I purchased the vehicle [XXX] from CarMax. At that time, it had an active recall which the previous owner did not resolve. I brought the vehicle to Nissan of Irvine on [XXX], at which time they installed new stop lamp switch and rubber grommet. The car proceeded to work fine until it would not turn on at all, and I had to have it towed to the dealership on [XXX]. At that time, they diagnosed it again to be a faulty brake switch and replaced it then. The car worked fine until around August 2026, where it occasionally would not start (which is how it presented the other times). On [XXX], I took it to the dealership again due to the same reason and they diagnosed it again to be a faulty brake switch. They said it would not be covered under the warranty because the car was over by around 500 miles. They quoted the price of around $700 for the inspection, part and labor. I do not feel that I should be responsible for the issue since it was not taken care of correctly the 2 previous times I brought the car in. I also feel that the situation was not taken seriously. The service department even joked "haha, hopefully it doesn't happen again" (this was during the second time at the dealership). They also were not surprised that I was back with the same problem. They were extremely rude and condescending (the service consultant Randy and the service manager). At that time, I decided to not have them TRY to fix the problem for the third time and paid the $225 for just the inspection. I was able to drive the car until [XXX], at which time it did not turn on again and I had to have it towed to a different mechanic. At that time, he diagnosed it with the same issue, replaced the part and charged me $205. I would like to rectify this situation with Nissan without taking further legal action. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2019 Nissan Sentra: won't start
16 of the 223 complaints about the 2019 Nissan Sentra describe won't start.
- owner complaints
- 16
- of this car's complaints
- 7%
- typical mileage
- 24,638
- recalls
- 0
Won't start by model year
What owners say
Push to start is having issues. Break stiffens up and car wont start.
I purchased a 2019 Nissan Sentra SR (VIN: [XXX] ) as a certified pre-owned vehicle from Star Nissan in Bayside, NY on [XXX]. Since the day of purchase, I have experienced repeated failures when trying to start the vehicle using the push-button ignition. Specifically, when pressing the brake pedal to start the car, nothing happens — the brake does not register, and the engine will not start. This issue directly matches the symptoms outlined in the federal safety agency Recall 21V135 (Nissan Campaign PM971), which addresses a known brake lamp switch defect in 2016–2019 Nissan Sentra models. I was not the original owner and was never notified of this recall. The selling dealership, who had custody of the car when the recall was issued, did not confirm or perform the required repair before reselling the vehicle to me. Nissan Consumer Affairs now claims there are “no open recalls” on my VIN, but the part in question — the brake switch — has never been replaced, and my Nissan service history confirms that it was not repaired. Instead, unrelated components like the brake booster were replaced multiple times, which did not resolve the issue. This defect has created multiple unsafe situations where I was stranded with my child in unsafe areas due to the car failing to start. The car’s brake system is critical to safe operation and starting function, and failure of this component puts both myself and my child at risk. I believe the recall was never performed and was falsely marked as completed or was never properly associated with my VIN. I am requesting that the federal safety agency investigate why this VIN is not being flagged for an active recall, despite clear matching symptoms and lack of documented repair. I also request that Nissan be required to fulfill the safety repair free of charge under the recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The car won't start this is my third time raking it in for the brake switch replacement
This happened to me a total of 3 times. Low fuel light does not come on. First time I had 32 miles until empty no low fuel light came on, car stopped battery light came on. Tried to jump the car and it did not start. Put in some premium gas and it started. Second time same thing happened car slowly stopped and battery light came on. Tried to jump the car did not start, put gas in but this time it didn't start, had to get the car towed. Battery was tested and fine. Mechanic said he believes it is the gas gage being incorrect. Third time this happened today, February 3,2024 50 miles until empty pulled out into the middle of the road and my car stopped. I was in the middle of the road with cars beeping at me. I could not move my car. Battery light came on. Police came and put some gas in the car and it started. This is a dangerous thing happening and thankfully I am okay and it could have been alot worse. Please have this issue looked into and fixed. I will be bringing my car into the dealer Monday for this issue to be resolved hopefully.
Intermittently unable to start (start button flickers quickly sometimes). Dealer checked out common start issues like battery and alternator for free and charged for start lamp switch but still intermittently cannot start car. Based on internet research, not just me and possible needs to be recall on start lamp or corroding brake/cruise switches immediately above brake. Stranded several times. When won't start also won't use lights, door locks, etc.
I own a 2019 Nissan Sentra that was bought as a preowned car in 2020. About a year after purchasing the car I was stranded for the first time when after parking for about 8 hours my car did not start. After getting the car jump started the battery tested in good working order. Since then if my car is locked using the key fob for a few hours (4 or more) the car will not start more than 70% of the time. If the car is manually locked, even for 2 weeks, the problem does not occur, and there is no issue getting the car started. The safety risk is being stranded. The car battery is being drained while the car is parked, and locked, but charges back when driving. all electrical components that can be turned off are turned off (radio, air conditioner, lights).
I went to work and while driving I noticed a light come on. When I looked it up it said safety light and to clean my cameras for possible dirt. I got to work and turned car off. When I went to leave for a meeting 1 hour later the car would not start. All the lights were working and the radio came on. I tried to start it again and the break got hard and it still wouldn’t start. I tried to jumpstart it and it tried to come on but made a noise and wouldn’t come on. I waited a while tried jumping it again and it started. The safety light went off and never came back on. I had my battery replaced in September 2022 so I left to go get it checked and it was good I also checked alternator and it was good. I went home and left a few times with no problem then the next morning it happened again. I had to jump it to start and took it to an auto shop. They couldn’t find anything in the diagnostic test but replaced starter to see if that was it. I drove home and 2 hours later tried to leave and the car wouldn’t start. I went back the next day to the shop and they couldn’t find anything and changed battery to key fobe. The car started for the rest of the day. I went to work the next morning with no problem then when I tried to leave for lunch it wouldn’t start. I went back to shop throwing a fit and they kindly refunded me back my money and told me to go to a Nissan dealership because of a recall they looked up that could be the problem and it should be repaired for free.
Forward collision warning light came on as I was driving w/ no cars in front of me. The car jerked as if i slammed on my brakes. As I was pulling into my driveway, Malfunction See owners manual showed along w/ AEB warning light. I waited a while then came back outside to start car and the brakes were stiff and it wouldn't start. Malfunction see owners manual showed again along w/ AEB warning light and Engine light blinking. Then it started to make a constant, solid beeping type noise and shut off. I literally just found about the recall as I never received any type of notice. It took Google to tell me this which brought me here.
I've noticed an issue with the radio coming on by itself when it's sitting in the garage and apparently it causes a drain on the battery. There's been several times I've gone out to the car and it doesn't start I don't know if the two are connected. I've had the battery checked the alternator checked and they've all been fine. The car is just now 2 years old I took it over from my son when I bought it for him and when I talked to him he's had the same issue.
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer five times for diagnosis however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The dealer replaced the battery however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 24,638.
I received notification of a stop lamp switch recall from nissan and made an appointment with the local dealer, who is unable to get the parts needed. I contacted nissan and was told that the parts would not be available until fall 2021, possibly in october. They said I should drive it "at my discretion," and the symptoms could be that the brake lights won't work, which could cause collision or the car won't start. I can call them back if these things happen, but unless or until they do, I should just drive it "at my discretion." I love my car and it has less than 4,000 miles on it. I am now skeptical of driving it. It's now may and I have to worry until probably october than my brake lights aren't working or that my car won't start.
Service bulletins that may apply
- MIL on with P0603 stored for ECM back up circuit
- Engine no crank/no start
- Individual fuel pump service parts service information
- Engine no crank/no start if you confirm
- Voluntary service campaign engine control module
- Engine and engine cooling
- VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN VEHICLES REGISTERED IN CALIFORNIA; ENGINE CONTROL MODULE INTRODUCTION...
- Engine Control Module (ECM) Reprogram California Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign Campaign Summary...
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 2019 Nissan Sentra won't start
Is won't start a common problem on the 2019 Nissan Sentra?
16 of 223 owner complaints about the 2019 Nissan Sentra (7%) mention won't start. The model year with the most reports is 2017.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2019 Nissan Sentra?
There are 0 recalls and 11 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2019 Nissan Sentra
Jerking 13CVT failure 11Transmission failure 10Check engine light 9Stalling 9Collision warning 8Loss of power 7Slipping 7Adaptive cruise 6Door locks 6Screen failure 5
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