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:
2 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
19,748 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 steering problems

steering problem

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2017 Nissan Sentra Owner Comments

problem #11

Apr 282024

Sentra

  • miles

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

My 2017 Nissan Sentra S has a very serious problem whenever my RPM reach 3.5 to 4.It starts jerking and I can't accelerate anymore, in one occasion after the jerking stop I couldn't drive no more than 5 miles per hour.i have checked for any visible issues but none. No warning lights come on, I carry a scanner with me OBD2 but it doesn't have any codes. I have gone online to find a solution but I'm coming across hundreds of people with the same issue but no solution.i called the dealer and I was told that since the car is salvaged there is nothing they can do The car still jerking I just to keep it under or at 3rpm but I can never get on the freeway due to this issue

- Hawthorne , CA, USA

problem #10

Nov 092023

Sentra

  • miles
Steering wheel went unsteady. All warning lights went off. Speedometer failed. Unable to shut off the engine and unable to detect key while having the key in place. My safety and others are at risk each time this happens due to not been able to have control of the vehicle speed while having unsteady steering wheel and not knowing of the possibility of breaks failing while trying to drive to a safe place. This has happen about 5-8 times this year. Nissan replaced the IPDM and has continue to failed multiple times after. They have not been able to detect the cause. I have records of each time it has happen and one of those times was while driving on highway. My life and others have been at risk.

- Eagle, ID, USA

problem #9

Nov 052021

Sentra

  • 63,000 miles
The contact owned a 2017 Nissan Sentra S. The contact stated that while driving at 35 mph, the steering wheel seized and the RPM's increased. The brake pedal was depressed however the contact crashed into a curb and then a fire hydrant causing the vehicle to flip. There was smoke and a burning odor present. The contact was unable to exit the vehicle. A police report was filed and the fire department was present. The contact sustained leg injuries from cracking the front windshield in order to exit the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard where it was deemed a total loss. The contact stated that he received an unknown recall notice and felt that it was related to the failure experienced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. No further information was available. The failure mileage was 63,000.

- Bell Gardens, CA, USA

problem #8

Jan 292022

Sentra

  • miles

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

On January 29th 2022, we drove the car on the interstate at about 65-70 mph for over two hours when suddenly, the vehicle completely shut off. We were able to navigate safely into the shoulder while the power steering, dashboard, and engine were all completely off. No lights or other errors appeared. We took the car to an auto zone where they checked and cleaned the battery from corrosion. Assuming we were fine, we embarked on the three hour journey home on the same highway the next day. We drove the car for about 45 minutes short distances with no errors. As we got ready to return home, we got on the highway again. About 30 minutes into the drive going the same speed, the car shut down again. No warnings or errors like the last time. We took the car to a Nissan dealership in Monroeville, PA. They held the car for a week doing inspections and say that there are no errors. I'm wary of the safety of the vehicle and nervous to drive a car that unexpectedly shuts down on the highway

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #7

Jun 152021

Sentra

  • 85,000 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that his daughter was driving the vehicle and had it parked to clean the interior of the vehicle. While placing her hand on the steering wheel, the steering column became loosened. The contact had an independent mechanic arrive at the residence and inspected the vehicle and tightened a loosened linkage to bolt on the steering column. Several days later while the contact-??s daughter was driving, the steering wheel loosened. The driver continued to drive until the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The driver's vehicle was then towed to the local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000. The Vin was not available.

- Clear Water, KS, USA

problem #6

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 #5

Feb 132019

Sentra

  • 21,000 miles

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

Car runs fine then when you stop and try to restart it, a message comes up 'warning no key detected, system error'. the car is stationary and will not start and everything is shut down. You never know when this will happen.

- Huntsville, AL, USA

problem #4

May 042018

Sentra 4-cyl

  • 11 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that whenever driving, the vehicle swerves side to side as a result the contact became car sick. The steering wheel as became difficult to maneuver and an abnormal rattling noise was heard. The vehicle was taken to fred anderson Nissan (9225 glenwood ave, raleigh, nc 27617 (919) 324-3443) where the failure could not be duplicated. A master technician test drove the vehicle and ignored the failures and said their was no problem. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and they sent in the master technician that denied all of the failures. The failure mileage was 11 miles.

- Chapel Hill, NC, USA

problem #3

May 252018

Sentra

  • 1,500 miles
I have experienced the same issues as described in 'service brakes problem of the 2014 Nissan Sentra 49', which was reportedly similar to investigation "PE14-014". while driving a rental vehicle on a highway (left lane) at approximately 65 mph, all of a sudden it accelerated and it was as if the vehicle took over the steering - I could not keep the steering wheel straight and the car started moving between lanes and eventually I hit the guarding rail by the right lane and stopped. There was damage to the vehicle and it was very scary but I did not have a scratch. I was able to start the car again but I had to have it towed as I was too scared to drive it again. I thank my lucky stars that there were no other vehicles in either lane during the accident or I would not be writing this report today. I believe the car only had about 1500 km. I can`T believe I survived.

- New York, NY, USA

problem #2

Sep 122017

Sentra

  • miles
A static-like noise come out whenever the steering wheel is turning right two mechanics form Nissan dealers have check the car and noticed the noise but both of them could not diagnose how/why the noise came out

- East Meadow, NY, USA

problem #1

Jul 312017

Sentra

  • 5,114 miles
I"M documenting the scary situations I've experinced with my 2017 Nissan Sentra sr turbo. On 7/31/17 the vehicle started to stall at an intersection, then came to a complete stop. The engine turned off and I was left without any ability to controll the car. I was able to get it started again trying to make it back home it barely made it at a maximum speed of 10 miles/hr. It had to be towed to a dealer for serviced it was completelly undrivable. They said the battery needed to be replaced. I drove back to work after the repairs. That evening leaving work the same thing happened. Had to call again to have the car towed to the dealer again. The next day I got a call from the service person telling me the alternator had gone out, and that the part would take 2 weeks to come in. Meanwhile I contacted Nissan Corp. To le them know of the situation and the other various times I'd to bringin the car in for repairs since I purchsed it brand new in 1/14/17. I told them this car is putting my life and others in danger and that I belived it was a lemmon. A few days later I got a call telling me that my case had been moved up in their priority list, however they did't let me know that this situation was happening to other custormers. Last week I got a call telling me that Nissan Corp was in no possition to take the car back, but that they were willin to offer me either $1000 back or an extended warranty on the car of 100.000 miles/8 years, which at this point I'm not willingto comit to either one.

- Apopka, FL, USA

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