2013 Nissan Sentra

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 638 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train. It has been recalled 6 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k

495 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 010,000 miles; the median is 61,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train270
102
Air Bags89
11012
Service Brakes82
602
Engine60
020
Unknown or Other36
010
Electrical System24
211
Fuel/Propulsion System19
000
Vehicle Speed Control16
101
Electronic Stability Control (esc)10
000
Steering8
000

6 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification16V242000
Filed Apr 26, 2016645,898 vehiclesNissan North America, Inc.

Defect. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Sentra vehicles manufactured June 4, 2012, to April 9, 2016. The front passenger seat belt bracket may become deformed if it is used to secure a Child Restraint System (CRS). The deformed seat bracket may cause the Occupant Classification System (OCS) to incorrectly classify the installed CRS, resulting in the front passenger air bag to not be turned off as designed when a CRS is in the seat.

Risk. If the frontal passenger air bag deploys in the event of a crash when a child seat is installed in the front passenger seat, there will be an increased risk of injury to the child in the CRS.

Remedy. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will reinforce the seat belt bracket as well as reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU), free of charge. The recall began on June 13, 2016. Owners are warned not to install a CRS in the front seat. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.

Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification16V244000
Filed Apr 26, 20163,296,947 vehiclesNissan North America, Inc.

Defect. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.

Risk. If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.

Remedy. Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.

Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification15V681000
Filed Oct 20, 2015919 vehiclesNissan North America, Inc.

Defect. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima and Pathfinder vehicles, 2013-2014 Nissan Sentra vehicles, 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles, 2014-2015 Infiniti QX60 vehicles and 2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid vehicles. The affected vehicles received an incorrect occupant classification system (OCS) control unit during a repair. These OCS control units may incorrectly classify the front passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.

Risk. If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger air bag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.

Remedy. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Electrical System › Software14V138000
Filed Mar 25, 2014989,701 vehiclesNissan North America, Inc.

Defect. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.

Risk. If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.

Remedy. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Air Bags13V069000
Filed Mar 1, 201382,038 vehiclesNissan North America, Inc.

Defect. Nissan is recalling certain model year 2013 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, Sentra, and Infiniti JX35 vehicles. Sensors within the passenger Occupant Detection System (ODS) may have been manufactured out of specification. This may cause the system to malfunction and permanently suppress the passenger airbag.

Risk. If the vehicle is involved in a crash necessitating airbag deployment and the passenger airbag is suppressed, there may be an increased risk of personal injury.

Remedy. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ODS sensors and replace them as neccessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 6, 2013. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly13V068000
Filed Mar 1, 2013392 vehiclesNissan North America, Inc.

Defect. Nissan is recalling certain model year 2013 Sentra vehicles manufactured from September 11, 2012, through October 4, 2012. Some fuel tank assemblies were not properly sealed during the manufacturing process. As a result, a small amount of gasoline may leak from the tank when it is full.

Risk. A gasoline leak in the presence of an ignition source may lead to a vehicle fire.

Remedy. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tanks as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 1, 2013. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air Bags
Filed Jun 26, 202616,050 milesNY

The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated, and the front passenger's side air bag warning light remained illuminated while the front passenger's seat was occupied. The contact stated that the dealer had previously repaired the vehicle under NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V244000 (AIR BAGS), and the contact was provided a letter stating that the vehicle was eligible for additional repairs for 15 years. The manufacturer was contacted, a case was filed, and the contact was referred to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who failed to honor the letter and provided an estimate for the diagnostic test, and the contact declined. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer then closed the case. The failure mileage was approximately 16,050.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Internal › Cvt
Filed Jun 8, 2026FL

Transmission slipping

Unknown or Other
Filed May 10, 2026WV

Mileage (~124k) * RPM behavior * Loss of power uphill * Can cause a crash on highway with the cvt promblems nissian sentras sv has been cause of loss of power out of no where needs to be addressed as a recall maintenance has been don great on vechile it has history and need to be addressed. It goes from 70 to 55 issues of cvt

Engine
Filed Apr 11, 2026LA

Erractic rpms. Shakes/hesitant on take off from stop. Accelerator can be pushed all the way and it goes 5mph. Shifting takes a good minute with shakiness. Can not drive in rush hour traffic almost got accident many times.

Air Bags
Filed Jan 4, 2026CA

I am reporting a failed remedy for Recall R1608 (Occupant Classification System). My 2013 Nissan Sentra was serviced at Nissan of Van Nuys for this recall. Despite the dealership marking the recall as completed, the safety defect persists. Specifically, the passenger seatbelt warning light remains illuminated when the passenger seat is empty, indicating the OCS sensor is incorrectly classifying seat occupancy. This malfunction directly impacts the vehicle's ability to correctly deploy or withhold airbags in a collision. The dealership refused to re-evaluate the failed repair without legal representation. Furthermore, the Multi-Point Inspection provided during this safety recall visit was falsified; a technician hand-wrote a failing brake measurement of '3mm,' yet the Service Advisor marked the system as 'Green/Safe' on the final document. This documentation fraud makes their certification of the recall repair unreliable. They have since refused to re-inspect the safety defect.

Unknown or Other
Filed Dec 22, 2025MD

The problem with my 2013 Nissan Sentra relates to the transmission which was serviced April 22, 2024 at Passport Nissan in Suitland, M D. Two months later, June 12, 2024 my car was serviced again for transmission problelms. The CVT transmission unit was replaced because of internal malfunction on the transmission assembly. My car is currently unsafe 1 year and six months later with transmission problems. The recent diagnosis requires removing the existing transmission assembly and installing a new one to ensure proper functioning of the drivetrain. The cost is $7,509.41. My contention is that the transmission is still faulty and unsafe after multiple paid service attempts. Nissan service management informs that service is outside of the warranty by one month because of their recent policy change. Please assist with transmission repairs at no cost to me since it has not been serviced properly and is unsafe to me and my family. I would appreciate knowing what if anything can be done to help with transmission repair at no additional cost to me. Thank you.

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Dec 22, 2025173,000 milesVA

The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while attempting to refuel the vehicle, fuel started spewing out of the fuel filler neck. The contact waited until the fuel level was almost empty and slowly pumped gasoline into the fuel tank. The vehicle was taken to three separate mechanics and was informed that the issue was related to the oxygen sensor; however, two mechanics also stated that the issue could be related to a defect with the EVAP system. The contact then stated that while driving at highway speeds, the vehicle began to lose power while depressing the accelerator pedal, as the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate above 40 MPH and pulled over. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle several times but was unsuccessful. The contact called the mechanic, who advised the contact to restart the vehicle in neutral(N). Once the vehicle was in neutral(N), the contact was able to restart the vehicle and resume normal operation. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that there was a Nissan recall for the rear O2 sensor under NISSAN ID: P1A25. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for service; however, the dealer refused to service the vehicle due to the check engine warning light and other issues that the dealer claimed would affect the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 173,000.

Power Train
Filed Dec 7, 2025SC

It's slipping in the transmission

Unknown or Other
Filed Nov 19, 2025CO

While driving, the start/stop button was pressed and the vehicle turned off while in motion. WHILE IN D, THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF WHILE IN TRAFFIC, IN MOTION, DUE TO THE STOP/START BUTTON BEING PRESSED. It should not be able to shut off while in drive. The safety feature should not allow that.

Power Train
Filed Oct 15, 202536 milesTN

The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power and failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that similar model year vehicles were recalled for the transmission failure; however, the VIN was not included in a powertrain recall. The failure was a recurring failure. The contact stated that the vehicle had been parked in the backyard for over a year and was no longer driven due to safety concerns. The failure mileage was not provided.

Power Train
Filed Jun 25, 2025AR

The CVT transmission has a serious problem it does this jerking movement and could lead to an accident or serious bodily injury to occupants in the vehicle I am filing a complaint regarding the CVT transmission failure in my 2013 Nissan Sentra (VIN: [XXX] ). The vehicle began showing symptoms such as jerking, hesitation, and loss of power while driving. These are serious safety concerns, especially when merging or accelerating. After researching the issue, I discovered this is a well-documented and widespread defect in Nissan CVT-equipped vehicles from this generation. Many other owners have experienced premature transmission failure, and Nissan has issued extended warranties in the past on certain models. However, despite clear signs of defective transmission design, my vehicle has not been covered under any warranty or recall. I believe this defect poses a serious safety hazard and should be addressed by Nissan through a recall or formal investigation. Transmission failure while driving could easily lead to a crash. I urge the NHTSA to open an investigation and compel Nissan to take accountability for this widespread transmission failure. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Power Train
Filed Mar 5, 2025VA

Transmission has failed. The car will not change speed when pressing on gas. Causing danger on the road when driven. The issue has been confirmed by an independent auto service. No warning lamps or identifiers has been present with this issue. The vehicle itself has only 97000 miles. This transmission issue with this vehicle is a known problem and many owners of this vehicle has reported this exact issue.

Power Train
Filed Mar 5, 202565,000 milesTX

The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost automotive power and failed to properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 65,000.

Power Train
Filed Dec 23, 2024TN

The car was stalled and wouldn’t go without warning and no indication issues were present. When it stalled driver put at risk of being hit and caused multiple cars to swerve to miss the car. Thankfully able to get the car off the road and toed. Transmission completely failed.

Unknown or Other
Filed Dec 21, 2024FL

2013 Nissan Sentra that I bought brand new in 2014 with only about 15 miles on it. December 2024 In the middle of traffic the vehicle would not accelerate forward, even when almost flooring the gas pedal. This would only Rev up the engine as if I was in park. I was able to drive in reverse to a park in a lot next to where the vehicle stalled. There were not any warning lights at anytime prior to the incident. The mechanic did take a look at it and believed it was a transmission issue. The first time this happened was about 2018 with the same type of scenario. The transmission was replaced $4000+ later by Nissan but when they gave the car back the AC did not work and I had to replace the compressor. They denied any wrong doing at the Nissan dealership but it was fine before I dropped it off except the transmission.

Power Train
Filed Dec 18, 2024AZ

Vehicle loses power fails to excellerate while traveling on the freeway Cvt transmission is very difficult to work on or check fluids

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Nov 18, 2024FL

Fuel tank leaks gas

Air Bags
Filed Sep 12, 202423,000 milesNY

The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds with the passenger’s side front seat occupied, the “Air Bag Off” warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where DTC code: B00A0 was retrieved. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The local dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that a software update was needed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 23,000.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 26, 2024PR

My car has has to repair its air conditioner on 3 Ocasion because it stopped cooling. On November 2023 the transition failed sending a code of: SECOND CLOTCH MODE. I TOOK IT TO 3 mechanics and all said it was the transmition and that all CVT cars have the same defect. My car is well care taken but right now it’s not functioning because of this issue. All cars I have seen NISSAN SENTRA fail for thr same …transmition. At this moment I don’t have any other car to solve my situation and don’t have $6,000.00 to buy a transmition. Please review people who have these cars .

Power Train
Filed Jul 11, 202468,000 milesKS

The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that several years ago an unknown recall notification was received; however, the dealer failed to complete the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.

20 of 638 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2013
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
202615110Routine
202530400Routine
202438300Routine
202319100Routine
202281200Routine
2021131310Routine
2020204400Above average
2019222210Above average
2018185231Fatalities reported
2017230360Above average
2016270620Above average
2015351330Above average
2014380560Above average
2013 — this page638641Fatalities reported
2012180040Routine
2011142260Routine
2010144340Routine
200955101Fatalities reported
2008167330Routine
20071541102Fatalities reported
2006116610Do not drive
2005170640Do not drive
2004197501Do not drive
20031801010Do not drive
20023181480Do not drive
2001236820Above average
2000171740Routine
199959300Routine
199858521Fatalities reported
1997108712Fatalities reported
1996141710Routine
1995117732Fatalities reported
199499050Routine
199358020Routine
1992620150Routine
1991632101Fatalities reported
199039231Fatalities reported

Compare every Sentra year →

Reading this record

1 death reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Apr 26, 2016. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.