Model year guide

2006 Nissan Sentra

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2006 Nissan Sentra is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 131 on record.

2006 Nissan Sentra — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2006 Nissan Sentra at a glance

Safety recalls6
Owner complaints116
Combined25 mpg
Typical price$3,100

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2006 Nissan Sentra recalls 6

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #20V008000 · 09/01/2020

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2007-2011 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback, 2001-2004 Infiniti I30 and I35, 2002-2003 Inifiniti QX4, 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 and 2006-2010 M35 and M45 vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated, frontal passenger air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) …

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators with alternate desiccated inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 888-737-9511 or Infiniti customer service at 888-810-3715.

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #20V747000 · 01/12/2020

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2002-2006 Sentra vehicles whose passenger air bags were previously inspected and may have been released without replacing the Takata air bag inflator. In the event of a crash, Takata frontal passenger air bag inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperatur…

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been completed. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will re-inspect the vehicle and, if necessary, replace the air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 22, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at…

Air Bags NHTSA Campaign #15V287000 · 15/05/2015

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2001-2003 Nissan Maxima, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4 and I35, 2003 FX35 and FX45, and 2001 I30 vehicles. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 15, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. Note: On December 18, 2015 Nissan informed NHTSA of an amendment of this recall to remove 2004-2005 …

Engine And Engine Cooling NHTSA Campaign #06V223000 · 21/06/2006

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L ENGINES MAY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION AS A RESULT OF IMPROPER PERFORMANCE OF THE PISTON RINGS.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM OR ENGINE COMPUTER). YOUR VEHICLE WILL ALSO BE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE IF IT HAS BEEN CONSUMING ENGINE OIL AT A HIGHER THAN NORMAL RATE. IN A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF VEHICLES, ENGINE REPLACEMENT WILL BE NEEDED. ON JUNE 9, 2006, NISSAN NOTIFIE…

Engine And Engine Cooling NHTSA Campaign #07V527000 · 14/11/2007

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5L ENGINE, THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CAN OVERHEAT CAUSING A BRIEF INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL OUTPUT FROM THE SENSOR.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ECM FREE OF CHARGE. CERTAIN MY 2006 ALTIMAS WHICH HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY REMEDIED UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN 06V223 (NISSAN R0606) ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL SINCE THE REPROGRAMMING FOR 06V223 ALSO INCLUDED THIS REPROGRAMMING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 31, 2007. OWNE…

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #22E066000 · 09/08/2022

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain air bag inflator replacement service parts that may have been installed as part of a theft or collision repair. The parts include certain passenger-side air bag inflators designed to fit Infiniti 2002-2003 QX4, 2006-2010 M35 and M45; Nissan 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, and both driver and passenger-side inflators designed to fit 2007-2012 Versa Sedan a…

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the inflators as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 14, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2006 Nissan Sentra common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 116 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Vehicle Speed Control
Test cruise control and throttle response, and watch for any hesitation or unintended acceleration.
Seat Belts
Check that every belt latches, retracts and locks under a sharp tug, and that none are frayed.

2006 Nissan Sentra MPG & running costs

Combined25 mpg
City22 mpg
Highway29 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,513

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2006 Nissan Sentra worth?

Low
$1,550
Typical price
$3,100
High
$4,900

From 131 comparable 2006 Nissan Sentra listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2006 Nissan Sentra costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$12,565
Depreciation (5 yrs)$1,900
Total$14,465
Per mile$0.19

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($3,100) with the same model 5 model-years older ($1,211), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2006 Nissan Sentra trims & engines on record

Trims
1.8 S · 1.8 · SE-R
Engines
1.8L 4-cyl · 2.5L 4-cyl

2006 Nissan Sentra vehicles on record

Other Nissan Sentra model years

2006 Nissan Sentra — frequently asked questions

Does the 2006 Nissan Sentra have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls for the 2006 Nissan Sentra. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2006 Nissan Sentra?

Based on 116 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are air bags, power train, engine and engine cooling.

What gas mileage does the 2006 Nissan Sentra get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2006 Nissan Sentra at about 25 mpg combined (22 city / 29 highway).

How much is a 2006 Nissan Sentra worth?

Comparable 2006 Nissan Sentra listings run roughly $1,550–$4,900, typically around $3,100 (from 131 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.