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:
11 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
12 / 0
Average Mileage:
23,956 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 seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2013 Nissan Sentra Owner Comments (Page 4 of 5)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #33

Jun 032013

Sentra 4-cyl

  • 16,500 miles

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

The issue began almost immediately after purchasing this vehicle. The passenger airbag would randomly go off, while the passenger was sitting in the seat. Shortly after noticing this Nissan put out a recall on this vehicle. We have now taken it back to the dealership 2 times, and although they told me the problem was fixed, both times, it continues to exist. I have spoken to Nissan corporate around a dozen times. They have no sense of urgency, and each conversation has to happen 48 hours apart, for some strange reason. I am still waiting for another callback so a specialist can now come to look at my vehicle. An appointment like this takes a more than 4 weeks to arrange; again, no urgency. Each time they make me schedule something, I have to take a day off of work, because they cannot accommodate evening schedules. I have expressed my concern over the dangers with this issue, yet it seems as though Nissan does not care. Quite frankly, I am nervous to have people in the passenger seat of my vehicle. It is a bit strange to have my wife sit in the back seat, but this beats having to worry about dangers of sitting in the front seat.

- Valley Stream, NY, USA

problem #32

Jul 012014

Sentra

  • 9,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that the air bag failed to activate when the front passenger seat was occupied. The vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 14V138000 (air bags, electrical system) but the failure persisted. In addition, the contact stated that when reversing, there was a loud abnormal noise coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the braking system was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 9,000.

- Riverside , CA, USA

problem #31

Dec 112014

Sentra 4-cyl

  • 32,600 miles
Passenger side air bag light comes on when an adult is in the seat. I had it checked at dealer and no problem found. They state it is normal.

- Atkins, AR, USA

problem #30

May 012013

Sentra

  • 4,000 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 the passenger side air bag warning light continuously illuminated even after the passenger seat was occupied. The contact received a notification for NHTSA campaign number: 13V069000 (air bags). The vehicle was taken to the dealer who inspected the ods sensors and performed a software update. However, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 4,000.

- Woodbridge, CT, USA

problem #29

Mar 152013

Sentra 4-cyl

  • 7,500 miles
The passenger airbag is deactivated light comes on randomly. I took the car to the dealer for a recall on this matter. After the software upgrade, the light showing the passenger airbag deactivated started coming on randomly. Sometimes with people sitting in the seat it would also come on. I took it to the dealer the other day and the service manager said he calibrated it shouldn't happen anymore. Two days later it came on again.. with all the problems with airbags, this is very scary. Even if the light stops coming on, how will I know if it is really fixed.

- Spring Hill, FL, USA

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problem #28

Nov 052013

Sentra 4-cyl

  • 53,006 miles
I was hit on the passenger side and when the air bags came out it hit my wrist and broke it in half.

- Birmingham, AL, USA

problem #27

Feb 032014

Sentra 4-cyl

  • 7,000 miles

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

The Sentra has a light on the dashboard that alerts the driver if the passenger airbag is disabled. This light on my Sentra will sometimes come on even though a 150 pound person is sitting in the passenger seat. Initially I was able to get the light to turn off by braking fast. A few nights ago, I could not get the light to turn off for a 20 minute drive even though a 150 pound person is sitting in the seat. Per Nissan, the air bag is providing no codes for this issue and unless I can recreate it there is nothing they can do. I have contacted Nissan customer service and was told to video tape the light, go to a different dealer who can then read the codes of which there are not any or to trade in the vehicle. I am concerned that the air bag will not properly deploy in a front end collision.

- Johns Creek, GA, USA

problem #26

Jan 222014

Sentra 4-cyl

  • 300 miles
A couple of weeks after I purchase the car, I notice that the light kept coming on weather someone was seating there or not. I got a recall notice in the mail and I took my car in for inspection to the dealer. After that they light still kept coming on. I took it back again one more time and they gentlemen said that everything look good. Well up to this date, the light is still coming on weather someone is seating in the passenger seat or not. I don't know what to do, because I've already taken it back twice and they keep telling me that everything is okay. I fear for my passenger when I have them in my car. Please help me out.

- Oxnard, CA, USA

problem #25

Aug 142014

Sentra 4-cyl

  • 4,050 miles
Air bag light turn on even though it was occupied. It is not functioning the right way. 4 or 5 months ago I received a letter by mail in regards a recall on vehicle. I took it to the nearest Nissan dealership for an inspection and a computer reset. Everything was going fine until 8/14 on a Friday night we were going to a family reunion. My husband was driving as I was on the passenger seat. We noticed the air bag light turn on again. I would like to know what will be the next step to take" should I take it back to the dealership"

- Carol Stream , IL, USA

problem #24

Jun 302014

Sentra

  • 20,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that the passenger side air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing where the contact was advised that there were no failures. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000.

- Mastic, NY, USA

problem #23

Jul 232014

Sentra

  • 19,465 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 while starting the vehicle, the front passenger's side air bag off warning light remained illuminated. The failure occurred when the front passenger's seat was occupied. The vehicle was recently repaired under the NHTSA campaign number: 14V138000 (air bags, electrical system). The failure only occurred after the remedy was performed on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure was mileage was 19,465.

- Culpeper, VA, USA

problem #22

Jun 142014

Sentra 4-cyl

  • miles
I have received Nissan recall # 14V-138. I have stopped by to Nissan service center at premier Nissan, fremont. They have confirmed that OCS software has been successfully reprogrammed to reduce the potential for classifying the seat as empty. But after running the run few more weeks, I have seen the same signal showing in my dashboard. 'pass air bag off' although at that time co-passenger was sitting in the passenger seat. Its coming frequently. But not all the time.

- Fremont, CA, USA

problem #21

Jun 042014

Sentra

  • 40,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that the air bag sensor light illuminated indicating that the air bag system was faulty. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who indicated that the air bag wiring harness was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified but no solution was offered. The failure mileage was 40,000.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #20

Apr 092014

Sentra 4-cyl

  • 800 miles
Passenger airbag sensor does not detect passenger, airbag light would sporadically come on during a trip indicating the passenger airbag has been deactivated. Vehicle was taken to Nissan dealer for recall work to be performed for the same issue. The same issue arose again within a couple of weeks and I took the car back to Nissan to check the problem. The service representative told me that it may be that I or my passenger may not weigh enough for the vehicle to detect us in the seat or it could be the way the passenger sat. I explained to them that when the incident occurs, we confirm passenger is seated properly and our weight was not a problem when we have been seated as passengers in other similarly equipped vehicles I have driven or ridden in. After persisting they do something about this safety issue, they went ahead and told me they replaced a sensor in the seat. A couple of weeks after that I am still having the same problem with the passenger airbag deactivating at random times while the passenger seat is occupied. I have gone back to Nissan and they keep telling me they can find nothing wrong every time. I am very concerned as this presents a serious safety risk that may cause the vehicle to malfunction in the event of a collision.

- Gainesville, FL, USA

problem #19

Jul 182013

Sentra 4-cyl

  • 250 miles
The vehicle was purchased 7/2013 almost immediately began have the passenger's airbag problems. Indicate airbag was off while a passenger was in the seat. Dealer could not detect a N error code so no repair was made. My vehicle wasn't include in recall campaign 13V06900. The problem continued dealer again could not find any problems or error codes. Vehicle was recalled as a result of recall campaign 14V13800. After the software update was completed the problem continued. The problem was video taped by cell phone. Dealer has vehicle now. A loaner car of the same year make and model was provide. Dealer asked us to recreate the problem. The problem was recreated and video taped. When an adult is sitting in the passengers seat dash light indicates airbag for front seat passenger is off.

- Flanders, NJ, USA

problem #18

May 232014

Sentra 4-cyl

  • miles
I just received a letter that there's a recall on my car.... its the passenger air bag, when I purchased this vehicle I asked for a safe spacious car for my four boys and I.... they gave me the Nissan Sentra... and now I don't feel so safe anymore do to the fact that my 10 yr old drives in the passenger seat! even if I take it to the dealer so they can fix the problem I wont feel safe anymore... what can I do?

- Palmdale, CA, USA

problem #17

May 222014

Sentra 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 18,918 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 14V138000 (air bags, electrical system) however, the remedy did not rectify the failure. The contact stated that the passenger's side air bag warning light continued to remain illuminated when an occupant was seated. The dealer explained that the vehicle was functioning normally. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 18,918. Updated 08/28/14

- West Allis, WI, USA

problem #16

Jun 112013

Sentra

  • 800 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that the passenger side seat belt warning indicator illuminated without a passenger occupying the seat. The contact later received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V138000 (air bags, electrical system). The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they replaced the air bag sensors that were located under the seat. The failure recurred five times after the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 800.

- Greenvalley, CA, USA

problem #15

Nov 192013

Sentra

  • 30 miles
I bought my Nissan Sentra sv on November 18, 2013 and the next day I had to take it back to the dealer to check the light indicating low pressure in tire(s). The second time I took the car into Nissan dealership was on December 18, 2014 when my vehicle air bag light kept disengaging when my husband was seated on the passenger seat. [xxx], who I told what was happening with the air bag light turning off, had the auto tech look at and after the vehicle was done being checked I was told that everything was okay. [xxx] showed me that it was working properly, but when he sat in the passenger seat and the light went off and he tried several time to engage it didn't work, so he went back to talk to the tech and came back and told me that it's okay and to monitor it. Now, I receive a recall notice letting me know about the same problem that I took my car in several months ago and told nothing was wrong with it. Seriously, what happened if I was in an accident and the airbag didn't work properly and some one got hurt or worst killed. A life can't be replaced, but a car can. I hope that when I take the car into the dealership I don't get the run around and being told nothing is wrong.

- Kealakekua, HI, USA

problem #14

Jun 032013

Sentra 4-cyl

  • 100 miles
Since purchase, the light indicating "passenger airbag off" is mostly on even when an adult is correctly sitting in the passenger seat. I called Nissan as soon as we bought it and they said it had to go to the dealer for a checkup. The first 3 times we took it in, they told us that nothing was wrong. The fourth time, March 22, 2014, they told us they replaced the defective part. Soon after we realized that the problem persisted. We took it in again today and they told us that, again, they were unable to replicate the issue on their computer.

- Arlington, VA, USA

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