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:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
30,397 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.

2017 Nissan Sentra drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2017 Nissan Sentra Owner Comments (Page 3 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #21

Oct 172020

Sentra

  • 41,458 miles

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

When I am on the interstate and I am going between 60mph and 80mph my car starts to shake. The entire front of my car begins to shake and you can hear it as well. When I start to brake or slow down, it's gets louder and the shaking gets worse.

- Ferguson, MO, USA

problem #20

Oct 232020

Sentra

  • 41,606 miles
My car have been giving me problems such as cutting off in the middle of driving and I don't seem to be going over 45 when this happen I took it to Nissan to get it fixed and still does the same thing without warning the car locks the steering wheel and brakes the lights on the dash light up and the car cuts off.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #19

Dec 012019

Sentra

  • 49,000 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that the transmission failed while driving at various speeds. The vehicle decelerated and failed to gain acceleration after a complete stop. The transmission jerked and slipped. The contact stated that after restarting the vehicle, the vehicle operated as intended. There were no warning lights before, during or after the failure occurred. The vehicle was taken to two unknown Nissan dealers to have a diagnostic performed that was unable to locate a failure code for the transmission failure. The vehicle was also taken to a transmission specialist who located dtc code: P0776 which was related to the electronic pressure control solenoid. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 49,000.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #18

Aug 302020

Sentra

  • 25 miles

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

Light going on looks like transmission and transmission has been failing when I drive

- Mountain View, CA, USA

problem #17

Jul 012017

Sentra

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that when the vehicle shifted from 2nd to 3rd gear at approximately 30 mph, the vehicle hesitated. The contact then stated that while driving at highway speeds while accelerating, the RPM revved up to 5,000 RPM and the vehicle failed to shift gears as designed. The vehicle was taken to Nissan 24 (1016 belmont St, brockton, MA 02301, (508) 588-9520) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact stated that approximately 80% of the transmission was replaced however, the failure recurred intermittently. Additionally, the vehicle sputtered while driving 25 mph. The battery became drained and the vehicle had to be jump started. The vehicle was taken to the same dealer and the battery was replaced. The contact stated that additional unknown repairs were performed however, the failure recurred with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer and the contact was informed that the engine wiring harness needed to be replaced. The repair was still pending. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure and a case was filed. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

- East Bridgewater, MA, USA

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problem #16

May 012020

Sentra 4-cyl

  • 80,120 miles
I have had many issues with this vehicle, and the most problematic one is the transmission. When I accelerate to high speed on highway at a point the transmission starts to act up. The RPM start to go up and down crazy. And the vehicle does not accelerate and I could of had hardcore accidents this happens frequently, but randomly. There are no check lights on or anything, sometimes the vehicle drive normal and at times it does not. I took it in to the dealership and they never had the time to fix my vehicle until I said enough I need this done asap. Well it took them 5 days to tell me it was the transmission and given code is dtc: P17F4. I was looking into it and did see there are current recalls for some Sentra but mine is not one I guess maybe it is the model I dont know.

- Weslaco, TX, USA

problem #15

Jan 252019

Sentra

  • 3,548 miles

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

01/25/2019 North of indianapolis, in traveling South on I-65, the car appeared to shift into neutral at 70 mph. Stopped on the inside lane, shut off the car and restarted and seemed to be okay. Got just South of indy and stopped for gas, made it out of the gas station and the car wouldn't go foward but would go in reverse. Had to back up the entrance ramp to I-65 to avoid being hit by semi's coming down the ramp.called Nissan emergency roadside service and they had the car towed to a Nissan dealer (hubler Nissan) they told us the transmission would need to be replaced. Prior to this incident I took the car to M'lady Nissan on 02/02/2018 to complain about erratic shifting, they found no problems. On 06/11/2019 I again took the car to M'lady Nissan to complain about RPM's jumping as the car attempted to shift and not wanting to shift at all going foward on a flat surface road. They kept the car for a week and said the found no problems. At the time the trans went out, the car only had 3,548 miles on it. For the second complaint after the new trans was put in the car only had 4201 miles on it. We now only use the car for local trips as we are afraid to take it out on the road and the transmission continues to act erratically. Nissan won't do anything for us and M'lady Nissan (where we bought the car) doesn't or won;T even acknowledge that there is a major problem. They did tell us if the trans goes out again we might get something done under the lemon law

- Woodstock, IL, USA

problem #14

Feb 092020

Sentra

  • 111,000 miles
My 2017 Nissan Sentra sr is doing the same exact thing that other Sentra and other Nissan S transmission messing up it doesn't make any sense. They say my Sentra don't fall under the recall

- Jacksonville, NC, USA

problem #13

Nov 062017

Sentra

  • 10,000 miles
Bought 2017 Nissan Sentra brand new from dealership and was very unfairly overcharged. I was charged $23,014.53 for a car that was only worth $16,000 and has so many issues. Gas tank sometimes will stop at 200 miles and will not fill up, speedometer shoots up and down while driving, speed does not stay at a certain speed and slows down automatically. The engine jerks and sputters while driving on freeways and streets.

- Round Rock, TX, USA

problem #12

Jan 202020

Sentra

  • 42,400 miles
Code P2135 keeps showing. Bought a new throttle pedal positioning sensor from Nissan, had it installed. After 2 weeks the same problem shows back. The vehicle cuts off while driving, lose power as driving, and sometimes idles high while idling and then cuts off.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #11

Nov 112019

Sentra

  • 45,000 miles

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

I can be driving and maintaining the speed limit when all of a sudden my speed will drop almost like I am hitting the brakes. This has happened during city driving and while on the high way. This has been happening for about 8 months now.

- Onalaska, WI, USA

problem #10

Oct 012018

Sentra

  • 80,000 miles
Transmission problems, some tomes it does not change gear. Some times in stationary the gear will not change, sometime wile in motion the car wil slow down. This happens, in the city and on the freeway

- Ontario, CA, USA

problem #9

Aug 202019

Sentra

  • 89,000 miles
Takata recall. I have a complaint on the cvt transmission. My transmission was serviced back in October, not even a year ago and it begin acting up again back in August while driving and I've seen the lawsuits and recalls on it. And Nissan would not allow me to stay under the warranty or extend it. So I dont mind pulling in the lemon law firm.

- Stockbridge, GA, USA

problem #8

Feb 212019

Sentra 4-cyl

  • 64,810 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Sentra. While driving 55 mph, the vehicle hesitated and jerked harshly. The contact stated that the vehicle felt as if it would lose power, but it did not. The vehicle was driven to coggin Nissan jacksonville (0600 atlantic blvd, jacksonville, fl 32246, (904) 302-8231) where it was diagnosed that a new transmission was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not assist. The failure mileage was 64,810.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #7

Jul 182019

Sentra

  • 48,000 miles
I was driving my vehicle and it was locked into gear I want to press on my brakes it would not slow down I rear-ended a vehicle, and the airbags did not deploy

- Victorville, CA, USA

problem #6

Mar 192019

Sentra

  • 14,922 miles
Since my second oil change (vehicle is under 15000 miles currently) the check engine light will randomly come on and then go away. It would not alarm me, but I am hearing the shifting of the power train now more often than before. A clicking as it shifts up and down. The engine is a cvt, but from what other mechanics have told me, this is not how it should sound and should not be how it performs.

- West Hartford, CT, USA

problem #5

Mar 042019

Sentra

  • 99,673 miles
Was going down the highway with cruise on at 70mph. Rpms started jumping and lost power. Took to Nissan had it checked snd its a cvt transmission failure at 99,798miles on car. Contacted Nissan usa about it and with a 8 day reply got that its not coverwd under warrenty for a known defect due to they only cover 5/60000 miles not 10yrs/120,000 miles on that vehicle. Car less than 1 1/2 yrs old. So when I took it to dealership like Nissan usa told me to do so they would know whats wrong with it for sure. They tell me they wont fix it. So cost me $130 tk have it checked. And another $270 for a loaner car while dealership had my car. And to get car fixed it will cost me $4000. I know I would never suggest a Nissan lemon to anyone, and will never buy a Nissan again since I still owe $18,000+ on a car I cant drive do to Nissan knowing the cvt transmission are messed

- Sandston, VA, USA

problem #4

Jul 012018

Sentra

  • 11,346 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Sentra. While driving low speeds, the vehicle would not accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The contact also stated that the vehicle violently accelerated after several attempts. The failures occurred twice. The vehicle was taken to Nissan of richmond (11401 w broad St, henrico, va 23233, (804) 346-4200) where the contact was informed that in order to diagnose the failure, the mechanic would have to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 11,346.

- West Point, VA, USA

problem #3

Sep 142018

Sentra

  • 30,000 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Sentra. While the gear was in reverse, the contact shifted into park and the vehicle shook and stalled. The vehicle was restarted after several minutes and the battery warning indicator illuminated. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 30,000.

- Elkton, MD, USA

problem #2

Jul 152017

Sentra

  • 1,500 miles
The transmission does not shift properly to 2nd, 4, and 5th gear. I took it to the dealership to get it looked at and the mechanic reported that this problem is common among my vehicle makes. I still don't see a recall for it and he said they won't fix it until then. Can we get this ball rolling please, it's a huge highway safety concern.

- Apo, AP, USA

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