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 1 of 8)

problem #147

Jun 132024

Sentra

  • miles

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

Excessive transmission slipping. I can be driving and it slips so bad and won-??t gain speed or anything

- Cookeville, TN, USA

problem #146

Apr 062024

Sentra

  • miles
Me and my daughter was pulling out onto a bypass highway and the car wouldn't go anywhere and we were stuck in the middle of the highway with cars coming towards us. So I had to jump out and while it was still in drive I had to push it out of the highway so we wouldn't get hit by the on coming traffic. I finally pushed it fast enough and jumped back into the car and pressed the gas pedal and it caught so I could drive it home and I parked it.

- Lawrenceburg, TN, USA

problem #145

Apr 012024

Sentra

  • 176,635 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. No warning light was illuminated. The contact and his daughter exited the vehicle while the transmission was in drive(D) and pushed the vehicle to the side of the road. The contact then shifted the transmission from park(P) to drive(D) but the vehicle failed to move immediately. Eventually, the contact was able to drive the vehicle to the residence. The contact related the failure to the transmission; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was 176,635.

- Lawrenceburg, TN, USA

problem #144

Apr 132024

Sentra

  • miles

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

Car lost power going 70 on the freeway and started shuttering and jerking when accelerating. The rest of the 20 minute drive home, my vehicle would not stop jerking and wouldn-??t go over 30mph.

- Cleves, OH, USA

problem #143

Feb 152022

Sentra

  • 78,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission was slipping. The warranty company was contacted, and the contact was informed to take the vehicle to a designated independent mechanic. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The repair was covered under warranty. The failure reoccurred. The warranty company was contacted, and the contact was informed to take the vehicle back to the designated independent mechanic. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.

- Brownville, ME, USA

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problem #142

Nov 112023

Sentra

  • miles
1. Front passenger side seat fails to activate the air bag once a passenger has occupied the seat, and buckled up. The airbag "off" indication light remains illuminated at all times, and if it isn't being activated, may cause bodily harm, injury, or death to any passenger of the vehicle in the unfortunate event of a collision. Vehicle was requested to be checked out at Lorenzo Nissan in Ft. Lauderdale, FL in November 2023, but was refused. FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG, FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATION LIGHT -??-??-??-??-??-??-??-??-??-??-??-??-??-??-??-??-??-??-??-??-??-??-?? 2. 2015 Sentra CVT transmission slips, shakes and stalls. On numerous occurrence this has caused near tragic collisions with multiple vehicles. One such instance forced the vehicle into 'limp mode' in a high speed area of a busy freeway and nearly caused numerous vehicles to collide into the stalled Sentra at rates of speed over 70 MPH. Furthermore, the 2015 Sentra has an issue shifting from park, and will not move out of park, even with the brake applied, unless the gear release button is applied. Vehicle was requested to be examined by Lorenzo Nissan in November 2023, but the dealership refused to inspect any possible safety or equipment issues without the promise of purchasing a new Nissan from their dealership. POWERTRAIN, CVT TRANSMISSION, AUTOMATIC GEAR-SHIFT INDICATION, LIMP MODE, NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED

- Gore, OK, USA

problem #141

Aug 152023

Sentra

  • 1,600 miles

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

The contact owns a 2015 Nisan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact also stated that while slowing the vehicle, he heard an abnormal grinding sound coming from the brakes. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 1,600.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #140

Nov 012023

Sentra

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle started shaking and failed to accelerate as needed. The check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle decelerated to approximately 30 - 40 MPH. The vehicle was repaired however, while driving at speeds of 50 MPH or more, the vehicle would start to shake and hesitate while accelerating. The contact stated that over time the vehicle started failing to accelerate to speeds exceeding 50 MPH. On another occasion while driving up to a red light at approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle started jerking while idling at the traffic light. The vehicle then failed to accelerate above 20 MPH and was shaking and losing motive power while driving. The contact pulled to the side of the road to have the vehicle towed. While parked and waiting to be towed, the "Check Engine" warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission had failed. The transmission was replaced after the first failure however, the transmission was not repaired or replaced with the failure persisting. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.

- Albany, NY, USA

problem #139

Jan 052024

Sentra

  • miles
Transmission has went out twice on my vehicle in 3 years. Was wondering if there are underlining transmission issues that Nissan has not informed me on.

- Kyle, , TX, USA

problem #138

Dec 032023

Sentra

  • miles
2015 Nissan Sentra with only 83000 CVT transmission failed

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #137

Dec 072023

Sentra

  • miles

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

While pulling out in an intersection, my car would not accelerate as normal and I was almost hit by incoming traffic. When accelerating from stop, the vehicle moves slowly and hesitates. Once over a certain speed the car will function properly. The CVT is an issue in models 2013-2015 Nissan Altima also, but the manufacturer issued an extension for the powertrain warranty. The same should be done for the Sentra. It's a safety concern, because the CVT can go out at any time putting the driver at risk.

- Sarasota, FL, USA

problem #136

Oct 022023

Sentra

  • miles
Transmission is really bad after even nissan replaced it doesn-??t shift correct, the car jumps, the brakes really doesn-??t do well even after they change it. The motor sound is really high. The car doesn-??t speed up on the highway to go in front of the right lane, so it puts me in dangerous several times. All documents of complain since 2019 at Nissan Petaluma, CA and now the car at Nissan auto nation Las Vegas for the second time after they change the transition. Thanks

- San Rafael, CA, USA

problem #135

Nov 182023

Sentra

  • miles
1.Engine malfunction/Transmission failure.Yes, available for inspection upon request. 2. While driving my car in traffic my car started to hesitate then it started to slow down on its own I pressed on the gas pedal and it did not move forward at all the speedometer went to zero, so I quickly turned on my hazard lights and pull over on the side of the road. Thank god I was in the lane close to the shoulder of the road. I cut the car off for a minute then started it back up and put it in drive and drove it down the street to my brother-??s house where it is still sitting there now. This was very frightening and very unsafe experience, there were no warning signs far as dashboard icons emergency. I-??m afraid to drive my car again and now have pay someone to take me to work and back home this is so inconvenient for me when I have a car of my own. All because of this faulty situation with the transmission 3. No inspections by anyone. 4. Prompt actions and attention to the matter of my car is of the importance to me and my Nissan Sentra to ensure the safety of myself and others.

- Indian Head , MD, USA

problem #134

Oct 262023

Sentra

  • miles
CVT is failing leaving the car unable to start and runs rough. Will not shift. Been towed several times.

- Okeechobee, FL, USA

problem #133

Apr 292020

Sentra

  • miles
On 4/29/2003 I had taken my car in for an oil change soon after leaving my car began to come to a stop I attempted to drive my car would hardly move fortunately I was able to make it back to the Valvoline oil change to have them tell me if my oil change was any way responsible after being given a reasonable explanation I was instructed to try and make it to a nearby auto zone i did they did a quick diagnostic I was told it was the pressure solenoid over the next week i reached out to any and everybody i even called Nissan headquarters spoke with someone that said I might qualify for a goodwill assist program, but I had to have the dealership perform a diagnostic testing I did, and found out i needed a transmission i had been driving with a faulty transmission, i am sometimes responsible for my mom to her doctor's appointment I was attempting to turn at a red light had enough time to turn car stalled in traffic which left me stuck in the middle of on coming traffic was finally able to avoid being broadsided my mom would surely have been hurt or worst no indication of having problem until it happened im sure their are others with similar issues im well aware car manufacturers will not have recall on anything that interferes with profit [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Mem, TN, USA

problem #132

Oct 112023

Sentra

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to exceed 15 MPH and there was a grinding noise coming from the transmission. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

- Shreveport, LA, USA

problem #131

May 012023

Sentra

  • miles
I just bought a 2015 Nissan Sentra. I have gotten 2 error codes P0101 Camshaft Position Sensor Circuit Malfunction and C1130 Engine Signal 1 two times in a span of 4 months. Based on my research, the 'C' error code only occurs because of the 'P' error code, meaning once I resolve the 'P' code then the 'C' code will resolve. In both instances my report, that I got from Autozone, suggested to replace my Mass Air Flow Sensor(MAFS). The first time it occurred I bought a brand new MAFS from Autozone and installed it in my car using YouTubes help. After it was installed, I had a mechanic reprogram my cars computer. The mechanic's exact words were that he "relearned the throttle body values". I did this because he advised me to just to be safe. My check engine light came on recently and when I got the codes read at Autozone it was telling me the EXACT same codes as last time. This is four months later from when I installed the brand new MAFS in my car so I highly doubt it is the MAFS that is the problem. In my attached pictures, there is another code regarding my transmission that is unrelated to this issue so please ignore it, I'm getting it fixed on my own. I did research online and found that this exact same issue with the 2 error codes I am having is a very common issue with Nissan Sentras in general. Please help and force Nissan to resolve this ongoing issue that MANY people are having.

- Grand Terrace, CA, USA

problem #130

Jul 202022

Sentra

  • miles
My transmission has went out 3 or 4 times now. Nissan has replaced it and the same issue keeps occurring. I was driving in the middle of the intersection and my car just stopped. I had to have people help me push my car out of the way. Nobody would stop and almost hit me and the people helping. There were no warning lights that came on. My car jerked then my car would not increase speed. It would just rev really high then not move

- San Jacinto, CA, USA

problem #129

Aug 142023

Sentra

  • miles
Transmission. Up and down idling when accelerating, high RPM but not accelerating in speed, jerking, whining sounds while driving, thumping into gears, bad burning smell, no type of warning lights

- Newark, DE, USA

problem #128

Aug 102023

Sentra

  • miles
The CVT transmission failed again. It was replaced in Dec 2021 and now it has failed again. The safety of my 19 year old daughter was put at risk being she was 30 minutes away from home and with no prior warning the transmission failed as she was driving it. The car runs great outside of the transmission issues. We had to have the car towed to our local dealership. They did cfm that the transmission failed again. There were no indications that there was something wrong with the transmission. It was not lagging, it was running great. Nissan is fully aware of all the transmission issues they are having and they are not willing to help with the faulty transmission. This will be the 3rd transmission if we pay $6000 to have it repaired for it to fail again in less then 2 years.

- Elyria, OH, USA

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