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.

3.0

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
46,181 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 fuel system problems

fuel system problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2013 Nissan Sentra:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2013 Nissan Sentra Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #32

Sep 062023

Sentra

  • miles

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

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

- Davenport, FL, USA

problem #31

Jul 162021

Sentra

  • miles
Ever since I first purchased the car it wants to die and it seems like it doesn't want to go when I press the gas. It does this when I stop or when I press the gas.

- Garland, TX, USA

problem #30

Feb 102021

Sentra

  • miles
Was driving to work busy road car basically shut down to limp mode could not accelerate very close call two cars nearly side swiped me had to creep at 2mph to curb. Called tow truck took vehicle home where it sat proceeded to try and fix car overtime. Has never been the same since.

- Ashville, OH, USA

problem #29

May 242022

Sentra

  • miles

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

I purchased this car in 2018 with 30k miles. In 2020 I had to replace the transmission. Now 2022 and I have to replace the transmission again. The car is decelerating and sputtering at times. But it-??s not covered" How does a car have three transmissions within such a short time under 120k miles"

- Huntersville , NC, USA

problem #28

Nov 032021

Sentra

  • miles
It says my vehicle has 0 unrepaired recalls, however I've noticed that these vehicles have reported fuel leakage due to faulty seals when the tank is full. I got the car used & I was wondering if I have any chance of getting this issue fixed

- Elkton, VA, USA

Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...

problem #27

Dec 202020

Sentra

  • miles
Gas light on check engine light on due to fule sensor level

- Ellenville, NY, USA

problem #26

Apr 272020

Sentra

  • 54,000 miles

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

My check engine light came on so I took my 2013 Nissan Sentra (54,000 miles) to the dealership where I bought it new for diagnosis. Was advised fuel level sensor code not being read correctly so fuel pump needs replaced. Estimate $671 and my diagnosis was $145. I called Nissan because there had been a recall, but not for my VIN. The fuel pump should last 125,000 miles! very dissappointed with Nissan, they said since it was out of warranty they could not offer anything. Now I'm just waiting for the well-documented transmission failure to happen. This was my first new car ever, and I carefully researched it before purchase. They certainly aren't making this customer feel taken care of by not taking responsibility for replacing the faulty fuel pump.

- Struthers, OH, USA

problem #25

Apr 102013

Sentra

  • 90,370 miles
I bought my 2013 Nissan Sentra sr from towne auto brokers 03/2013 I test drove it and it had no shifting problems at that time. 2 weeks later while I'm driving it the Sentra started jerking and idling erratically, the RPM tachometer red lined 3 times without the gas pedal being depressed!! while redlining the Sentra's transmission shudder with the erratic jerking all the while decelerating before catching 3rd gear at 4,000 RPM. I was in rush hour traffic 3 miles from home so I decided to try and making it home. While stopped at the stop light the Sentra idled normal, then at the green light when I depressed the gas pedal nothing happened( no power at all and the RPM didn't rise) I was literally stuck in the middle of an intersection not able to move my Nissan Sentra under its own power!!! I'm afraid that this is a transmission issue that the manufacturer was well aware of before installation in Nissan Sentra and all other models with this cvt transmission. I believe the Nissan corporation should recall all cvt transmission due to mechanical failure resulting in lack of power.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #24

Oct 082019

Sentra

  • 115,299 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. Since purchasing the car, I have replaced this sensor twice. I replaced the sensor on 7/8/19 approximately 4 weeks after purchasing the vehicle and then again on 10/10/18. Before replacing the part on Oct. 10, I was merging onto the highway and my vehicle would not accelerate over 20 mph. My car also idles, jerks when placed in park & has decreased fuel efficiency.

- Newport News, VA, USA

problem #23

May 032019

Sentra

  • 35,472 miles
Vehicle was in motion, check engine light turned on and the fuel gauge on dashboard started to acting out; I thought my car was leaking gas, but I could not smell it. I thought the problem was electric. I called Nissan of huntington to report the problem and making an appointment, but it was too late (3:45pm), so I had to bring my car to centerport automotive. They scanned my car's computer system and: "code po 463 fuel pump sending unit malfunction code". as a result, they replaced the fuel pump and sending unit assembly in fuel tank. My car was 35472 miles at the time this work was done. Had to pay $681.37 dollars + nys sale taxes. I would love to be reimbursed since a fuel pump lasts more than 125,000 miles. Thousands of 2013 Nissan Sentra cars have a fuel system recall, but not this particular VIN number.

- East Northport, NY, USA

problem #22

Feb 132019

Sentra

  • 42,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that she filled up the fuel tank, but it became low again halfway into her trip. The fuel gauge needle went down to empty. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and attempted to service the vehicle, but could not finish correctly. The failure mileage was 42,000.

- Salinas, CA, USA

problem #21

Aug 122018

Sentra

  • 30 miles
'takata recall' when I recently got this car, at first I knew something was off because it wouldn't accelerate like a normal car and it wouldn't go pass by 30mph on the freeway. I let a couple of days passed by until the last day before I told the dealer, I was an entire day turning my car on and off thinking that it will stop glitching but I was on the freeway and I was causing a lot of traffic due to it's malfunction. After that, they took it to the dealer to get another transmission or system called the cvt transmisson, they actually did change the transmisson and after that it was working well but wasn't satisfied with it, it started loosing power and there's times when it doesn't want to accelerate and I have to push my foot all the way in which is scary because there's times where it just throws me off since I have no idea when it wants to accelerate like a normal car. Overall, they changed the cvt transmisson and I felt that it got worst and now I just don't feel comfortable with this car, I don't feel safe with it but the sad part is that I'm still paying for the car.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #20

Jan 172019

Sentra

  • 119,000 miles
On January 17, 2019, our 2013 Nissan Sentra died in the middle of rush hour traffic and put my husband at risk for being hit. My husband was on baseline road in phoenix, close to I-10 freeway. Car died near driveway entrance by restaurant. Tow truck driver said it's cvt transmission. So did our repair person, interstate auto. The code at Nissan also said it's a faulty cvt transmission, which they know about. There is extended warranty to 120,000 for some vehicles, but they conveniently said our VIN is not covered. We are at 119,000, so that's convenient for Nissan. We then were referred to Nissan Consumer Affairs and they said there's nothing they can do. They also said they had no idea we were the owners of the vehicle. We bought it from tempe auto nation in may of 2014, but it's a 2013 preowned certified. They told us the warranty was increased to 100,000 because of that, but they never let us know. They also said there is a recall from 2016, but we never got anything. Again, Nissan said they did not know we were the owners until 1/21/19. That's a lie! we've had the car serviced. It was bought from tempe auto nation with 4400 miles on it. They have our info in computer system, but now can claim they did not know. We were the only ones that brought it in, no one else. So now the car is not drivable because of faulty cvt transmission that put my husband and I at safety risk every time he/we drove it. Especially not notifying us about passenger recall since 2016. Please let me know who we need to talk to next. Worst customer service ever! caught in several lies! I'm attaching document that they claim they've never heard of or seen before - claim they don't know anything about faulty cvt transmissions. Asked where I got my info & I showed them. Also, you may google it - all over the place.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #19

Feb 052018

Sentra

  • 3,800 miles
Huge fuel leak (car can catch fire and kill the people) I have huge fuel leak when the engine is running and happen without any notice and I was lucky that car didn't catch fire while driving (note that the vehicle is running only 6000 km that is meaning bad quality car from Nissan)

- Kuwait, FM, USA

problem #18

Aug 012018

Sentra

  • 84,000 miles
So many issues not even sure what it is. Car will fail to shift into gear and constant redline, very dangerous when getting on the highway. Car will randomly get no gas to accelerate until I turn the car off and then on again. Transmission slips at 80K miles. Or perceived to be slipping, car will drop RPM and then rise quickly jerking the car around. Going down hill the car will quickly rise RPM over and over and the car will uncontrollably jerk very noticeably.

- Plainfield, CT, USA

problem #17

Aug 212018

Sentra

  • 77,000 miles
I purchased my 2013 Nissan Sentra new from the dealership in March 2013. My transmission was completely replaced within 1.5 years (28K miles) from purchase due to manufacturer defect. The problem is reoccurring about 3.5 years (77K miles). Symptoms are similar to most reporting I've seen online. Acceleration delays, car sputters, metal on metal sounds. My car came to a complete at an intersection with oncoming traffic coming from both directions. Given my first transmission was found to manufacturer defect my 2nd transmission which is identically failing needs to be addressed same which it is not.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #16

May 032018

Sentra

  • 98,215 miles
In the fuel pump the wire plug is burned and it makes crack. Because of that gas is leaking.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #15

Apr 142018

Sentra

  • 74,000 miles
Cvt transmission failure resulting in slow acceration with max speed ranging 0-25 mph. This is a known issue with Nissan vehicles, and was covered by an extended warranty for certain VIN numbers. My car was taken to local dealership to troubleshoot transmission. The dealership performed inspection on other components of vehicle, made unconfirmed accusations based on brake wear, and age/sex of driver. The Consumer Affairs department at Nissan (mandy) initially indicated everything looked good, and that she only needed the cvt test results from Nissan to confirm that the issues for my cvt transmission were in alignment with cvt repair that they provide assistance with. When coggin Nissan shared the results with mandy, she declined coverage. Beforehand, when I spoke to raymond (service advisor), I asked is there anything about the test results differed from test results of cvt transmissions covered by Nissan, and his reply was 'no', when I explained this to mandy, and requested to view the documentation that coggin Nissan shared with her, she declined stating information was only to be viewed by internally. I have a questionable history with this dealership over two unrelated incidents that should be documented in their system. One incident was me taking vehicle in for a 4 wheel alignment. They quoted a price, supposedly performed work. When picking up vehicle, they explained rear end was out of alignment, but that they don't perform rear wheel alignments on 2013 Sentra. I explained the rear tire tread wear was reason for alignment. I explained they needed to disclose that they don't align their own vehicles prior to performing alignment so consumer can take vehicle to an alignment shop with ability to align. I disputed charges, and management waived. Other scenario was having a rear bumper cover painted. Phone price quote was $70 lower than in person.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #14

Apr 112018

Sentra

  • miles
Transmisssion is not shifting correctly it sticks and stop. Our car has. 44,000 miles on it. It sometime will not go forward

- Eagle Mountain, UT, USA

problem #13

Nov 262017

Sentra

  • 113,000 miles
I'm a owner of a 2013 Nissan Sentra I bought 1 year ago and it has now had 5 transmission put in it. I have 2 children at the time the car became self driving RPM just kept going up without me pushing the gas the car has major problems and Nissan refuses to think it's a hazard my wife almost lost her job cause of this car it about got us killed I'm stuck under fiance company lucky with extended warranty but I don't feel safe something needs to be done shuttering jerking no power when trying to pull out on the highway this thing needs to not be sold to no one they need to be responsible and take it back and allow us to have a safer more reliable car. Consumers affairs website says enough multiple issues from all across the world.

- Winchester, KY, USA

Read the next 12 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?