2016 Nissan Sentra maintenance schedule

The 2016 Sentra is part of the B17 generation (2014-2019), sold as a sedan. Below: its service intervals with the source behind each one, the fluids it takes, the problems owners report for this year, and the NHTSA recalls issued for it.

Service schedule

What the 2016 Sentra needs, and when

8 of these 11 items come from Nissan's own published schedule. Manufacturer rows link to Nissan's own schedule, Independent rows to a service shop or parts retailer's published guide. Rows marked Unverified have no source Carlyle could confirm and are shown for completeness.

ServiceIntervalSource
Engine oil and filter

Synthetic recommended

5,000 mi / 6 monthsManufacturer
Engine air filter

Replace up to 30,000 miles

15,000 miManufacturer
Cabin air filter

Replace up to 30,000 miles

15,000 miManufacturer
Tire rotation

Perform at oil change

5,000 mi / 6 monthsManufacturer
Brake fluid

Inspect at 15,000 miles

30,000 miIndependent
Engine coolant

Check every 3 months

30,000 miManufacturer
Transmission fluid

Inspect every 10,000 miles

60,000 mi / 6 yearsManufacturer
Spark plugs

Major service interval

105,000 miIndependent
Serpentine belt

Inspect every 10,000 miles / 12 months

Inspect, replace as neededManufacturer
PCV valveInspect, replace as neededUnverified
12V battery

Replace every 3-5 years

3 yearsManufacturer

Intervals are for normal driving; towing, short trips, extreme heat or dust shorten them.

Fluids and engines

What goes in it

Coolant
Nissan Blue Long Life Coolant
Transmission fluid
Nissan CVT Fluid NS-3

Powertrains in this generation

  • 1.8L 4-cyl (MRA8DE), 130 hp, CVT / 6-MT, FWD
  • 1.6L 4-cyl (MR16DDT), 188 hp, CVT / 6-MT, FWD

Confirm the exact spec against the owner's manual or the label under the hood; capacities vary by engine and drivetrain.

Known problems

What 2016 Sentra owners run into

Problems reported for this model year, with the mileage they tend to show up at. Buying past a window is not automatically a pass - it just needs to be priced in.

Water pump failure

high severity

$350-$550 to fix

Coolant leak, whine, wobble

Source: evparts4x4.com

Window switch failure

low severity

$389-$525 to fix

Window inoperable

Source: repairpal.com

Safety recalls

6 NHTSA recalls for the 2016 Nissan Sentra

From NHTSA's recall database, matched by model and year. Recall repairs are free at Nissan dealers, and a given car may already be fixed or fall outside a campaign, so check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.

Exterior lighting

NHTSA 21V135000

March 2021

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Nissan Sentra vehicles. The brake light switch may become contaminated, preventing the circuit from closing and the brake lights from illuminating.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake light switch and install a protective grommet, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 1, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800867-7769. Nissan's number for this recall is PM971.

April 2017

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 LEAF and 2014, 2016 and 2017 Sentra vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error within the air bag inflators, the passenger frontal air bag may not properly deploy in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

Electrical system

NHTSA 16V485000

June 2016

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 Sentra vehicles manufactured April 11, 2016, through April 26, 2016. The engine room harness may have a terminal pin too large to maintain a connection with the Engine Control Unit (ECU).

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the terminal pin on the engine room harness, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

June 2016

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 LEAF vehicles manufactured February 24, 2016, to March 23, 2016, and Sentra vehicles manufactured February 9, 2016, to March 4, 2016. The wiring harness connector may disconnect from the dual-stage passenger air bag.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wiring harness connector for proper engagement and, if necessary, replace the passenger air bag module and main body harness, free of charge. The recall began on August 9, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

April 2016

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.

Remedy: 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.

April 2016

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.

Remedy: 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.

Running costs

What maintenance typically costs

A typical year of maintenance
$491
Five years of maintenance
$1,839
The major service near 100,000 mi
$806

Typical US independent-shop estimates for this generation; they vary by region and condition.

Other Sentra model years

B18 (2020-2025)

B17 (2014-2019)

Shopping new? The Nissan Sentra guide covers the current model, with what it costs to keep for 1 to 15 years.

Sources

Researched 2026-09-16. Modeling, not mechanic advice - always confirm against your car's owner's manual and service records.

Running a Sentra for income?

Carlyle scores the exact listing on cost per remaining mile and projected Turo income, so you know what a 2016 Sentra earns before you buy it.

Free to start. No card, and we never sell your details to a dealer.