Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 221 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Nissan Sentra, and it carries 2 recalls. 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.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 32 | 14% |
| Unknown or other | 21 | 10% |
| Electrical system | 20 | 9% |
| Exterior lighting | 17 | 8% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 8 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 7 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 7 | 3% |
| Air bags | 7 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 6 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 5 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Transmission Failure of drive train Acknowledged by Dealer Inspection by Dealer No warning signs prior to failure
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while his daughter attempted to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start immediately. The contact's daughter pressed the engine Auto Start/Stop button
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I am filing this complaint against Nissan North America due to a recurring transmission failure in my 2019 Nissan Sentra VIN#: [XXX] . Timeline of Events: Initial Purchase: November 2022 (61,000 miles). First Failur
NHTSA complaint: Power train
It’s heisitant when excelerating gas pedal. The back up camera display blanks out , when backing up .
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2019 Nissan Sentra. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 78,129.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost automotive power. There were several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact pulled over and
NHTSA complaint: Power train
Drivers side Door Lock Actuator could not open the door from the inside handle or outside handle. In 2025 I replaced the part, Feb 2026 had to take the car to the dealership because could not open the door again. Deal
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
Recently, purchased this vehicle for my daughter & on her 2nd day driving it, a warning indicator light with a yellow triangle around an exclamation symbol & malfunction, see owner's manual message. We hade it checked by
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2019 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.
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.
Fix: 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 1-800
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additio
Risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners
| Reliability | 74 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 74 | good |
| Maintenance | 82 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 66 | good |
| Performance | 43 | below average |
| Efficiency | 52 | average |
| Safety | 80 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 221 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 32 of them (14%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 74/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density, adjusted for how many were sold so a popular model is not penalised for having more owners.
AVOIR scores its longevity 74/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2019 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. 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.