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 ↗2021 Nissan Sentra electrical problems
moderate Owners of the 2021 Nissan Sentra have filed 37 NHTSA complaints about the electrical at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
37
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2017 Sentra | 27 |
| 2018 Sentra | 31 |
| 2019 Sentra | 56 |
| 2020 Sentra | 38 |
| 2021 Sentra (this page) | 37 |
| 2022 Sentra | 21 |
| 2023 Sentra | 6 |
| 2024 Sentra | 4 |
1injury
What stands out
Owners have filed 37 electrical complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Electrical accounts for 29% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 6 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical 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.
AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING WARNING LIGHT BLINKING APPLIED SYSTEMS: Vehicles equipped with a lane camera (see Figure 1) SERVICE INFORMATION If the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) warning light or is blinking (but not illuminated steadily) or the customer states it is blinking, and there are no related DTCs, inspect the windshield. A blinking AEB warning light may occur under the following conditions: When contamination or foreign material adhere to the lane camera viewing window on the windshield. When driving while it is snowing or when frost forms on the lane camera viewing window on the windshield. When the lane camera viewing window on the windshield is temporarily fogged up. Fig
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗DTCS B2E4B-06, B2E60-06, B2E61-06 DISPLAYED AS CRNT IN THE TCU This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin. IF YOU CONFIRM The customer experiences an issue with the NissanConnect® Service remote commands, AND Any of the following DTCs are displayed as CRNT in the Telematics Control Unit (TCU): B2E4B-06 B2E60-06 B2E61-06 HINT: These DTCs are caused by an issue with a cloud-server that is related to the TCU. ACTION 1. Do NOT replace the TCU. Replacing the TCU will not resolve the concern. 2. Send an email to NTB21-037@Nissan-Usa.com. IMPORTANT: The purpose of ACTION (above) is to give you a quick idea of the w
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗DTC B2E01-96 (INTERNAL BATTERY) STORED AS CURRENT IN IVC This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin. SERVICE INFORMATION The APPLIED VEHICLES that come equipped with a factory installed SOS switch, located near the overhead map lamp, also come equipped with a wireless communication device called a Telematics Communication Unit (TCU). With an active NissanConnect® Services subscription, the TCU communicates with the Nissan Data Center to provide various security and convenience services. CONSULT has been updated to allow DTC B2E01-96 for “Internal battery” to be cleared in the TCU. If DTC B2E01-96 is Current/Active
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗FALSE ACTIVATION OF AEB OR FCW APPLIED VEHICLES: 2021-2022 Altima (L34) 2022-2023 Frontier (D41) 2020-2022 Sentra (B18) APPLIED DATES: Altima: All Frontier: All Sentra: Built on or before March 10, 2022 APPLIED SYSTEMS: Automatic Emergency Braking/Forward Collision Warning IF YOU CONFIRM The customer states they have experienced false activation and/or unexpected braking of the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) or Forward Collision Warning (FCW) system, AND There are no related DTCs stored. ACTION 1. Confirm the current ICC/ADAS 2 part number. 2. Reprogram the ICC/ADAS 2, if applicable. IMPORTANT: The purpose of ACTION (above) is to give you a quick idea of the work you will be performing. Y
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report the 2021 Sentra as riddled with electrical and sensor defects. The most common complaint involves power windows—passenger and rear windows get stuck, won't operate, or work sporadically; driver window usually functions. Cold weather worsens it. Multiple owners cite brake system misbehavior: automatic emergency braking engages without obstruction ahead at highway and city speeds, reducing speed or halting the vehicle. Red warning lights appear and the brake pedal hits the floor in some cases, with dealerships unable to duplicate the fault despite diagnostic codes present.
Battery drain plagues numerous owners. Vehicles sit overnight and won't start; dealerships test the battery and charging system and find nothing wrong. One owner's battery failed 18 days after purchase. Door locks fail on three of four doors in one case, locking or unlocking without input. Keyless start doesn't consistently recognize the fob. The infotainment system reboots and produces static, disabling the backup camera during reverse—a serious safety problem. Automatic headlights illuminate night-mode lights during broad daylight, dimming the dash. One owner's battery smoked and fumes caused physical illness. Engine stalls at highway speed with all warning lights flashing. Dealers admit multiple complaints and contact Nissan corporate but offer no fixes. No recalls address these defects. One Nissan technician told an owner the behavior was normal per Nissan standards.
Same Nissan Sentra electrical reports on nearby years: 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2022
Failure modes owners describe
Power Windows Malfunction
Passenger and/or rear windows fail to roll up or down, or operate intermittently and slowly. Driver-side window typically works. In cold weather, all non-driver windows become inoperable. Some owners report windows get stuck in down position or require multiple attempts and vehicle restart cycles to function again.
When: Immediate to several months after purchase; cold weather exacerbates; some episodes last hours
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger windows stuck in down position; Rear windows will not open or close; All non-driver windows inoperable in cold conditions; Slow operation when working; Requires multiple attempts or vehicle restart to function; Window lock appears to get stuck
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers report ordering parts; no repair costs stated in narratives
Automatic Emergency Braking False Activation
Vehicle activates automatic emergency braking and collision avoidance systems without obstruction or traffic ahead. Brake system engages at highway and city speeds, reducing speed or bringing vehicle to complete stop. Red warning lights illuminate on dash. Occurs repeatedly with no pattern. Dealer cannot duplicate fault despite codes present in system.
When: Random; some owners report multiple occurrences during daily commute
Symptoms owners cite: Automatic brakes engage without obstruction ahead; Red warning lights appear on dash; Vehicle loses speed or stops abruptly; No cars or obstacles visible in front of vehicle; Collision warning indicator blinks when sun hits certain angles of windshield
Codes mentioned: Unspecified codes present per dealer communication
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to duplicate; advised owner to drive vehicle for a week and return for code monitoring
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer in contact with Nissan corporate via email; no solution provided
Battery Drain and Starting Issues
Vehicles experience unexplained overnight battery depletion, leaving owners unable to start vehicle after sitting. Battery tests normal at dealership. Some vehicles failed to start 18 days after purchase. Pattern is inconsistent—may not occur for weeks, then recur. Auto Club technician confirmed multiple Nissans have experienced this issue.
When: Overnight or after extended parking; within weeks of purchase in some cases
Symptoms owners cite: Battery completely drained overnight; Vehicle will not start after sitting; Sufficient power to lock/unlock but not start engine; No warning indicators before failure; Vehicle fails to accept cruise control after jump-start
Repairs/costs cited: Owners purchased battery boosters/jumpers; one replaced battery twice within 8 weeks; dealership testing finds no fault
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer testing returns negative results; no recalls or TSBs mentioned
Rear Door Lock Actuator Failure
Rear door locks fail to engage or disengage via power lock switches or key fob. Three of four doors affected in one reported case. No warning lights precede failure. Locks unexpectedly lock or unlock without owner input. Creates safety hazard, especially for children in vehicle.
When: Daily occurrence; ongoing since purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Rear doors cannot lock or unlock via power switches; Key fob does not control rear door locks; Doors lock or unlock spontaneously; Back doors cannot be opened during emergency; No warning lights indicate failure
Repairs/costs cited: Nissan dealer quoted $884.05 for repair of three door actuators
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls exist for this defect per owner report
Infotainment System and Backup Camera Failure
Head unit intermittently reboots and produces static audio. When this occurs, backup camera freezes, goes black, or shuts off without warning, causing sudden loss of rear visibility during reversing. Issue is recurrent and not driver-caused.
When: Intermittent and unpredictable during active use
Symptoms owners cite: Infotainment system reboots without warning; Static on radio/audio; Backup camera freezes or display goes black; Loss of rear visibility during reversing; Screen restarts or shuts down
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs or costs documented in narratives
Automatic Headlights and Lighting Control Malfunction
Vehicle runs night-time/dipped lights during bright sunny daylight when set to automatic lighting mode, dimming the dashboard and making instruments difficult to read. Dealerships claim this is normal per Nissan standards. Collision warning indicator blinks when sun hits windshield at certain angles (early morning and late evening), falsely indicating obstruction.
When: Persistent; occurring at 0800AM and 1500PM in bright sunlight; two months of complaint duration
Symptoms owners cite: Night lights activate automatically during bright daylight; Dashboard interior dimmed by automatic lights; Collision avoidance light blinks when sun hits windshield; False obstruction detection from solar angle
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs attempted; dealerships declined to address
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership claims function is normal per Nissan standards
Air Conditioning System Failure
AC system stops working completely; control switch unresponsive. Owner quoted $300 for diagnostic test with no warranty. Owner reports numerous online complaints among Sentra owners but no recall issued.
When: Around 2023 (two years after purchase of brand-new 2021 model)
Symptoms owners cite: AC will not turn on; Control switch completely unresponsive; No cooling output
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer quoted $300 diagnostic fee; no warranty coverage offered
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued despite multiple complaints online per owner
Brake System Failure and Engagement Defect
Brake pedal goes to floor with grinding noise; vehicle does not stop fully. Automatic braking engages randomly without cause, jerking vehicle. Multiple dealer inspections found no warning lights but issue persists. Engine loses power during driving; check engine light comes on and blinks. Two incidents nearly caused accidents on freeway and busy intersection.
When: Random occurrences; inspected twice with no resolution
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal goes to floor; Grinding when braking; Incomplete stopping; Automatic brakes engage unexpectedly; Vehicle jerks and loses power; Check engine light comes on and blinks; No warning lights before event
Codes mentioned: Check engine light (unspecified code)
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs completed despite three dealer inspections
Keyless Start System Malfunction
Keyless start fails to recognize key fob presence in vehicle, or triggers low battery warning despite new battery installed. System does not recognize fob inconsistently. Related to blind spot sensor and wider electrical/sensor issues on 2021 Sentra.
When: Intermittent failures
Symptoms owners cite: Keyless start fails to recognize fob in vehicle; False low battery warning with new fob battery; Inconsistent key fob recognition
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall exists for blind spot warning sensor; broader electrical issues not addressed
Engine Stall and System Malfunction Light
Vehicle stalls while driving at highway speed (50 mph) with no warning. Dashboard illuminates with all warning lights flashing and displays 'system malfunction' message. Engine shuts off requiring vehicle to be pushed off highway. Event has recurred five times. Separate incident of complete engine shutdown after running normally, requiring tow to dealership; diagnosed as faulty battery but issue recurred.
When: Random; one owner experienced five times; another after running normally for one hour
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts off while driving; All dash lights illuminate and flash; System malfunction message displayed; Complete loss of power/propulsion; No warning before shutdown
Codes mentioned: System malfunction light (unspecified)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner had warranty battery replacement; issue recurred despite repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer attributed first incident to faulty battery; no solution for recurrence
Electrical System Shorts and Battery Failure
Battery smoking from sides while vehicle is running; owner reported burning sinuses, throat irritation, and became ill. Brakes locked up simultaneously. Lights shorting out and vehicle shutting off. Trunk will not close when vehicle is powered off.
When: Single critical incident; ongoing electrical shorts and shutdowns
Symptoms owners cite: Battery smoking from sides; Burning smell inside vehicle; Owner experienced chemical burns to sinuses and throat; Lights shorting out; Vehicle shutting off; Trunk refuses to close when off
Repairs/costs cited: Owner called poison control due to battery fumes
Push-Button Start Intermittent Failure
Automatic engine start (push-button start) fails to work reliably. Dealer confirmed multiple complaints exist for this issue. Nissan bulletin exists for 2020 Sentra with same defect. Condition may correlate with frost on windshield where electronics are housed.
When: Intermittent; occurs with frost on windshield
Symptoms owners cite: Push-button start fails to engage; Engine does not turn over on button press; Intermittent responsiveness
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to identify cause despite known bulletin
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan bulletin exists for 2020 Sentra with identical issue; no TSB or recall for 2021 model mentioned
High Beam Failure
High beam headlights do not function.
When: Ongoing
Symptoms owners cite: High beams do not illuminate
Repairs/costs cited: No repair information provided
Synthesized from 37 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 8 most recent
Purchased brand new with 0 miles. The system malfunction popped up and engine would not turn over after running perfectly fine a hour prior.Had to get towed to dealership and found a faulty battery luckily I still had 100 or so miles left on my warranty.Happened again last month the same exact thing except this time I had to get a jump off after several minutes the engine finally turned over.
The passenger window and back windows will not roll up or down. The only window that works is the drivers window. This car was bought 2 months ago and stopped working last week.
I got in the car to start it and it would not start. This happened at the car wash one morning. It didn’t give me any warnings of a bad battery and the only way I started it was to have someone jump it. This has happened 4 times now. It takes several minutes for the battery to charge to start the car. I have been stranded 2 times and could not get to work on time 2 times.
I was traveling at about 40mph when my vehicle, with no traffic in sight, had the automatic emergency brake go off and reduced my speed to 32mph. My safety concern is what if this happens on the freeway or even while raining. if there was a car behind me what if it caused them to get road rage. ***dashcam video available***
purchased my 2021 Nissan Sentra brand new with no prior owner. Around 2023, the air conditioning system stopped working. The AC will not turn on at all the switch or control that activates the system is completely unresponsive. I brought the vehicle to a Nissan dealership, where I was quoted $300 just for a diagnostic test, with no warranty coverage or acknowledgment of a known issue. This…
The only window that is working properly in my car is the driver window. The other 3 sometimes work and sometimes will not roll down at all. On occasion it goes down but does not come back up or doesn't go back up but half way then stops. I have taken to the dealership twice and still it has not been fixed. Cannot really use the windows at this point as I may not be able to get them back up so…
Front passenger and all rear windows intermittent will not operate.
The air conditioning turns off by itself and the high beams don't work
Had electrical trouble with your 2021 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 electrical problem on the 2021 Nissan Sentra?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 37 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Based on the 37 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 47,930 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 $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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/2021/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.