YearToAvoid

2016 Nissan Sentra Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 68 engine-area complaints for the 2016 Nissan Sentra, 25% of all 270 complaints filed for the year. The median mileage at failure is 50,000, and no related recall exists for this problem area.

Engine complaints
68
25% of 270
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
50,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report loss of power and vibration or shuddering while driving between 40-60 mph, sometimes traced to the transmission.
  • Some describe the car losing speed on the highway above 70 mph while the engine seems to hunt for gears without accelerating.
  • Several report sudden engine shutdown or stalling while driving at normal speed, with dashboard warning lights appearing only after the fact.
  • A few owners describe rpms rising without a matching increase in speed, especially after sitting idle.
  • One case describes a loud roaring noise and shuddering at highway speeds of 75 to 90 mph shortly after purchase.
  • Another owner reported jerking, overheating, and random power loss that developed over time as mileage accumulated toward 60,000 miles.

When 2016 Nissan Sentra engine complaints were filed

First complaint Aug 3, 2016, latest Sep 9, 2026.

2016 Nissan Sentra engine complaints: complaints filed per month4Aug 2016Mar 2018May 2019Jan 2020Oct 2020Oct 2021Nov 2022Mar 2025
68 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2016 to Sep 2026; peak Apr 2019 (4).

Engine recalls for the 2016 Nissan Sentra

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Sentra model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201053 (37%)
  2. 201140 (28%)
  3. 201254 (30%)
  4. 2013133 (21%)
  5. 201488 (23%)
  6. 2015101 (29%)
  7. 201668 (25%)
  8. 201769 (30%)
  9. 201838 (21%)
  10. 201929 (13%)
  11. 202014 (7%)
  12. 202112 (9%)
  13. 202214 (17%)
  14. 20234 (20%)
  15. 20243 (8%)
  16. 20255 (17%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems on the 2016 Nissan Sentra?
NHTSA lists 68 engine-related complaints for the 2016 Sentra, which is 25% of the 270 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2016 Nissan Sentra engine?
No. The data shows no related recalls tied to this engine problem area.
At what mileage do 2016 Sentra engine problems usually show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA is 50,000 miles.
What kind of engine symptoms do owners report?
Owners describe vibration or shuddering at 40-60 mph, loss of power and stalling, and rpms climbing without a matching increase in speed.
Are engine complaints worse in 2016 than other Sentra years?
The 25% share for 2016 is close to nearby years like 2015 (29%) and 2017 (30%), and lower than 2010 (37%) and 2012 (30%).

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.