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:
5 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
42,806 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.

2016 Nissan Sentra drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2016 Nissan Sentra:

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

2016 Nissan Sentra Owner Comments (Page 4 of 5)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #36

Dec 082019

Sentra

  • 58,000 miles

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

When driving down the road one minute my car is driving fine then when you come to a stop and press on the gas my car doesn't want to go anywhere. The RPM will accelerate but my speedometer will not go up. I have even pressed the gas all the way to the floor and it still won't get up in speed. My car will also act like it's trying to dye when sitting at at light or stop sign. It's also started making a rattling noise in the engine. The has happened in town, on the highway. This is very scary especially when trying to get on a highway with kids in the car and trying to merge into on come traffic with huge semi's. I have taken my car in several times and they tell my that it needs to be reprogrammed. Well obviously reprogramming it doesn't work. I'm fed up with this problem. I will never by another Nissan again. I have taken my car

- Geronimo, OK, USA

problem #35

Dec 192019

Sentra

  • 64,000 miles
When on the freeway, once vehicle has reached 50-70 mph, the rpms jump up and down. Super dangerous as I am then unable to maintain control of vehicle and have to cut through traffic to a shoulder. Also on take off and stopping at red lights, car shudders and feels like it is going to stall. I know there is a class action lawsuit out there as many drivers are having this issue but I should not have to pay $5 in transmission repair on a car that have 60K miles just to wait for reimbursement. Nissan needs to step up and handle this as a recall.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #34

Dec 042019

Sentra

  • 94,000 miles
When giving the gas when taking off vehicle shudders. When on the freeway around 50-60 mph the rpms jump up and down and the car jerks and sometimes feels like it may stall out at high speeds. This is extremely dangerous on California freeways.

- Wildomar, CA, USA

problem #33

Jul 292019

Sentra

  • 4 miles

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

Car cvt transmission slipping and shuddering while in motion also stahling while entering freeway, crossing intersections, and while turning.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #32

Nov 232019

Sentra

  • 75,000 miles
So yesterday in my apartment complex, I was driving up a hill to get to my apartment, when my car completely stalled on me & started to revert backwards, so as I'm trying to stop my car I get drug back down the hill with my car & as my car continued, it hit a tree & a shed which messed up my driver side & my back bumper & trunk. Also I have physical injuries as well.

- Stone Mountain, GA, USA

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

problem #31

Nov 052019

Sentra

  • 64,000 miles
Car was bought brand new and at 64K miles transmission failed. Vehicle started to shake on acceleration then it would just shut down on the freeway or when parked. When the car was in park or stopped at a light it would also start shaking and shut down. Acceleration was also very slow even when flooring the gas pedal the car would not go beyond 20-40 mph.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #30

Oct 112019

Sentra

  • 96,400 miles

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

Continuously variable transmissions (cvts) starts shifting back and forth abnormally between gears. It shudders, shakes, and jerks when shifting gears. I have been told that I need to replace the transmission the vehicle has about 97 thousands miles. I was also told that Nissan Sentra are know for this problem. I called Nissan customer assistance and was told that my vehicle is not covered by the extended warranty for the cvt problem.

- Waxhaw, NC, USA

problem #29

Oct 082019

Sentra

  • 60,873 miles
I was driving home from work through a residential area and the vehicle made some grinding noise underneath and died suddenly. It was towed to the mechanic and I was told it will be $4,000 for a new transmission. The car is 3 years old and has 60,873 miles on it. Naturally the warranty expires at 60,000 miles. I still have 3 years of monthly payments left. Naturally, when I google the Nissan Sentra 2016, you can see all the other complaints with their transmission.

- Plainview, NY, USA

problem #28

Sep 232019

Sentra

  • 129,000 miles
Vehicle has a shutter in low speeds and slightly slips

- Azusa, CA, USA

problem #27

Aug 062019

Sentra

  • miles
The cvt is causing the car to not pickup speed and it's causing a dangerous situation on interstate. I see that this has been a problem before my problem why hasn't a recalled been issued. Also my car is a 2016 Nissan Sentra that I purchased in baton rouge la after the major flood here I hope I wasnt' sold a car that had water damage

- Baton Rouge, LA, USA

problem #26

Jun 302019

Sentra

  • miles

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

My 2016 Nissan Sentra is been unsafe to drive, I was taking my daughter to school when I was trying to hit the gas it jumped up almost hit the front car we were behind. Car doesn't go faster then 10mph. I can't believe being a new car I must pay a lot money to fix transmission. I'm a single mother and need this problem fixed please.I can't pick up my kids from school or pick them up from location I meet ex husband to get them on my days of custody. I need my vehicle fixed please

- Bellflower, CA, USA

problem #25

Oct 222018

Sentra

  • 46,137 miles
I purchased this car brand new. After stopping at a stop light or sign, or even just slowing down, it would always delay after stepping on the gas to move from day one. I thought it was normal. After about 30,000 miles, the transmission started to slip on the freeway, especially on hot days. It felt like I was putting the car in neutral while my foot was still on the gas. It may have done that once a day on my way home from work. I decided to take it in a few months later when it would do it several times. I took it to the dealership. They took it on a test drive and it broke down on them. I guess there's a chain in the transmission, but it was in pieces! I had a rebuilt transmission put in, but I am already seeing the symptoms again! I have been taking data ever since and have a page of incidences. I took it back and they said there's nothing wrong. I am less than 3000 miles away from 60,000, which is when the power train warranty will expire. About 10,000 miles ago, I inquired about getting an extended warranty but they refused to sell me one since I drive about 110 miles a day for work. I still owe quite a bit on this pos. I am going to get a lawyer.

- Tehachapi, CA, USA

problem #24

May 242019

Sentra

  • 60 miles
My transmission failed on a major highway. I could not accelerate and narrowly avoided a terrible accident. Prior to this incident, the car was making a small kind of clicking/shuddering sound when I would accelerate. I thought it was an issue with the tires. The dealership told me the transmission was failing, but I thought they may have been mistaken because I was having no issues with moving at the time. Now I understand that the dealership knew it was a transmission issue because Nissan is aware of a major defect with their cvt transmissions, but will not order a recall to correct the problem. My children and I could have been killed on the highway that evening; we barely made it off the road. I am terrified to try to drive the car. There is no reason why a car that I purchased brand new should have transmission failure less than two years after I bought it. This issue needs to be corrected immediately before lives are lost. I'm assuming a family will have to die on a highway before this company will correct their flaw.

- Frederick, MD, USA

problem #23

May 292019

Sentra

  • 112,890 miles
As I was driving on the highway I felt my car punch, like when it switched gears it kept making a bang noise like if it was punching. As I continued driving the check engine light turned on and I went to a pep boys and a autozone so they could read the code and they both came up with 'P2859'. I called the dealership and told them I would be bringing it in the following day because it was late already. The next day I brought it in to the Nissan dealership and after several hours they called me and told me I would need a new transmission, I asked if they were sure and if a transmission flush would do anything or if there is an extended warranty on it because I only had the car for close to two years. Now I just don't know what to do cause I'm still making payments on the car and the repair bill is alil over $4000.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #22

Mar 302019

Sentra

  • 81 miles
Car not even 24 hours old, the car would not start with pushing the starter button, the rmp would be at 3 at idleing. March 2019, engine light came on, and went to the dealer. Sensor in fuel pump had to be replaced, few weeks power train problems. In the middle of intersection of route 45 in greys lake, il. The car would not shift out of first gear and almost dies in the middle of intersection. Shut the car off, the car would run normal for awhile, then the shifting gears and bogging would start all over again. A week latter the engine is making a whinning noise.

- Bristol, WI, USA

problem #21

Apr 022019

Sentra

  • 48,000 miles
The drivers door handle comes off. The car bucks and loses power, the tachometer needle moves up and down. RPM sensor?.the brakes (rear drums crunching). I have 3 different bills for the brakes. Im trying to get ahead of this situation with the bucking of my car. Read up on complaints due to trouble with Nissan transmission. I don't want to be stuck with back and forth B.S.about who is responsible etc. I own it outright.want it taken care of. Its highway driving when it bucks back and forth and loses power.

- Hollywood, FL, USA

problem #20

Mar 112019

Sentra

  • 73,000 miles
Complete transmission failure while driving. Transmission stalled out in the middle of the interstate due to loss of power even with engaged acceleration, transmission jerking and slipping. Feels like it skipping along the street with loss of power.

- Haughton, LA, USA

problem #19

Mar 062018

Sentra

  • 89,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Sentra. While driving low speeds, the vehicle would not accelerate. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact pulled over and had the vehicle towed to kraft Nissan (3277 mahan dr, tallahassee, fl 32308, (850) 576-6171). The dealer diagnosed that the transmission needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 89,000.

- Tallahassee, FL, USA

problem #18

Feb 012019

Sentra

  • 45,600 miles
Transmission is making a whirring noise on acceleration from a green light and is jerking sometimes upon acceleration. Then getting on the interstate it hesitates before it hits 60 mph I bought this car with 45,000 miles and payment. I made a mistake because form other complaints the cvt is has a ton of issues and needs to be recalled.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #17

Dec 032018

Sentra

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Sentra. While driving 65 mph, the vehicle jerked violently. The vehicle was taken to Nissan South morrow (located at 6889 jonesboro road, morrow, ga 30260) where it was diagnosed that there was internal damage to the continuously variable transmission. The vehicle was repaired by aamco. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

- Forest Park, GA, USA

Read the next 16 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?