2011 Nissan Sentra Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

30Engine complaints

21.1%Of all 142 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM31 · 21.8%

ENGINE30 · 21.1%

AIR BAGS20 · 14.1%

Unspecified / other18 · 12.7%

POWER TRAIN18 · 12.7%

Share of the 142 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2011 Nissan Sentra overview page.

What owners report

“WE PUT OUR VIN INTO THE RECALL DATABASE AND IT DID NOT COME BACK AS BEING ONE OF THE CARS AFFECTED. HOWEVER, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED…”NHTSA complaint 11240882 — filed 07/31/2019

“I HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WHEN IT WAS ONLY 20K MILES { 2 YEARS WITH WARRANTY}. THEY DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM AND I WAS NOT…”NHTSA complaint 11161860 — filed 12/16/2018

“CAR HAS 75,000 MILES. JUST HAD IT SERVICED. THE BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON, THEN NEXT START, THEY ARE OFF. THE CAR STALLS ON EVERY TURN…”NHTSA complaint 11160860 — filed 12/11/2018

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2011 Nissan Sentra have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2011 Nissan Sentra: 30 of 142 complaints on file (21.1%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2011 Nissan Sentra have in total?

142 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 19 involved a crash, 6 involved a fire, 14 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.