Forward collision avoidance, steering, electrical system, and service brake issues are among the top complaints reported
The 2020 Nissan Sentra is no stranger to the marketplace, as the model has been around for many years. This newer version claims owners should “refuse to compromise.” However, when owners have serious forward collision-avoidance issues, steering problems, defective electrical systems, and/or faulty service brakes it becomes a totally different issue. They won’t compromise but for completely different reasons.
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The first problems reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in complaints from customers were related to the electrical system and brakes. While these components are still high on the priority list of complainants, forward collision avoidance coupled with steering issues have risen to the top of the list. Many of these problems are listed in multiple categories. So you’ll find that they aren’t quite sure which component or system to blame.
In addition to the components and systems already mentioned, other problems reported in complaints include backover prevention, exterior lighting, lane departure, latches/locks/linkages, the powertrain, structure, suspension, vehicle speed control, visibility/wiper, and wheels.
There are also four recalls that affect the 2020 Sentra. These affect steering, exterior lighting, and backover prevention.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Steering | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Electrical System | |
| Service Brakes | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | |
| Suspension | |
| Power Train | |
| Engine | |
| Wheels |
Nearly 40% of the complaints to the NHTSA about the 2020 Nissan Sentra are about forward collision avoidance issues. These relate primarily to the automatic emergency braking (AEB) system. And it’s no surprise to discover that all the complaints about service brakes also relate to the AEB system. Furthermore, more than three-quarters (76%) of the brake complaints are also listed as being forward collision problems. So, we’ll deal with these in a section about brake problems.
However, there are also many complaints about error warnings. While many include AEB system warnings, they relate to other warnings as well. For example, a 2020 Sentra owner from Texas got AEB and forward and rear collision warning indicator light warning on the dashboard for no apparent reason. Another owner states that the cruise control suddenly stopped working, indicating that there was a collision/crash malfunction.
Then there’s the owner from Ohio who states he was on his way to collect someone as a “Rideshare driver,” when he crashed into a car that was parked on the side of the road. “I still have no idea why it happened. But I think the Malfunction Warning that was on (the) dash (has) got something to do with it!”
Another owner states that the forward collision warning keeps malfunctioning. “It has done it a total of three times so far. Once, when I first cranked up the car and was just sitting in it for about 10 minutes, it popped on as soon as I switched into drive.” But it wouldn’t allow him to move, so he had to restart the car. The second time it happened on the interstate “and luckily nothing bad happened.” The third time “it just popped on when I cranked my car and then cut off as I was driving.”
While the Sentra isn’t considered a high-end luxury car, owners still expect the basics to work as intended, but that’s not necessarily the case. And, the reality is that many complaints about the electrical system relate to forward collision avoidance issues too. For example, an owner from Connecticut states that several times “while driving, the forward collision warning came on causing the car to automatically brake when there were no cars in front of or around the car. “ The dealer quoted $2,057.50 to fix the problem. Then all four automatic door locks stopped working. This time the dealer “quoted $1,375.00 to replace the door actuators for a grand total of $3,658.78.” Nissan Consumer Affairs said they would only cover 50% of the repairs. “These items are huge safety issues and Nissan should cover the entire bill.”
Others relate to the backup camera.
An owner from New Jersey tells how the “rear and headlights flicker off and on without anyone touching them. My power inside the car like for the radio, heating, and cooling will stop working for a few days and randomly come on when it wants. Then local Nissan broke my plastic undercarriage during my recall (that) they didn’t complete, and now it’s dragging across the ground.” He’s not happy!
An owner from Ohio says that the child lock windows appear to be activated even though the button isn’t pushed in. Also, “I cannot roll any window down except the driver’s window.”
In a similar vein, an owner from New York states that the driver’s lock on the door does not open and close. Also, the window doesn’t go up and down.
And another complaint states that three times the “car died” and wouldn’t start until “jumped.”
Brakes provide a basic function that should just work as intended. When they don’t, people’s lives are put at risk.
As mentioned above, many of the issues reported as being forward collision avoidance problems relate to the AEB system. There are numerous complaints that say the issue keeps recurring. Many others say that either dealers can’t duplicate the issue or simply can’t do anything to fix it.
In complete contrast, there are also complaints that the brakes fail!
While driving at 40 mph, an owner from Florida was alarmed when the car slammed on the brakes. A large red warning flashed across the screen: The Car is Unsafe to Drive. This “can cause a fatal accident,” says the owner, going on to state that the driver and passengers risk injury when this happens. During this incident, the driver had no control of the car. Before purchasing the car, “I saw a yellow buzzing light. The seller said to leave it overnight for repair. The next day I was told by the seller (that) the car was inspected and repaired by (the) manufacturer. The seller said the car was fixed. When I drove it off the lot, the yellow light was still coming on, buzzing. Then the car malfunctioned on the road.”
An owner from Ohio describes how the vehicle brakes sporadically. When this happens, several warning lights are illuminated. The dealer told the owner to replace the battery. “The battery was repaired. However, the failure recurred.”
Another owner states that the Sentra has stopped twice while driving. There was nothing in front of the driver when “a flashing light came on the dashboard and my car came to a halt. This was very frightening and now I am afraid to drive the car. The dealership said (there’s) nothing they can do. This issue needs to be addressed and fixed, and a recall needs to be done. This is a huge safety issue!”
The father of a woman who crashed was driving her 2020 Nissan Sentra reports in an NHTSA complaint how the AEB system didn’t work!
“She was trying to avoid hitting a dog that ran in front of her car (when) she crashed into a parked car. Our Nissan Sentra anti brakes did not stop the car nor make a noise before hitting that parked car. No warning from our car to prevent this head-on collision.
“There is so much damage that our insurance has deemed it a total loss. By the grace of God (my) daughter is physically fine but mentally she is not! As a parent, I felt comfortable with my daughter driving this car at first. I have witnessed the anti brakes work on our 2020 Nissan Sentra before, when we would get near an object the car would automatically stop! We are now out of a car and I’m still going to owe a balance to my finance company once the insurance pays whatever they’re going to pay. This is so unfair and heartbreaking that this important feature of this car failed my daughter when she needed it the most. WHY?”
If you can’t steer your vehicle properly, you have a major problem. It doesn’t matter what’s caused the issue. We mentioned the recalls for steering problems, and are concerned that many of the steering complaints state that, while they received notification of the recall, the recall repair isn’t available. At the time of writing this post just into May 2024, there were complaints about this that were as recent as April 25, 2024.
Remember, the steering recalls warns that a tie rod might bend, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, the recall warns that drivers might experience “an off-center steering wheel or vibration.”
Well, an owner from New Jersey experienced this in October 2023 after both recalls had been issued. He tells how he lost control of the car while driving home. “I tried my best to pull over and stayed on the side of the road.” When he got out of the car he “saw that my tire was not operating but the tire was not popped. I saw that there was a piece hanging and I then looked it up and saw that it was my passenger (side) right tie rod that had broken off.”
He got a tow to get out of the street’s danger zone and called the dealer the next day. “I was told that it would be covered under a recall. All I needed to do was get it towed. When I towed it over to the dealer, they told me that it was not covered under the recall and that I would have to pay out of pocket.” He ended up paying for the tow and the new tie rod.
Then an owner from New York had the tie rod replaced, but the steering wheel now constantly shakes!
If you believe that your 2020 Nissan Sentra is a lemon, the solution is to get the experts to assess your problems. The law makes the automaker pay for lemon law legal fees, so it’s not going to cost you anything. All you need to do is fill out a contact form or call the Lemberg Law Helpline.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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‘20 Sentra nightmare from day one of my lease. Emergency braking system deploys on highway going 60mph. System malfunction constantly lit up. I complained numerous times. Radio knobs don’t work. Back door won’t lock Its the end of my lease. The car is a mess. Got in accidents had to replace battery. Replace alternator. And back for another battery again with one week left of lease. I feel Nissan should wipe slate clean with over mileage and cosmetic damages in leu of the car almost killing my son and I many many times
Bought my 2020 Nissan new just a little over 75 miles on it. Its hit 44,000 and in the last few months the car has gone crazy. Trying to back out of my driveway it will automatically stop you when there is nothing there, even going forwards it will slam on the brakes and again nothing there. Then hear recently it’s not wanting to start it will act like it doesn’t register the key fob, and you have to turn it on and off multiply times for it to finally start. The check engine light just came on the last time it did it. I went to have the code read to see what was going on and it’s saying the ECM. I have reached out to Nissan but with it being over the 36,000 mark they won’t cover it. Doesn’t make sense to me when the ECM is what makes the car run, if you don’t have that the car is useless. Nissan needs to get a recall or something because I have seen where everyone is having the same problems I am.
Before switching to an Accord i would say the 2020 Sentra is the absolute most unsafe car. Multiple times have i had the automatic breaks deploy for no apparent reason slowing me to 15mph on 45mph road. Cars have come extremely close to rear ending me. Also the transmission was very wonky, and the engine bay sounded disgusting, not in a good way. I will never go back to another Nissan in my life no matter what. (The Sentra had 8,000 miles when purchased).
Dealer replaced Radio/Back up Display Monitor.
*Various times screen turned to blackout mode during back up or radio in operation. Few times radio did not turn on at all and of course back up camera did not work. Also, when turning the radio knob/dial static noise heard. One time Front Display flashed white/red warning and car braked unexpectedly but there were no cars in front of me. At times when driving a car is next to me but Alert did not display.
My work car is a 2020 Nissan Sentra SV. I received it from my job on July 10th 2020, and after 101,000 miles it still runs like a top. Only issue I have seen was that the main window switch fails at time, and have to bang on it. And my back up camera turns blue at times. But from 2020 till now it has not been in a mechanical shop except for routine maintenance and new tires. Not like my previous company card 2018 Ford Focus SE, so I do not see what other people are talking about
Had a little bit of snow and rain rip my skidplates off the bottom of my sentra. Its second snow and havent even had it for a year, not including it vears to the right and i have to fight with it
I had it one for a year, intimate wipers work crazy, no room inside, sits way too low..no clearance at all. Can’t see out the back window, watch the trunk so you don’t hit your head.. This vehicle is overall junk… Never again