2006 Nissan Sentra: problems, recalls and reliability
6 recalls and 116 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (27% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Aug 2022
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 116 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Bought a 2006 Nissan Sentra from an individual as a first car for my grandson. Drivers Seatbelt does not retract. Took to body shop and they said it was a safety issue and we would need to take it to the dealer. The Nissan Dealer in Chattanooga said that they could not repair it as the part was discontinued. Did not give us an alternative other than to to google it and fix it ourselves (but it's a safety problem that even a body shop won't touch). So now my Grandson has his first car but it's worthless?”Owner report · Seat Belts · Jun 2025
“The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that the passenger side air bag warning light would remain illuminated and the b1066 front passenger air bag module due to electrical circuit shortage. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 22E066000 (Air Bags). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 125,000.”Owner report · Air Bags · Aug 2022
“The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Sentra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V747000 (Air Bags) and had the vehicle taken to the dealer to be repaired. Additionally, the transmission fluid was flushed and refilled. The contact stated that after the vehicle was returned, the transmission fluid was checked and looked the same as before the transmission flush. Additionally, the airbag was not repaired properly. The contact was concerned that no repairs had been performed on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.”Owner report · Air Bags · Oct 2021
Show 7 more owner reports
“Car has pick up issues. It has been issues when Stop at signal light and I afraid behind cars may hit me. When I did research on internet found many people complained for the same issue. I did replace EVAP canister still has same pick up issue. Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).”Owner report · Engine · Mar 2021
“Drive by wire .when check engine lights on it drags u threw red lights. Unless u put in neutral. Idles too high not disengaging the tq.converter .”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Mar 2021
“The manual lock down leaver for the steering wheel does not hold the steering wheel in place ,this allows the steering wheel to come loose while driving which makes it almost impossible to control the steering of the car I have almost ran into other cars while driving on highways and streets.”Owner report · Steering · Jun 2020
“Tl* the contact owns a 2006 nissan sentra. The contact stated that the horn failed to function. The dealer was not contacted. The contact felt that if the same part was replaced, the failure may recur. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 13,000. The VIN was unknown.”Owner report · Electrical System · Aug 2018
“Takata recall, vehicle has been burning through a lot of motor oil and the other day I noticed smoke coming out of the motor and I'm going through about 3 quarts of motor oil in one week I am afraid that the motor may catch on fire. As I was driving my family to the lake I noticed that there was smoke coming out of the engine and the engine light came on when I pull to the side of the freeway the engine died and there was a lot of smoke coming out of it when I inspected it after it was safe to inspect I noticed there was zero oil in the motor”Owner report · Engine · May 2018
“My car vibrates when I start it & driving. My rear passenger window doesn't work everytime I want to roll the window down. My air conditioner stopped working 3 months ago.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Dec 2017
“My wife was in an accident with said car she was side swipped on passenger side fender.. No front end damaged was done only damage was the fender and rim on the passenger side where she was hit but both driver and passenger airbags deployed.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2017
When filing, owners marked a crash in 22 of these complaints and injuries in 17 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 6 campaigns
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5L ENGINE, THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CAN OVERHEAT CAUSING A BRIEF INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL OUTPUT FROM THE SENSOR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ECM FREE OF CHARGE. CERTAIN MY 2006 ALTIMAS WHICH HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY REMEDIED UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN 06V223 (NISSAN R0606) ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL SINCE THE REPROGRAMMING FOR 06V223 ALSO INCLUDED THIS REPROGRAMMING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 31, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2001-2003 Nissan Maxima, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4 and I35, 2003 FX35 and FX45, and 2001 I30 vehicles. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 15, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. Note: On December 18, 2015 Nissan informed NHTSA of an amendment of this recall to remove 2004-2005 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 vehicles.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L ENGINES MAY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION AS A RESULT OF IMPROPER PERFORMANCE OF THE PISTON RINGS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM OR ENGINE COMPUTER). YOUR VEHICLE WILL ALSO BE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE IF IT HAS BEEN CONSUMING ENGINE OIL AT A HIGHER THAN NORMAL RATE. IN A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF VEHICLES, ENGINE REPLACEMENT WILL BE NEEDED. ON JUNE 9, 2006, NISSAN NOTIFIED OWNERS OF THE POSSIBILITY OF EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING THE OIL AT A PROPER LEVEL. FOLLOW-UP LETTER TO OWNERS ADVISING THEM OF THE STATUS OF THE RECALL WAS SENT DURING AUGUST 2006. FOLLOWUP LETTER TO OWNERS WAS SENT ON NOVEMBER 15, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2007-2011 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback, 2001-2004 Infiniti I30 and I35, 2002-2003 Inifiniti QX4, 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 and 2006-2010 M35 and M45 vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated, frontal passenger air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators with alternate desiccated inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 888-737-9511 or Infiniti customer service at 888-810-3715.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2002-2006 Sentra vehicles whose passenger air bags were previously inspected and may have been released without replacing the Takata air bag inflator. In the event of a crash, Takata frontal passenger air bag inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been completed. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will re-inspect the vehicle and, if necessary, replace the air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 22, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PM964.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain air bag inflator replacement service parts that may have been installed as part of a theft or collision repair. The parts include certain passenger-side air bag inflators designed to fit Infiniti 2002-2003 QX4, 2006-2010 M35 and M45; Nissan 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, and both driver and passenger-side inflators designed to fit 2007-2012 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback vehicles. Please see Nissan's recall report for the specific part numbers. These replacement inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the inflators as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 14, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2006 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Sentra by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Nissan Sentra reliable?
NHTSA has 116 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on record for the 2006 Nissan Sentra. The most complained-about area is air bags (27% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2006 Nissan Sentra problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 81,500 miles or less.
Does the 2006 Nissan Sentra have open recalls?
6 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning engine and engine cooling. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.