2013 Nissan Sentra
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 638 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the highest complaint count among 26 Sentra model years with reports.
Of the 2013 reports, 24 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 20 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, sensor, occupant classificationApr 26, 2016
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.
If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
Campaign 16V244000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, sensor, occupant classificationApr 26, 2016
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Sentra vehicles manufactured June 4, 2012, to April 9, 2016. The front passenger seat belt bracket may become deformed if it is used to secure a Child Restraint System (CRS). The deformed seat bracket may cause the Occupant Classification System (OCS) to incorrectly classify the installed CRS, resulting in the front passenger air bag to not be turned off as designed when a CRS is in the seat.
If the frontal passenger air bag deploys in the event of a crash when a child seat is installed in the front passenger seat, there will be an increased risk of injury to the child in the CRS.
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will reinforce the seat belt bracket as well as reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU), free of charge. The recall began on June 13, 2016. Owners are warned not to install a CRS in the front seat. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
Campaign 16V242000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontalOct 20, 2015
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima and Pathfinder vehicles, 2013-2014 Nissan Sentra vehicles, 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles, 2014-2015 Infiniti QX60 vehicles and 2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid vehicles. The affected vehicles received an incorrect occupant classification system (OCS) control unit during a repair. These OCS control units may incorrectly classify the front passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.
If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger air bag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Campaign 15V681000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, softwareMar 25, 2014
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.
If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Campaign 14V138000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bagsMar 1, 2013
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2013 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, Sentra, and Infiniti JX35 vehicles. Sensors within the passenger Occupant Detection System (ODS) may have been manufactured out of specification. This may cause the system to malfunction and permanently suppress the passenger airbag.
If the vehicle is involved in a crash necessitating airbag deployment and the passenger airbag is suppressed, there may be an increased risk of personal injury.
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ODS sensors and replace them as neccessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 6, 2013. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.
Campaign 13V069000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, storage, tank assemblyMar 1, 2013
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2013 Sentra vehicles manufactured from September 11, 2012, through October 4, 2012. Some fuel tank assemblies were not properly sealed during the manufacturing process. As a result, a small amount of gasoline may leak from the tank when it is full.
A gasoline leak in the presence of an ignition source may lead to a vehicle fire.
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tanks as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 1, 2013. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.
Campaign 13V068000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
91 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Dec 12, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65.
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 24, 2014
VEHICLE TURNS OFF BY ITSELF WHILE DRIVING, TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED,AND A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THE ENGINE. *TR
Steering, Engine, Oct 24, 2014
TL* 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.
Engine, Jun 29, 2014
I WAS TURNING AND DROVE THRU A INTERSECTION THAT IS WHEN MY CAR STALLED OUT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER SHIP AND BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. TWO WEEKS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED AND ONCE AGAIN TOOK IT BACK INTO THE DEALERSHIP. I JUST GOT IT BACK ON FRIDAY AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW THE CAR KEEPS ACTING LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL OUT. DON'T GET ME WRONG THE PEOPLE AT THE DEALERSHIP ARE NICE, BUT AFTER MY GOOGLE SEARCH TODAY I AM GLAD (NOT REALLY GLAD SAD TO SEE THIS IS A PROBLEM BUT I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO CRAZY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY) TO SEE THAT OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM SO WHEN I GO IN TOMORROW I HAVE SEVERAL THINGS TO TALK TO NISSAN ABOUT. I JUST HOPE THAT WITH THESE ISSUES SOMETHING IS DONE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. I SHOULDN'T BE SCARED TO TAKE MY KIDS PLACES IN MY CAR. *TR
Engine, May 19, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.
Engine, Mar 28, 2014
THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON 12/31/2013, WITH 22 MILES SHOWING ON THE ODOMETER. APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS LATER, WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE CAR ENGINE CUTS OFF, I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR INTO PARK AND RESTART WITHOUT FURTHER PROBLEM. THE ENGINE HAS STOPPED THREE OTHER TIMES SINCE THEN, THE OTHERS WERE WHILE IDLING AND DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25-30MPH.I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT, BUT THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE, BUT AFTER THE FOURTH TIME, I'M A BIT AFRAID THAT THIS WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN AND PROBABLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.HOW DO I BEGIN TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM WITH NISSAN? *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Feb 23, 2014
ENGINE STALLED ON THE INTERSTATE WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH. STALLED AGAIN ABOUT AN HOUR LATER AT 30 MPH. WENT TO DEALERSHIP, THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE ISSUE. OTHERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCES, BUT NISSAN WILL NOT RECOGNIZE ENGINE STALLS AS A CURRENT ISSUE WITH 2013 NISSAN SENTRAS. HOWEVER NISSAN DID SEND ME ONE MONTHS CAR NOTE FOR THE VEHICLE BEING IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO NISSAN THERE IS A SUGGESTED REPAIR INVOLVING THE ACCELERATOR ON THESE VEHICLES, BUT THE COMPANY WILL NOT AUTHORIZE THE REPAIR UNLESS THEIR TECHNICIANS CAN REPRODUCE THE ISSUE. AFTER SEVERAL CALLS TO NISSAN THEY SIMPLY SAY THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING BUT THE COMPANY WILL NOT AUTHORIZE THE REPAIR AT THIS TIME. THEY MORE OR LESS LEFT IT TO ME TO CONTINUE WITH MY OWN RESEARCH ABOUT A POTENTIAL RECALL INVOLVING ENGINE STALLS. *TR
Power train, Service brakes, Engine, Jan 1, 2014
I ONLY HAD MY CAR FOR ABOUT 10 MONTHS. I KEEP MY CAR UPDATED WITH THE MAINTENANCE. I DROVE TO LAS VEGAS, NEVADA FRIDAY AFTERNOON. MY CAR WAS RUNNING GREAT I GET TO LAS VEGAS NEVADA I HERE THIS LOUD GRINDING CRINKLY NOISE COMING FROM MY ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION. I TAKE IT TO PLANET NISSAN IN LAS VEGAS NEVADA. THEY TOOK FOREVER TO EVEN TAKE ME AS A CUSTOMER. THEN THEY COME OUT AND SAY YOU ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A RENTAL AND YOUR TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THEY PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT I WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CAR AS FAR AS PICKING IT UP WHEN ITS FIXED. THIS IS THE WORST EXPERIENCE I HAD WITH CARS. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS TO THIS CAR AND ITS SUPPOSED TO BE BRAND NEW. I BOUGHT IT WITH 32 MILES ON IT. MIND YOU ALL THIS WAS ON A TRIP I TOOK TO VEGAS WITH MY FAMILY. MY TWO YEAR OLD SON WAS DRAINED FROM THIS EXPERIENCE HAVING TO SPEND 6 HOURS AT PLANET NISSAN. THEY EVEN TRY SELLING ME A ANOTHER NEW SENTRA. *TR
Engine, Dec 6, 2013, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO CHECK UNDER THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE FIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,110.
Air bags, Structure, Service brakes, Engine, Sep 9, 2013
1ST INCIDENT WITH OUR NEW 2013 NISSAN SENTRA OCCURRED @ 247 MI., IN OUR POSSESSION LESS THAN 1 WEEK, GOING 50MPH (2 CHILDREN IN CAR WITH ME), CAR JUST SHUT OFF. DEALER RESET COMPUTER SYSTEM. IT HAS BEEN DOWN HILL SINCE, I TOOK IT IN TODAY FOR THE 5TH TIME SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED 3.5 MONTHS AGO (IT NOW HAS 3700MI). REPEATED ISSUES WITH RPM'S RUNNING HIGH ANYWHERE BETWEEN 2,000 & 4,000 OR AT AN ALL MOST STOP WILL FLUTTER DOWN TO 0 LIKE IT'S GOING TO STALL. CRACKLING/RATTLING NOISES FROM THE DRIVERSIDE DASHBOARD. NOW ALSO COMING FROM THE A-PILLAR (?). ISSUES WITH SPEAKERS (STATIC/CRACKLING NOISES) HAD THE SAME BREAK AND AIRBAG LIGHT ISSUES. THERE IS NOW GROWLING NOISES COMING FROM FRONT, CAR SEEMS TO "BUCK" AROUND 2-4K RPM'S. OH YEAH MY DRIVER DOOR HANDLE IS NOW FALLING APART. DID I COVER ALL THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH A $20+ BRAND NEW CAR???? I THINK SO, BUT THEN AGAIN WE HAVEN'T OWNED IT ALL THAT LONG! I DID OPEN A CLAIM WITH NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS WHEN IT WAS IN ON IT'S 3RD VISIT, I WAS DENIED A REPURCHASE, BUT REST ASSURED A NISSAN CERTIFIED REPAIR SHOP WILL FIX ANY PROBLEMS. WAITING ON DEALERSHIP TO DECIDE IF THEY CAN DO ANYTHING?! NEXT STEP ATTORNEY!!!!! *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Service brakes, Jun 26, 2013
I HAVE ALSO BEEN EXPERIENCING THE LOUD GRINDING NOISE FROM THE REAR BRAKES. I TOOK THE CAR IN TODAY FOR ITS FIRST OIL CHANGE AND SHOWED THE TECHNICIAN THE ISSUE. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE A/C NOT COOLING. THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF TIMES WHILE DRIVING WHEN THE A/C STARTS TO BLOW WARM AIR FOR A LONG TIME AND THEN RANDOMLY STARTS TO COOL AGAIN. HOPEFULLY THE DEALERSHIP CAN GET IT FIXED WITHOUT CAUSING ANY ADDITIONAL GRIEF! THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN LESS THAN 5,000 MILES! *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Service brakes, Jun 7, 2013
WHEN I AM STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THE CAR SEEMS TO CREEP FORWARD WHEN BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. I NEED TO CONTINUALLY APPLY MORE PRESSURE AND THE PEDAL BECOMES SPONGY. ALSO, I NOW NOTICE THAT WHEN STOPPED OR GOING SLOW, ENGINE FUMES ARE COMING FROM MY AIR/HEATING VENTS. DON'T KNOW IF ITS EXHAUST OR AN OIL LEAK SOMEWHERE. CAR ONLY HAS 400 MILES ON IT AND I'VE HAD CAR SINCE END OF FEBRUARY 2013. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 30, 2013
I WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE ON 4/6 HEADED TO SC AT 5 AM WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO DECELERATE BY ITSELF. WITH THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR THE CAR WOULD NOT GO PAST 45. THEN SUDDENLY IT WILL TAKE OFF. THE CAR DOES THIS AT RANDOM AND IT CANNOT BE DETECTED ON THE COMPUTER ACCORDING TO NISSAN. FRIDAY NIGHT THE CAR DID THE SAME THING. THIS TIME WAS WORST AND I WAS IN TRAFFIC WITH PEOPLE BEHIND ME. AS I STARTED TO PULL OFF FROM THE LIGHT THE CAR WOULD NOT GO PAST 25. I IMMEDIATELY PUT THE FLASHERS ON PRAYED THAT I DID NOT GET HIT FROM BEHIND. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR AND I AM CURRENTLY PAYING FOR A RENTAL BECAUSE NISSAN LITHIA SPRINGS REFUSED TO GIVE ME A RENTAL OR LOANER. I AM VERY DISTRESSED ABOUT THIS CAR. NISSAN LITHIA SPRINGS SAID THEY WOULD TRADE ME OUT THE CAR BUT WANTED TO TREAT IT AS A TRADE. WHY WOULD I PAY FOR TWO CARS WHEN MY SENTRA IS OBVIOUSLY A LEMON. I AM OTALLY FRUSTRATED I HAVE A BRAND NEW CAR THAT I CANNOT DRIVE AND KNOW ONE SEEMS TO CARE. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED ON 3/18. WENT TO SERVICE 4/8 PICKED UP 4/9 THEY SAID THAT IT WAS A IDLE PROGRAM. RETURNED TO SERVICE 4/11 AND WAS PICKED UP 4/24. I TOOK THE CAR BACK ON 4/26 AND IT IS STILL THERE. I HAVE TRIED CONTACTING NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY DON'T RETURN PHONE CALLS OR EMAILS.
Engine, Mar 29, 2013
I PURCHASE THIS AS A BRAND NEW VEHICLE LAST MONTH FROM A NISSAN DEALER. TODAY MORNING WHEN I LEFT HOME AT 5:40AM THE TEMPERATURE WAS AROUND 25F AND WHEN I SWITCHED ON THE CAR AND PULLED IT TO THE DRIVE MODE SUDDENLY THE ENGINE STOPPED BY ITSELF. I THEN PULLED IT BACK IN THE PARKING GEAR AND REIGNED THE ENGINE AND LEFT HOME. I REACHED OUTSIDE MY HOUSE STOPPED TO TAKE A LEFT TURN AND THE CAR STOPPED AGAIN! I FEEL SCARED DRIVING THIS CAR NOW ON FREEWAY AS I FEEL IT MAY STOP ANYTIME AND I MIGHT GET INTO A BIG CRASH. THERE IS A RECALL LETTER I RECEIVED ON THIS CAR YESTERDAY AND IT SAID THE FIRST PROBLEM I STATED ABOVE WHEN THE CAR IS MOVED FROM P TO D SOMETIMES IT STOPS BUT NOT THAT IT WOULD EVER STOP WHILE IN MOTION WHICH IS VERY VERY SCARY. I HOPE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HELP ME AND ANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS CAR. THANKS. *TR
Engine, Mar 14, 2013
TOOK OFF FROM A STOP SIGN AND MY CAR STALLED. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN AND IT RAN FINE. THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME, BUT THE OTHERS WERE WHEN IT WAS PRETTY COLD OUTSIDE AND I DEEMED THAT THE REASON FOR THE STALL. NOW I BELIEVE IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING MORE. *TR
Engine, Oct 31, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 419 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.