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FREE VEHICLE RESEARCH

The 2020 Nissan Sentra has 4 NHTSA safety recalls on file, 204 owner complaints, and gets about 33 mpg combined. Here's the full free record from NHTSA and the EPA.

FREE PUBLIC RECORD · U.S. GOVERNMENT DATA

2020 Nissan Sentra

  • Engine 4-cyl 2L
  • Drive Front-Wheel Drive
  • Fuel Regular
  • Body Midsize Cars

Should you worry?

Look closer

Something in the public record needs a closer look before you buy.

Caution

Are there open safety recalls?

4 open

Ask the seller for proof each was fixed. Repairs are free — and there’s also an open investigation.

Good

What do owners report?

2 injuries reported

2 of 204 reports (~1%). On a high-volume model that alone isn’t unusual — look for patterns below.

Good

How did it score in crash tests?

5 out of 5 stars

5 is best. This model scored well in government crash tests.

Open recalls · nearby years

Same make and model. This car is the 2020.

  • 20182recalls
  • 20192recalls
  • 2020 · this car4recalls
  • 20213recalls

Based on free U.S. government safety data · checked July 30, 2026.

SAFETY

Will it protect people in a crash?

These are government crash-test scores. 5 stars is best. They rate this year and model, not your exact car.

Overall
5 / 5 stars
Frontal
4 / 5 stars
Side
5 / 5 stars
Side pole
5 / 5 stars
Rollover
5 / 5 stars

Factory safety & driver-assist equipment

Stability control
Standard
Forward collision warning
Standard
Government crash-test photo
Photo from a government crash test of this model

Tested as: 2020 Nissan Sentra 4 DR FWD

Open safety recalls

4 open

A recall means the manufacturer must fix a safety problem for free at a dealer. Ask the seller for proof the work was done.

  1. Steering

    17/06/2021

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. The left and/or right tie rod may be bent.

    How they fix it: 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.

  2. Exterior Lighting

    13/04/2022

    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."

    How they fix it: 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.

  3. Steering

    15/08/2023

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Sentra vehicles. The left and/or right tie rod may bend.

    How they fix it: 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.

  4. Back Over Prevention

    08/09/2023

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Altima and 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

    How they fix it: Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 19, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23C3.

The government also has an open investigation on this model. Look it up on nhtsa.gov before you buy.

From NHTSA (U.S. safety agency) · checked July 30, 2026.

OWNERS

What problems do owners report?

People file these with the government when something goes wrong. They show patterns, not a diagnosis of any one car for sale.

Owner reports · nearby years

Same make and model. This car is the 2020.

  • 2018184reports
  • 2019221reports
  • 2020 · this car204reports
  • 2021129reports

204 owner reports on file

8 crash mentions 2 injury mentions

Parts mentioned most often. Longer bar = more reports. Counts are out of 204 total reports.

  • STEERING 55 of 204

    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. Th

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 38 of 204

    3/4 doors will not lock/unlock using fob, or the door controllers. This increases risk of theft, car jacking, and safety as the locks do not engage while driving. Very dangerous. Windows do not roll up/down, which when paired with the doors

  • UNKNOWN OR OTHER 31 of 204

    There has not been an actual incident, door lock actuator stopped working prematurely.

  • FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 26 of 204

    My ABS has messed up multiple times often after traction control is lost I have been lucky enough to not be injured YET this is my daily driver and im self employed and am currently paying almost 1k a month for this car so im forced to dr

  • SERVICE BRAKES 14 of 204

    On June 10 2025 the brake sensor malfunctioned for my 2020 Nissan Sentra This was the secound timeThe first time was about one week before..The brake peddle went down , car brakes ,brakes.I was driving speed limit of 20.There were no cars o

  • POWER TRAIN 7 of 204

    The contact owns a 2020 Ford Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated. No warning light was illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not t

Bars are sized relative to the most-mentioned part on this list, not to 100% of all cars.

From NHTSA owner complaints · checked July 30, 2026. Anyone can file a report; they are not verified repairs.

FUEL COST

What does it cost to drive?

EPA estimates for this year and model. Your real cost depends on gas prices, how you drive, and how far you go.

Sold in 2 versions

They range from 32 to 33 mpg combined. Figures below are the base version. Pick yours to see its own numbers.

Combined MPG · nearby years

Same make and model. This car is the 2020.

  • 201829mpg
  • 201929mpg
  • 2020 · this car33mpg
  • 202133mpg

$1,800

estimated fuel cost per year if you drive about 15,000 miles

Miles per gallon. Higher is cheaper to drive.

City driving 29 mpg
Highway driving 39 mpg
Combined (typical mix) 33 mpg

Over 5 years, compared to an average new car

This model is estimated to save about $1,750 on fuel.

Spends more Saves more
Passenger space
96 cubic feet
Cargo space
14 cubic feet

From EPA fueleconomy.gov · checked July 30, 2026.

HOW IT WAS BUILT

Factory details

What’s on the build record for this VIN or model.

Engine

4-cyl 2L

Drivetrain

Front-Wheel Drive

Transmission

Automatic (variable gear ratios)

Fuel

Regular

See all factory details (7)
Engine
4-cyl 2L
Cylinders
4
Displacement
2 L
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive
Transmission
Automatic (variable gear ratios)
Body
Midsize Cars
Fuel
Regular

From EPA and NHTSA vehicle records · checked July 30, 2026.

What this free check does not include

We only show free U.S. government data: safety recalls, owner reports, crash tests, and fuel economy. We do not show prior accidents, flood or salvage titles, odometer rollback, insurance history, or a “should you buy” verdict on a specific listing. For that kind of check on one car for sale, use the VINly app.

BEFORE YOU BUY

What to check on this car

Confirm the recalls were fixed

This model has 4 open NHTSA recalls (including the steering). Recall repairs are free at the dealer, so ask the seller for proof the remedy was performed, or verify by VIN at nhtsa.gov before you buy.

Watch for a pending investigation

NHTSA has an open investigation covering this model. A recall can follow an investigation, so check nhtsa.gov for the latest before you commit.

  • Test-drive the basics

    Cold start, full-lock steering both ways, firm brakes with no pulsing, smooth shifts, and every electronic feature. Warning lights should come on at key-on, then go out.

  • Check the title and the VIN

    Confirm the title status in hand matches the listing, and that the VIN matches across the dash, door jamb, and title. VINly does not show ownership or accident history, for that, run a paid report like Carfax.

  • Ask the seller the right questions

    Why they are selling, any service records, accident or panel-repaint history, how many owners, and whether any open recalls were completed.

See the full used-car inspection checklist. None of this replaces a hands-on inspection by a mechanic.

FOR SALE NEAR YOU

2020 Nissan Sentra listings

    Quick answers

    What is recalled on the 2020 Nissan Sentra? +

    NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls for the 2020 Nissan Sentra, including the steering. See the full list above, and confirm by VIN at nhtsa.gov.

    What gas mileage does the 2020 Nissan Sentra get? +

    The EPA rates the 2020 Nissan Sentra at 33 mpg combined (29 city / 39 highway), about $1,800 a year in fuel.

    How safe is the 2020 Nissan Sentra? +

    NHTSA's NCAP program gives the 2020 Nissan Sentra 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 5 stars for rollover resistance.

    What do owners complain about on the 2020 Nissan Sentra? +

    Owners have filed 204 complaints with NHTSA for the 2020 Nissan Sentra, including 8 involving a crash. The most-reported area is steering.

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