2015 Nissan Sentra
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2015 models.

- Class
- Midsize Cars
- Body styles
- S/Sv/Sr/Sl 4dr Sedan
- Engines
- 1.8L 4-cyl
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 33 combined · 30 city / 38 hwy
- Length
- 182.3 in
- Curb weight
- 2,851 lb
- NHTSA rating
- ★★★★★
- Recalls
- 3 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
- Excellent fuel economyUp to 33 MPG combined — 28% better than the average 2015 midsize car (25.7 MPG).
Watch out for
No weak spots against similar models in the data.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 29 similar 2015 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2015 Nissan Sentra is a midsize car offered with a 1.8L 4-cyl engine and front-wheel drive.
It measures about 182 inches long and 69 inches wide on a 106-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 2,851 lb.
EPA rates its most efficient version at 33 MPG combined (30 city / 38 highway), 28% better than the 2015 midsize car average of 25.7 MPG, for an estimated $2,050 a year in fuel.
In NHTSA crash testing it earned a 4-star overall rating.
It has 3 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 352 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the power train.
What changed for 2015
No changes to engines, powertrains, drivetrains, size, EPA ratings or NHTSA crash rating compared with the 2014 Sentra — a carry-over year in the data.
Compared with 2014; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2014 Sentra →
Trims, performance & features
Built in: Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes · Aguascalientes City, Aguascalientes
NHTSA vPIC, as reported by the manufacturer for 4 2015 Sentra configurations; may not list every trim. How we calculate this →
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S/Sv/Sr/Sl 4dr Sedan | 182.3 in | 69.3 in | 59.1 in | 106.3 in | 60.2 / 60.2 in | 2,851 lb | 60/40 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sentra FE | 1.8L 4-cyl | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 30 / 38 / 33 | +28% | $2,050 | 268 |
| Sentra | 1.8L 4-cyl | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 29 / 37 / 32 | +25% | $2,100 | 275 |
| Sentra | 1.8L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 / 35 / 30 | +17% | $2,250 | 298 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2015 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Driver / passenger | Side | Side pole | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Nissan Sentra 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 4★ / 4★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 11.8% |


Similar 2015 midsize cars
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Nissan Sentra (this car) | 33 MPG | ★★★★★ | 3 |
| 2015 Toyota Corolla | 34 MPG | ★★★★★ | 1 |
| 2015 Honda Civic | 44 MPG | ★★★★★ | 1 |
| 2015 Honda Accord | 47 MPG | Not rated | 6 |
| 2015 Toyota Camry | 40 MPG | ★★★★★ | 1 |
| 2015 Nissan GT-R | 19 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
| 2015 Toyota Prius | 50 MPG | ★★★★★ | 2 |
Recalls (3)
Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification · Apr 26, 2016
NHTSA campaign 16V242000 · 645,898 vehicles
- Problem
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Sentra vehicles manufactured June 4, 2012, to April 9, 2016. The front passenger seat belt bracket may become deformed if it is used to secure a Child Restraint System (CRS). The deformed seat bracket may cause the Occupant Classification System (OCS) to incorrectly classify the installed CRS, resulting in the front passenger air bag to not be turned off as designed when a CRS is in the seat.
- Risk
- If the frontal passenger air bag deploys in the event of a crash when a child seat is installed in the front passenger seat, there will be an increased risk of injury to the child in the CRS.
- Fix
- Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will reinforce the seat belt bracket as well as reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU), free of charge. The recall began on June 13, 2016. Owners are warned not to install a CRS in the front seat. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification · Apr 26, 2016
NHTSA campaign 16V244000 · 3,296,947 vehicles
- Problem
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.
- Risk
- If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
- Fix
- Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
Latches/Locks/Linkages · Jul 21, 2015
NHTSA campaign 15V453000 · 6,595 vehicles
- Problem
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2015 Nissan Rogue vehicles manufactured June 9, 2015, to June 10, 2015, and 2015 Nissan Sentra and Versa Note vehicles manufactured June 5, 2015, to June 13, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the driver side front and rear doors may not fully latch. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components."
- Risk
- A door that does not fully latch may result in the door opening while the car is moving. The distraction may increase the risk of a crash and/or a vehicle occupant may fall out of the vehicle if they are not wearing a seatbelt, increasing their risk of injury.
- Fix
- Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the date, lot number, and cavity code on the left front and rear door latches, and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 31, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Not every 2015 Nissan Sentra is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Used 2015 Nissan Sentra buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 3 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Power Train — 170 owner reports. Test-drive through all gears, including reverse; note slipping, harsh or delayed shifts.
- Engine — 69 owner reports. Cold-start the engine, listen for knocking, and watch for warning lights or hesitation on acceleration.
- Vehicle Speed Control — 48 owner reports. Ask the seller and mechanic specifically about this system.
- Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 56,000 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
- Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.
Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2015 Nissan Sentra. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.
Other Sentra years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Sentra | 33 | 183.5 in | Not rated | 0 | 0 |
| 2026 Sentra | 33 | 183.5 in | Not rated | 1 | 19 |
| 2025 Sentra | 34 | 182.7 in | ★★★★★ | 4 | 31 |
| 2024 Sentra | 34 | 182.7 in | ★★★★★ | 3 | 41 |
| 2023 Sentra | 33 | 182.7 in | ★★★★★ | 1 | 20 |
| 2022 Sentra | 33 | 182.7 in | ★★★★★ | 2 | 81 |
| 2021 Sentra | 33 | 182.7 in | ★★★★★ | 3 | 133 |
| 2020 Sentra | 33 | 182.7 in | ★★★★★ | 4 | 207 |
| 2019 Sentra | 32 | 182.3 in | ★★★★★ | 2 | 223 |
| 2018 Sentra | 32 | 182.3 in | ★★★★★ | 2 | 185 |
| 2017 Sentra | 32 | 182.3 in | ★★★★★ | 3 | 231 |
| 2016 Sentra | 33 | 182.3 in | ★★★★★ | 6 | 270 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Nissan. How we calculate this →