2013 Nissan Sentra

Fatalities reported

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

Avoid One of the Nissan Sentra years to avoid: 4.3× the complaints of a typical Sentra year. Which Nissan Sentra years to avoid →

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
61,000 milesMedian miles at failure

495 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 0–10,000 miles.

Most common 2013 Nissan Sentra problems

273 of the 638 complaints (43%) are about the transmission.

ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train · transmission270
102
Air Bags · airbags89
11012
Service Brakes · brakes82
602
Engine60
020
Unknown or Other36
010
Electrical System24
211
Fuel/Propulsion System · fuel and propulsion system19
000
Vehicle Speed Control · throttle and acceleration16
101
Electronic Stability Control (esc) · stability control10
000
Steering8
000

2013 Nissan Sentra transmission problems

43% of all complaints

273 of the 638 complaints are about the transmission. This is what owners describe:

  • jerks, lurches or bucks26% · 70
  • slips or will not engage a gear13% · 36
  • loses power12% · 34
  • stalls10% · 28
  • sets off warning lights on the dash9% · 24
  • turns on the check engine light7% · 19

Share of the 273 transmission complaints whose text describes each symptom. One complaint can describe several.

Typical mileage
76,000 mi
median of 217 reports
Peak year of filing
2018
69 transmission complaints that year
Crashes · fires · injuries
1 · 0 · 2
in these complaints
Recalls on the transmission
None
“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.”
Owner complaint, filed Jun 25, 2025
“The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the vehicle was jerking abnormally. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the roadway. The contact then drove to the nearest gas station at 10 MPH and parked the vehicle. An independent mechanic diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired.”
Owner complaint, filed May 4, 2023 at 97,000 miles

Complaints and recalls over time

By year of filing
2012: 1 complaints, 0 about the transmission'122013: 43 complaints, 1 about the transmission2014: 52 complaints, 4 about the transmission'142015: 54 complaints, 13 about the transmission2016: 44 complaints, 15 about the transmission'162017: 63 complaints, 28 about the transmission2018: 115 complaints, 69 about the transmission'182019: 107 complaints, 58 about the transmission2020: 50 complaints, 27 about the transmission'202021: 33 complaints, 20 about the transmission2022: 26 complaints, 13 about the transmission'222023: 25 complaints, 13 about the transmission2024: 12 complaints, 6 about the transmission'242025: 8 complaints, 5 about the transmission2026: 5 complaints, 1 about the transmission'26Recall 13V069000 (airbags)Recall 13V068000 (fuel system)Recall 14V138000 (electrical system)Recall 15V681000 (airbags)Recall 16V242000 (airbags)Recall 16V244000 (airbags)NHTSA investigation EA15004NHTSA investigation PE14014
All complaintsAbout the transmissionRecall (red: the transmission)NHTSA investigation opened

Complaints about the 2013 Sentra peaked in 2018, with 115 filed that year. No recall on file covers the transmission, the subject of 43% of the complaints. In 2026 owners filed 5 so far.

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.

All 6 campaigns on file, newest first.

NHTSA investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Before a recall there is often an investigation: NHTSA opens one when complaints or manufacturer data point to a safety defect. 3 name the 2013 Sentra.

Occupant Classification System FailureEngineering analysis EA15004Closed
Opened Aug 31, 2015Closed May 2, 2017Led to recall 15V681000airbags

In May 2016, Nissan North America issued a safety recall (16V-244) to address the problem of improper classification of adult front seat passengers in approximately 3.3 million vehicles, including those in the scope of this investigation when it was opened (almost one million vehicles) and additional vehicles, as shown below.Nissan models: certain model year 2013-2016 Altima, 2013-2016 LEAF, 2016-2017 Maxima, 2015-016 Murano and Murano Hybrid, 2013-2016 Pathfinder, 2014-2015 Pathfinder Hybrid, 2014-2017 Rogue, 2013-2016 Sentra, 2013-2016 NV200, and 2014-2016 Taxi.Infiniti models: certain …

Occupant Classification System FailureRecall query RQ15001Closed
Opened Mar 18, 2015Closed Sep 1, 2015airbags

In April 2014, Nissan North America launched Safety Recall 14V-138 to address problems with the Occupant Classification System (OCS) algorithm in the following vehicles: model year (MY) 2013-2014 Nissan Altima, Pathfinder, Sentra and LEAF; MY 2013 Infiniti JX35; MY 2014 Infiniti QX60 and Q50; and MY 2013 Nissan NV 200/Taxi vehicles.According to Nissan, the OCS may misclassify adult front passenger occupants and turn off the passenger's frontal air bag for an adult occupant of sufficient weight.In March 2015, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Recall Query after the agency …

Excessive Brake Pedal TravelPreliminary evaluation PE14014Closed
Opened May 20, 2014Closed May 13, 2015brakes

On May 20, 2014, ODI opened PE14-014 based on eight complaints alleging incidents of excessive brake pedal travel in model year (MY) 2013 through 2014 Nissan Sentra, Versa Sedan and Versa Note passenger cars (Figure 1) and information in Early Warning Reporting field reports indicating issues with master cylinder internal seals.In response to an information request letter sent by ODI, Nissan identified a condition with the master cylinder in early production subject vehicles that could result in a slow internal leak past one of the recuperating seals to the brake reservoir when the brake …

Technical service bulletins

201 on file

Repair instructions the manufacturer sent its dealers for the 2013 Sentra. Not recalls: the fix is usually free only while the car is under warranty.

transmission 40electrical system 30engine 27equipment 24fuel system 11brakes 7wheels 7equipment adaptive/mobility 7
PC857_PM997 2013Warranty extensionFeb 10, 2022electrical system

Oxygen Sensor Voltage Inspection Warranty Extension Dealer Announcement: In the interest of customer satisfaction, Nissan is providing a limited warranty extension to certain MY2013-2016 Nissan Altima 2.5L (SULEV and 50 states emissions) and certain MY2013-2016 Nissan Sentra vehicles (50 states only) to allow for annual rear oxygen sensor voltage checks, …

NTB22-007Warranty extensionFeb 9, 2022engine

2013-2016 ALTIMA AND SENTRA; REAR OXYGEN SENSOR VOLTAGE INSPECTION SERVICE INFORMATION Nissan is committed to providing the highest levels of product quality and customer satisfaction. Therefore, Nissan is extending the emission warranty on the Rear Oxygen Sensor in the case of a short-to-ground condition to 20 Years or 200,000 miles, whichever occurs …

CVT Owner LetterWarranty extensionMay 11, 2020transmission

Dear Nissan Sentra Owner: Thank you for being a Nissan owner. We strive to provide you with an excellent ownership experience that includes confidence in your vehicle s performance, features and overall reliability. To that end, Nissan is extending the limited warranty covering your continuously variable transmission (CVT) to 7 years/84,000 miles, whichever …

Sentra_Versa_AltWarranty extensionMay 11, 2020transmission

CVT Warranty Extension In an effort to assure customer satisfaction, demonstrate our confidence in continuously variable transmissions (CVTs), and to address customer concerns including those expressed by customers in the class actions, Nissan will extend the warranty coverage on the CVT. The warranty extension includes the CVT assembly and internal CVT …

NTB12-055JService Bulletin/Repair InstructionsMar 29, 2023transmission

CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

NTB12-055IService Bulletin/Repair InstructionsSep 27, 2022transmission

CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

NTB18-058FService Bulletin/Repair InstructionsMay 17, 2022transmission

ENHANCED DIAGNOSTIC LOGIC FOR CVT This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

NTB12-055HService Bulletin/Repair InstructionsJun 9, 2021transmission

CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

NTB09-140CService Bulletin/Repair InstructionsMar 1, 2021transmission

CVT OIL LEAK DIAGNOSIS USING FLUORESCENT DYE This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

Showing the newest 6 of 40 bulletins about the transmission, and any warranty extensions or service campaigns.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA 5-star safety ratings
Version testedOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
2013 Nissan Sentra 4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★12.1%

New Car Assessment Program results for this model year. Ratings compare cars of similar size and weight only.

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.

Power Train
Filed Apr 16, 2024CA

The car has stalled or completely become unresponsive during traffic. I notified dealer but nothing was done. No warning lights the problem started about three years ago around 60000 miles. Just recently took to independent auto shop and was told it's a bad transmission

EngineFire
Filed Mar 27, 2024TN

Feb 26th, 2024 i drove my car for the first time since having surgery on Jan. 11, 2024. I was going about 35 mph when extremely fast the car radio turned off it felt as if the engine was also turned off but within a blink of your eye the car was turned back on , all by itself, a tiny jerk, nothing major. I instantly looked at the temp gauge, made sure the key was in ignition correctly. There was nothing to signal a problem. The next day i didnt leave my home. On Feb. 28, 2024 i drove the car about 7 miles and it did this same glitch twice .Again all gauges read normal, i got out of the car this time popped the hood. No smoke , no burning smell or any smell at all. I checked the fluids, the belt, the battery connections everything was fine. Later that night a family member had someone try breaking into their home. Very upset i decided to leave my home and drive over to be if some comfort. I drove a total of 21 miles, as i was turning into the driveway the car fid it again however this time i had to get it in park and restart my car. Again no over heating no smoke no burning or fuel smells. I parked the car went inside. About 7 minutes later , definitely no more than 10 minutes, i heared a loud bang. I look outside and my entire motor was on fire and the tire had already blown!! In under ten minutes!! I tried putting the fire out with the water hose but 911 dispatch heard the second tire blow and repeatedly asked me to stop and go inside the home that fire fighters were on thei

Power Train
Filed Mar 9, 2024GA

CVT Transmission, available for inspection any time. I was driving in a public area that’s heavily trafficked when this happened. My car gave out and would not continue in drive. All the other gears worked at the time besides driving forward. This could’ve ended very badly to other people on the road. I had to take it to a shop twice. Nissan automatically told me it’s a transmission issue and several recalls with CVT transmissions, took it for a second opinion just to make sure and the second shop also said it’s the CVT transmission. My dash did not have any warning lights to show what was the problem.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 6, 2024CA

My car doesn’t accelerate. I was driving and a car behind me almost hit me because I pressed on the gas but it didn’t go

Power Train
Filed Jan 8, 2024WA

Bad transmission

Unknown or Other
Filed Dec 20, 2023NC

I was driving down the road and all of a sudden the car started to sputter and I couldn't accelerate. Whenever I came to a stop it jerked after a minute of the RPM just revving, it finally shifted and lunged forward. I think the transmission went bad. Made it home parked it and I've been too concerned to drive it since.

Suspension
Filed Dec 18, 2023104,567 milesOH

The contact's girlfriend owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while she was driving, there was an abnormal grinding sound. There was a vibration coming from the steering wheel. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the vibration was from the front lower control arm. The contact was informed that the ball joints were the cause of the abnormal clunking sound. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was approximately 104,567.

Engine
Filed Nov 4, 2023CA

Code P0101 came on, service Bulletin from NHTSA.gov was done. Car came back worst. Engine stalled in the middle of the street. It wouldn’t turn on, we had to push it to get it out of the street. Car will accelerate on its own when turn on. Sometimes car will accelerate when put on Reverse on its own….. RPMs will be at 7 and 8 when going 45MPH. I notice this has been an issue for Nissan Sentras 2013-2015 based on research all over the internet. People have replaced Thottle body, air mass flow sensor, break sensors, fuel intake, fuses. Vehicle isn’t safe to be driving in street, may caused an accident, even mechanic said I shouldn’t be driving the car because it isn’t safe. We already made a complaint with NHTSA, DMV for financial Help and nothing. Help is really needed.

Air Bags
Filed Oct 17, 2023VA

I went to get my car inspected and they noticed that my airbag light was on, and that even with a passenger in the seat, the airbag sensor wouldn’t work. I came across an article saying there was a recall for 2013 Nissan’s with airbag sensor problems, but when I went to go see if my car qualified, they said no.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Sep 13, 2023FL

Mass air flow sensor. The check engine light comes on. It’s a safety hazard because the car does not have the power to accelerate so very dangerous when trying to cross intersection driving on The road is dangerous. This mass air flow sensor part is not a maintenance/ regular service. This is the second time I’m having this issue within 14 months. I had it replaced Aug 2022 and now dealership is say I need a new one AGAIN

Power Train
Filed Sep 7, 2023114,000 milesMO

The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. On several occasions while driving on the highway, the vehicle failed to exceed 30 MPH. Additionally, while driving up an incline, the RPM revved to high however, the vehicle failed to properly respond. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who determined that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 114,000.

Power Train
Filed Aug 15, 2023120,000 milesGA

The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated, and the vehicle would not properly accelerate from a stationary position while driving up an incline. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who determined that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The transmission was replaced but the failure persisted. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 120,000.

Power Train
Filed Jul 19, 2023WA

The shift started locking, followed by consistent tugging while driving above 20 mph. It stutters and pulls when driving down hill which has caused me to pull over and restart the car in heavy traffic on the freeway. Now the car pulls so much it is not safe to drive above 20 mph. I have taken it to two service centers and both have confirmed the CVT transmission is faulty. No lamps or messages prior to the failure showed up. This started before the car hit 80,000 miles.

Power Train
Filed Jul 2, 2023MO

The vehicle will hesitate and stall when I am pulling out until traffic, causing me to almost get hit if there are any cars coming. When I go over 50mph on an incline, the RPMs will jump way high and the car will lose power in the middle of the highway. I will have to pull over and turn it off for awhile to get it to run again. There are no lights on at this time, but if I have the cruise control going, the Cruise light will flash and cruise will not work. Hitting Accelerate on the steering wheel cruise menu will move the car, but the gas pedal will not, and cruise control will not work.

Power Train
Filed Jun 27, 2023NJ

The transmission gave issues a few years ago and I got it fixed by Nissan. They confirmed that they put in a new transmission. It’s been only 20,000 miles and the transmission gave out. The car reverses but will not drive. They quoted me $7000 to fix it again.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jun 26, 2023AZ

My car just started messing up and I took it to my nearest Nissan dealership and I was advised it was the transmission but before that day I was looking up information on what the car issue could be and it came out to be that there was a transmission CVT recall for my car 2013 Nissan Sentra. I moved from Chicago to Arizona in June of 2020 and I was never informed either via phone or email. I do not thin that it is fair that I should have to pay for this issue at all if it is a manufacturer recall and I was never informed of the recall.

Power Train
Filed Jun 14, 2023VA

I own a 2013 Nissan Sentra SR with only 69,000 miles. The vehicle has been meticulously maintained with all recommended services being performed. The vehicle has had the factory/dealer recommended CVT reprogramming as well as CVT fluid exchange and coolant flush services. On May 25, 2023, my daughter was driving home from work when without warning the vehicle went into limp mode on the freeway causing it to decelerate rapidly, swerve and almost cause an accident. The vehicle would not accelerate over 40 mph and was taken to the dealership. There were no warning lights on the dash and no performance issues prior to the incident. The dealer ran diagnostics & code P17FO came up for a faulty CVT Transmission. The transmission was replaced at a cost of $6186.00. This is a Nissan CVT that has been dealer serviced following all preventive maintenance recommended by Nissan and the Dealership. Two days after the new CVT was installed, the exact same thing occurred, with the car again going into limp mode on a hill of a two-lane road with heavy traffic. The car this time was almost rear ended and would not accelerate above 15 mph. The vehicle is now at the dealership awaiting "transmission number three." Nissan Corporate was notified, and a case number was issued, 48966982. The arbitrator essentially washed their hands of the CVT issue and advised they would not take any action other than acknowledging the very long CVT failure history and that the issue was mine to resolve through my

Power Train
Filed May 27, 2023VA

I own a 2013 Nissan Sentra SR with only 69,000 miles. The vehicle has been meticulously maintained it's entire life with all recommended services being performed and then some. The vehicle has had the factory/dealer recommended CVT reprogramming as well as CVT fluid exchange services. The vehicle was purchased for my daughter who drives carefully, ensures the car is clean and well maintained. We have a stack of dealer service records showing an impeccable service history. On May 25, 2023, my daughter was driving home from work that evening when without warning the vehicle went into limp mode on the freeway causing it to decelerate rapidly, swerve and almost cause an accident. The vehicle would not accelerate over 40 mph and was immediately taken to the dealership. There were no warning lights on the dash and no performance issues prior to the incident. The dealer ran diagnostics and code P17FO came up for a faulty CVT Transmission. The transmission now has to be replaced due to failure. This is a Nissan CVT that has been dealer serviced following all preventive maintenance recommended by Nissan and the Dealership (Priority Nissan of Chantilly, Chantilly, VA). The vehicle ran perfectly prior to the failure and there were absolutely no warning signs of a transmission issue before the incident. As part of the preventive maintenance recommended for the vehicle we did the anti/freeze coolant flush at 51K , the CVT reprogramming and transmission flush at 52K, to ensure continued re

Electrical System
Filed May 25, 2023IN

IPDM failure on 3 Nissan vehicles customer owned all having same issues, after taking unit apart, compositors on exact same spots all burnt. As we'll as several places (including spots where issue happened) missing Conformal coatings to protect the entire board from moisture. -Whitmer automotive LLC

Power Train
Filed May 4, 202397,000 milesMA

The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the vehicle was jerking abnormally. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the roadway. The contact then drove to the nearest gas station at 10 MPH and parked the vehicle. An independent mechanic diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.

Air Bags
Filed Mar 13, 2023TN

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, SLOW TO ACCELERATE CVT IS ACTING UP

Power Train
Filed Mar 1, 2023NC

While driving down the road in my 2013 Nissan Sentra on December 31,2022 my cars engine light came on and went from a solid amber color to flashing and then my car lost power and I had to coast down the road to a near by house where I had to have my vehicle towed to my house and it is still sitting at the bottom of my driveway to this day I believe that my vehicle should be showing a recall on the cvt transmission but it don’t which isn’t right. I just need my car fixed and back to running

Air BagsCrash
Filed Feb 24, 2023MA

Slid on black ice (luckily only going about 40mph) car hit a cement guard rail head on severally damaging the entire front of the car (waiting on if it's totaled) no injuries but air bags did not deploy. Well it wasn't super fast that hard of a head on hit they should have deployed.

Engine
Filed Feb 8, 2023MD

I called my home Nissan yesterday to get the information about my recalls on my car that I was not aware of after the State Troopers helped me get my cat to a safe location. I was told that there are recalls on the car (and was never notified) I called where it was originally bought from a Nissan Dealership and they gave me several recall codes as I was stranded in the freezing cold with my babies in the car. There are several recalls on my car (P1-1,P1-2, and P1-5,2, P1-8.) The car went from 1RPM and shot up to 8, and down to 0 and the car would not drive after that unless it was less than 15MPH. Anything over 15-20 the car would go from 1RPM back to 8, and shoot down to 0 and jerk the car forward and backwards. I was told it was only an 02 reprogramming recall from the location it was towed to, to a different Nissan dealership. However, I was given several codes of recall from the Nissan Dealership that I purchased it from.

Power Train
Filed Jan 27, 202361,000 milesNY

The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power and stalled. During the failure, the check engine and air bags warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 61,000.

Power Train
Filed Jan 26, 2023NC

While driving down the road power to the accelerator was lost thus making it so I had to roll down the road the the closes driveway and pull over and when I tried to get my vehicle in reverse my vehicle wouldn’t move after it was placed in reverse the engine would rev up but my vehicle wouldn’t move at all

Engine
Filed Jan 25, 2023TX

Transmission problems that don't show up on diagnostic.. it shows up as air sensor problem. That could cost a lot of money if you listen to it...by keep trying to fix the air sensor that has no problem so you will go to auto machines and dealership and they don't know why and keep tell you to fix this or that. The real problem is the transmission. the system fails by not tell you the real problem and have a malfunctioned transmission with the the wiring inside.

Air Bags
Filed Jan 19, 2023WI

Passenger air bag turn off after being replaced from recall

Power Train
Filed Jan 14, 2023NC

The transmission just went out while I was driving. I tried accelerating and my car was not accelerating and now it is not going into gear

Power Train
Filed Jan 13, 2023113,000 milesMA

The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving at various speeds the transmission inadvertently shifted from drive(D) to neutral(N), causing the vehicle to decelerate. The contact stated that occasionally the transmission randomly shifted from drive(D) to reverse(R) causing the vehicle to change direction. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 113,000.

Complaints 1-50 of 638, newest first, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2013
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
202619110Routine
202531400Routine
202441300Routine
202320100Routine
202281200Routine
2021133310Routine
2020207400Above average
2019223210Above average
2018185231Fatalities reported
2017231360Above average
2016270620Above average
2015352330Above 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 →

2013 Nissan Sentra: questions buyers ask

Is the 2013 Nissan Sentra a good car?

Going by the federal record, it is one of the Sentra years to avoid: owners filed 638 complaints, 4.3 times as many as a typical Sentra year. The most common complaint is about the transmission (43%). In NHTSA crash tests it scored 4 stars overall.

What is the most common problem with the 2013 Nissan Sentra?

The transmission: 273 of the 638 complaints (43%) are about it. Owners most often say it jerks, lurches or bucks (26%), slips or will not engage a gear (13%) and loses power (12%). The typical report comes at 76,000 miles.

How many recalls does the 2013 Nissan Sentra have?

6 safety recalls on file with NHTSA, the most recent filed Apr 26, 2016. The largest, 16V244000, covered 3,296,947 vehicles. Recall repairs are free at a dealer; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

At what mileage do 2013 Nissan Sentra problems start?

Half of the complaints that record an odometer reading came in before 61,000 miles. For the transmission the midpoint is 76,000 miles.

Has NHTSA investigated the 2013 Nissan Sentra?

Yes, 3 times. The latest, EA15004 ("Occupant Classification System Failure"), was opened Aug 31, 2015 and closed May 2, 2017.

Are there service bulletins for the 2013 Nissan Sentra?

The manufacturer filed 201 technical service bulletins and other notices for it with NHTSA, most of them about the transmission (40), the electrical system (30) and the engine (27). They include a warranty extension, PC857_PM997 2013, filed Feb 10, 2022. A bulletin is a repair instruction to dealers, not a recall: the fix is usually free only under warranty.

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.