NissanSentra2016Overview/nissan/sentra/2016/base/

2016 Nissan Sentra

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2016 Sentra.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (variable gear ratios)

The 2016 Nissan Sentra is a passenger car featuring an automatic transmission with variable gear ratios and an EPA fuel economy rating of 29/37/32 mpg. Within the model's history spanning 1990 to 2026, this year recorded 266 owner complaints and six recalls, positioning it between the 2013 peak of 638 complaints and the 2026 low of 8. For this specific model year, the power train emerged as the top area for owner complaints.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182016

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy29/37/32 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 1520865F0E. Note the factory front wiper blades is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Tire sizeP205/55R16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter1520865F0E
Engine air filter1654630P00
Spark plug22401CK81B alt 22401JA01B
Battery24410ET00B
Front wiper blades288903SG1B discontinued · alt 288903SG0C
Serpentine belt117203SG0B
Thermostat21200ET01A alt 212303RC1A
Cabin air filter272773DF0A

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (variable gear ratios)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length182.3 in
Overall width69.3 in
Overall height59.1 in
Wheelbase106.3 in
Curb weight2879 lb
Track (front / rear)60.2 / 60.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)60/40

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined29 / 37 / 32 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume96 cu ft
Cargo volume15 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Sentra of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

9.5–10.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.50 sec — 2016 SL
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2016SL 1.8L I-49.50 sec17.40 sec130 hpFWD
2016SL 1.8L I-410.00 sec17.60 sec130 hpFWD
2016SL 1.8L I-410.20 sec18.20 sec130 hpFWD
2018SR Turbo 1.6L Turbo I-47.00 sec15.40 sec188 hpFWD
2013SL 1.8L I-49.20 sec17.20 sec130 hpFWD
2013SL 1.8L I-49.60 sec17.30 sec130 hpFWD
2013SL 1.8L I-49.70 sec17.40 sec130 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 29.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidNissan CVT fluid NS-3
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity7.3
Brake FluidDOT 3
Clutch FluidGenuine NISSAN Brake Fluid R35 Special II
Engine CoolantUse Nissan long life coolant
Engine Coolant Capacity7.0
Manual Transmission FluidNissan heavy duty MTF
Manual Transmission Fluid Capacity4.2

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel Bolts80 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts20 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts25 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts20
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts25
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug29.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs19 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts25.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub105.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerNissan
Spark Plug Gap.035 in
Spark Plug Torque14 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity0.90-1.10 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity3.00 oz

Service checks

RPM51 @ idle rpm
Engine Compressionpsi 177-200 / max variation 14.5 psi
Intake Valve Lash0.012-0.016 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.012-0.017 in

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 20; Rear: 32 /; Front: 20; Rear: 32
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 122; Rear: 62 /; Front: 122; Rear: 62
ABS Sensor Torque7.0 / NS
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.059 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after RefinishFront: .866; Rear: .315
Variation from Parallelism Thickness VariationFront: .0003; Rear: .0006
Maximum Rotor RunoutFront: .0014; Rear: .0039

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
11.4 ft. lbs., Step 2: 4.3 ft. lbs., Step 3: 7.01.4 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
114 ft. lbs., Step 2: 6514 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
125 ft. lbs., Step 2: 7025 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; spark plugs at 105,000 mi; coolant at 105,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 105,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 10,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect)
Every 15,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace) · Keyless Entry Remote Battery (replace)
Every 20,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Drive Axle Assembly (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Steering Gear Box Assembly (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Drive Belt (replace) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Exterior Lighting (inspect) · Headlamp (inspect alignment) · Radiator Cap (inspect)
At 40,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
At 105,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 180,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2016 Nissan Sentra sits in the middle of a clear downward complaint trend that began after a 2013 peak (638 complaints, 3 investigations). Complaints dropped from 348 in 2015 to 266 in 2016—a 24% decline—while recalls actually increased slightly to 6 (up from 3 in 2015). The 2016 model year also marks the last year with zero NHTSA investigations for this generation, as the three investigations from 2013-2014 were closed by then. The dominant complaint area remains Power Train issues (83 of 266 total), followed by Air Bags (16) and Electrical System (13), with only 18 crash-related complaints and 2 fire complaints recorded. This trend suggests 2016 represents a maturing of the generation's initial problems—complaints fell sharply while manufacturer action (recalls and TSBs at 196) remained active. Compared to the years after (2017-2018), complaints continued declining into the 180s range, indicating the 2016 model is not an anomaly but part of consistent improvement. The data does not specify root causes for the Power Train complaints. A concrete takeaway is that 2016 is a favorable year within this generation: it shows meaningfully lower complaints than 2014-2015 while still being covered by active recalls and service bulletins addressing known issues.

6
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
196
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
266
Owner complaints
18 involved a crash · 2 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 266 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train83
Unknown Or Other21
Air Bags16
Electrical System13
Engine10
Power Train,Engine9
Service Brakes6
Electrical System,Engine5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

17V253000Air BagsReported 13/04/2017

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… 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…

16V436000Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator ModuleReported 15/06/2016

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… 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 196 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
NTB09-131C2026-04-13StructureCERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision…
NTB09-131C2026-04-13StructureCERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision…
NTB19-033G2025-02-20Forward Collision AvoidanceINTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE AND AEB/FEB WARNING LIGHT ON OR RADAR OBSTRUCTION…
NTB13-107G2024-05-20Electrical SystemVEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been…
NTB13-027D2024-05-20Electrical SystemCAN COMMUNICATION – NETWORK DIAGNOSTIC FLOW CHART This bulletin has been amended. See…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Sentra. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2016 Sentra have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Sentra get?

EPA figures are 29 city / 37 highway / 32 combined mpg.