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:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
24,098 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2015 Nissan Sentra Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #39

Jun 062024

Sentra

  • miles

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

When driving, the car started to stutter when accelerating and while driving any speed below 60 mph, while trying to get the car home it would not accelerate up a hill after I stopped at a light and I was in the middle of the street stuck on a blind spot. My husband had to get out and direct the traffic before they came pst the blind spot and hit me.

- Joppa, MD, USA

problem #38

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 #37

Jan 132024

Sentra

  • miles
The car began to jerk when driven. One day, it stopped working; the engine was still running but it wouldn't shift gears. The transmission was repaired, and several parts were replaced. However, the car still jerks when reaching 50 miles per hour, the horn doesn't sound, not even the alarm, and it makes a loud noise when making a tight turn.

- Yabucoa, PR, USA

problem #36

Jul 312023

Sentra

  • miles

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

Over the last year my 2015 Nissan Sentra has been having problems of judder (shake and shudder), hesitation on acceleration, lack of power and RPM flare. It happens when I am driving highway speed and when going uphill on the highway as well. I went to Firestone to get a diagnostic check and came out with the code of p17f4. I was surprised given that no check engine light has turned on. I will be going to the Nissan dealership and asking them what steps can happen. This is the second Nissan vehicle (the second vehicle is a Nissan Rogue) that has had a transmission problem.

- Eureka, CA, USA

problem #35

Nov 242023

Sentra

  • miles
Without any warning electric fuel pump failed it show no signs of failing or going bad with fuel being flammable and the pump being electric aside from the risk of the car loosing power while in use the fact of it being flammable and faulty resorts to much bigger issues.

- Dixon Springs , TN, USA

problem #34

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 #33

Aug 142023

Sentra

  • miles

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

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 #32

Dec 172021

Sentra

  • miles
For a while now it jerks or pulls, and it only goes up to 1-2 gears like it doesn't want to accelerate. It doesn't shift gear properly more like transmission issues. There is no power.

- Horizon City, TX, USA

problem #31

Jan 012019

Sentra

  • miles
The CVT in this car is faulty. The transmission has been rebuilt but it still has the same issue. The transmission doesn-??t di room properly and although the rpm-??s increase the car will not accelerate. I-??ve taken the car to Nisan dealerships. They now deny that this issue exists and will not offer a fix. The car is a safety hazard. It loses the ability to accelerate at low and high speeds. While on the highway or in the city the car loses the ability to maintain or increase speed. There is also a known issue with this car related to the brake switch and moisture in the tail light. The dealership knows by way of Nissan corporation sharing an article with them about this issue in other cars and knows that the brake switch is faulty and that the car can brake and accelerate at the same time but no recall has been issued. These issues are ongoing, have been happening since the car was about 3 years old and happen regularly.

- Niles, OH, USA

problem #30

Oct 072021

Sentra

  • miles
Transmission malfunction. The car will reduced speed putting me on risk of getting hit in the back and someone colliding with me due the reduction of speed and the slowness of the car to start to gain speed. There was some jerking as gas pedal was pressed down and will slow down and then gain speed before it completely slow down to the point it will not go beyond 40 miles per hour. The car was inspected by the Nissan dealership where the car was bought and transmission is failing internally according to their findings. The vehicle has only been inspected by the dealership. There were no warning/message prior to this problem.

- Park City, UT, USA

problem #29

Sep 252021

Sentra

  • miles

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

On Saturday, 25 SEP 2021, my wife and I departed San Clemente, CA, at 3:30 AM enroute to Idaho Falls, ID. We were driving my son and daughter-in-law-??s 2015 Nissan Sentra with approximately 62,000 miles on the odometer. The car contained my wife and me along with 2 suitcases. At approximately 5:00 AM we approached the Cajun Pass, heading north on I15 North, going 70mph with the cruise control engaged. The crest of Cajun pass is approximately 3800 ft and the base of the pass is approximately 1100 ft, thus a rise of 2700 feet in a relatively short distance. As the 2015 Nissan Sentra began to ascend the Cajun Pass, the engine RPMs raised to 3700 RPM, but then the cruise control disengaged and the car lost power. I merged to the right into the Truck Lane and could only go 30-35 mph. Additionally, the engine RPMs would oscillate between 3700-3900, even though my foot maintained a steady pressure on the gas pedal. After we reached the top of Cajun Pass, I15 North actually descends and the2015 Nissan Sentra could then again be driven at 70-75 mph. For the remainder of trip on I15 North from Cajun Pass to Idaho Falls, there are approximately 10 steep grades where Trucking Lanes are provided. In each and every of those cases, the 2015 Nissan Sentra exhibited the exact symptoms it exhibited on Cajun Pass -?" the car lost power, could only be driven at 30-35 mph, and the engine RPMs oscillated between 3700-3900 RPM, even though the speed was constant and the gas pedal was depressed with the same pressure. There are literally dozens of additional hills between Cajun Pass and Idaho Falls on I15 North where the grade was not steep enough to warrant a Truck Lane, but there is still a considerable hill. In each and every one of those hills, the 2015 Nissan Sentra was only able to achieve a speed of 50-55 mph, even though the posted speed limit is generally 75 or 80mph. The car was unsafe to drive because most cars on I15 North are going 80-85 mph, which is 30-35 mph faster

- San Clemente, CA, USA

problem #28

May 212021

Sentra

  • miles
When I am pulling out into traffic or any stop and go, I press the gas pedal and sporadically there is a hesitation with the car acceleration. At times I am crossing a lane and traffic is coming and my car hesitated. Very scary thinking I may get t boned.

- Saint Clair, MO, USA

problem #27

Jan 222021

Sentra

  • 90,000 miles
While I was driving on the highway my car started slowing and then all of a sudden not being able to accelerate. Then on the road, it would tremble and stutter. Not safe at all I could've been hit

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #26

Jul 102016

Sentra

  • 28,000 miles
While driving70 mph the vehicle stalled without warning I pulled over to the side. Wait for couple minutes and step on the gas vehicle failed to accelerate. Turned the engine off wait for 10 min turned the engine on and vehicle respond. This is happening since vehicle was 7 months old. Took it to the dealer they said everithig is fine. Im still having the same problem even worse

- Simi Valley, CA, USA

problem #25

Sep 182020

Sentra

  • 73,000 miles
Car engine is not accelerating and transmission seems to be stuck in a certain gear. Took it into Nissan last year and they replaced the valve body in the transmission. Now it appears it's having the same exact problem again. Very scary as I almost got into a few accidents. Also the engine is having the same low idle issues but nothing is as bad as the transmission issues. Very very very scary

- Redlands, CA, USA

problem #24

Jul 312020

Sentra

  • 64,250 miles
2015 Nissan Sentra S at 65,000 miles on four random occassions within the past six months I have experienced these two issues while driving the highway at 70 mph, loss of power and hwy stalling. This vehicle's transmission should not be creating this. I have had to stop driving on the highway due to this. Transmission/hwy loss of power while accelerating

- Tucker, GA, USA

problem #23

Sep 012017

Sentra

  • 20,000 miles
Vehicle struggles to go over 40 mph on hills, with ac on, or for extended drives. I've liked this up on the internet multiple times and other owners of this same year, make, and model have experienced the same things. I've had Nissan look at it multiple times as well and they tell me nothing is wrong.

- Draper, UT, USA

problem #22

Sep 212019

Sentra

  • miles
My mass air flow sensor came on got that fix now it's alot codes comn up transmission fluid sensor P0846-P0965-P0846-P0965-P0846-P0965-P0101-P0747

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #21

May 102019

Sentra

  • 77,500 miles
The vehicle has so many defects!! that I don't know where to begin"!?; but firstly I want my money back for the exorbitant expensive interest rate they charged me...!!! then they added my deposit into the total cost instead it subtracting it from my total!!!?" the upholstery inside us coming up from the floor almost months into the purchase. The defrost doesn't work..the electronic part that affects the automatic door on the driver's side; the door wont open from the inside passenger! the pedal area where the carpet is coming up..is exposing the underneath of car same with other areas but flooring carpet is extremely loose, and exposing wires. The driving electronic feature for winding roads it keeps coming on and won't shut off; I could have been killed!!!! it turned on multiple times on freeway slowing me down & I turned the button.on the feature...it still wouldn't turn.off...!!!, the wipers are not working well at all and haven't since I first bought the car. The driver's side panel that has control of windows and unlock..it is coming off already!!! I don't have anyone in the car but me so it's definitely not me!

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #20

Jun 282019

Sentra

  • 44,000 miles
I was driving on the highway and the car would not accelerate past 60mph, once I got off the highway the car wouldnt accelerate past 20mph and the RPM would shoot to 4,000!!! I almost got hit making a turn because the car would not accelerate. The car only has 44,000 miles on it with no previous mechanical issues.

- 78247, TX, USA

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