2021 Nissan Sentra Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 6about this part
- Share
- 5%of 133 total for the year
- Median mileage
- —not reported
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2021 Nissan Sentra, 5% of the 133 complaints for this model year.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“When the sun is out and there is no clouds obscuring the sunlight my vehicle has night time lights running, dimming the interior of my car making it difficult to see the speed and other dashboard requirements while perfectly bright and sunny outside and 0800AM as well as 1500PM. This has been going on for two months and I took it in to two dealerships. One told me check your manual and the other went further and told me by Nissan standards it is functioning normally. …”
NHTSA complaint #11563312, filed 2024-01“Headlights turn off at night while driving and in most cases will still not work after moving the headlight switch or power cycling the switch. Have to shut down and restart multiple times for headlights to work. This problem affects the low beam lights and not the high beams or parking lights as they continue to work and function with the switch. Has happened 3 nights in a row returning from work in the dark.”
NHTSA complaint #11432852, filed 2021-09“Car will not start. Unexplained battery depletion. Trunk will not close when car is not on. Awful customer service at ORR Nissan in Shreveport Louisiana Address: 1240 E Bert Kouns, Shreveport Louisiana, 71105 Their entire operations need to be shut down. Bunch of incompetent druggies.”
NHTSA complaint #11422409, filed 2021-06“Only happens when driving at night. When driving and keeping your foot on the gas pedal the lights go dim and when you remove your foot of the gas pedal the lights go back to bright. Also the engine is making a rattling noise. Was seen a couple times at the dealership for the lights but was told nothing wrong with it. Its not normal for lights to do that whole driving on the road. Especially for a brand new car that has only gotten 15,000 miles”
NHTSA complaint #11422533, filed 2021-06Related service bulletins
- 10235698Apr 5, 2023HEADLAMP, FOG LAMP, OR REAR COMBINATION LAMP FOGGING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Exterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 | 5% |
| 2022 | 1 | 1% |
| 2021 | 6 | 5% |
| 2020 | 5 | 2% |
| 2019 | 28 | 13% |
| 2018 | 15 | 8% |
| 2017 | 15 | 6% |
| 2016 | 8 | 3% |
| 2015 | 3 | 1% |
| 2014 | 5 | 1% |
| 2013 | 4 | 1% |
| 2012 | 1 | 1% |
| 2010 | 3 | 2% |
| 2009 | 1 | 2% |
| 2006 | 2 | 2% |
| 2004 | 1 | 1% |
| 2003 | 3 | 2% |
| 2002 | 5 | 2% |
| 2001 | 1 | 0% |
| 2000 | 1 | 1% |
| 1999 | 3 | 5% |
| 1998 | 1 | 2% |
| 1997 | 3 | 3% |
| 1996 | 5 | 4% |
| 1995 | 1 | 1% |
| 1994 | 4 | 4% |
| 1993 | 1 | 2% |
| 1992 | 3 | 5% |
| 1990 | 1 | 3% |
| 1987 | 1 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2021 Nissan Sentra
40 complaintsSteering
40 complaintsElectrical system
38 complaintsBrakes
25 complaintsOther or unknown
19 complaintsEngine
7 complaintsSuspension
6 complaintsVehicle speed control
6 complaintsWheels
5 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
4 complaintsBack-over prevention (rear camera)
3 complaintsLane departure
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2021 Nissan Sentra
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology