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:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
25,575 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.

2016 Nissan Sentra brakes problems

brakes problem

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2016 Nissan Sentra Owner Comments

problem #16

Jun 222022

Sentra

  • miles

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

My gear shift malfunctions. It is stuck in park and I have to use a screw driver to move the gear shift. Then the gear shift is loose this could cause an accident. I'm doing my best to keep it secure but need it replaced. Also think it has to do with a part u see the brake

- Valley View, TX, USA

problem #15

May 162022

Sentra

  • 0 miles
The contact rented a 2016 Nissan Sentra with Turo. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 mph, she heard an abnormal noise before the steering wheel and brakes seized. The contact stated the air bag warning light was illuminated before. The contact stated the vehicle steered independently out of control and drove through bushes and trees. The contact stated she ended up on the opposite side of the road and with the side air bags deployed but the driver's side air bag did not deploy. The contact stated she hit her head on the windshield and was unconscious when the paramedics assisted her. The contact stated she was a bit banged and bruised up. The contact refused to seek medical attention at a hospital. The contact stated the driver's side door was unable to unlatch and needed assistance from the paramedics to exit the vehicle. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to towing lot. The contact called the Turo call center and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #14

Jun 032021

Sentra

  • miles
wE HAVE ALREADY PAID MONEY TO HAVE THE RECALL ISSUE FIXED WITH A DEALER. I AM NOT SURE IF IT WILL BE THE SAME FIX BUT WE WOULD REQUEST TO BE REFUNDED FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR WE HAD DONE ON THE CAR FOR THE SAME ISSUE.

- New Freedom, PA, USA

problem #13

Feb 182022

Sentra

  • miles

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

Dealership will only repair stop light, but there are other problems such as no start, mil illumination. Dealer want me to pay for a dia. test in order to fix the issues.

- Phenix City, AL, USA

problem #12

Nov 042021

Sentra

  • 100,000 miles
The contact's son owned a 2016 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an unknown speed, the brake pedal was depressed and failed to operate causing the vehicle to crash into another vehicle. A police report was filed. The contact mentioned that her son sustained bruised chest and the driver from the other vehicle sustained rib inquiries that needed medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was towed to the tow lot. The dealer was not contacted. The contact contacted an independent mechanic and informed them that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 21v135000 ( exterior lights). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided a reference number. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

- Hudson, FL, USA

problem #11

May 112021

Sentra

  • miles
my fuel pump went out

- Copperas Cove , TX, USA

problem #10

Sep 182020

Sentra

  • 60,000 miles

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

I am having issues with my car not starting. I see so many other people are having this same problem. I have had this happen to me several times within a month and a half. I go outside to get in my var and it will not start. I have to get jumps and after several times it will start. All other lights be on the car just won't start. Got a new battery from Nissan on Thursday Oct 8th and still having the same issue as well as a whinning noise coming from under the hood when the cat has not even been driven. We need some help. This is a serious issue that needs to be fixed. People paid alot of money for theses cars not to start. We never know when we are going to be broke down or stranded somewhere

- Fayetteville, NC, USA

problem #9

May 052020

Sentra

  • 80,000 miles
Car started struggling when going at higher speed above 60 mph especifically when going uphill even if its a small hill on the freeway also when going down hill seems like something is also wrong with the brakes and makes weird sounds almost like the brakes dont want to stop the car took to a mechanic but no warnings come up and seems to be transmission which I did get a notice through mail that their could be possible recall for transmission. The car is in motion when this all happens but as soon as I turn it on it starts making a weird sounds that is out of the ordinary

- West Jordan, UT, USA

problem #8

Feb 202020

Sentra

  • miles
Unable to start vehicle due to faulty break switch. I tried to push the break and start the car. It doesnt start.

- Kissimmee, FL, USA

problem #7

Apr 022019

Sentra

  • 48,000 miles
The drivers door handle comes off. The car bucks and loses power, the tachometer needle moves up and down. RPM sensor?.the brakes (rear drums crunching). I have 3 different bills for the brakes. Im trying to get ahead of this situation with the bucking of my car. Read up on complaints due to trouble with Nissan transmission. I don't want to be stuck with back and forth B.S.about who is responsible etc. I own it outright.want it taken care of. Its highway driving when it bucks back and forth and loses power.

- Hollywood, FL, USA

problem #6

Apr 202017

Sentra

  • miles

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

H had problems with noise and brakes, apart with the transmission I have take 9 times to the dealers for nothing.

- Palmdale, CA, USA

problem #5

Nov 022017

Sentra

  • miles
On 11/02/17 brought the car in for the brakes and service said they couldn't get it to squeak while it was at the shop. Was in for 1 day for service. Now its 1/16/18 brought the car back in again and service can hear grind/squeak sound mileage under 12,000 miles and shop wants to shave the rotors on my car and replace brake pads. I do not want my rotors shaved as that makes it one less time I can do that in the future. So service replaces with new Nissan rotors and brake pads. Car in shop for 10 days now its 8/16/18 car has less then 5,000 miles on Nissan factory parts and brakes are making noise again. Mason in service wants to shave my rotors and replace brake pads but Nissan does not want to cover them under warranty. I tell them its ok to shave rotors this time but feel Nissan should have better parts. With the few miles that are on the brakes and rotors. Car has less then 16,000 miles on it. Car in shop for another day. Nissan has a known problem with these brake pads they are using mason the service manager said Nissan has a bulletin about the noise there brakes make. Well I would have liked to know that when I was purching this vechile. As of writing this letter the brakes started to squeak again. I am tired of driving this car in public and it sounding like a old cop car or taxi cab. I bought a new car for a reason! so in closing the car has been in the shop 12 days so far, has had new brake rotors and pads replaced twice and the car has less then 17,000 miles on it now. I guess I expected to much when I purchased a car for $25,000 that it would not have any problems and Nissan has proved me wrong. What I would like Nissan to do is purchase this vehicle back from me, with a credit so I can purchase a new Nissan with no problems.

- Saint Louis, MO, USA

problem #4

Apr 092018

Sentra

  • 26,000 miles
New car with several incidences when traveling at low speeds and needing to stop the vehicle the breaks felt sluggish, the vehicle would not stop where I intended, and it made sounds. I went to several Nissan dealerships and they each told me the break system was ok and I just needed to get the feel of a Nissan Sentra. I told them that was not the case because I owned several Nissan Sentra. They said there was nothing they could do. I increased my stopping distance because I didn't trust the car. I got into a minor fender bender. The car in front of me only had a small scratch. I was going at low speeds when the car in front of me stopped. Under normal conditions I had plenty of room to stop. However, my car didn't behave normally. I hit the break as hard as I could, but it was sluggish and still moving. The front-end emergency breaking system started beeping. I couldn't swerve the car because there where cars on my sides. I continued hitting the break as hard as I could, and my system beeped and flashed again. The system couldn't fully stop the car either. Before moving my car I called the Nissan number the manual says to call. I told them what happened and asked them to get the event data recorder information. They told me to bring it to a dealership. The dealership said they only downloaded codes and what I was describing was the transmission and after looking into it they decided they would replace a valve in the transmission under warranty. They said that a part also needed replacing because of the accident. They said the part was on backorder. I asked for documentation of what they were going to do to my car and they refused and said I would get it at the end. Now the part is further backordered. They won't pay for a rental and are now saying that if I want out of my lease they need to do an 8 week investigation. I wanted the investigation over 2 months ago!

- Belleville, NJ, USA

problem #3

Jun 042018

Sentra

  • 31,700 miles
I purchased a car from wilson motor company and was told it was only used as a rental by their customers while their car was in the shop. I have had issues with the car and they have fought me on warranties to cover. When I went to a different dealership they pulled the autocheck report to find that the car had been purchased from an auction in ca and is showing a title brand for frame or structural damage record and a possible odometer rollback. The tires are wearing unevenly and are not safe and I have already replaced the brakes out of my pocket. I can't trade the car in due to this report. I was lied to and now I can't get warranty service or able to trade the car in for something else. I cannot get the general manager to return my messages.

- Preston, ID, USA

problem #2

Feb 262018

Sentra

  • 47,500 miles
After purchasing my car 3 months ago with 47,000 miles, I was driving the vehicle at night with my family going 35 mph, straight on a city street with moderate traffic when the accelerator and brake started to harden and the steering wheel started to lock up. The dashboard lights started appearing one after another. I just missed a car next to me trying to get off the road. I pulled in a parking lot and the car stopped completely, the steering wheel, brake, accelerator, everything stopped responding. I assumed it may be a bad battery, so I got a jump, but after 20 minutes, the car refused to turnover. The lights still worked, there wasn't any dimming. The mechanic spent most of the following day trying to figure out what was wrong, still being diagnosed. I've seen the same problem noted for Nissan Sentra and other models, it's a scary thing for a vehicle to completely stop on a road or highway, if the parking lot wasn't nearby, my family and I would have been sitting ducks to oncoming traffic or strained on a highway. This is by the most careless vehicle issue that will eventually result in a terrible accident and should be addressed immediately. I'm concerned this issue hasn't been resolved or recalled.

- Kenner, LA, USA

problem #1

May 282017

Sentra

  • 16,000 miles
Break failed to stop the car. Break pedal was depressed all the wayto the floor. Just didn't come to full stop. Happened 2 days in a row. The latter incident hit the car in front. It's a real hazard on the road. Now the car is being serviced and loaner car is being provided by the dealer. Carson Nissan in California.

- Lakewood, CA, USA

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