Car Defect Radar

Nissan Altima vs Nissan Sentra: problems, recalls & years to avoid

NHTSA owner complaints and recalls for the Nissan Altima and the Nissan Sentra, with the 15 model years both have (2010–2024) set side by side. Each model is measured against its own typical year, not against the other model.

Years to avoid and years with the fewest complaints

Nissan Altima

Years to avoid
2013201420152016
Fewest complaints
202120222023

The typical Nissan Altima year has 241 complaints on file, across 15 model years (2010–2024).

Nissan Sentra

Years to avoid
20132014
Fewest complaints
201020222023

The typical Nissan Sentra year has 180 complaints on file, across 17 model years (2010–2026).

A year is one to avoid when it drew at least 2 times the complaints of its model's typical year (the median across the model's years on this site) and at least 200 complaints, or when its complaints include 5 or more reports of a death. The years with the fewest complaints have no such flag and are from 2023 or earlier: newer years have not been on the road long enough to compare. Each model is measured only against its own years. Source: NHTSA owner complaints, as of October 26, 2026.

The 15 model years both have, side by side

Complaints by model year

Nissan Altima

9.6× its typical year in 2013, its worst year

2,310 complaints against a typical year of 241.

Years to avoid: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016. Fewest complaints: 2021, 2022, 2023.

Nissan Sentra

3.5× its typical year in 2013, its worst year

638 complaints against a typical year of 180.

Years to avoid: 2013, 2014. Fewest complaints: 2010, 2022, 2023.

typical yearavoid zonesolid bar = a year to avoid

Nissan Altima4 years to avoid · typical year 241avoid zone: 482+05001,0001,5002,0002,5002010Nissan Altima 2010: 380 complaints, 1.6× its typical year2011Nissan Altima 2011: 241 complaints, 1.0× its typical year2012Nissan Altima 2012: 425 complaints, 1.8× its typical year2013Nissan Altima 2013: 2,310 complaints, 9.6× its typical year, a year to avoid2,310avoid2014Nissan Altima 2014: 1,113 complaints, 4.6× its typical year, a year to avoid1,113avoid2015Nissan Altima 2015: 952 complaints, 4.0× its typical year, a year to avoid952avoid2016Nissan Altima 2016: 553 complaints, 2.3× its typical year, a year to avoid553avoid2017Nissan Altima 2017: 391 complaints, 1.6× its typical year2018Nissan Altima 2018: 225 complaints, 0.9× its typical year2019Nissan Altima 2019: 231 complaints, 1.0× its typical year2020Nissan Altima 2020: 179 complaints, 0.7× its typical year2021Nissan Altima 2021: 70 complaints, 0.3× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints70fewest2022Nissan Altima 2022: 20 complaints, 0.1× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints20fewest2023Nissan Altima 2023: 29 complaints, 0.1× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints29fewest2024Nissan Altima 2024: 41 complaints, 0.2× its typical year2025none2026noneNissan Altimaavoid zone: 482+typical 2412024Nissan Altima 2024: 41 complaints, 0.2× its typical year412023Nissan Altima 2023: 29 complaints, 0.1× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints29fewest2022Nissan Altima 2022: 20 complaints, 0.1× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints20fewest2021Nissan Altima 2021: 70 complaints, 0.3× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints70fewest2020Nissan Altima 2020: 179 complaints, 0.7× its typical year1792019Nissan Altima 2019: 231 complaints, 1.0× its typical year2312018Nissan Altima 2018: 225 complaints, 0.9× its typical year2252017Nissan Altima 2017: 391 complaints, 1.6× its typical year3912016Nissan Altima 2016: 553 complaints, 2.3× its typical year, a year to avoid553avoid2015Nissan Altima 2015: 952 complaints, 4.0× its typical year, a year to avoid952avoid2014Nissan Altima 2014: 1,113 complaints, 4.6× its typical year, a year to avoid1,113avoid2013Nissan Altima 2013: 2,310 complaints, 9.6× its typical year, a year to avoid2,310avoid2012Nissan Altima 2012: 425 complaints, 1.8× its typical year4252011Nissan Altima 2011: 241 complaints, 1.0× its typical year2412010Nissan Altima 2010: 380 complaints, 1.6× its typical year380
Nissan Sentra2 years to avoid · typical year 180avoid zone: 360+02004006008002010Nissan Sentra 2010: 144 complaints, 0.8× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints144fewest2011Nissan Sentra 2011: 142 complaints, 0.8× its typical year2012Nissan Sentra 2012: 180 complaints, 1.0× its typical year2013Nissan Sentra 2013: 638 complaints, 3.5× its typical year, a year to avoid638avoid2014Nissan Sentra 2014: 380 complaints, 2.1× its typical year, a year to avoid380avoid2015Nissan Sentra 2015: 351 complaints, 1.9× its typical year2016Nissan Sentra 2016: 270 complaints, 1.5× its typical year2017Nissan Sentra 2017: 230 complaints, 1.3× its typical year2018Nissan Sentra 2018: 185 complaints, 1.0× its typical year2019Nissan Sentra 2019: 222 complaints, 1.2× its typical year2020Nissan Sentra 2020: 204 complaints, 1.1× its typical year2021Nissan Sentra 2021: 131 complaints, 0.7× its typical year2022Nissan Sentra 2022: 81 complaints, 0.5× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints81fewest2023Nissan Sentra 2023: 19 complaints, 0.1× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints19fewest2024Nissan Sentra 2024: 38 complaints, 0.2× its typical year2025Nissan Sentra 2025: 30 complaints, 0.2× its typical year2026Nissan Sentra 2026: 15 complaints, 0.1× its typical yearNissan Sentraavoid zone: 360+typical 1802026Nissan Sentra 2026: 15 complaints, 0.1× its typical year152025Nissan Sentra 2025: 30 complaints, 0.2× its typical year302024Nissan Sentra 2024: 38 complaints, 0.2× its typical year382023Nissan Sentra 2023: 19 complaints, 0.1× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints19fewest2022Nissan Sentra 2022: 81 complaints, 0.5× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints81fewest2021Nissan Sentra 2021: 131 complaints, 0.7× its typical year1312020Nissan Sentra 2020: 204 complaints, 1.1× its typical year2042019Nissan Sentra 2019: 222 complaints, 1.2× its typical year2222018Nissan Sentra 2018: 185 complaints, 1.0× its typical year1852017Nissan Sentra 2017: 230 complaints, 1.3× its typical year2302016Nissan Sentra 2016: 270 complaints, 1.5× its typical year2702015Nissan Sentra 2015: 351 complaints, 1.9× its typical year3512014Nissan Sentra 2014: 380 complaints, 2.1× its typical year, a year to avoid380avoid2013Nissan Sentra 2013: 638 complaints, 3.5× its typical year, a year to avoid638avoid2012Nissan Sentra 2012: 180 complaints, 1.0× its typical year1802011Nissan Sentra 2011: 142 complaints, 0.8× its typical year1422010Nissan Sentra 2010: 144 complaints, 0.8× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints144fewest
Bars are NHTSA owner complaints per model year. The dashed line is the model's typical year (the median of its years on this site). A year that reaches the hatched avoid zone, twice the typical year and at least 200 complaints, is a year to avoid. The two panels have different scales. Each model is measured only against its own years: the counts are not adjusted for sales, so the chart does not say one model has more problems than the other. Hover a bar for its numbers; every value is also in the table below.
Model yearNissan AltimaNissan Sentra
ComplaintsTimes its typical yearRecallsOur readComplaintsTimes its typical yearRecallsOur read
2024410.2×1Few red flags380.2×3Few red flags
2023290.1×0Few red flags190.1×1Few red flags
2022200.1×0Few red flags810.5×2Few red flags
2021700.3×2Few red flags1310.7×3Some concerns to check
20201790.7×6Some concerns to check2041.1×4Few red flags
20192311.0×7Few red flags2221.2×2Few red flags
20182250.9×2Few red flags1851.0×2Some concerns to check
20173911.6×3Some concerns to check2301.3×3Some concerns to check
20165532.3×4Approach with caution2701.5×6Some concerns to check
20159524.0×10Approach with caution3511.9×3Some concerns to check
20141,1134.6×8Approach with caution3802.1×5Approach with caution
20132,3109.6×12Approach with caution6383.5×6Approach with caution
20124251.8×4Some concerns to check1801.0×0Few red flags
20112411.0×1Few red flags1420.8×2Some concerns to check
20103801.6×3Some concerns to check1440.8×3Few red flags

Complaints link to each model year's report. "Times its typical year" sets a year against the same model's typical year. The two models' counts can't be compared directly: they are not adjusted for how many of each were sold.

Most reported problem, by model year

Model yearNissan AltimaNissan Sentra
2024Forward collision avoidance systemSteering
2023Electrical systemElectrical system
2022Forward collision avoidance systemSteering
2021Forward collision avoidance systemSteering
2020Electrical systemForward collision avoidance system
2019Electrical systemElectrical system
2018BrakesTransmission and drivetrain
2017Transmission and drivetrainTransmission and drivetrain
2016Transmission and drivetrainTransmission and drivetrain
2015Exterior lightingTransmission and drivetrain
2014Exterior lightingTransmission and drivetrain
2013Dim low beam headlightsTransmission and drivetrain
2012Transmission and drivetrainTransmission and drivetrain
2011Transmission and drivetrainElectrical system
2010Electrical systemElectrical system

Top problems of each model

The areas of the car NHTSA owner complaints name most, all model years together. A complaint can name more than one area.

Nissan Altima

Biggest named problems, in the model years whose complaints we have read and grouped: Dim low beam headlights (2013, roughly 431 complaints); Passenger airbag sensor turns airbag off (2013, roughly 316 complaints); Rear lower control arm fractures (2013, roughly 262 complaints).

Nissan Sentra

Recalls

NHTSA recall campaigns. A campaign that covers several model years is counted once.

What the data can't show