INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE AND AEB/FEB WARNING LIGHT ON OR RADAR OBSTRUCTION MESSAGE DISPLAYED WITH DTC C1A16 OR C2582 IF YOU CONFIRM IMPORTANT: The purpose of ACTION (on the next page) is to give you a quick idea of the work you will be performing. You MUST closely follow the entire SERVICE PROCEDURE as it contains information that is essential to successfully completing this repair. Nissan Bulletins are intended for use by qualified technicians, not 'do-it-yourselfers'. Qualified technicians are properly trained individuals who have the equipment, tools, safety instruction, and know-how to do a job properly and safely. NOTE: If you believe that a described condition may apply t
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Nissan Sentra brakes problems
severe Owners of the 2016 Nissan Sentra have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the brakes at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See brakes across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Sentra | 3 |
| 2013 Sentra | 66 |
| 2014 Sentra | 27 |
| 2015 Sentra | 11 |
| 2016 Sentra (this page) | 10 |
| 2017 Sentra | 9 |
| 2018 Sentra | 14 |
| 2019 Sentra | 14 |
| 2020 Sentra | 14 |
2crashes
2injuries
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
ABS/VDC CAN DIAGNOSIS INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗NISSAN; DTC P0456 CAUSED BY EVAP LEAK AT VENT CONTROL VALVE O-RING This bulletin has been amended. The APPLIED VEHICLES and CLAIMS INFORMATION sections have been revised. No other changes have been made. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗ADDITIONAL SERVICE WHEN REPLACING CONTROL VALVE OR TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY SERVICE INFORMATION After a CVT assembly or control valve replacement, additional service must be completed with CONSULT-III plus (C-III plus). - The original calibration data must first be erased from the TCM and then newcalibration data written. - If the calibration data is not erased, the vehicle can experience drivability concernswhich may result in a CVT issue. Additional Service when Replacing Control Valve or Transaxle Assembly - The following procedures, starting on the next page, must be performed in thisorder. - Check off procedure as they are performed in the order listed below.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2016 Nissan Sentras describe brake problems across multiple systems. The most common complaint involves brake pad and rotor noise and premature wear. One owner replaced factory Nissan brake components twice within 17,000 miles, with grinding and squeaking recurring shortly after each replacement. The service manager acknowledged Nissan has a known bulletin about this brake noise but the owner was not informed at purchase. Warranty coverage was initially denied for the second replacement.
More critically, several owners report complete brake pedal failure—depressing the pedal produces no stopping power or only minimal deceleration. One incident occurred at 40 mph during normal driving; another at 25 mph approaching a stop sign, both resulting in collisions. A third failure was documented at 100,000 miles. At least one failure was diagnosed as a ruptured brake line and failed master cylinder; another could not be diagnosed by the dealer.
Brake light system failures also appear multiple times. One owner discovered a shorted wire disabled all brake lights without any warning to the driver, creating a hazard for following traffic. Repair costs for the wiring harness were quoted at $3,000, or $1,000 for rewiring, on a vehicle with 25,000 miles. A brake light switch issue recurred after a 2020 dealership repair, suggesting the original fix did not resolve the underlying problem.
Same Nissan Sentra brakes reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Brake pad noise and premature wear
Brake pads and rotors wear prematurely and emit grinding/squeaking noises within very low mileage intervals. Multiple replacements required on factory Nissan parts despite having only thousands of miles on the vehicle. Service bulletins exist for this issue but were not disclosed to the owner at purchase.
When: Under 5,000 miles on factory brake parts; noises recurring at 12,000-17,000 total vehicle miles
Symptoms owners cite: Grinding and squeaking noises from brakes; Premature brake pad and rotor wear; Noises persist or recur shortly after replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Nissan factory rotors and brake pads replaced twice; rotor shaving performed. Owner reports 12 days total in shop across multiple visits.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan service manager acknowledged known bulletin about brake noise. Initial warranty coverage denied for second replacement.
Brake pedal loss of function
Brake pedal fails to function or engage properly during driving, preventing vehicle deceleration. Incidents range from complete failure at highway speeds to pedal travel to floor without adequate stopping power. At least two crashes reported as a result.
When: Occurs across mileage range: 2,500 miles, 25 mph approach to stop sign, 40 mph during normal driving, 100,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal depressed to floor with no stopping power; Brake pedal fails to operate; Vehicle does not slow or stop as expected; Vehicle entered intersection or collided with other vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: One incident diagnosed as ruptured brake line and failed master cylinder at 56,000 miles; vehicle was repaired. Another failure at 2,500 miles could not be diagnosed by dealer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified in at least one case (campaign reference number provided). One vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign 21v135000.
Brake light circuit wiring failure
Wiring in brake light circuit shorts or fails, disabling brake light function. Vehicle provides no warning to driver that brake lights are inoperative, creating safety hazard for following traffic. Related to traction control and cruise control malfunctions in at least one case.
When: By 25,000 miles on a 3-year-old vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: No brake lights; Traction control light illuminated on dashboard; Cruise control inoperative; No warning light or message about brake light failure
Repairs/costs cited: Harness replacement quoted at $3,000 or single wire replacement alternative quoted at $1,000 on 25,000-mile vehicle.
Brake light switch malfunction
Brake light switch fails, potentially preventing vehicle from starting or disabling brake light indication to following vehicles. Issue occurred previously and recurred after dealership repair in 2020, suggesting inadequate fix or recurring defect.
When: Initial occurrence in 2019, repaired in 2020, recurrence on 12/15/24
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle may not start; Brake lights may not indicate to following vehicles; Intermittent issue recurring after repair
Repairs/costs cited: Previously repaired at Nissan dealership in 2020; owner was unaware of existing recall at that time.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall existed for this specific issue (per owner statement); exact recall number not provided in narrative.
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Brake Light Switch How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Per multiple reports this could cause the car not to start or to indicate to cars that the vehicle is slowing down and preparing to stop Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance…
Had brakes trouble with your 2016 Nissan Sentra?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2016 Nissan Sentra?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 43,167 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Nissan/Sentra.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.