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: power train
311 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Tires, Jul 23, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TPMS WARNING LIGHT KEPT ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT CONSTANTLY HAD TO CHECK THE TIRE PRESSURE. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER RESET THE CODE, THE FAILURE RECURRED FOR LONGER THAN SIX WEEKS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT LEAST THREE OR MORE TIMES, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THE SECOND TIME THE FAILURE RECURRED, BUT THERE WAS A STRONG HESITATION AS IF THE VEHICLE MAY STALL AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION THREE TIMES AND INDICATED THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED A FOURTH TIME. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE MAY RECURR INTERMITTENTLY EVEN IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Mar 1, 2015
AS I WAS DRIVING MY CAR BEGAN TO JERK. I COULD NOT GAIN ANY SPEED AND ALMOST CAUSE TWO ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT JERKED. *TR
Power train, Engine, Jan 23, 2015
I PREVIOUSLY FILED COMPLAINT, BUT WAS NOW TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT AFTER THE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED, THAT THE TRANSMISSION ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MORE WAITING TIME, MORE UNANSWERED PHONE CALLS, MORE POOR SERVICE FROM THE DEALERSHIP. THE SENTRA BROKE DOWN ON 12/20/14 AND I'LL FINALLY BE ABLE TO PICK UP MY CAR ON 1/24/15. NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10672846 SUMMARY: MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 15 AS WE LEFT SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. IN THE CAR WAS MY ADULT DAUGHTER AND MY TWO GRANDDAUGHTERS, AGES 1 1/2 AND 10 MONTHS. I WAS AHEAD OF HER IN OUR NISSAN PATHFINDER. SHE CALLED MY PHONE AND SAID THAT THE CAR RPM'S WERE FLUCTUATING AND THAT THE CAR WASN'T GOING TO MAKE IT HOME TO TWENTYNINE PALMS. WE PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY IN ESCONDIDO. I CHECKED THE SENTRA AND FOUND THAT IN IDLE AND PARK THAT THE ENGINE RAN FINE. WHEN I DROVE THE CAR, IT WAS LURCHING LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WASN'T SHIFTING CORRECTLY. AFTER CHECKING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, I DROVE TO A WELL LITE PARKING LOT AND WHILE THE FAMILY ATE, I CALLED AAA AND HAD THE SENTRA TOWED TO MOSSY NISSAN OF ESCONDIDO. ON MONDAY THE 22ND, MY WIFE CALLED MOSSY NISSAN AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED. THEY CALLED HER BACK SAYING THAT IT WASN'T THE TRANSMISSION, THAT A SENSOR HAD BEEN TAKEN OFF OF THE MANIFOLD BY HER HUSBAND OR OUR MECHANIC. SHE ASSURED THEM THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS ONLY 13 MONTHS OLD AND UNDER WARRANTY, NO MECHANIC HAD WORKED ON THE CAR AND THAT I HAD ONLY DONE THE OIL CHANGES, BUT HAD NOT WORKED ON THE ENGINE. MOSSY NISSAN SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY SINCE THE SENSOR IN THE MANIFOLD WAS REMOVED. THEY REFERRED ME TO NISSAN USA, WHICH SAID THE SAME THING; THAT SINCE THE SENSOR WAS MISSING, THEY HAD NOTHING TO TURN IN FOR WARRANTY, SO THEY WOULD NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY. *TR
Power train, Jan 21, 2015
THE CAR WHEN IS IN A COMPLETE STOP, MAKES A LAUD SOUND. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT WANT TO COME OUT OF GEAR. THE SHIFTER GET LOCK, IT GETS REALLY HARD TO CHANGE THE GEARS FROM (P TO D) IS HAS HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIME MORE THAN 30 TIMES. I WENT TO PLANET NISSAN ON CENTENNIAL BLVD, LAS VEGAS NV, THE FIRST TIME LATE DECEMBER I SHOW THE WORKER. I SHOW HIM A VIDEO OF THE PROBLEM, THE VIDEO YOU CAN HEAR AND SEE WHEN THE DRIVE HANDLE GETS STUCK OR LOCK. HE TOLD ME THAT THE CAR SHOULD NOT MAKE THAT SOUND, AND HE ORDER THE PART FOR IT (THE SHIFTER).HE SAID YES AND HE SCHEDULE A APPOINTMENT FOR 1/21/15 8:00. WHEN I PICK MY CAR UP,I WENT HOME AND PARK MY CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY IT MADE THE SOUND AGAIN, THEN I PARK THE CAR IN THE STREET, AND THEN MADE THE SOUND AGAIN AND THE DRIVE HANDLE GOT LOCK. I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TEST DRIVE IT WITH THE WORKER AND HE SAID IT WAS NORMAL. THAT ALL CARS MAKE THAT SOUND WHEN THEY ARE PARK IN A HILL. I TOLD HIM MY DRIVEWAY IS NOT A HILL AND THE STREET WHERE I PARK MY CAR EVERYDAY IS NOT A HILL, WHERE I PARK AT WORK IS NOT A HILL, I WAS UNHAPPY AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT. THEY DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE CAR FOR SERVICE BECAUSE THEY DON'T SEE A VISIBLE PROBLEM OR THEY NEVER FOUND A PROBLEM WHEN THEY REPLACE THE SHIFTER AND VERIFIED THE FIX. MY SISTER HAS THE SAME CAR JUST 2014 ONE YEAR DIFFERENCE AND SHE PARKS HER CAR IN THE DRIVE WAY ALL THE TIME AND IS FINE. I FELL LIKE IS THE TRANSMISSION OR GEARS I DON'T KNOW. MY CAR IS IN THE WARRANTY I EVEN PAY EXTRA 1 YEAR WARRANTY. THIS PEOPLE JUST GIVE ME THE TURN AROUND AND THEY DON'T WANT TO CHECK MY CAR. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, WHY? WHY? ARE THEY NOT FIXING THIS PROBLEM. WHAT CAN I DO? I KNOW THIS CAR HAS A PROBLEM AND THEY REFUSE TO HELP ME. MY CAR HAS ONLY 13752 MILES. PLEASE HELP WHAT CAN I DO? *TR
Power train, Jan 12, 2015
MY 2013 NISSAN HAS 75,000 HIGHWAY MILES. I'VE HAD NO ISSUES WITH THE CAR UNTIL CHRISTMAS EVE. DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WHEN MY CAR STARTED RUNNING ROUGH, IT DIDN'T SEEM TO HAVE ANY PICK UP. I PULLED INTO THE CLOSEST NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT I HAD TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND THAT MY WARRANTY HAD JUST RAN OUT..I AM LOOKING INTO THIS A BIT MORE BECAUSE THIS TRANSMISSION IS NOT USED IN THE 2014 OR 15 MODEL. *TR
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
Power train, Jul 23, 2014
PURCHASED THE CAR IN NOVEMBER 2013, DRIVING THE HIGHWAY, AS WE EXIT THE HIGHWAY, WE HAD TO STOP FOR THE RED LIGHT, ONCE THE LIGHT CHANGE TO GREEN, HIT THE GREEN PEDAL AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. HAD TO THINK QUICKLY SO I SHUT CAR OFF, THEN TURNED IT BACK ON, PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL, BUT THERE WAS NO GET UP AND GO. THE CAR CREPT VERY SLOWLY. WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT ACROSS THE ROAD TO THE GAS STATION, TURNED THE CAR OFF ALLOWED IT TO SET FOR 15 MINUTES TURNED CAR BACK ON STILL WAS DRIVING AT LESS THAN 20 MILES PER HOUR. CAR WAS DONE, THERE WAS A HOTEL THE STREET FROM THE GAS STATION WAS ABLE TO PUSH IT OVER THERE. KNEW WE HAD TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO. CALLED TRIP A TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO FAULKNER NISSAN ON PAXTON ST. IN HARRISBURG PA SINCE IT WAS AFTER 5PM ON A SATURDAY, THEY WERE CLOSED, AND CLOSED ALL DAY ON SUNDAY. HAD TO GET A CAB TO THE HARRISBURG AIRPORT TO GET A RENTAL CAR, NO WAY TO GET BACK HOME OR TO WORK. PAID 355.00 FOR A 7 DAY RENTAL. RECEIVED A CALLED FROM FAULKNER NISSAN MONDAY AFTER HAVING A SERVICE TECHNICIAN CHECK IT, HE SAID THE TRANSMISSION DIED. BRAND NEW CAR, FAULKNER WANTS TO REPLACE IT WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION, QUESTIONS IS WILL THAT ONE BREAK DOWN ON ME AS WELL. TODAY IS WEDNESDAY, JULY 23RD, 2014, STILL NO WORD ON THE STATUS OF CAR. *TR
Power train, Service brakes, Apr 9, 2014
WHILE SUPPOSEDLY "STOPPED" AT A RED LIGHT, I REALIZED I WAS ROLLING FORWARD WITH THE BRAKE DEPRESSED. I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR STOPPED. WHEN I ACCELERATED EVER SO SLIGHTLY, THE CAR BUCKED AND JOLTED FORWARD. I SLOWED TO A STOPPED WITH BARELY THERE BRAKES, PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND PUMPED UP THE BRAKES, RAISING THE PEDAL. THIS SEEMED TO TEMPORARILY HELP, BUT THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AGAIN THE NEXT TIME ATTEMPTED TO STOP. CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP NOW. I AM AWAITING THEIR CALL. *TR
Power train, Jan 9, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,007. ..UPDATED 02-04-14 *BF
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
Power train, Mar 9, 2013
I WAS WAITING AT A RED LIGHT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. ONCE THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR STARTED TO JERK AND LOST POWER. IT DID NOT TURN COMPLETELY OFF BUT IT WOULD NOT DRIVE. I HAD TO PUT MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON TO AVOID BEING REAR ENDED BY THE VEHICLE DIRECTLY BEHIND ME THAT WAS ALSO MAKING A LEFT TURN. I OWNED THE CAR FOR LESS THAN 24 HOURS AT THAT POINT. IT ONLY HAD 152 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE DEALERSHIP SENT A TOW. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW NISSAN CAN SELL A CAR THAT ISN'T PROPERLY PROGRAMMED? WHY WASN'T THE PROGRAMMING CHECKED PRIOR TO ME DRIVING IT OFF THE LOT? I WILL DRIVE IT FOR A FEW DAYS TO SEE IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. *TR