Nissan Sentra Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Nissan Sentra car check
Is the Nissan Sentra reliable? We analysed 781 real MOT tests across 208 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Nissan Sentra? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Nissan Sentra is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include direction indicator incorrect colour, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and side repeater missing. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Nissan Sentra.
Nissan Sentra Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Nissan Sentra. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Nissan Sentra MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Nissan Sentra to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Nissan Sentra Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Nissan Sentra fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Nissan Sentra Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Nissan Sentra owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Nissan Sentra MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Nissan Sentra year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 50 | 72.0% | 67,591 | 87,930 | 111,469 |
How Long Does a Nissan Sentra Last?
Based on 208 Nissan Sentra vehicles on UK roads.
Nissan Sentra Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Nissan Sentra MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Nissan Sentra
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
72.0% MOT pass rate from 50 tests
The best year to buy a used Nissan Sentra is 2014, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 72.0% across 50 tests.
How Does the Nissan Sentra Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Sentra THIS CAR | 70.2% | 781 | 72,922 mi | 12 yrs |
| Nissan Micra | 71.4% | 10,566,512 | 55,214 mi | 37 yrs |
| Nissan Qashqai | 77.3% | 6,506,323 | 59,398 mi | 19 yrs |
| Nissan Juke | 79.3% | 3,002,435 | 49,593 mi | 16 yrs |
| Honda VT250 | 82.7% | 1,175 | 26,640 mi | 43 yrs |
Compared to the Nissan Micra (71.4% pass rate) and the Nissan Qashqai (77.3% pass rate), the Nissan Sentra trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Nissan Sentra you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Nissan SentraShould you buy a used Nissan Sentra?
The Nissan Sentra has an overall MOT pass rate of 70.2% across 781 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Nissan Sentra are direction indicator incorrect colour (30 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (30), and side repeater missing (26). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Nissan Sentra owner drives around 8,202 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Nissan Sentra models stay on UK roads for around 12 years. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.