CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2013-2017 Nissan Sentra has an expensive CVT transmission failure defect that shows up plainly in our complaint data.

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.

3.3

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
40,312 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.

2013 Nissan Sentra steering problems

steering problem

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2013 Nissan Sentra Owner Comments

problem #16

Dec 092022

Sentra 4-cyl

  • miles

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

I purchased my vehicle in July of 2017 from Ron Craft Chevrolet; the transmission became inoperable and failed in Nov2019; I had my vehicle shake and immediately the power stop on the highway, almost causing an accident. Due to pandemic; OEM parts were on hold due to processing. In September of 2021 and after a thorough review of the vehicle the purchased of the OEM directly from Nissan was validated and installed by an authorized Nissan dealer. Now been only 13months the OEM Transmission installation. There was once again a transmission failure on the highway going 60; with my children and partner. the vehicle shake and the vehicle immediately pulled back causing a powerful pull and immediately lost power and control over the steering; Almost Causing an accident on the Houston toll highway.

- Dayton, TX, USA

problem #15

Jul 162021

Sentra

  • miles
Ever since I first purchased the car it wants to die and it seems like it doesn't want to go when I press the gas. It does this when I stop or when I press the gas.

- Garland, TX, USA

problem #14

Feb 022021

Sentra

  • 103,000 miles
Driving in motion on interstate going 60 and all of a sudden check engine light comes on and then violent shakes and jerks!scary as all get out made me swerve and almost hit traffic beside me!! also going up a hill and lost power had to stop in road turn the car off and then turn it back on. Almost got hit from behind!

- Oakridge, TN, USA

problem #13

Mar 022020

Sentra

  • 90,000 miles

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

While in motion the passenger side ball joint did break. This allowed the wheel to become non responsive and caused the drive axle to break. If the vehicle was going at highway speed at the time, there would have been a severe accident to say the least.

- Holtsville, NY, USA

problem #12

Aug 222016

Sentra

  • 61,000 miles
Since purchase, and regardless of the number of times I have taken the vehicle in for servicing at the dealership, the car 'pulls' to the left while driving.naturally, my concern is that there is something more inherently wrong with the suspension or steering. This problem has been ongoing since I purchased the vehicle as certified from Nissan poughkeepsie. The dealership has not yet been able to pinpoint the exact cause.

- Poughkeepsie, NY, USA

problem #11

Nov 012019

Sentra

  • 15 miles
While driving 50 mph, the engine stalled without warning. The vehicle was merged to the side of the road and failed to accelerate until the economy mode was turned off. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. Car jerks, shakes, vibrates.

- Galveston, TX, USA

problem #10

Oct 142019

Sentra

  • 73,000 miles

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

20013 Nissan Sentra with less than 75K miles. Making a left turn and heard a loud pop. Left front ball joint broke off the lower control arm causing the control arm to smash through the tire rim and rip out the axle from the transmission. My vehicle was traveling at less than 5 mph (thank god!) I would not have reported this but I saw the same thing happened to another car. I jacked it up immediately and car was flatbedded to mechanic and control arms on both sides, ball joints and axle was replaced.

- Levittown, NY, USA

problem #9

May 222018

Sentra

  • 55,500 miles
While driving intermittant stalling, restarts right away, no check engine light comes on also may almost stall upon coming to a stop light, begins to idle rough, occurs very intermittant, when purchased pre-owned similar problem was rectified by replacement of some type of emissions harness has been back to dealer numerous times and they keep charging me for trying to repair and nothing seems to change still random stalling

- Remsenburg, NY, USA

problem #8

Mar 222018

Sentra

  • miles
I had to replace tbe tie rod and steering gear at 70,000 miles in Nov 2017. I've just been told that the transmission needs to be replaced and I am only at 76,000 miles. T am in an active bankruptcy so I can't replace the car because the car dealership will approve me for a loan that has 18 percent interest. This is cost me a lot of stress. A lawsuit needs to be filed.

- Sherwood, AR, USA

problem #7

Nov 182016

Sentra

  • 55,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. While driving approximately 65 mph, the steering wheel shook violently without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 55,000.

- Richmond, VA, USA

problem #6

Jul 122016

Sentra

  • 53,700 miles

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

I took my 2013 Nissan Sentra in for an inspection only to discover it failed inspection for the driver's side outer tie rod. I have never had a 3 year old vehicle have a tie rod wear out so quickly

- Liverpool, NY, USA

problem #5

Oct 032015

Sentra

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. While driving approximately 50 mph, the steering column became detached from the vehicle, fell into the contact's lap, and nearly caused a crash. The contact was able to pull over and stop the vehicle. One day prior to the failure, the steering wheel was able to be turned, the vehicle would start without the key in the ignition, the doors locked and unlocked without warning, and all of the interior lights would flash off and on. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the spiral cable was fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

- Lincolnton, NC, USA

problem #4

Oct 032015

Sentra

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. While driving 50-65 mph, the steering column separated from the vehicle and the air bags disengaged independently. In addition, the vehicle started and the doors locked independently, the vehicle stalled, and the air bags disengaged independently. Prior to the additional failures, the vehicle was remedied under Nissan's cvt consumer satisfaction program recall. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the spiral cable fractured and the transmission was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

- Lincolnton, NC, USA

problem #3

Nov 012014

Sentra

  • miles
Windshield fluid does not spray correctly as it should. It goes to the bottom of the windshield. At times I have to pull over and spray fluid ( yes...I have to carry a spray bottle with me) to ensure the windshield is clear on days that it is needed. On the other issue, steering lock after taking out the key doesnt work. Light bulb on shift stick doesnt work. Can't see the gear selection at night.

- New Britain, CT, USA

problem #2

Oct 242014

Sentra

  • 3,700 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 mph, there was a sudden increase in engine rpms as the vehicle shook abnormally and stalled without warning. The vehicle was restarted but the failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer multiple times for a diagnosis. The technician was unable to locate a problem and stated that the failures were normal. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and did not offer any further assistance. The failure mileage was 3,700.

- West Newyork, NJ, USA

problem #1

Mar 222014

Sentra 4-cyl

  • 71 miles
I have new Nissan Sentra 2013 sv with automatic cvt; purchased the car in September 2013. My Sentra just started making a intermittent loud whinning noise under the hood. I took the car the Nissan dealership where I purchased the car. The mechanic said the loud whinning noise was from the electronic steering and it was normal. How can this be normal noise from a electronic steering? I never heard the load whinning noise until 22 March 2014. Noise can be heard inside and outside of car when this problem occurs. The car only has 71 miles on it and is garage kept. I surfed the web and found that some Nissan Altima are also experiencing the loud intermittent whinning noise from the electronic steering. I filed a complaint with Nissan Consumer Affairs case id# 14055152 about this problem. I believe that Nissan is aware of this intermittent loud whinning noise from the electronic steering and is refusing to anything about it. I hoping that the NHTSA will investigate this problem and force Nissan to issue a recall with a permanent fix to the loud whinning noise from the electronic steering.

- Woodbridge, VA, USA

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