2007 Nissan Sentra

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

71/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 154 complaints with NHTSA about the 2007 Nissan Sentra, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Air bags	28	18%
Steering	22	14%
Power train	10	6%
Engine and engine cooling	8	5%
Tires	7	5%
Service brakes	5	3%
Service brakes	5	3%
Unknown or other	5	3%
Engine	3	2%
Steering	3	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

When I discovered the car was not stopping after depressing the peddle and the brake light was coming on. I checked the fluid level and fluid was needed. I topped the fluid level off and it did not solve the problem. I t
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

The contact owns a 2007 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that when the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for a routine oil change, the mechanic informed her that during the test drive, the brake pedal was dep
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

Lost brakes on the highway luckily was able to stop safely. As you can see in the pic the rear left brake line completely corroded in 1 spot and another spot was ready to completely fail, those spots are incidentally
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

MY TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT IS LIT UP ON THE DASHBOARD. MY TIRES ARE SIX MONTH, AND THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO TURN ON EVEN AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO THE SHOP. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES TO AMERICAS TIRES, BIT O' TIR
NHTSA complaint: Wheels

I was approaching my driveway in front of my house and my vehicle had smoke eminating from a glove compartment area when I got out of the car and checked underneath the hood the car was on fire I got out just in time the
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

Caught on fire under the hood and burned the car very badly. Fire department was called to extinguish the fire. The damage was total to the under the hood components and hoses and wiring harnesses. Car ignition was off w
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

The cvt transmission is making a winning nose and has been doing so since I bought it
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

Problem is cvt transmission. Transmission main seal leak. Whine, to loss in acceleration and power. At certain speed. Cvt internal belt flapping. Resulted in full shut down of vehicle while on highway. Caused speed contr
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2007 Nissan Sentra. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Service brakes 08V311000

NISSAN IS RECALLING 169,202 MY 2007-2008 SENTRA PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED ROBERT BOSCH MASTER CYLINDER. DUE TO THE MACHINING IRREGULARITY BY THE SUPPLIER, THE INTERNAL SEAL GROOVE IN THE BODY OF SOME BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS MAY ALLOW FOR A GAP IN THE GROOVE CONTACT AREA OF THE SEAL. THIS MAY RESU

Risk: IF THE WARNING LAMP IS IGNORED, ONE OF THE BRAKE CIRCUITS ON THE VEHICLE MAY NOT OPERATE AS DESIGNED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MASTER CYLINDER/BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY AND IF BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE IS DETECTED, THE MASTER CYLINDER WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST

The seven scores

Reliability	80	excellent
Longevity est.	77	good
Maintenance	82	excellent
Depreciation	61	average
Performance	50	average
Efficiency	47	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 42% of midsize & large cars
Longevity: better than 49% of midsize & large cars
Running costs: better than 75% of midsize & large cars
Value retention: better than 60% of midsize & large cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 80: from NHTSA recalls and complaints, divided by approximate units sold so it is comparable between models.
Longevity 77: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2007 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 82: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 2007 Nissan Sentra?

Owners have filed 154 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 28 of them (18%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 2007 Nissan Sentra reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 80/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density, adjusted for how many were sold so a popular model is not penalised for having more owners.

How long will a 2007 Nissan Sentra last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 77/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2007 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2007 Nissan Sentra?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 71/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.