YearToAvoid

2017 Nissan Sentra Electrical System Problems

NHTSA lists 46 electrical system complaints for the 2017 Nissan Sentra, 20% of its 230 total complaints for the year. Owners reported 4 fires, 3 crashes, and 2 injuries, with a median failure mileage of 50,500. Two related recalls (21V135000 and 18V551000) cover brake light switch and ignition switch issues.

Electrical System complaints
46
20% of 230
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
4
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
50,501 mi
Related recalls
2

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

  • Vehicles caught fire without warning while parked or shortly after being parked, including one incident with smoke and burning smell coming from the back seat area.
  • Brake pedal sensors intermittently failed to register brake input, sometimes preventing the car from starting and sometimes causing the brake pedal to go to the floor.
  • Some owners reported the steering wheel locking or seizing while driving along with rising RPMs, in incidents connected to a recall for exterior lighting/brake light switch problems.
  • Owners who received recall notice 21V135000 said replacement parts were unavailable at dealers for longer than a reasonable repair window.
  • The vehicle failed to start with no warning lights illuminated, accompanied by an unexplained alarm activation.

When 2017 Nissan Sentra electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Mar 14, 2018, latest Apr 10, 2026.

2017 Nissan Sentra electrical system complaints: complaints filed per month4Mar 2018Aug 2019Jul 2020Oct 2021Aug 2022Jun 2023May 2025
46 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2018 to Apr 2026; peak May 2021 (4).

Electrical System recalls for the 2017 Nissan Sentra

  1. NHTSA 21V135000Mar 3, 2021Electrical System807,376 vehicles

    Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Nissan Sentra vehicles. The brake light switch may become contaminated, preventing the circuit from closing and the brake lights from illuminating.

    Risk: The brake lights may not illuminate, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake light switch and install a protective grommet, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 1, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800867-7769. Nissan's number for this recall is PM971.

  2. NHTSA 18V551000Aug 21, 2018Electrical System153,047 vehicles

    Electrical system:ignition

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2017 Nissan NV200, Sentra, NV3500 Van, NV3500 Bus, NV200 Taxi, NV1500, NV2500 Van, Chevrolet City Express, 2017-2018 Frontier, Versa Note, and Versa Sedan vehicles that have a mechanical (physical) key ignition system. In these models, over time, the weight on the key ring and road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine.

    Risk: If the vehicle stalls, it can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the production information on the ignition switch, and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.

Electrical System complaints by Sentra model year

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

  1. 201052 (36%)
  2. 201134 (24%)
  3. 201214 (8%)
  4. 201345 (7%)
  5. 201435 (9%)
  6. 201527 (8%)
  7. 201653 (20%)
  8. 201746 (20%)
  9. 201844 (24%)
  10. 201987 (39%)
  11. 202050 (24%)
  12. 202140 (31%)
  13. 202225 (31%)
  14. 20238 (40%)
  15. 202411 (28%)
  16. 20254 (13%)

Frequently asked questions

How many electrical system complaints does the 2017 Nissan Sentra have?
NHTSA lists 46 electrical system complaints for the 2017 Sentra, which is 20% of the 230 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for electrical problems on the 2017 Nissan Sentra?
Yes. Recall 21V135000 covers a brake light switch that can become contaminated and prevent brake lights from illuminating, and recall 18V551000 covers an ignition switch inspection and replacement.
At what mileage do 2017 Sentra electrical problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for electrical system complaints on the 2017 Sentra is 50,500 miles.
Did the electrical issues cause any fires or crashes?
NHTSA data shows 4 fires, 3 crashes, and 2 injuries reported in connection with electrical system complaints on the 2017 Sentra.
How does the 2017 Sentra compare to other years for electrical complaints?
The 2017 Sentra's electrical complaints made up 20% of that year's total, similar to 2016 (20%) and 2018 (24%), but lower than 2019 at 39% and 2023 at 40%.

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.