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2021 Nissan Sentra
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2021 Nissan Sentra — Safety Summary
The 2021 Nissan Sentra has 3 NHTSA safety recalls and 132 owner complaints on record. Transport Canada separately lists 3 Canadian recalls for this model. The most frequently reported complaint area is steering. It earned an NHTSA overall safety rating of 5 out of 5. Based on this public data we rate its risk profile as high. Enter your VIN above to confirm which of these apply to your exact vehicle, then get the Smart Buyer Report for a buyer analysis of this model's reliability, common issues by mileage, and a pre-purchase inspection checklist.
Should you buy the 2021 Nissan Sentra in Canada?
The 2021 Nissan Sentra shows a higher level of recall or complaint activity in public data. That is not a reason to rule it out, but it does mean a careful inspection and VIN-specific check are especially worthwhile.
The best next step is to run the exact VIN and, if the car still looks promising, get a Smart Buyer Report for a model-specific reliability read and an inspection checklist before you visit the seller.
What owners complain about most
The complaint categories reported most often for the 2021 Nissan Sentra, based on owner reports in the public NHTSA data.
Complaint patterns suggest where to look — they are not proof any specific vehicle has that issue. Treat them as inspection prompts.
What to check before buying a used 2021 Nissan Sentra
- Owners report steering concerns most often for this model — worth checking during an inspection.
- Owners report electrical system concerns most often for this model — worth checking during an inspection.
- Owners report forward collision avoidance concerns most often for this model — worth checking during an inspection.
- Owners report unknown or other concerns most often for this model — worth checking during an inspection.
- Confirm any open recall work was completed by running the exact VIN.
Canadian ownership considerations
General things worth checking on a used Sentra in the Canadian climate — winter, road salt, and cold-weather wear.
- Road salt causes corrosion on rocker panels, brake lines, and subframe points — inspect the undercarriage on salt-belt cars.
- Confirm the heater, defroster, and rear demister work before winter.
- Check battery health and cold-start behaviour for reliable winter starting.
- Look for uneven tire wear that can hint at suspension or alignment issues on rougher winter roads.
Pre-purchase inspection priorities
- Bring a qualified mechanic or book an independent pre-purchase inspection.
- Check the undercarriage for rust and corrosion, especially on salt-belt vehicles.
- Confirm all open recalls have been repaired using the VIN.
- Review maintenance records and look for gaps in servicing.
- Test all winter-critical systems: heater, defroster, battery, and (if equipped) AWD/4WD.
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Unlock the full buyer reportNHTSA Safety Ratings
Government crash test results
NHTSA Recalls
3 recall(s) for this year/model
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
17/06/2021Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. The left and/or right tie rod may be bent.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the left and/or right tie rods as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 5, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PM985.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
15/08/2023Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Sentra vehicles. The left and/or right tie rod may bend.
Remedy: Owners are advised to contact their dealer for transport assistance if they are experiencing an off-center steering wheel or vibration. As an interim repair, dealers will inspect and replace any bent or broken tie rods, free of charge. Once newly designed parts are available, dealers will replace both left and right tie rods, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed November 27, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23B3. This recall replaces and expands recall number 21V-461. Vehicles previously repaired under 21V-461 will need to have the new remedy completed.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
08/09/2023Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Altima and 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 19, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23C3.
Transport Canada Recalls
3 Canadian recall(s) from the official Transport Canada database
Steering
2021-06-18Issue: On certain vehicles, one or both of the front tie rods may have be bent during vehicle production. This could cause the steering wheel to be off center and/or cause a vibration while driving. There is also a risk that the tie rod could break, which can cause a partial loss of steering control. Safety Risk: A loss of steering control could create the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Nissan will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your car to a dealer inspect the left and right-front tie rods. If a tie rod is bent, it will be replaced.
Steering
2023-08-16Issue: On certain vehicles, the left and/or right tie rod(s) may not be strong enough. Under certain conditions (like hitting a curb or a large pothole), the tie rod(s) could bend and/or break and cause a partial loss of steering control. Safety Risk: A loss of steering control could create the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Nissan will notify owners by mail. Due to a parts supply issue, Nissan will advise you to take your vehicle to the dealership only if you experience a vibration in the steering wheel or if the steering wheel is off-center. When enough parts are available, Nissan will re-notify owners and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the left and right tie rods.
Visual System
2023-09-11Issue: On certain vehicles, the rearview camera wiring harness could be damaged by movement and vibrations. If this happens, the rearview camera image may not display correctly or may not display at all. Canadian regulations require the rearview image to display when reversing. Safety Risk: A rearview camera image that doesn't display could reduce a driver's ability to see behind the vehicle while backing up. This could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Nissan will notify owners by mail and advise you to bring your vehicle to a dealership to inspect the rearview camera wiring harness, apply a protective tape, and reroute it. If the wiring is damaged, the rearview camera and wiring harness will be replaced.
Contains information sourced from Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database, licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Data is provided "as is" from Transport Canada's monthly release and may not reflect real-time updates. Transport Canada does not endorse this service. Always confirm open recalls with the manufacturer or Transport Canada before purchase.
Owner Complaints
132 complaint(s) filed with NHTSA
Top complaint categories:
Want the full picture?
The free data above comes from public NHTSA records. The Smart Buyer Report adds buyer analysis for this exact model — reliability score, common problems by mileage, real maintenance costs in CAD, a pre-purchase inspection checklist, a market value estimate, and Canadian notes on rust, winter, and fuel.
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Data disclaimer:Vehicle history information on CarHistoryReport.ca is compiled from publicly available government sources, primarily the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Reports may not include all incidents, recalls, or issues related to a specific vehicle. Data is provided "as-is" without warranty of completeness or accuracy. Always obtain a professional pre-purchase inspection before buying any used vehicle. CarHistoryReport.ca is not liable for purchasing decisions made based on report contents.