Nissan Sentra VIN Check — Free Recall & Complaint Lookup

Quick answer

The most-reported Sentra run is 3N1AB7AP7DL (2013 builds) with 60 complaints, 11.8× the typical run. Power train problems make up 23% of reports; 2013 is the worst model year at 17.5 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 62 recall campaigns for Sentra model years 1982–2026.

Which build runs owners report most

A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Nissan Sentra has 1,012 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 5% of every Sentra complaint on file.

FIG.01·Nissan Sentra — complaints by production run
Production run (VIN 1–11)	Year	Complaints	Involved a crash	Fire
3N1AB7AP7DL••••••	2013	60	5	1
3N1AB7AP2DL••••••	2013	59	3	—
3N1AB7AP8DL••••••	2013	56	2	1
3N1AB7AP4DL••••••	2013	51	—	—
3N1AB7AP0DL••••••	2013	46	4	—
3N1AB7AP1DL••••••	2013	45	1	2
3N1AB7APXDL••••••	2013	45	1	—
3N1AB7AP9DL••••••	2013	44	4	—
3N1AB7AP3DL••••••	2013	44	1	—
3N1AB7AP5DL••••••	2013	43	1	—
3N1AB7AP6DL••••••	2013	38	2	—
3N1AB7AP6EY••••••	2014	37	—	—

ROWS 12·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records, grouped by VIN prefix

Each of the other 1,000 Sentra runs has 37 complaints or fewer. ForCar has checked 294 Sentra VINs so far, most often 2025, 2019, 2024 builds; 12 of them belong to one of the 12 runs above.

Which model years to check twice

Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Nissan Sentra the gap between build years is 5×: a 2013 car draws 17.5 complaints per run, a 2009 one 3.5.

FIG.02·Nissan Sentra — complaint rate by model year
Year	Per run	Complaints	Runs	Crashes
2026	1.3	13	10	1
2025	1.9	31	16	6
2024	1.7	40	24	6
2023	1.3	20	15	1
2022	3.6	80	22	1
2021	4.2	129	31	13
2020	6.3	203	32	8
2019	9	217	24	16
2018	7.5	179	24	16
2017	7.3	225	31	27
2016	10.9	262	24	17
2015	11.4	332	29	20
2014	9.2	360	39	25
2013	17.5	577	33	24
2012	7.7	161	21	8
2011	6.5	130	20	17
2010	7.9	127	16	9
2009	3.5	46	13	6
2008	7.9	134	17	14
2007	6.8	136	20	19

ROWS 20·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Heaviest year here is 2013 at 17.5 complaints per run; lightest is 2023 at 1.3. The 2026 line is still collecting reports, so it reads low.

What to inspect on this car

One system accounts for 23% of everything Nissan Sentra owners report: Power Train, 1,177 of 5,132 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.

FIG.03·Nissan Sentra — most-reported systems
System	Complaints	Involved a crash	Fire
Power Train	1177	23	3
Electrical System	740	16	51
Air Bags	660	255	5
Engine	638	13	25
Unknown Or Other	560	26	5
Service Brakes	498	96	8
Engine And Engine Cooling	486	16	18
Vehicle Speed Control	383	29	—

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Recalls to check against your VIN

NHTSA has 62 recall campaigns on the Nissan Sentra; the 6 below cover build years 1995 to 2006. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.

FIG.04·Nissan Sentra — recall campaigns
Campaign	Component	Model years
09E025000	Exterior Lighting:headlights	1995–2003
20V008000	Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module	2002–2006
15V287000	Air Bags	2002–2006
20V747000	Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module	2002–2006
22E066000	Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module	2002–2006
06E049000	Exterior Lighting	1995–1999

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA recall campaigns

The Sentra against its rivals

The Sentra draws 5.1 complaints per production run; the Honda Civic 2.8 and the Honda Prelude 1.5. That is the highest rate of the 3.

FIG.05·Nissan Sentra VIN check vs rivals
Model	Complaints	Runs	Per run	Involved a crash
Nissan Sentra	5,132	1,012	5.1	9.4%
Honda Civic	13,473	4,774	2.8	10.3%
Honda Prelude	288	194	1.5	8%

ROWS 3·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

How serious were they

Of the 5,132 reports on the Nissan Sentra, 9.4% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, above the norm.

FIG.06·Nissan Sentra — complaint severity
Outcome	Nissan Sentra	All vehicles
Complaints filed	5,132	1,116,631
Involved a crash	480 (9.4%)	64,221 (5.8%)
Involved a fire	102 (2%)	26,977 (2.4%)
Injuries reported	438	58,047
Deaths reported	12	2,728

ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Crash-related reports run 62% above the all-vehicle rate.

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How this check works

The file behind this page holds 1,116,631 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 299,142 production runs. The Nissan Sentra share of that is 5,132 complaints over 1,012 runs, 0.46% of everything on record.

Everything on the Nissan Sentra

Recalls158 campaigns Fuel economy41 mpg best Reliability4.0/5 Common problems6,185 complaints DimensionsSize, weight, generations Cargo space24 cu ft Used prices4,674 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car1982–2026

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a Nissan Sentra VIN for free?

Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 5,132 NHTSA complaints from 1,012 Sentra runs and 62 recall campaigns. No account, no card.

Which Sentra production run has the most complaints?

3N1AB7AP7DL, a 2013 build, with 60 complaints, 5 of them after a crash. The typical Sentra run has 5.1.

Which Sentra years have the most complaints?

Per production run, 2013 is heaviest at 17.5 complaints per run and 2023 lightest at 1.3.

Does the Sentra get more complaints than the Honda Civic?

Yes: 5.1 complaints per production run for the Sentra against 2.8 for the Honda Civic.

How many Sentra complaints involve a crash?

9.4% of 5,132 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 102 involved a fire.

Complaint and recall records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Per-run rates computed by ForCar. Federal data covers safety only — title, odometer and insurance history are not included. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

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