CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2013-2017 Nissan Sentra has an expensive CVT transmission failure defect that shows up plainly in our complaint data from the earlier model years in this same 7th generation Sentra.

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:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
45,963 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.

2015 Nissan Sentra drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2015 Nissan Sentra Owner Comments (Page 5 of 8)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #67

Jan 012019

Sentra

  • 89,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle shifted gears without warning. The contact turned the vehicle off and restarted several times before the vehicle operated as intended. The contact stated that recently, the vehicle loss motive power and failed to respond with the accelerator pedal depressed. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. The contact stated that a class action law suit was filed for the failure that was experienced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty. The approximate failure mileage was 89,000.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #66

Jan 032020

Sentra

  • 105,000 miles
While the car is accelerating the RPM drops and the car then jerks before shifting to next gear and this also happens while turning. If the car is left sitting for a period longer than 5 minutes the RPM accelerates knocks and cuts off.

- Dillon, SC, USA

problem #65

Mar 062018

Sentra

  • 60,000 miles
These problems occur randomly: Transmission will not shift from low gear and these events happen while driving. They can happen when driving on a highway at 60 miles an hour or in the city. All of a sudden the car goes to low gear and stays there until I stop and turn the car off. Engine light comes on while driving and will stay on for days and then it goes away, only to come back again several days later. This has been going on for over 2 years, Nissan mechanics are at a loss and have not been able to pinpoint a solution.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #64

May 082017

Sentra

  • 42,000 miles

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

Constant RPM jumping every time you try to do highway speed (65 to 70 on my interstate and turnpike). The problem started at 42000 miles. I took it to tom hesser Nissan in dunmore pa. They tell me nothing is wrong but they needed 4 hrs to reprogram the ECM. The car was taken back several times. Each time they say they are addressing the problem but they report to Nissan that there is no problem, even after having my car for 4 days in their shop. They constantly say nothign is wrong. Nissan Consumer Affairs asid they would cover the warranty extension. When I contacted them about it, they denied it. Was told that I have to pay $250 for the dealership to look at it but they would only put in for a out of warranty replacement if it fails completely. Was told out of warranty replacement consists of me coming up with $4000 for the transmission and they would write off the labor. Nissan and tom hesser Nissan performed breach of contract under the warranty because they would not properly address the issue while it was under the bumper-to-bumper warranty. Car is still giving me issues after 3 years. I requested that Nissan buys back the vehicle but they said they will only give me $4200 trade in value for it and I would have to pay off the remaining loan balance. The dealership and Nissan would not honor the bumper to bumper powertrain warranty on the vehicle and won't help until after the vehicle is out of warranty. On the highway she bucks at highway speeds on any incline and revs from 3000rpm to 5000rpm back down then up to 6000rpm and then goes into a limp mode and cuts power.

- Lake Ariel, PA, USA

problem #63

Mar 142020

Sentra

  • 65 miles
I was driving on the highway and my engine revved really loud and I noticed I started slowing down. I pressed the gas but my engine would just rev it would not pick up speed. I exited the highway and pulled over as there was quite a bit of traffic on the highway. I was afraid that I would be hit from behind because I could no longer keep up with the speed of the traffic. When I exited the highway I put the car in park. I turned off he vehicle and turned it back on and tried putting it in drive and it would not go. I also tried putting it in reverse, but nothing happened my engine would just rev.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

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problem #62

Jan 012020

Sentra

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, a whining sound was heard coming from the transmission. Additionally, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate while in first gear. The vehicle was taken to lee Nissan located at (4170 raleigh rd pkwy West, wilson, nc 27896, (252)237-4400, to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.

- Zebulon, NC, USA

problem #61

Feb 212020

Sentra

  • 146,000 miles

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

Vehicle started to surge and hop around when driving on the freeway. It would then run fine and then would start to do it again. When at a freeway off ramp the vehicle wouldn't move then it would lunge forward and then run normal. When I took it to the dealership they stated the cvt transmission was bad.

- Dayton, WA, USA

problem #60

Feb 072020

Sentra 4-cyl

  • 65,000 miles
The consumer owns a 2015 Nissan Sentra. The consumer stated that while driving at approximately 25 mph, the vehicle made a pop noise and transmission failed again, stalled with several warning lights illuminated. The consumer stated that the transmission was previously repaired twice at performance Nissan located at 1587 route 23, butler, NJ 07405. Vehicle only operates in reverse. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 63,991.

- North Haledon, NJ, USA

problem #59

Jun 012019

Sentra

  • 45,000 miles
The car started jumping then slowed down when driving. Certified auto technician indicated that the taillights are causing the problem. He found the same problem in others who were with the same problem

- Dorado, PR, USA

problem #58

Jan 262020

Sentra

  • 90,940 miles
The 2nd cvt transmission (11 months old) on daughter's 2015 Nissan Sentra went out just after she got off the freeway about 7pm on 1/26/2020. Towed to local repair place for diagnostic; after diagnostic, was told it's a transmission problem and to take it back to dealer. Dealer said they charge $150 for dealer diagnostic. Dealer has had Sentra since 1/27/20. After talking with dept. Mgr mike on 2/6/20 (there 10 days now), service advisor saul said there would be no charge to replace the 2nd transmission with a 3rd one (1st trans under warranty was repaired 2/22/2019 at cost of $500+). on 2/19/20 got a call from dept mgr mike who said transmission #3 (only 11 months old!) would cost $4,500. This is three cvt transmissions on a four year old Nissan Sentra. Sign on dealer's wall says "repair guarantee for 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes last." Note "last." The cvt transmissions should last longer than 11 months. They are dangerous!

- Casa Grande, AZ, USA

problem #57

Jan 202017

Sentra

  • 51,000 miles

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

Cvt slips, noisy, hesitation

- York, SC, USA

problem #56

Nov 212019

Sentra

  • 80,000 miles
80,000 miles and the transmission blew! this is not right. Our auto shop told us this has been an ongoing issue with Nissan & our type of vehicle involving the cvt transmission. This should be a red flag that this should not be happening. We were driving the vehicle on the highway and it was not accelerating. Very dangerous. Had the vehicle towed into our local auto shop to find out the vehicle needs a new transmission! unfortunately the dealership is telling us that our vehicle is not a part of the chronic factory recall that has been an ongoing issue with Nissan for quite some time.

- Lake In The Hills, IL, USA

problem #55

Nov 052019

Sentra

  • 11,638 miles
The car started jumping then slowed down when driving until it stoped

- Browns Mills, NJ, USA

problem #54

Oct 202019

Sentra

  • miles
I was on my way home from san diego when my car wouldn't go over 65mph on the highway when I accelerate it hesitates to go into gear at times and my wife put it in drive and it wouldn't go no mechanic would look at my car because they say it's a recall on my vehicle but the dealer is saying it's not on recall

- Perris, CA, USA

problem #53

Oct 152019

Sentra

  • 74,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Sentra. While driving 20 mph, a loud noise heard was heard and the vehicle began to jerk. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired nor taken to a dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 74,000.

- High Ridge, MO, USA

problem #52

Sep 112019

Sentra

  • 94,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Sentra. While driving 70 mph, the check engine warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle began to lag and hesitate. When the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to accelerate and began to decelerate. The contact parked at a fuel station for five minutes before driving home. The vehicle was taken to napoli Nissan (located at 688 bridgeport ave, milford, ct 06460, (203) 877-5141) where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 94,000. The VIN was not available.

- Orange, CT, USA

problem #51

Sep 182019

Sentra

  • 108,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that the transmission malfunctioned. The vehicle stopped and would not move when the gears were shifted. The contact also heard a knocking noise. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission failed. Suburban Nissan of troy (1800 maplelawn dr, troy, mi 48084, (248) 649-2300) stated that the transmission may be the cause of the failure and suggested towing the vehicle to their facility for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer provided a case number. The failure mileage was 108,000.

- Oakpark, MI, USA

problem #50

Aug 302019

Sentra

  • 125,619 miles
I have a 2015 Nissan Sentra with a failed cvt transmission. The failure happened suddenly while I was on the highway, doing and average sped of 65 mph. During acceleration, the car will lurch and jump forward like it's losing power than gaining it back, it shifts extremely hard and will not gain speed unless going downhill. While pressing on the accelerator the rpms will bounce between 2K and 6K rapidly. Through doing research I found I'm not the only one with this issue, there are Sentra owners who's car has less than 60K miles having the same issue.

- Richmond, KY, USA

problem #49

Jul 122019

Sentra

  • 148,000 miles
I have gone thru 3 transmissions in less than 3 years. 1st went out at 33K, 2nd went out at 86K, and the last at 148K. Nissan charged me $800 for the 2nd. Nissan states I am liable for all charges now. The dealership where I've had the work done has replaced over 1000 of these trannys. Why" they are defective or at least an inferior product. A search of your site has garnered over 100 complaints regarding this part in my year and model alone. Nissan stated to me that if I replace it the warranty will be 12 mo or 12K miles. Upon further research I found that this part is proprietary to the vehicle, there is no other replacement part! salvage yards in las vegas will not even carry them. To put a different tranny in would require an engine and ECM change. I asked one yard what they do if they got a vehicle with this tranny and they stated that they remove the tranny and part the car out. Is this what I'm forced to do" the reality of this part failing at speed on the highway and getting run over by a semi truck is very real with dire consequences. I implore you to launch an investigation into the quality of this part and Nissan business practices.

- Henderson, NV, USA

problem #48

Jul 252018

Sentra

  • 58,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Sentra. While driving 70 mph, the contact heard an abnormal booming noise and the vehicle failed to accelerate and stalled. In addition, the transmission warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was towed to West palm beach Nissan (3870 w blue heron blvd, riviera beach, fl 33404) where it was diagnosed that the cv joint needed to be rebuilt. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted and did not assist. The failure mileage was 58,000.

- Boca Raton, FL, USA

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