Nissan Sentra Exterior Lighting Problems
Owners have filed 123 complaints with NHTSA about exterior lighting problems on the Nissan Sentra across 25 model years. The 2019 model year has the most (28). The words owners use most often: “exterior lighting contacted” (7% of reports).
- 123exterior lighting complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 11mention a crash
- 5mention an injury
- 4related recalls
- 26%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Exterior lighting contacted: mentioned in 9 of 123 complaints (7%)
- Brake switch: mentioned in 9 of 123 complaints (7%)
At what mileage do exterior lighting problems happen?
Based on 63 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 123 complaints, 11 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 5 an injury.
Nissan Sentra exterior lighting complaints by model year
| Model year | Exterior Lighting complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Sentra | 2 | 5% | — |
| 2022 Sentra | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2021 Sentra | 6 | 5% | — |
| 2020 Sentra | 5 | 2% | 6,000 |
| 2019 Sentra | 28 | 13% | 46,000 |
| 2018 Sentra | 15 | 8% | 66,000 |
| 2017 Sentra | 15 | 6% | 98,000 |
| 2016 Sentra | 8 | 3% | 69,474 |
| 2015 Sentra | 3 | 1% | 45,000 |
| 2014 Sentra | 5 | 1% | 44,000 |
| 2013 Sentra | 4 | 1% | 51,000 |
| 2012 Sentra | 1 | 1% | 72,000 |
| 2010 Sentra | 3 | 2% | 90,000 |
| 2009 Sentra | 1 | 2% | 59,966 |
| 2006 Sentra | 2 | 2% | 562 |
| 2004 Sentra | 1 | 1% | 54,000 |
| 2003 Sentra | 3 | 2% | 14,130 |
| 2002 Sentra | 5 | 2% | 13,602 |
| 2001 Sentra | 1 | 0% | 17 |
| 2000 Sentra | 1 | 1% | 80,000 |
| 1999 Sentra | 3 | 5% | 78,987 |
| 1998 Sentra | 1 | 2% | 115,513 |
| 1997 Sentra | 3 | 3% | — |
| 1996 Sentra | 5 | 4% | 30,000 |
| 1995 Sentra | 1 | 1% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (4)
Exterior lighting:headlights
Model years: 2020
Problem: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Sentra vehicles, equipped with LED headlights. The right-hand headlight aim may be misaligned. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamp, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: An improperly aimed headlight may reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the right-hand headlight, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 10, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R20B4.
Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch
Model years: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Problem: 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.
Exterior lighting:headlights
Model years: 2001, 2002
Problem: Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these vehicles were missing tamperproof caps that prevent horizontal headlamp adjustment.
Risk: These caps are installed to prevent misadjustment of the headlamps.
Fix: Dealers will install a tamperproof cap over the horizontal adjustment screw for both headlamps. Owner notification began january 14, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Exterior lighting:tail lights
Model years: 1996, 1997
Problem: These vehicles do not meet the illumination requirements of fmvss no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Risk: Following vehicles may not be aware that the vehicle in front is stopping, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Owners will be provided with two new light bulbs for the stop/tail lamps which are brighter than the original bulbs. A label with the new bulb number will also be provided for insertion into the owner's manual. If an owner so desires, a dealers can install the light bulbs for them.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the traction control warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an AutoZone and DTC: C1116 âStop Lamp Switch" was retrieved. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not…
Headlight assembly not wired properly causing the driver's side Headlight not to work. Also the audio equipment inside the car has electrical issues.
The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start one day after several attempts and was accompanied by the AEB (Automatic Emergency Braking) sensor and check engine warning lights. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who replaced the battery…
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 again, the vehicle restarted. The contact had AAA test that the battery, which…
Headlights go out, completely dark while driving. This happens whether in auto lights or manual lighting.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Nissan Sentras have exterior lighting problems?
No. NHTSA has 123 owner complaints about exterior lighting for the Nissan Sentra. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Nissan Sentra exterior lighting?
Yes: 4 safety recalls list exterior lighting. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about exterior lighting problems on the Nissan Sentra?
The most frequent phrase is “exterior lighting contacted”, in 9 of 123 complaints, followed by “brake switch” (9).
Other Nissan Sentra problems
- Power Train problems (1,238)
- Electrical System problems (790)
- Air Bags problems (760)
- Engine problems (677)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (581)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (409)
- Service Brakes problems (372)
- Steering problems (327)
See all Nissan Sentra problems.