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Chevrolet Cruze vs Nissan Sentra: reliability compared

From 2010 to 2019, owners filed an average of 373 complaints per model year about the Chevrolet Cruze and 275 about the Nissan Sentra.

Side by side

Chevrolet CruzeNissan Sentra
Model years compared2010-20192010-2019
Owner complaints3,7312,746
Complaints per model year373275
Recalls2616
Years to avoid201120122013201420132014
Best yearsNone stand outNone stand out
Most common problemEngineTransmission
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy31-37 mpg combined (2019)27-32 mpg combined (2019)

A car that sells more collects more complaints, so the fairest test is the number of years to avoid, which compares each year with a typical year of the same car.

Complaints per model year

2010 Chevrolet Cruze: 22010 Nissan Sentra: 14420102011 Chevrolet Cruze: 7332011 Nissan Sentra: 14220112012 Chevrolet Cruze: 8652012 Nissan Sentra: 18020122013 Chevrolet Cruze: 5872013 Nissan Sentra: 63820132014 Chevrolet Cruze: 7052014 Nissan Sentra: 38120142015 Chevrolet Cruze: 2542015 Nissan Sentra: 35220152016 Chevrolet Cruze: 2502016 Nissan Sentra: 27020162017 Chevrolet Cruze: 2032017 Nissan Sentra: 23120172018 Chevrolet Cruze: 1092018 Nissan Sentra: 18520182019 Chevrolet Cruze: 232019 Nissan Sentra: 2232019
Chevrolet CruzeNissan Sentra

Problems compared

CruzeSentra
Engine1,393482
Electrical762372
Transmission6831,074
Driver assistance393162
Brakes378293
Steering37585
Airbags261335
Acceleration238261

Questions about the Chevrolet Cruze vs Nissan Sentra

Which is more reliable, the Chevrolet Cruze or the Nissan Sentra?

Between 2010 and 2019, the Chevrolet Cruze has 4 years to avoid and the Nissan Sentra 2. The Nissan Sentra has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Nissan Sentra drew fewer complaints per model year (275 vs 373), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Chevrolet Cruze or the Nissan Sentra?

From 2010 to 2019, the Chevrolet Cruze was covered by 26 recalls and the Nissan Sentra by 16.

What years of the Chevrolet Cruze and Nissan Sentra should you avoid?

Chevrolet Cruze: 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Nissan Sentra: 2013 and 2014.

More compact cars comparisons

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