CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2013-2017 Nissan Sentra has an expensive CVT transmission failure defect that shows up plainly in our complaint data.

In late 2019, the CVT defect was subject to a class action settlement. However the settlement only covers transmission repairs up to 7 years after purchase or 84,000 miles (whichever occurs first).

Because many owners commonly drive 20,000 miles/year or more, Sentra owners experiencing CVT transmission problems may find they are not covered by this settlement due to the mileage limitation.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
62,765 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Nissan Sentra drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2013 Nissan Sentra Owner Comments (Page 5 of 15)

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problem #220

May 032019

Sentra

  • 60,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I had to pay over $4,000 for a new transmission. I was told that there was a problem with them. The cvt was bad on tbese nissons 2012-2017 models.

- Quincy, MA, USA

problem #219

Feb 182020

Sentra

  • 93,000 miles
The car jerks when accelerating, coasting and braking. The RPM needle moves erratically. This makes the car extremely unsafe to drive as the jerking could easily cause a collision. This has happened on city streets and parking lots, but I have not taken the car on any highways because I fear the possible outcome. The car needs a new transmission at only 93,000 miles. I had to have it towed 2 hours from the location of the jerking to my home.

- Tallahassee, FL, USA

problem #218

Jan 032020

Sentra

  • 150,000 miles
While driving, my car began to sound different and lost power ( no matter how much gas peddle applied the car wouldn't move forward or backward) I later discovered allegedly it was the transmission. Checking with my resources I further suspected the transmission was recalled. I contacted carson dealership ; they said I should bring it in to be diagnosed. I called their complaints department and asked if they could help me my 7 year old Sentra (which I'm still making payments on) power train should not be in failure. The representative listened and stated ' they couldn't help because of the amount of mileage on the car.

- Carson, CA, USA

problem #217

Dec 142019

Sentra

  • 133,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Second time this has happened, purchased the car brand new from midway Nissan, 11/2013, then 07/2014, while driving the car, it completely stopped on us. The transmission had to be replaced at faulkner Nissan in pa. Once again driving on a major highway in md, with heavy traffic, the transmission gives out, these results were slightly more hectic. My wife has epilepsy and went into a seizure because we were in heavy traffic. I was able to get the car off the highway onto the size of the road. Had to leave the car in md, get a rental car from bwi airport, drive back home to pa, my mother and her friend, who was released from the hospital after a stroke had to drive to md, in order for me to use his triple a car to have the car towed from bwi back to harrisburg, pa. My wife drove back with us to md because we needed to make sure my mother almost age 70 and her friend in his 80 was ok. This was a nightmare because mr schull, the triple a member needed to eat and with all this commotion near choked while eating. This is absolutely intolerable. Nissan is putting faulty transmission into vehicles. This is serious, work is being missed and a second transmission. Nissan needs to be held liable for this. I am reporting this and will also call and file a complaint with nissn today.

- Harrisburg, PA, USA

problem #216

Aug 012019

Sentra

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. While driving various speeds, the vehicle would not immediately accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to trophy Nissan (5031 N. galloway ave, mesquite, tx) where a tune-up was performed, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and did not assist. The failure mileage was 80,000.

- Dallas, TX, USA

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problem #215

Nov 272019

Sentra

  • 111 miles
Driving on my daily commute to work a a few times a day at random times my Sentra suddenly loses acceleration on a 4 lane expressway at speeds of 60mph+, it makes a loud revving noise, and decelerates at an alarming rate with no brake lights, and is an accident waiting to happen, I've been through this twice before and it's the beginning stages of powertrain slowly going, this will be my 3rd transmission and only gets more dangerous and worse from here and yet Nissan doesn't want to admit that it's slipping and bucking and would rather wait until something bad happens to fix the problem if at all. 2013 Nissan Sentra with only 111K... this will be my 3rd transmission.

- Plymouth, MA, USA

problem #214

Oct 102019

Sentra

  • 47,800 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Been complaining since 2016 about shuddering if car and loss of power. I've had an acceleration issue causing an accident in 2016, reported it to Nissan dealership. They ssid I was crazy under 28000 miles at time. Have complained since now in Oct 10 going on pa turnpike at posted 70mph llost all power almost causing a major pileup! transmission had to tow vehicle off highway then again tow it back to dealership costiing me over $500 in tows mileage under 48000. Kow they say I need transmission out of warranty must pay $4000 to repair it !! this car has been a deathtrap and should not be allowed on the road.. I want the govt to make nissanusa pay for all my repairs towing and get a lifetime warranty. Maybe then theyd fix car right !! im afraid to drive it. Ive been on 2 major highways one city street when this occured. Interstate 5279 and pa turnpike then a pgh city street. I'm just grateful I am alive a D others were not hurt this past Oct 10 2019.

- East Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #213

Nov 052019

Sentra

  • 78,000 miles
I bought my car as a used car and the transmission went bad after a year. When the car is moving it jerks very unusually before it changes gears and when I accelerate, the car's RPM shoots up very quickly and comes back down. It keeps fluctuating like that for the whole drive. I then bought the transmission from a 2014 Nissan Sentra S with a VIN "[xxx]" as a replacement but that has gone bad as well. It does the same thing as the previous one that went bad. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Acworth, GA, USA

problem #212

Nov 022019

Sentra

  • 71,000 miles
I was on a city street. After stopping (I was stopped) at an intersection, I then pressed on the gas to turn left into the lane. At that time, I heard a loud 'pop' which startled me. And though the car was in gear ('d'-drive) it would not move forward. I shifted to reverse to see if it would move in that gear. I felt the gear engage and the car did move in reverse. I shifted back to 'd'- drive but I did not feel the gear engage nor did the car move forward at all. In addition to the failure of my transmission, I was doubly bothered by the fact that there was never a warning light on the dash to signal a pending or potential problem.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #211

Oct 242019

Sentra

  • 79,640 miles
The check engine light keeps coming on due to the same air flow problem. Every time car is scanned the code comes up as the mass air flow sensor. I have replaced this sensor. My vehicle would not accelerate over 20 mph. My car also idles, jerks when placed in park & has decreased fuel efficiency. The car began to violently shake, was unable to accelerate while on the highway. Car rpms increased the car did not move. Traffic rapidly approaching behind me.

- Toa Alta, PR, USA

problem #210

Oct 012019

Sentra

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

On 10/01/19 my Nissan senrta started experiencing jerking and revving which has been continually getting worse. On 11/01/19 an appointment is made to have a transmission evaluation with full expectation of replacement with new transmission.

- Hagerstown, MD, USA

problem #209

Sep 012019

Sentra

  • 83,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. While depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle moved very slowly. The vehicle would not exceed 50 mph on the highway and jerked. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to giles Nissan lafayette (6137 johnston St, lafayette, la 70503, (337) 210-9000), but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they would pay half for the transmission repair. The approximate failure mileage was 83,000.

- Saint Martinville, LA, USA

problem #208

Sep 092019

Sentra

  • 95,500 miles
Cvt transmission failed with no check engine light or warnings. After 30 minute drive on freeway came to a stop at a turn off. Went to cross oncoming traffic with plenty of space and transmission would not catch and moved extremely slow. Cars came at speed and had to slam on brakes to avoid collision. Transmission needed replacement and was not covered under warranty of any sort.

- West Valley City, UT, USA

problem #207

Aug 202019

Sentra

  • 71,000 miles
For the past year or so the car has been jerking when it changed gear, but until recently the transmission gave out completely, the car is only a 2013 Nissan Sentra. I have maintained the cars regular maintenance. I am still paying on the vehicle and I cannot afford to pay the cost of the transmission replacement, I need to know what my options are with Nissan in regards to warranty or recalls on the car for the transmission, or any assistance to to fix my car. Being that it's a fairly new vehicle it should not have a faulty transmission, it only has 71,000 on it. I am a college student and work and need my vehicle. Please contact me at [xxx] or [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- San Bernardino, CA, USA

problem #206

Oct 022019

Sentra

  • 116,181 miles
Every time you start to off it jerks and then trembles when trying to accelerate you get hesitant jerking and it feels like it's slipping

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #205

Jul 152019

Sentra

  • 1,066,242 miles
It seems that something is wrong with the transmission. When at a stop and starting to take off it stalls then jumps into gear and it trembles at take off.

- Lufkin, TX, USA

problem #204

Aug 282019

Sentra

  • 67,341 miles
Transmission went out at 67341 miles

- Valencia, CA, USA

problem #203

Sep 232019

Sentra

  • 65,000 miles
RPM shifts up and down as speed goes up. Alredy had issue when the mileage was over 65000 and had to fix the whole transmission because the car won't speed up over 10 mile. Now the mileage is at 120K and its starting again. Can't drive the car!

- El Paso, TX, USA

problem #202

Sep 262019

Sentra

  • 74,000 miles
Driving highway speed the transmission cut out, rpms rev'd up and speed dropped even with full gas pedal pressure. Pulled over safely, placed car in park and restarted driving. Minutes later the same issue happened. Sudden drop of speed on highway is not safe and Nissan should step up and be responsible for repairs. So many issues with the 2013 cvt I don't understand why they don't step up to offer extended warrantee offers like in the earlier years. This is my daughter's car and she will not be driving this while this car is unsafe to operate. Such a shame as she saved her money to buy this pre-owned vehicle and the thought of replacing the tranny this soon is very upsetting.

- Getzville, NY, USA

problem #201

Jun 122017

Sentra

  • 6 miles
Don't know what to do, the transmission noisy, slipping on hard acceleration not up shifting when going on the highway very dangerous, engine revs up but car is at same speed, have to pull of the road and start up again slowly. This started at 75000 miles and I took it to Nissan dealer in elgin il, they told me that it could cast me up to 4500 dollars, it passed the warranty 5years or 60000 miles, now I got 101000 miles on it driving it to work and back, what can I do, is there any recall yet, please help

- South Elgin, IL, USA

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