2013 Nissan SENTRA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Nissan SENTRA has 870 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 10.9x the segment average of 80. 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 . ⚠️ 6 fire reports filed.

6 fire reports 30 crash reports 29 injuries

870

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

10.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

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

BRAKES

97 complaints

11%

• 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
• EXTREMELY LOUD INCREASING GRINDING REAR DRUMS BRAKES NOISE, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE LOCAL SALE DISTRIBUTOR DEALER REPRESENTATIVE TELL ME THAT THERE IS NO SOLUTION FOR THAT YET. THERE MAY BE A DEATH RISK CONCERN BECAUSE ARE THE BRAKES OF THE CAR ........... *TR
• WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL DECELERATING THE CAR, THE CAR SUDDENLY HAD A VERY LOUD GRINDING NOISE ON THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL, LIKE THE BRAKE ROTOR GRINDING AGAINST SOME METAL PARTS THAT BROKE LOOSE INSIDE. AFTER STOPPING THE CAR INSPECTING PASSENGER REAR WHEEL AND FOUND NOTHING, I GOT BACK TO TH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 10 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

96 complaints

11%

• 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
• 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
• AIR BAGS ON PASSENGER SIDE DO NOT WORK ALL THE TIME IF SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. LIGHT STAYS ON EVEN AN ADULT IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 11 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

91 complaints

10%

• 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
• 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
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

65 complaints

• THE MORNING STARTED OFF WITH HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ESF LGHT, AND HAND BRAKE LIGHT EVEN THOUGH HAND BRAKE WAS NOT APPLIED. I TRIED TO PULL OVER MANY TIMES, AND FIX LIGHTS BUT NOTHING WORKED. I WAS AT A RED LIGHT, THEN IT TURNED GREEN AND STREET TRAFFIC PROCEEDEDD TO DRIVE FORWARD BUT A CAR 3 CARS IN
• WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAN SUDDENLY BECOME UNRESPONSIVE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE SPEED AND THE ENGINE TO SLOW OR NEARLY STALL. THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY WHEN DRIVING, AT ALL SPEEDS FROM A STANDING STOP TO HIGHWAY SPEED. THIS ISSUE SOUNDS VERY SIMILAR TO THE RECALL FOR
• WHEN THE VEHICLE'S GAS GAUGE IS INDICATING THE FUEL TANK IS EMPTY, AFTER REFUELING THE GAUGE DOES NOT INDICATE THE CHANGE. THIS IS A FAIRLY NEW CAR, I DON'T THINK THIS SHOULD BE HAPPENING ALREADY! I WILL RUN OUT OF GAS, AND IT WILL BE BECAUSE MY CAR ISN'T TELLING ME THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF FUEL.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“THE MORNING STARTED OFF WITH HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ESF LGHT, AND HAND BRAKE LIGHT EVEN THOUGH HAND BRAKE WAS NOT APPLIED. I TRIED TO PULL OVER MANY TIMES, AND FIX LIGHTS BUT NOTHING WORKED. I WAS AT A RED LIGHT, THEN IT TURNED GREEN AND STREET TRAFFIC PROCEEDEDD TO DRIVE FORWARD BUT A CAR 3 CARS IN ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

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
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)