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 1 of 4)

problem #61

Apr 152023

Sentra

  • miles

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

Car stopped at a light in the middle of the day 4/15/23 and when turned back on the car would not drive forward. There we had to push the car into a safe location and get it towed home.

- Conyers, GA, USA

problem #60

Jan 152024

Sentra

  • miles
Vehicle lost power and down shifted to first gear and got stuck in it while going 60mph and with traffic all around and behind me. Will not drive or shift out of first gear and transmission must be replaced now. No warning lights ever came on, no warning of it happening, it just slipped down into first and stalled there, wouldn-??t go when pressing the gas peddle.

- Chandler, TX, USA

problem #59

Feb 082024

Sentra

  • miles
My transmission went out and is set to be fixed by Nissan at my cost! No warning....just was driving my daughter home from girl scouts and the transmission went out going 35mph.

- Independence, MO, USA

problem #58

Feb 172024

Sentra

  • miles

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

We have been having issues with our 2017 nissan sentra pretty much since we bought it. it shakes, shutters etc during exceleration. we asked if it needed a tune up and were told manufacture recommendation was for 124,000 miles. So it didn't seem to be the problem. we continued routine maintenance. On Sat 2/17/2024 the car wouldn;t "go" while we were on our way to work. It didn't want to excelerate etc. It struggled the entire way. We pulled off and parked. turned off the engine and gave it a few minutes. We were abler to reach our destination there after, but for safety decided to have towed home. This was covered by our car insurance. However after talking to a family member, who works for DEALERSHIP, they suggested looking into Recalls. We have not been able to find one that relates to the CVT problem that we are having. We are currently looking into whether or not we are covered by the dealership we purchased it from, since it doesn't look like Nissan will cover it since it's passed the warranty set by them.

- Newport News, VA, USA

problem #57

Jan 202024

Sentra

  • miles
2017 Nissan Sentra. Car has been taken care of since bought brand new. Oil changes every 3000, to 4000 miles transmission fluid change at 40,000 now the car is surging on highway. We can-??t go over 40 mph on 65 mph highway. My be son and wife are in car and we have to pull over on side of highway with vehicles like tractor trailers pass us at 70 mph. The car has been inspected multiple times by Nissan dealership. They said there isn-??t anything wrong. No lights in dash on at all.

- Seaside Heights, NJ, USA

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problem #56

Mar 012023

Sentra

  • miles
The CVT seems to shudder uncontrollably when accelerating from zero and also when driving at 60mph on the interstate. The RPMs fluctuate erratically and spontaneously when traveling at 60mph or higher. Yes, the car can be inspected upon request-it does the shuddering every time it accelerates from zero. My safety and the passengers safety is at risk if the car were to stop functioning while driving on interstate. Yes, the problem has been reproduced by a local service center. No, the problem has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representative. Would like to have the car inspected by the above if it were at no cost to me since it's a Nissan CVT issue. No, warning lamps or messages are on the dash. Problems began to appear in 2021.

- Gretna, LA, USA

problem #55

Sep 182023

Sentra

  • miles

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

Was driving and I stopped at a stop sign. When it was time to go I stepped to accelerate and it wouldn-??t accelerate like it needed to almost causing the car behind me to crash into me. I took it to 3 different shops and they all said the same thing. The year and make all had transmission issues because they were no good and there is a law suit pending now.

- Fontana, CA, USA

problem #54

Aug 312023

Sentra

  • miles
The CVT has failed in my car causing multiple issues with jerking, shaking, stuttering. When i was making a left turn, my car hesitated and almost caused an accident because I didnt have the power to pull out when I should have. Now the repair is being quoted over $5k because they are saying I need an all new transmission. No warning lamps, messages have been indicated on my dash

- Westminster, MD, USA

problem #53

Dec 012022

Sentra

  • miles
The car refuses to shift from park to drive or even reverse. Mechanic can-??t figure out why. And I never got the recall information for the car that had a lawsuit against it.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #52

Dec 262022

Sentra

  • miles
CVT transmission failed while driving at highway speed. Mechanic states Nissan CVT are under recall. Warranty will not cover this failure. Happened at 60k miles. Indicator light came on as CVT began slipping. Car went into "limp" mode.

- Maxwell, TX, USA

problem #51

Jun 202023

Sentra

  • 105,000 miles

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

The contact's girlfriend owns a 2017 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving from a complete stop, the vehicle jerked, shuddered, and hesitated to respond while depressing the accelerator pedal. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle jerked and shuddered while coming to a complete stop. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing hard shifts while driving in the lower gears. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission had failed due to the brake light switch failure. The contacted stated that the brake light switch was previously replaced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V135000 (Exterior Lighting). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

- Fayetteville, AR, USA

problem #50

Oct 102022

Sentra

  • miles
found out by someone else about recall on my car about the stop switch and transmission on car then took it to petro nissan and they told me they voided my recall and fixed it but it was never fixed because the situation has started on my car and with the transmssion started messing up with battery being drained with stop switch problem and my airbag light blinking off and on with me surfing the internet i found to where theres a recall on electrical ignition.air bags and with the brake light switch i need this solved asap please and will need a loaner are rental as its being fixed please again because every dealer i have been to and had check it refused to fix it without charging me alot of money

- Seminary, MS, USA

problem #49

Jan 272023

Sentra

  • miles
The car just started jerking forward on its own when driving. When I turn it off, and then on, it jerks when changing from park to drive or reverse gear. I then decided to take it back to the dealer. Driving from my house to the dealer took me an hour yet it's a distance of 15 Min. The engine light came on and I am not sure that car will be ok. The dealership said the transmission is the issue and they are talking to Nissan. Prior to that, the car had no issues. I've never ben that scared in my life.

- New Castle, DE, USA

problem #48

Dec 312022

Sentra

  • miles
on acceleration to 60 mph or more noted moments of jerky/hesitation as if shifting gears- evaluation by dealership x2- they noted the same thing....could not fix the problem was told to bring back once engine light comes on or sensor code is generated in their computer system which checks the transmission. Awareness that this is a transmission problem. a month later car fails to increase speed to 50mph going up a small incline...driving over a mountainous pass.....then as got to a straightaway it had to shift down to 20-30 mph due to weather conditions and traffic- then the RPM keep wavering would not be steady at this lower mph....then within 10 miles of this....intown at stop lights RPM would acelerate at complete stop and then it didn't want to move- was able to get up to 10 mph yet could not get through the intersection without the traffic light turning red before I could make it through happen multiple times...once it did this I had to drive with my hazard lights on to warn other drivers......such a safety hazard... let it sit for 2 days then. I was able to drive it 25 miles with the RPM constantly wavering between 1.5 and 3 with the cruise set at 60mph....check engine light came.....towed 100 miles. Now at the car dealer/manufacturer for replacement of the CVT Transmission....this could have been avoided if 1 month earlier the CVT could have been replaced....5 year old car with less than 100k......it is an automatic car

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #47

Dec 012022

Sentra

  • miles
Transmission stalled out when I was on the Rt 30 bypass. I was traveling at 55 miles per hour in rush hour and the car suddenly would not go forward. Causing sudden traffic issues. This is a known problem with 2017 sentras. Exton Nissan sold me this vehicle knowing it's unsafe. I've trying to get in touch with them for a month about this. I'm seeking for them to buy back this unsafe and dangerous car

- Coatesville, PA, USA

problem #46

Dec 312022

Sentra

  • miles
My 16 year old son was stopped at a stop light. When the light turned green, he pressed on the gas but the car would not accelerate. It did start accelerating but would not go over 5 mph and was shaking and knocking. The Check Engine light then came out so he immediately pulled over. He was driving by himself at night. Thankfully it was on a side street without a whole lot of traffic. Had this happened in heavy traffic or on the highway then it could have had serious consequences. This happened without any warning and my 16 year old son was NOT safe. I do not feel safe in this vehicle anymore and I do not feel safe allowing my son to drive it either. The repair shop advised that it is the transmission. Nissans should not be having transmission problems just after 5 years and 100,000 miles. Come to find out this is a common problem with 2017 Nissan Sentras. This should be recalled and fixed by Nissan!!!

- Kernersville, NC, USA

problem #45

Nov 262022

Sentra

  • miles
My nissan keeps slipping when I try to accelerate. I noticed everyone is having the same problem there needs to be a recall some people don't have money for a new transmission. The dealerships have to take care of this issue and I need a car to get back and forth. I bought this car brand new in 2017. I need this issue addressed

- Lakeland, FL, USA

problem #44

Nov 262022

Sentra

  • miles
TRYING TO MAKE LEFT TURN IN TRAFFIC VEHICLE REVED BUT LOST POWER cvt TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T ENGAGE

- Marana, AZ, USA

problem #43

Mar 242022

Sentra 4-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while at a complete stop with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle rolled forward unintendedly. The contact stated that upon releasing the brake pedal and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle responded after shifting into park(P) and then shifting back into drive(D) several times; however, the vehicle would not exceed 5-10 MPH. The contact stated that upon shifting into park and shifting back into drive several times, the vehicle accelerated as needed. Additionally, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a transmission specialist who diagnosed that the transmission range sensor switch and the transmission control module (TCM) had failed. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer who provided the same diagnostic information. The dealer replaced the transmission range sensor switch. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The contact was awaiting a callback from the manufacturer. The contact stated that the vehicle had a transmission warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #42

Oct 192022

Sentra

  • miles
The vehicle has rpms fluctuating when on the highway and will not go above 60mph.

- Warrior, AL, USA

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