Michael

    25/08/2021

    Rating:

    (1 Out Of 5 stars)

    ... possible.now the inside the car is great and comfortable nice trim inside and lots of room that the only good thing about it..but the rest is trash and im trading it in as soon as possible to avoid further problems Read More

    Source: edmunds

2020 Nissan Sentra Sedan Problems, Issues, Complaints, Recalls, and Which Year to Avoid

4

Recalls

0

Investigations

188

Complaints
Overall Safety Rating
Nathan Dyer's image
Nathan Dyer 

Senior Editor,

Updated on August 7, 2024

The Nissan Sentra is a stylish and handsome offering that fits the bill for a mature segment - one that prefers comfort and practicality more than power. The Japanese sedan competes against offerings like the Honda Civic, the Volkswagen Jetta, and the Hyundai Elantra. The 2020 Sentra sees strong sales and is also a pretty reliable car with just one recall on board. The sedan carries a strong image but has also been guilty of several electrical issues. People have complained about the braking assistance as well.

Let’s see why the car was recalled and what the most common complaints have been. The 2020 Nissan Sentra scores very highly in the reliability tests conducted by J.D. Power and leads the segment with a reliability rating of 86/100. That said, there are various major and minor issues that have plagued this particular generation of Sentra, and the video by "Lemon Larry" showcases a list of the possible problems that you need to watch out for. 

2020 Nissan Sentra Problems

Electrical issues:

  • Infotainment issues: Some owners have reported the infotainment system going black while the car is moving. Such blackouts distract the driver and may lead to crashes. There have been issues with the system switching off and disabling the music system. 
  • Remote door lock issues: Some owners have complained that the door locks do not operate via the key fob. The issue pops up randomly and no solution has been found by the dealership. 
  • Backup camera issues: The backup camera on the 2020 Sentra has given issues to some people and has received complaints on the NHTSA. The camera is reported to freeze and not switch back to the home screen. Complainants also state that there is no visual on the infotainment screen when the car is shifted to reverse. 
  • Misaligned headlights: In the units equipped with LED headlights, people have reported a misalignment in the lights that throws light improperly. Some people have also reported that the headlights feel dimmer than their halogen counterparts, affecting night-time visibility.

Mechanical issues:

  • Steering issues: Many people have reported the steering of the 2020 Sentra to go bust and affect the handling of the car. People report that the steering tie rods broke off and steered the car into other objects. The Japanese carmaker has issued a recall for this, referenced by NHTSA Campaign ID 21V461000. 
  • Parking Brake sensor malfunction: People have reported the parking brake sensor to go kaput which causes it to engage randomly at low speeds. People have reported the car stopping erroneously and causing near-collision incidents. 

Safety issues:

  • Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) issues: People have caused the AEB on the Sentra to engage erroneously. The system incorrectly detects objects in proximity and causes the car’s emergency braking to take over. This has caused many rear-end collisions and has led to injuries. 
  • Blind Spot Monitoring issues: The blind-spot monitor in the Sentra is reported to give issues and not detect any vehicles. This has caused many accidents as well and has put the occupants’ life in danger.

2020 Nissan Sentra Recalls

The 2020 Nissan Sentra has already seen a recall with NHTSA Campaign ID 21V461000. The Japanese carmaker recalled 138,736 units of the 2021 Sentra as well for an issue with tie rods. The left or right tie rods might break and affect the handling of the car, increasing the risk of a crash. The dealers were instructed to inspect and replace the faulty tie rods. The recall was made on August 5, 2021. 

Should you buy the 2020 Nissan Sentra?

The 2020 Nissan Sentra is a very commendable offering in the segment and has been a fleet favorite as well. The sedan brings in a ton of reliability for its price and gets many happy customers. Yes, there have been issues here and there but the prompt response has ensured that the problem is taken care of. If you want to buy a used 2020 Sentra, check for the tie rods and you’ll be good to go.

  • Complaints
  • Recalls
  • Investigations
  • Manufacturer Communications

October 2, 2025, NHTSA ID Number: 11691073

Components: 010000 STEERING

NHTSA ID Number:
11691073

Incident Date:
October 2, 2025

Vehicle Identification Number:
3N1AB8CV5LY

Consumer Location:
OXNARD, CA

Summary
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Sentra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V581...

September 26, 2025, NHTSA ID Number: 11689921

Components: 980000 UNKNOWN OR OTHER

NHTSA ID Number:
11689921

Incident Date:
September 26, 2025

Vehicle Identification Number:
3N1AB8CV4LY

Consumer Location:
BELLPORT, NY

Summary
DOOR ACTUATORS ARE NOT WORKING NOT LETTING ME LOCK OR OPEN THE DOORS ON MY FRONT PASSNEGER AND BACK DRIVE...

August 27, 2025, NHTSA ID Number: 11683323

Components: 110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

NHTSA ID Number:
11683323

Incident Date:
August 27, 2025

Vehicle Identification Number:
3N1AB8CV9LY

Consumer Location:
SANTA ROSA, CA

Summary
I started hearing a swishing noise like water, i didn't think anything of it till i opened my back driver...

July 21, 2025, NHTSA ID Number: 11675028

Components: 060000 ENGINE (PWS)

NHTSA ID Number:
11675028

Incident Date:
July 21, 2025

Vehicle Identification Number:
3N1AB8DV4LY

Consumer Location:
FLOWERY BRANCH, GA

Summary
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehic...

July 21, 2025, NHTSA ID Number: 11675171

Components: 010000 STEERING

NHTSA ID Number:
11675171

Incident Date:
July 21, 2025

Vehicle Identification Number:
PERSON@EXAM

Consumer Location:
IRWIN, PA

Summary
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and ...

84/100Best

Quality & Reliability

Assesses the extent of issues, glitches, and design imperfections encountered by...

94/100Best

Driving Experience

Owners' assessments regarding the vehicle's design, performance, comfort, functi...

83/100Best

Resale

CARHP's projection of depreciation, which estimates the probable decrease in the...

83/100Best

Dealership Experience

Owners' interactions with dealerships associated with this brand, encompassing b...

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