342 of the
8,300 complaints filed about the Nissan Sentra
are about the steering —
4% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2020.
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 when it became undrivable due to loss of power and loss of driveshaft control. I felt unsafe with the way the vehicle was shuddering and jerking every right turn I made in the vehicle days prior to it being in a crash.
NHTSA complaint #11757931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 it’s 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 my own research on the problem. The tire needs maintenance, but there’s no flat so something told me to google exactly what was the problem was and I got a message on Google stating that there are many recalls on this particular car about a CV joint on the axle. I know that this is the problem because everything that was said online from people that had the car previously it’s the exact problem that I have. I need this inspected immediately.
NHTSA complaint #11755787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The scope of repair required fixing a recalled tie rod that suffered a catastrophic failure, which directly caused the vehicle’s ADAS, Advanced Emergency Braking (AEB), and collision detection systems to crash. Berman Nissan promised a legally compliant, safe repair but breached this agreement by returning an unsafe vehicle, failing to road-test the steering component (verified by identical check-in/out mileage), and intentionally scrubbing trouble codes to conceal active safety failures. Staff explicitly refused all safety assistance, failed to secure my signature on any authorization paperwork from tow to pick-up, and Nissan corporate stated they were 'not legally required' to resolve the hazards. Service personnel stonewalled the issue, and management only escalated the matter to Service Director Mark Yalda after I disclosed I possessed concrete video proof of the identical mileage and unsigned invoices.
NHTSA complaint #11750579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 diagnosed with a passenger-side rear detached inter-tire rod and bushing and a driver's side rear inter-tire rod and bushing failing. The contact was informed that the driver's and passenger interior rods and bushings needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. In addition, the contact stated that in 2021 the vehicle was inspected by the dealer for an unknown recall inspection, which had a similar failure description. In addition, the contact received a recall notification, NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V581000 (Steering). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
NHTSA complaint #11748871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I have an Nissan Sentra sv 2020 and steering rack is causing problems when I drive my car, making my whole steering wheel shake when I go 60 on the highway, it also makes noises when I try to gently press on the gas making my wheels shake violently against the road. It’s a really bad safety hazard. If that part breaks. I can or any other drivers can lose control of their car and end up in a bad accident even death. Dealership is asking for about 4k to get that fix
NHTSA complaint #11748419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In May of 2026, I began experiencing vibration and steering wheel instability while going over bumps and while braking, as well as while changing lanes. This vibration and instability got progressively worse and concerning, therefore, I took the vehicle in to the dealer for diagnostic testing on 6/2/2026. The dealership diagnosed and informed me of the steering assembly failure. The rack and pinion assembly is the defective component. It is currently available for inspection as it has not been replaced yet. It may not be available by the time I receive a response, as the vehicle is deemed "unsafe to drive" by the service advisor, and I need the vehicle repaired. I imagine they will send the part back to the manufacturer to assess the premature failure of the steering assembly. It is a premature failure, as the vehicle's current mileage is 34,303, therefore it is not normal "wear and tear". The dealer service center technician has confirmed that there is "a lot of play" and the entire steering assembly needs to be replaced (see video and photo). To my knowledge, the component has also been inspected by Nissan Corporate Consumer Affairs as part of their Goodwill Assistance Program. However, they will not provide a report/documentation to confirm this, as it is an "internal review" and their policy does not allow them to provide this documentation to the consumer. Additionally, the inner tie rods were inspected due to NHTSA Recall: 23V-581; Nissan ID: R23B3, and replaced by the dealer service center on 1/14/25 as a result of the inspection. In my opinion, the defective inner tie rods contributed to (or were a direct cause of) the premature steering assembly failure, as they were on my vehicle for close to 3 years before being inspected and replaced as a result of the recall. I believe the bent tie rods put strain on the rack and pinion assembly, resulting in premature damage and steering assembly failure.
NHTSA complaint #11744063 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hello, I am reporting a steering-related issue involving the inner tie rods on my 2021 Nissan Sentra. Nissan previously issued safety recall campaign PM985 for bent inner tie rods on certain Sentra vehicles from the same model year. Two separate repair facilities inspected my vehicle and confirmed problems involving the inner tie rods and steering system components. No warning lamps or dashboard messages appeared prior to the issue being identified. Although my VIN may not currently be included in the recall population, my vehicle is experiencing a similar issue involving the same steering-related component identified in recall PM985. Because tie rods are directly related to steering control and vehicle stability, this issue raises concerns about driving safety. I am submitting this complaint so the issue can be documented and reviewed in case similar failures are occurring outside the current recall population.
NHTSA complaint #11739878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2022 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the steering was difficult to maintain as the vehicle drifted and the steering wheel was stiff. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the front end needed to be aligned. The vehicle was repaired, but the same and additional failures reoccurred less than a year later. The contact stated that on several occasions at various speeds, the steering wheel began pulling and shaking, and she observed a loud noise emanating from under the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that both wheel bearings, the sway bar, and the front axle were damaged and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred approximately six months later. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the driver strut needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted, as the vehicle still pulled to the right and she observed a bumping noise near the front of the vehicle as if something was loose. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.
NHTSA complaint #11738716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Nissan had a recall 2 years ago for a tie rod issue. When I brought the car in for that recall Nissan said that the tie rods showed no sign of bending so they didn't replace them. Two years later my car is not steering correctly and making noises. I find out that Nissan has a new tie rod recall (recall R23B3, NHTSA #23V-581) that requires the tie rods to be changed regardless if they show any sign of bending or damage. I bring my car in to have this completed (2 years from the first recall) and they are telling me the power steering rack has to be replaced as well as the tie rods. The issue is Nissan now knows that by not replacing the tie rods two years ago it's damaging the power sterring rack but they will not acknowledge it as they don't want to pay the additional cost for the power sterring rack. I spoke to Nissan USA consumer affairs and they are taking a hard line on this. It's dangerous as the car dealership service department was going to let me drive my car after the tie rod replacement knowing the power steering rack was also damaged until I pressed the actual technician that worked on the car and he said it's dangerous to drive. Nissan must be reponsible for replacing all the damage caused by not making it mandatory to replace the tie rods in the first recall two years ago. The cost to replace the power steering rack is $3000 and they don't want to pay for that.
NHTSA complaint #11737805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Summary: I am reporting two significant defects on my 2025 Nissan Sentra that pose safety risks. 1. Suspension/Steering: During low-speed maneuvers (approx. 20mph) such as navigating roundabouts, there is a persistent mechanical creaking/squealing noise from the front passenger side. The dealership technician verified the noise but provided a physically impossible diagnosis, claiming "tires were slipping," despite the vehicle being brand new with tires in perfect condition. This suggests a defect in the control arm bushings or strut mounts which affects steering predictability. 2. Power Window/Electrical: The driver-side window produces a loud, piercing screech when operated. More critically, the window switch has experienced intermittent functional failure where it becomes unresponsive. This is a safety hazard as it could prevent emergency egress or cabin ventilation. Manufacturer Response: > Both issues are documented and have been reported to Nissan Consumer Affairs (Case #56515863). However, the manufacturer stated they have "no solution" and directed me to argue with the dealership. No technical specialist has been assigned to inspect these safety-related mechanical and electrical failures. The vehicle is available for inspection.
NHTSA complaint #11733963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My car would we still in the middle of the road and one day I was turning to go home and it cut off with everything on the dashboard was still on and the power steering went out and I tried to turn real fast to get my driveway and next thing I know my Cortizone fire meanwhile every now and then I would see a light blinking my dashboard fast and then go away. It was the battery light barely show up.
NHTSA complaint #11727684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I took my Sentra to Performance Nissan located at 1345 S Federal Hwy, Pompano Beach, FL 33062 and was refused service. They refused to fix the safety recall on my vehicle because of a rebuilt title. I called Nissan Of America and was told regardless of a rebuilt title a safety recall should be fixed by the dealership.
NHTSA complaint #11724794 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In December 2025, the vehicle was towed to the dealer after it shut off and would not restart. No warning lights displayed, no low fuel light displayed either. Dealer attributed stall to low fuel (fuel range showed 30 miles remaining), found no diagnostic codes, attributed it to low fuel, added gas, and released the vehicle and charged a DX fee. In February 2026 (approximately two months later), the vehicle lost power again while being driven and was rear-ended while disabled. Post-collision dash photos show approximately half a tank of fuel and malfunction indicators illuminated. The dealership had notice of a shutdown event and failed to properly diagnose or investigate before returning the vehicle as safe in December. My daughter was injured as a result of the rear end accident. The vehicle was a total loss.
NHTSA complaint #11722103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
After 8 months of driving my car brand new I started experiencing multiple intermittent malfunctions in the dash board & infotainment system. I have documentation of DTC codes current in my ECU. These codes each dealership refused to find and instead replaced my car battery, wiping the codes & replacing my infotainment system after it completely failed. After repeated repair attempts each dealership failed to successfully repair under warranty & told me to drive the car as normal when these malfunctions continued. These electrical malfunctions were at one point affecting my alternator which I also have documentation of. The car has lost power yet the engine stays running while I am driving. My handsfree is intermittent everyday. I am now way past my warranty & extended warranty due to following dealerships advice to drive the car as normal and bring back. These ongoing malfunctions create unreasonable safety risk which I believe falls under 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 — the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. A third party diagnostics shop told me my car would have to be taken apart to find the grounding issues as this is clearly a manufacturing defect. These repairs have cost me money and I refuse to keep paying these dealerships if they aren't willing to resolve the core problem. I get constant push back from each dealership. I've already engaged with Nissan consumer affairs, a Lemon Law attorney, and filed with my State AG, AG recommended while undergoing an IDR that I file a complaint here as well. Please help.
NHTSA complaint #11719365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2022 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering independently steered the vehicle over into the next lane. The failure was a persistent failure. The contact stated that the steering wheel was independently steering the vehicle all over the road without driver input. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V581000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not associated with the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000.
NHTSA complaint #11719039 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This is the second time in the last 45 day that we have had a report of the front end "popping". We took 1 vehicle to Nissan of Murfeesboro and they replaced both front shaft assemblys. This vehicle was taken to Newton Nissan and they had to do the same repair on this vehicle. I have 12 of the year, make model in our fleet and have serious concerns
NHTSA complaint #11711433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owned a 2017 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH and coasting to the right around a curve, after completing the maneuver, the accelerator was depressed, the cruise control was set at 48 MPH, and the steering wheel was turned to the left but independently turned all the way to the right. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced a failure with the steering position sensor. The contact let go of the steering when and the vehicle left the road and ran into a pile of leaves. The vehicle struck an unknown object on the ground, the vehicle then went airborne, and the roof of the vehicle struck a tree. The contact stated that the vehicle spun around and ended up in the South bound lane with the passenger’s side quarter panel still on the roadway. The vehicle flipped over approximately six times and ended up on the road where the vehicle came to a stop. The contact recalled seven impacts before the vehicle came to a rest. The seat belt failed to function as intended; the contact struck the driver’s side air bag several times that by the time the vehicle came to a stop, the air bag had deflated. The contact stated that the side curtain air bags deployed, preventing his head from striking the window and exiting the vehicle. All the other air bags were also deployed. The contact was unsure whether there was a warning light illuminated. The contact sustained injuries. The contact had a broken nose, fractured ribs, and a traumatic brain injury. The contact also lost the ability to speak but has since regained partial ability to speak. The contact was transported to the hospital by ambulance. The contact stated that he was neglectfully released from the first hospital he was transferred to but then checked himself back into the ER of another hospital, where most of the injuries were discovered. There were no other passengers in the vehicle. A Police report was filed but was not available. The vehicle was towed to a Copart location in Shreveport, Louisiana. The insurance company was
NHTSA complaint #11704674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Sentra. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 23V581000 (Steering) and 21V461000 (Steering). The contact stated that while in reverse(R) and turning the steering wheel, the contact observed a clicking sound coming from under the front of the vehicle. The contact stated there was no warning light or messages displayed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the contact was informed that the tie rods needed to be replaced. The contact was unsure if the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 21,900.
NHTSA complaint #11704265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact rented a 2024 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving the vehicle, the contact noticed a slight rubbing like sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH over a rumble strip later, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the front of the vehicle, and the steering wheel suddenly failed, causing the vehicle to lose directional control. The vehicle veered to the right, crossed multiple lanes before stopping on a gravel shudder. Upon exiting and inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed that both the two front wheels were towed inward at approximately a 40-degree angle. The vehicle was later towed to the rental car company. The cause of the failure was unknown. No further information was available. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 37,040. The VIN was not available.
NHTSA complaint #11701430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
It will be investigated by my insurance company, but this is what happened. I was taking a leisurely drive on a country road. Not much for shoulders and the trees aren't cut back far enough. I was going straight. The vehicle decided to take a 45 degree turn the right. Into the trees then flipping several times before finally coming to rest. The shoulder strap failed to lock, therefore my upper body took quite a beating including broken ribs because the side curtain doesn't cover the armrest. And the console took care of ribs in my right side. Full upper body whiplash. This is an issue unknown to most of the general public. Wish I had known. I have witnesses and police reports. I was driving normally. People who saw me when I drove past their houses said they were surprised to hear the crash. And we're very surprised that I was alive and had managed to ooze out right beside the vehicle. I didn't walk away. There was misdiagnosis at the hospital that the ambulance decided on their own to go to. And I was released. No wheelchair, nothing. No medicine. Just go away. I went to the ER in my hometown. Where the obvious injuries were diagnosed. The public needs to be aware just how dangerous electric steering is. The technology isn't ready. Just like phonebot answering service.
NHTSA complaint #11701131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.