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 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
37,809 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 3 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #10

Jan 302018

Sentra

  • miles

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

Car has been making tapping/knocking/squealing noise since about 20,000 miles. Dealership was notified, as well as Nissan Consumer Affairs. (audio was taken of noise). Car was taken to shop. Mechanics could not "replicate sound" that my car was making, even though I had shown mechanics proof, and they heard car making noise at idle and when car was revved up. Mechanic was instructed to take car home for a period of 7 days. He could not "replicate sound" that my car was making. My car had been in and out of the shop (for the same issue) at least 6 times between 2016-2017. And the issue still remained. Now (40,000+ miles since noise first started), I have noticed a significant reduction in horsepower, coupled with the squealing/tapping/knocking noise, that is progressively getting louder. I once again have contacted Nissan Consumer Affairs, who instructed me to take it to a different Nissan repair facility and front the $99 diagnostic fee to have my vehicle diagnosed. I am now without a vehicle, and I still am in the dark as to what is going on with my car. The sound that my car makes occurs when my car is moving, idling, in gear, or in park. I have notified the dealership and Consumer Affairs of this ongoing issue, and feel that they just do not want to look into this, even though there is an issue with my car.

- Laurel, DE, USA

problem #9

Aug 022017

Sentra

  • 6,770 miles
This happened a few months back 1 single time. I put car in reverse to back out of a space. Car reversed fine. Then I tried to put it into drive but it would not go into drive, only up to neutral. I tried turning it off and the waiting a min or 2 and turned it back on to see if it would go to drive. It would not. It would only move in reverse. I kept trying until on one of those tries it finally went into drive and I was able to get going again. Then recently, I think, 8/2/17, wed, I was at bank parked. I put car on reverse to leave bec I had a few more errands to do, car went back fine. Then I tried to put into drive; it would not go to drive. Same thing happened. It would not go into drive. It stopped in neutral and there were many cars trying to get past me, as I was blocking those coming South and those going North of me. I didn't know what to do! so I put it back into reverse and went back as much as I safely could in order to clear a wider space to see if cars could squeeze past me. The waiting cars squeezed through very unsafely for them and for me. Then I just kept trying by turning the car off and on a few mins later. I kept trying to put into drive. It would go to neutral but not into drive. Until one time, when it did and I was able to go to my next stop which was walgreens.exact thing reoccurred; I repeated tries; finally went into drive. I proceeded to go to publix. Same senario happened. It took many tries.finally went into drive and I was able to get home. I got home. Happened again when I reversed from being parked at my bldg blocking everyone. A ups truck driver also blocked. I asked for his help.he made attempts to put into dr. Finally got it. Moved my car out of harm's way. Nissan paper work is dated 8/4/17. It may repeat in a dangerous place. Was city in motion from parked. Maybe gear box is faulty, engine/transmission problem or electrical.

- Aventura, FL, USA

problem #8

Jul 092016

Sentra

  • 20 miles
In July of 2016 the weather was over 100 degrees and the car suddenly slowed down and I had to pull into parking lot the car would not move. Had to shut the car off and restart.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #7

Feb 232016

Sentra 4-cyl

  • 1,000 miles

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

After driving the car one evening the engine spontaneously caught a fire. The fire deptartment said it started from some problem in the engine. In addition we notice the heat of the fire did not deploy the driver and passenger side air-bags. Normally in many cases of car fires the fire will deploy the emergency air-bags and cause the car alarm to sound this did not happen with my incident.

- West Hempstead, NY, USA

problem #6

Jul 182016

Sentra

  • 14,000 miles
The first issue occurred July 18. During my trip to Virginia, I began to lose braking. The car would then shut off. I was entering into arlington, in a high traffic area. This issue was dangerous to me and other drivers. Eventually, the car shut off every time I braked. It was towed to passport Nissan in va, where it was diagnosed as transmission/torque converter issues. The next event occurred on pulaski highway in Maryland during rush hour. I pulled out of a convenience store, went to accelerate, and the car would not move. The engine was fully engaged. Again, it was towed. I am told this is also a transmission issue. My vehicle was pushed off the road by a state highway administration vehicle and sustained body damage as a result. I am requesting a buyback from Nissan.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #5

Oct 192015

Sentra

  • 5 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Sentra. While driving approximately 5 mph, the vehicle hesitated and jerked without warning. In addition, the tachometer reading fluctuated. The vehicle was taken to two different dealers where the computerized system was reprogrammed; however, the failure persisted at any speed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 5.

- Cotuit, MA, USA

problem #4

May 252016

Sentra

  • 6,500 miles

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

Our Sentra has a cvt. It currently has less than 7,500 miles on the odometer. On three (3) occasions, the transmission has failed to upshift as we moved away from a stop at a traffic light. At 30 mph or less, the tach is at 4,000 RPM. We have to find a safe place to pull the vehicle to the side of the road, put the trans selection lever in park and then restart our journey. We have taken the vehicle to the Nissan dealer who told us that there was no problem......no computer error or malfunction. We contacted Nissan usa and were told the same thing. The transmission of the computer controlling it has a problem. Dates of problems: 3/20/2016; 5/20/2016; 5/25/2016

- York, PA, USA

problem #3

Mar 272016

Sentra

  • 141,000 miles
I am driving in my car (2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S) on canal pointe blvd, New Jersey on 03/27/2015 and car suddenly stopped. Luckily I am on low speed and able to pull the car to the right lane. Then tried to restart the car but not started immediately but after few minutes restarted and drove for few miles then experienced slowing down. Hence towed to Nissan dealership East windsor, NJ. After diagnosis service advisors informed about failed crank sensor and need to replace. Then I remembered the similar issue happened in 2011. I was on New Jersey turnpike driving around 65 mph car suddenly stopped and luckily at that time as well, I was driving in right most lane on turnpike and able to pull the car on right shoulder. After few minutes car started and then took the car to Firestone, lawrenceville, NJ and they fixed the crank sensor issue. Today when I contacted Nissan told recall was only for 2005 Nissan Sentra that has 2.5 L engine and my car not in the recall list. Again this complaint is about cost for replacement and about safety. Luckily both the times I was lucky no other car/truck behind my car. Without any pre-notice, car suddenly stalls on the road. I believe we should not allow these cars on roads unless Nissan recalls crank sensors of their cars and ensures crank sensor failures not happens again. Cars suddenly stalls on the roads without any pre-notice is unacceptable. First time when crank sensor failed, car has 95000 miles and this time car has 141000 miles.please help on this and make sure Nissan recalls the cars that has crank sensor failures. Nissan will have data about models they get crank sensor failures. All these cars should be recalled. Do not know what to do when engine suddenly stops on the road. Please assist customers like me not meeting with accidents because of using Nissan cars those has crank sensor failures.

- Monroe Township, NJ, USA

problem #2

Feb 052016

Sentra

  • 600 miles
I was driving on the highway at about 70 to 80 miles for hours while suddenly I was getting close to my destination and the car won't move you can here the RPM going up to like 2500 but the car don't move at all the gas pedal was press other way in but still won't move, in order to fix the problem I have to shut off the car and restarted right away them never have the same problem again.

- Lancaster, PA, USA

problem #1

Jan 312015

Sentra

  • 236 miles
I bought a Nissan Sentra 2015 on January 23rd, 2015, when I took the car for the blessing I opened the hood and saw that the motor didn't have the arm that gives support for the engine and it's assembled to the body of the car. I checked the manual of my car according to my type of motor mra8de and in the document the visual aid shows this arm assembled. I took the car to the dealer Agency and explained the situation, the person in charge saw my car and doubtful took me to see the exhibit car. We opened the hook of the exhibit car as well and confirmed that the support arm was present in the car, he went to explained the situation to the office and returned with an alleged document from the Nissan corporative where it was said that Sentra 2015 models didn't include this arm and it was an engineering change from the 2014 models. I asked him what about the car manual then that was given with the car and the person said that the manual are not updated even due to the engineering change of the 2015 models. I asked for a copy of this document but it was not given because supposedly it needed and update what makes me doubt of it. I'm reporting this complaint because for me this is a security part in the car to support the engine and I'm asking for investigation assistance if this engineering change is rightful and because maybe the drivers might be in danger while driving or even in a car crash incident if this information given was false just to avoid a customer complaint in the Agency.

- Mexico, TX, USA

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