NissanSentra2020Overview/nissan/sentra/2020/base/

2020 Nissan Sentra

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2020 Sentra.

Transmission Automatic (variable gear ratios)

The 2020 Nissan Sentra is a compact sedan built on Nissan’s contemporary platform and powered by an automatic transmission with variable gear ratios, delivering an EPA‑rated 29 mpg city, 39 mpg highway and a combined 33 mpg. While its fuel‑efficiency numbers stand out in the segment, the model recorded 203 owner‑complaint entries, with steering identified as the most frequent issue and four recalls issued for the year. Positioned after the 2013 peak of 638 complaints and well before the 2026 low of eight, the 2020 Sentra occupies a middle ground in the model’s reliability timeline, suggesting a solid but not exemplary record for researchers examining long‑term trends.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182017

Quick specs

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

EPA fuel economy29/39/33 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 35 · 510 CCA battery, 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 Note the factory front wiper blades is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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.

Battery groupBCI 35 · 510 CCAOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter1520865F0E
Engine air filter165466LA0A
Spark plug224016LD1C
Front wiper blades288906LB0A discontinued · alt 288906LB1A
Serpentine belt117205TU0A
Thermostat21049ET01A alt 212303RC1A
Cabin air filterH72775NA0J

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (variable gear ratios)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length182.7 in
Overall width71.7 in
Overall height57.1 in
Wheelbase106.7 in
Curb weight3053 lb
Track (front / rear)62.6 / 63 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)61/39

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined29 / 39 / 33 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume96 cu ft
Cargo volume14 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.

8.0–9.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.00 sec — 2020 SR
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2020SR 2.0L I-48.00 sec16.20 sec149 hpFWD
2020SV 2.0L I-48.60 sec16.60 sec149 hpFWD
2020SR 2.0L I-48.80 sec16.80 sec149 hpFWD
2020SR 2.0L I-49.10 sec17.00 sec149 hpFWD
2020SR 2.0L I-49.20 sec17.00 sec149 hpFWD
2021SR 2.0L I-48.90 sec17.00 sec149 hpFWD
2022SR 2.0L I-49.70 sec17.30 sec149 hpFWD
2024SR 2.0L I-48.40 sec16.60 sec149 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel Bolts80.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs62.0 inch lbs. ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Standard BCI Group Number35
Standard BCI Cranking Performance510 cca

Service checks

RPM51.0
Residual Pressure51.0 PSI is approximate. psi

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
117.0 inch lbs., Step 2: 52.0 inch lbs., Step 3: 84.0 inch lbs.17 in
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
120.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: Loosen all bolts., Step 3: 14.0 ft. lbs., Step 4: 60-65°20 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
125.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 60°25 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 10,000 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 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 10,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Cabin 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 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace)
At 60,000 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 2020 Sentra, the second model year of its eighth generation, recorded 203 complaints and 4 recalls, marking a slight decline in complaints from the 2019 debut (220) but a doubling of recalls from 2 to 4. This places it in a transitional phase within the generation’s arc: complaint volumes remain elevated compared to the sharp drops seen in 2021 (128) and 2022 (80), while the 4 recalls represent the highest count since 2016. The top complaint area—steering, with 39 reports—stands out, though the federal data does not specify a root cause, and the vehicle had no open investigations or fire complaints. While the 2020 model avoids the extreme complaint spikes of earlier generations (e.g., 2013’s 638), its recall uptick and still-moderate complaint level suggest it hasn’t fully settled into the generation’s later, lower-issue pattern. For a used purchase, the 2020 Sentra is a reasonable but not optimal pick; a 2021 or newer example would likely offer fewer reported problems.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
115
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
203
Owner complaints
8 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 203 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Steering39
Unknown Or Other25
Forward Collision Avoidance25
Electrical System19
Service Brakes,Forward Collision Avoidance11
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other5
Engine4
Back Over Prevention3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

21V461000Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod AssemblyReported 17/06/2021

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. The left and/or right tie rod may be bent. Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the left and/or right tie rods as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 5, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan…

22V244000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 13/04/2022

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Sentra vehicles, equipped with LED headlights. The right-hand headlight aim may be misaligned. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements… Remedy: Dealers will replace the right-hand headlight, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 10, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 115 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…
NTB19-042F2025-02-20Electrical SystemAUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING WARNING LIGHT BLINKING APPLIED SYSTEMS: Vehicles equipped…
NTB19-033G2025-02-20Forward Collision AvoidanceINTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE AND AEB/FEB WARNING LIGHT ON OR RADAR OBSTRUCTION…
NTB25-0052025-01-13EngineSERVICE INFORMATION If one of the APPLIED VEHICLES has DTC P2100 for “ETC MOT PWR-B1” or…

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 2020 Sentra have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 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 / 39 highway / 33 combined mpg.