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Ford Focus vs Nissan Sentra: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2018, owners filed an average of 1,070 complaints per model year about the Ford Focus and 232 about the Nissan Sentra.

Side by side

Ford FocusNissan Sentra
Model years compared2006-20182006-2018
Owner complaints13,9113,015
Complaints per model year1,070232
Recalls2423
Years to avoid20122013201420132014
Best years20062008200920062009
Most common problemTransmissionTransmission
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy22-34 mpg combined (2018)27-32 mpg combined (2018)

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

2006 Ford Focus: 2052006 Nissan Sentra: 11620062007 Ford Focus: 3912007 Nissan Sentra: 1542008 Ford Focus: 2502008 Nissan Sentra: 16720082009 Ford Focus: 2292009 Nissan Sentra: 552010 Ford Focus: 2872010 Nissan Sentra: 14420102011 Ford Focus: 1132011 Nissan Sentra: 1422012 Ford Focus: 3,7722012 Nissan Sentra: 18020122013 Ford Focus: 2,1122013 Nissan Sentra: 6382014 Ford Focus: 2,6062014 Nissan Sentra: 38120142015 Ford Focus: 1,0222015 Nissan Sentra: 3522016 Ford Focus: 1,1852016 Nissan Sentra: 27020162017 Ford Focus: 9002017 Nissan Sentra: 2312018 Ford Focus: 8392018 Nissan Sentra: 1852018
Ford FocusNissan Sentra

Problems compared

FocusSentra
Transmission6,3171,068
Engine2,549548
Fuel system1,827147
Steering1,673141
Electrical1,407345
Acceleration742281
Airbags394460
Brakes245311

Questions about the Ford Focus vs Nissan Sentra

Which is more reliable, the Ford Focus or the Nissan Sentra?

Between 2006 and 2018, the Ford Focus has 3 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 (232 vs 1,070), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Ford Focus or the Nissan Sentra?

From 2006 to 2018, the Ford Focus was covered by 24 recalls and the Nissan Sentra by 23.

What years of the Ford Focus and Nissan Sentra should you avoid?

Ford Focus: 2012, 2013 and 2014. Nissan Sentra: 2013 and 2014.

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