Is the 2013 Nissan SENTRA reliable?

The 2013 Nissan SENTRA has 870 complaints filed with NHTSA (3.1x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: avoid. Most common issue: TRANSMISSION problems.

What are common problems with the 2013 Nissan SENTRA?

Top problems: TRANSMISSION (311 complaints, avg repair $500); BRAKES (97 complaints, avg repair $500); AIR BAGS (96 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2013 Nissan SENTRA?

Yes, there are 6 recall(s): AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE, AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION, AIR BAGS, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY. Contact any Nissan dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2013 Nissan SENTRA?

The 2013 Nissan SENTRA gets 32 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $1500. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

How much does it cost to insure a 2013 Nissan SENTRA?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2013 Nissan SENTRA is approximately $1,518/year (sedan-compact class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2013 Nissan SENTRA

Q: Is the 2013 Nissan SENTRA often stolen?

The Nissan SENTRA was the #21 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025 with approximately 4,800 thefts (NICB Hot Wheels data). Theft risk tier: above-avg.

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Nissan SENTRA has 870 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.1x the segment average of 285. The most common issue is transmission problems (36% of all complaints), specifically: 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 . There are 6 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 6 fire reports filed.

6 fire reports 30 crash reports 29 injuries

870

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

TRANSMISSION

311 complaints

36%

• 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
• 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
• 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 T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“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 ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2013 Nissan SENTRA

Based on 656 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 59K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 60-100K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

212

30-60K

119

60-100K

235

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

BRAKES

Earlier than typicalmedian 20K mi · 87 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

AIR BAGS

Earlier than typicalmedian 16K mi · 70 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ENGINE

Earlier than typicalmedian 41K mi · 67 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

Earlier than typicalmedian 25K mi · 31 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

Earlier than typicalmedian 31K mi · 11 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

Earlier than typicalmedian 24K mi · 10 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (6)

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION26/04/2016

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.

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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.

Above-average theft risk

#21 most stolen in 2025

The Nissan SENTRA was the #21 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025, with approximately 4,800 thefts reported to law enforcement.

Notes: Common budget sedan

Source: NICB Hot Wheels 2025 report + HLDI theft loss studies. Model-year ranking; not all years of this model have identical risk.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2013 Nissan SENTRA

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$1,500

Per month

$125

Per mile

12.5¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$1,778/yr

Highway driving (best-case MPG)

$1,263/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today

Show:

Current

$4.00

5-year low

$2.78

5-year high

$5.01

Since 2021

+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2013 Nissan SENTRA

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,518

Full coverage / month

$127

Liability only / year

$601

vs US avg

-9%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (sedan-compact)0.93x

× theft risk1.06x

× safety rating1.00x

× vehicle age0.92x

= Full coverage estimate$1518

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Nissan SENTRA Service Intervals

Oil change

5K mi / 6 mo

Tire rotation

5K mi

Brake fluid

24 months

Transmission fluid

60K mi

Engine coolant

105K mi

Spark plugs

105K mi

Cabin air filter

15K mi

Engine air filter

30K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

60K mi

CVT-equipped models (Altima, Sentra, Rogue, Pathfinder) MUST use Nissan NS-3 CVT fluid, not conventional ATF. Frequent CVT service extends life significantly.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Nissan New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

3 yr / 36K mi

Powertrain

5 yr / 60K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

5 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

3 yr / 36K mi

These are the terms for a new Nissan. If you're buying a used 2013 SENTRA, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Nissan dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 870 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: THE PASSENGERS SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR DOES NOT RECOGNIZE WHEN THERE IS SOMEONE SITTING AND WILL NOT ACTIVATE. I TOOK THE CAR TO SERVICE AND THE GUY TOLD ME THAT MAYBE IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS TOO SKINNY AND MAYBE THE SENSOR DID NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THERE WAS SOMEONE IS ACTUALLY SITTING IN THE PASSENGERS SEAT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT STAYING ON REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A PERSON OVER 100LBS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT STAYING ON THE DASHBOARD, WHILE IT IS SUPPOSED TO TURN OFF AFTER 7 SECONDS. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP ON TUESDAY 2/26/13.. THEY SAID IT IS A FAU
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 6 recalls have been completed — free at any Nissan dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)