2017 Nissan Sentra
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 230 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 7th highest complaint count among 26 Sentra model years with reports.
Of the 2017 reports, 29 involved a crash and 6 involved a fire. 21 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchMar 3, 2021
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Nissan Sentra vehicles. The brake light switch may become contaminated, preventing the circuit from closing and the brake lights from illuminating.
The brake lights may not illuminate, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will replace the brake light switch and install a protective grommet, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 1, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800867-7769. Nissan's number for this recall is PM971.
Campaign 21V135000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, ignitionAug 22, 2018
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2017 Nissan NV200, Sentra, NV3500 Van, NV3500 Bus, NV200 Taxi, NV1500, NV2500 Van, Chevrolet City Express, 2017-2018 Frontier, Versa Note, and Versa Sedan vehicles that have a mechanical (physical) key ignition system. In these models, over time, the weight on the key ring and road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine.
If the vehicle stalls, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the production information on the ignition switch, and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
Campaign 18V551000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bagsApr 13, 2017
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 LEAF and 2014, 2016 and 2017 Sentra vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error within the air bag inflators, the passenger frontal air bag may not properly deploy in the event of a crash.
In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag doesn't deploy properly, it can increase the risk of injury to passengers.
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Campaign 17V253000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
230 reports, newest first.
Power train, Jul 12, 2021
The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would hesitate upon the depression of the accelerator pedal without warning. The vehicle had yet to be serviced or diagnosed for the failure. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
Steering, Jun 17, 2021
The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that his daughter was driving the vehicle and had it parked to clean the interior of the vehicle. While placing her hand on the steering wheel, the steering column became loosened. The contact had an independent mechanic arrive at the residence and inspected the vehicle and tightened a loosened linkage to bolt on the steering column. Several days later while the contact’s daughter was driving, the steering wheel loosened. The driver continued to drive until the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The driver's vehicle was then towed to the local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000. The Vin was not available.
Power train, Jun 4, 2021
The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving 30 mph, the vehicle suddenly started skipping. The contact stated that after coming to a stop and remaining idle the vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact restarted the vehicle and drove the vehicle to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
Power train, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, May 24, 2021
When trying to accelerate to high speed on freeway, transmission acts up. RPM goes up and down like crazy. Significant lag in acceleration while in motion trying to advance higher speeds. 80 MPH or higher vehicle shakes.
Engine and engine cooling, May 24, 2021
2017 Nissan Sentra. Consumer writes in regard to leaking gas fuel. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT, DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. *JS
Exterior lighting, May 24, 2021
The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Sentra. The contact was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V135000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. A dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms part not available.
Exterior lighting, May 18, 2021
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V135000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, May 14, 2021, crash
ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2021 I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT THAT TOTALLED MY CAR OUT. RUNNING AT 45 MILES PER HOUR ON A DECLINE HILL A DEEP JUMP STRAIGHT CENTER OF MY VEHICLE CAUSING THE COLLISION. AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. UPON INVESTIGATION I FOUND THAT IN JUNE 2017, THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PARTICULAR REASON. I CHECKED THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND IT SHOWS THAT THE ONLY RUNREPAIRED RECALL AT THIS TIME IS FOR A STOP LAMP SWITCH.
Exterior lighting, May 12, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V135000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. BERMAN NISSAN OF CHICAGO (3456 N KEDZIE AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60618, (312) 778-6228) WAS CONTACTED AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, May 4, 2021
I WAS DRIVING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THE CAR WOULD JUST SLOW DOWN OUT OF NOWHERE ON THE HIGHWAY. I COULDN'T GET THE CAR PAST 80 OR IT WOULD SHAKE. IF I STOPPED THE CAR OR EVEN SLOWED DOWN, (ANYWHERE, STREET OR HIGHWAY) THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE AT ALL. I WOULD BE PUSHING THE PEDAL ON THE FLOOR FOR 10 MINUTES JUST TO GET IT TO 5MPH. IF I WOULD GO UP A SMALL INCLINE, THE CAR WOULD ROLL BACK AND BARELY STOP ( ALMOST RESULTING IN SEVERAL POTENTIALLY FATAL COLLISIONS). AT TIMES MY REVERSE WOULDN'T EVEN WORK IF I COULDN'T PRESS THE GAS AND IF IT DID WORK THEN I COULDN'T DRIVE FROWARD. IT WOULD TAKE ME ALMOST 30 MINUTES TO GET HOME FROM WORK AND MY JOB IS EXACTLY 10 MINUTES IN A STRAIGHT LINE FROM MY HOUSE (ON THE STREET. NO HIGHWAY). IF THAT GIVES ANY PERSPECTIVE. ONCE THE CAR WAS PARKED IT WAS FINE. ALL THE PROBLEMS OCCURRED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION.
Power train, May 3, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DAYTONA NISSAN (950 N. TOMOKA FARMS RD, DAYTONA BEACH, FL 32124, (386) 478-4019) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND SUGGESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE DIAGNOSED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000.
Electrical system, Apr 29, 2021, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON PARKING HIS VEHICLE, HIS WORK BUILDING WAS EVACUATED DUE TO FIRE. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT HIS VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. A FIRE AND POLICE REPORT WERE BOTH FILED; NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AT THE SCENE. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL DEFECT. THE CONTACT CALLED AN UNKNOWN NISSAN DEALER WHERE THEY REFERRED HIM TO THE INDEPENDENT DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.
Engine, Apr 17, 2021
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND NOTICED THAT AS I ACCELERATED, MY RPM WOULD INCREASE BUT MY SPEED-O-METER WOULDN'T. AND IF IT DID MOVE, IT MOVED VERY SLOWLY.
Power train, Apr 9, 2021
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 86,000 MILEAGE. VEHICLE STOPPED ON HIGHWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND CONFIRMED CVT TRANSMISSION FAILURE.
Power train, Mar 28, 2021
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, NOTICED THE VEHICLE START TO SPORADICALLY JERK. ENGINE RPM WOULD JUMP AND THE ACCELERATOR WAS NON RESPONSIVE AT TIMES. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ACTIVATED. PULLED UP TO A STOP LIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN THE ACCELERATOR WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL. PUSHED THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND HAD NO RESPONSE AT ALL. STILL NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY STATED THE ISSUE WAS THE CVT TRANSMISSION STARTING TO FAIL. CAR IS A 2017 AND HAS LESS THAN 92000 MILES ON IT. EXTENDED WARRANTY ENDS ON THAT YEAR AT 84000 MILES. WITHOUT WARRANTY COVERAGE THE REPAIR IS AROUND $4000. LOOKED ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND FOUND LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. NISSAN NEEDS TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY OR ISSUE A RECALL. IT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM TO BE DRIVING AND LOSE ACCELERATOR RESPONSE ALL TOGETHER
Service brakes, Mar 19, 2021
WE PURCHASED A USED 2017 NISSAN SENTRA IN APRIL 2019. IT CURRENTLY HAS 49,000 MILES ON IT, AND FOR THE PAST THREE MONTHS THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH INTERMITTENT SOFT BRAKES. THE PEDAL WILL GO ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. MECHANIC HAD PROBLEMS DIAGNOSING IT BECAUSE IT WAS INTERMITTENT. FINALLY HE REPLICATED THE ISSUE AND FLUSHED AIR OUT OF THE BRAKE LINES. BRAKES WORKED PROPERLY FOR A FEW DAYS, AND THEN ISSUE STARTED UP AGAIN. STILL TRYING TO GET THE MECHANIC TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM.
Forward collision avoidance, Feb 12, 2021
MY FRONT COLLISION SENSOR WENT OFF WITH NO PREVIOUS WARNING BY NISSAN IS CALLED THE DISTANCE SENSOR I CALLED THEM AND ALL WHAT THEY SAID IT'S GOING TO COST ME THE REPAIR MY CAR BARELY HAS LESS THAN 45000 MILES ALSO ALL WHAT I GET ON MY DASH IS MALFUNCTION AND IT SHOW THE FRONT SENSOR.
Power train, Feb 11, 2021
CAR HAS 81229 MILES ON IT THE PROBLEM STARTED AROUND 81,000 CAR SURGING AND TRANSMISSION SLIPPING WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND CITY STREETS
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Feb 7, 2021
THE CAR WAS IN MOTION WHEN I LOSS 90% ACCELERATION AND VELOCITY WHILE DRIVING. VERY, VERY SCARY! I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS OCCURRED. I PROCEEDED TO CHECK THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, AND STARTER BY AAA WHEN A SERVICE CALL WAS PLACED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AT MY HOME. AAA'S. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR AND STARTER ARE GREAT AND THAT THESE THINGS WERE NOT THE REASON WHY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS REMAINED ON. THE CAR IS ONLY 3YRS 11MNTHS OLD. I GET THE STANDARD OIL CHANGE BUT NISSAN HAS DISCONTINUED TO USE CONVENTIONAL OIL. WHICH IS THE RECOMMENDED OIL FOR MY CAR. I ALSO GET THE CAR SERVICED AS NEEDED. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE MY CAR. I CANNOT DRIVE IT PERIOD. IT SUDDENLY LOSES POWER 60 TO 120 SECONDS WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Wheels, Jan 31, 2021
WHEN I AM ON THE INTERSTATE AND I AM GOING BETWEEN 60MPH AND 80MPH MY CAR STARTS TO SHAKE. THE ENTIRE FRONT OF MY CAR BEGINS TO SHAKE AND YOU CAN HEAR IT AS WELL. WHEN I START TO BRAKE OR SLOW DOWN, IT'S GETS LOUDER AND THE SHAKING GETS WORSE.
Air bags, Jan 19, 2021
MY AIR BAG LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON. I HAVE REPLACED SENSOR BUT IT KEEPS HAPPENING
Vehicle speed control, Jan 19, 2021
MY CAR HAS STARTED ACTING CONFUSED WITH THE GEAR SHIFTS. IT'S ALMOST LIKE I AM REPEATINGLY PUTTING IT IN DRIVE THEN NEUTRAL THEN SPORTS MODE WHEN I AM NOT DOING ANYTHING JUST TRYING TO DRIVE. THE CAR STRUGGLES TO PICK UP SPEED AND 'GIDDY UP' WHEN I ACCELERATE. IT GETS WORSE WHEN I GO UP HILL OR OVER 40 MPH. I WAS TOLD IT'S VERY DANGEROUS AND NOW HAVE TO GET THE TRANSMISSION LOOKED AT PER THE DIAGNOSIS.
Air bags, Structure, Service brakes, Jan 7, 2021, crash
THE CAR'S BRAKES STOPPED RESPONDING IN THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR HIT ONE SIDE OF THE ROAD (IT WAS SNOWING) THEN IT CUT 3 LANES AND WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE OTHER SIDE AND HIT THE WALL AGAIN. THE IMPACT WAS HIGH, THE VEHICLE HAS MAJOR DAMAGE BUT THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.
Other or unspecified, Nov 22, 2020
MY GEARS DID NOT APPEAR ON MY DASHBOARD WHEN I GOT IN MY CAR TO GO HOME. THE CAR ALSO WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR (REVERSE OR DRIVE). I KEPT TRYING TO SWITCH THE GEARS AND PRESS THE GAS. THE CAR EVENTUALLY STARTED MOVING FORWARD AND GAINED ENOUGH SPEED FOR ME TO DRIVE HOME. THE NEXT DAY I CRANKED MY CAR, THE GEARS SHOWED UP ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE CAR MOVED (I WAS HOME IN MY DRIVEWAY). HOWEVER SINCE, THE GEARS HAVE DISAPPEARED AGAIN AND THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE.
Steering, Power train, Engine, Oct 24, 2020
MY CAR HAVE BEEN GIVING ME PROBLEMS SUCH AS CUTTING OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING AND I DON'T SEEM TO BE GOING OVER 45 WHEN THIS HAPPEN I TOOK IT TO NISSAN TO GET IT FIXED AND STILL DOES THE SAME THING WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR LOCKS THE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH LIGHT UP AND THE CAR CUTS OFF.