Nissan Sentra Steering Problems
Owners have filed 327 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the Nissan Sentra across 30 model years. The 2020 model year has the most (55). The words owners use most often: “tie rod” (10% of reports).
- 327steering complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 45mention a crash
- 29mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $2,300typical repair cost reported by owners
- 35%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.
- Tie rod: mentioned in 34 of 327 complaints (10%)
- Steering column: mentioned in 24 of 327 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical steering repair on the Nissan Sentra at $2,300, and half of them between $1,450 and $3,300.
Based on 10 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2005–2024), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 171 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 327 complaints, 45 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 29 an injury.
Nissan Sentra steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Sentra | 2 | 6% | — |
| 2024 Sentra | 10 | 24% | 37,040 |
| 2023 Sentra | 4 | 20% | 2,000 |
| 2022 Sentra | 31 | 38% | 43,000 |
| 2021 Sentra | 40 | 30% | 33,000 |
| 2020 Sentra | 55 | 27% | 50,000 |
| 2019 Sentra | 3 | 1% | 2,300 |
| 2018 Sentra | 6 | 3% | 60,000 |
| 2017 Sentra | 14 | 6% | 31,303 |
| 2016 Sentra | 5 | 2% | 24,150 |
| 2015 Sentra | 6 | 2% | 24,494 |
| 2014 Sentra | 9 | 2% | 7,810 |
| 2013 Sentra | 16 | 3% | 58,250 |
| 2012 Sentra | 9 | 5% | 54,000 |
| 2011 Sentra | 8 | 6% | 75,500 |
| 2010 Sentra | 9 | 6% | 20,500 |
| 2009 Sentra | 11 | 20% | 55,500 |
| 2008 Sentra | 15 | 9% | 45,000 |
| 2007 Sentra | 30 | 19% | 49,000 |
| 2006 Sentra | 3 | 3% | 42,000 |
| 2005 Sentra | 3 | 2% | 110,772 |
| 2004 Sentra | 5 | 3% | 53,300 |
| 2003 Sentra | 2 | 1% | 26,827 |
| 2002 Sentra | 7 | 2% | 37,130 |
| 2001 Sentra | 8 | 3% | 34,656 |
| 2000 Sentra | 4 | 2% | — |
| 1999 Sentra | 3 | 5% | 78,987 |
| 1997 Sentra | 4 | 4% | 44,000 |
| 1996 Sentra | 2 | 1% | 2,000 |
| 1995 Sentra | 3 | 3% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Steering:linkages:tie rod assembly
Model years: 2020, 2021, 2022
Problem: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Sentra vehicles. The left and/or right tie rod may bend.
Risk: A bent tie rod can break and cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Owners are advised to contact their dealer for transport assistance if they are experiencing an off-center steering wheel or vibration. As an interim repair, dealers will inspect and replace any bent or broken tie rods, free of charge. Once newly designed parts are available, dealers will replace both left and right tie rods, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed November 27, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23B3. This recall replaces and expands recall number 21V-461. Vehicles previously repaired under 21V-461 will need to have the new remedy completed.
Steering:linkages:tie rod assembly
Model years: 2020, 2021
Problem: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. The left and/or right tie rod may be bent.
Risk: A bent tie rod can break, causing a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the left and/or right tie rods as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 5, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PM985.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I was turning into a parking spot at a store when I tried to break the vehicle accelerated, then was forced into the wall and the vehicle, then went backwards, losing control, and continue to accelerate. The only way I was able to stop. The car is to put it and park and shut the engine off after…
The 2025 Nissan Sentra lost control in the steering wheel or driveshaft while driving down hill. The vehicle lost power lost steering and crashed. The vehicle stated "malfunction " when the crash occured. There was a leaking fluid coming from the front left underside of the vehicle after the crash…
Since I purchased the vehicle, I turn my steering wheel all the way to the left. It makes this clicking sound, and I can feel the clicking under me like itâs coming from the driver side and I have a maintenance notification on my dashboard fan. The clicking noise has gotten worse and made me do…
The scope of repair required fixing a recalled tie rod that suffered a catastrophic failure, which directly caused the vehicleâs ADAS, Advanced Emergency Braking (AEB), and collision detection systems to crash. Berman Nissan promised a legally compliant, safe repair but breached this agreement by…
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel was off centered and the vehicle vibrated. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle vibrated while making a turn. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Nissan Sentras have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 327 owner complaints about steering 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 steering?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix steering problems on the Nissan Sentra?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,300 (half paid between $1,450 and $3,300), from 10 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about steering problems on the Nissan Sentra?
The most frequent phrase is “tie rod”, in 34 of 327 complaints, followed by “steering column” (24).
Other Nissan Sentra problems
See all Nissan Sentra problems.