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2019 Nissan Sentra Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2019 Nissan Sentra carries 2 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering switch and camera. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “CVT transmission failure and slipping.” Nissan owner's manuals split service into Schedule 1 (severe) and Schedule 2 (normal). Most US drivers fall under Schedule 1. The biggest preventable failure on Nissan vehicles is CVT transmission damage from extended fluid intervals — owners of Altima, Rogue, Sentra, Pathfinder, and Murano with CVT should not skip it.

2 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

Campaign #21V135000 · Mar 3, 2021

Issue: 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 1-800867-7769. Nissan's number for this recall is PM971.

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

Campaign #19V654000 · Dec 9, 2019

Issue: 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. Additionally included are 2019 Nissan GT-R and Taxi and Infiniti QX50, QX60, Q70, Q70L vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

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 may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200.

Recall data refreshed Sep 6, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2019 Nissan Sentra.

Reported to NHTSA

CVT transmission failure and slipping

POWER TRAIN

51 NHTSA complaints · 2020-08 → 2026-05

“No warner went out to head to work. Car moved very rough. Stopped parked car. Had car towed to a mechanic to be told Transmission was shot. 102,000 miles”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11693554
“My car only goes into reverse. It is right under 100 k miles. i have been told it needs a new cvt transmissions and it cost more to replace than what my car is worth. There were no warning lights. It is a 2019 Nissan Sentra”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11648081
“transmission goes out at 104,139 miles. car jerks and slows down acceleration even after having maintenance done to keep it running”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11561113

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Push-to-start failure linked to brake light switch

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

41 NHTSA complaints · 2020-07 → 2026-05

“Push to start is having issues. Break stiffens up and car wont start”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11687368
“The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the Push-to-Start feature failed to function as intended. The contact stated that when the brake pedal was depressed, the brake lights failed to activate as designed. The vehicle was”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11679343
“The car won't start this is my third time raking it in for the brake switch replacement”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11632833

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Radio activation and battery drain while parked

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

20 NHTSA complaints · 2020-01 → 2025-02

“Radio turns on intermittently when the car is not on. Drains battery. Has caused the car to not start several times and left my daughter on the side of the road”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11569262
“Radio comes on by itself. Car is not on. Took it to my Nissan Dealership May 17, 2021. Nothing was found. Also contacted Nissan directly on May 19, 2021, was told nothing could be done at this time because nothing showed up. I’m not a engineer but I know something is wrong, your”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11418012
“THE RADIO WILL RANDOMLY COME ON FOR A SECOND WHEN THE CAR IS OFF. I HAVE WENT OUT TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF THE TRUNK & THIS HAS HAPPENED & I HAVE ALSO WENT OUT TO LEAVE & WHEN I WALK OUTSIDE THE RADIO IN THE CAR IS PLAYING WHEN THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE THE PRIOR DAY. I”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11385043

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Driver-side door lock actuator failure

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

4 NHTSA complaints · 2024-01 → 2026-02

“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. Dealership told me the Actuator failed internally. The part was”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11718645
“The drivers side door lock is defective. The automatic locking does not work. This is unsafe since the doors need to be locked manually which puts people at right of opening the door while driving. There are currently no recalls or warnings in regards to this malfunction. Also,”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11659419
“The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the passenger’s side door failed to lock securely. The contact was concerned that the door would open while driving. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11568062

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Automatic Emergency Braking false activation

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

35 NHTSA complaints · 2020-11 → 2026-07

“while i was driving, the front collision warning and emergency brake went off out of nowhere when there was no cars in front of me as the street was empty”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11556040
“Forward collision warning light came on as I was driving w/ no cars in front of me. The car jerked as if i slammed on my brakes. As I was pulling into my driveway, Malfunction See owners manual showed along w/ AEB warning light. I waited a while then came back outside to start”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11463572
“The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH and exiting the highway, the Forward Collision Avoidance Automatic Emergency Braking feature engaged inadvertently and the vehicle stopped abruptly, causing the vehicle to fishtail. The contact stated”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11461632

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag non-deployment in collision

AIR BAGS

7 NHTSA complaints · 2020-01 → 2023-10

“I HAD AN ACCIDENT ON JULY 31ST, 2019 WHERE MY CAR WAS TOTALED AND THE MOTOR WAS LOST COMPLETELY. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE NISSAN SYSTEM STATED, 'REFER TO OWNER'S MANUAL.' THANKFULLY I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT AND ONLY HAD MINOR SCRATCHES AND BRUISES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11292414
“I WAS RECENTLY IN A CAR ACCIDENT. I WAS INJURED DUE TO THE FRONT AIR BAG NOT GOING OFF. THE LIGHT TURNED ON BUT THE AIRBAG DIDN'T COME OUT. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT THE MOMENT OF THE ACCIDENT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11378589
“The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while at a complete stop, another vehicle going 40 MPH, crashed into the rear end of the vehicle, causing her vehicle to crash into the rear end of another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. There was no warning”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11466250

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 11, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 11, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 5,000 mi

Replace synthetic-blend or full-synthetic oil every 5,000 miles under Schedule 1. Schedule 2: 7,500 miles. VR30DDTT (3.0L twin-turbo): full synthetic only.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 5,000 mi

Rotate tires every 5,000 miles. Front-wheel-drive Nissans (Altima, Sentra, Versa) wear front tires fast — don't skip rotations.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

CVT Fluid (NS-3)

Every 60,000 mi

Nissan officially calls CVT fluid 'lifetime,' but independent technicians and Nissan TSBs recommend replacement every 60,000 miles to prevent CVT failure. Use Nissan NS-3 fluid only — substitutes destroy the belt-and-pulley system.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$360–$500

Shop

~$255–$355

DIY

~$80–$180

CVT fluid is manufacturer-specific and pricey — do NOT substitute conventional ATF.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake every 7,500 miles. Rogue and Pathfinder front pads typically last 35,000-50,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 2 years. Dark or amber fluid indicates moisture contamination.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles, sooner if driving on dusty unpaved roads.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Spark Plugs

Every 105,000 mi

Iridium-tipped spark plugs are rated 105,000 miles on QR25, MR20, and VQ35 engines. VR30DDTT: 60,000 miles due to higher cylinder pressures.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Long-Life Coolant

Every 75,000 mi

Nissan Long-Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue/green): first change at 105,000 miles, then every 75,000. Do not mix with other coolant chemistries.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Transfer Case / Rear Diff (AWD models)

Every 60,000 mi

Rogue AWD, Murano AWD, Pathfinder 4WD: replace transfer case fluid and rear differential fluid every 60,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. Located behind the glove box on Altima, Rogue, and Sentra.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

197 crashes 2010–2024

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

16

complaints mentioning a crash

1

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2019 Nissan Sentra reflects Nissan's published service intervals and the Maintenance Reminder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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