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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2013 Nissan Sentra Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
311about this part
Share
49%of 638 total for the year
Median mileage
75,000miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 311 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2013 Nissan Sentra, 49% of the 638 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 75,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Driving in motion on interstate going 60 and all of a sudden check engine light comes on and then violent shakes and jerks!scary as all get out made me swerve and almost hit traffic beside me!! Also going up a hill and lost power had to stop in road turn the car off and then turn it back on. Almost got hit from behind!”

NHTSA complaint #11394293, filed 2021-02, 103,000 miles

“My transmission has just stopped working I lost power and was not able to drive and I had to pull off the road and restarted my car and drove home. I brought it to the transmission shop and was told my CVT has to be replaced at $4,700 and there is a class action lawsuit that covers to 84,000 miles but my car is now at 94,000 but I think my transmission should be fixed for free”

NHTSA complaint #11351041, filed 2020-08, 93,000 miles

“Bought certified used with carfax in feb. 2018. Car shuddering/jerking/grinding when accelerating, starting at around 70,000 miles. I asked Nissan about this and they basically told me I will need a new transmission - at 79,000! Happy I purchased an extended power-train warranty, so hopefully it is covered. Should've bought another honda or toyota.”

NHTSA complaint #11140201, filed 2018-10, 70,000 miles

“I was driving on the highway and the engine rev up high. I pulled over to the shoulder and stopped the car and tried to accelerate and the car would not accelerate but just rev up high while in drive. I cut the car off and tried to cut the car back on and the car would not start back up. It just made a spinning sound but would not start back up.”

NHTSA complaint #11138762, filed 2018-10, 90,000 miles

“I was merging onto the interstate when the transmission stop pulling right when I got into traffic. The car began to jerk and would not move almost caused me to have a accident because I was not able to get any speed after merging into traffic. I was able to put my blinker on an merge to the shoulder and had to rent a uhaul trailer to pull the car home. My car only have 132,000 miles.”

NHTSA complaint #11378493, filed 2020-12, 132,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2025413%
2024922%
2023210%
202267%
202143%
2020105%
20195424%
20184625%
20177633%
201612747%
201517349%
201418248%
201331149%
20126838%
20111813%
20101813%
200935%
20082012%
20071711%
200687%
2005106%
200474%
200395%
2002207%
200194%
200085%
199947%
199711%
1996118%
199543%
199455%
19931221%
19921118%
1991813%
199038%
198825%
1987617%
1986117%

Other parts of the 2013 Nissan Sentra

Brakes
97 complaints
Air bags
96 complaints
Engine
87 complaints
Other or unknown
65 complaints
Vehicle speed control
51 complaints
Electrical system
43 complaints
Fuel system
37 complaints
Steering
16 complaints
Electronic stability control
13 complaints
Seat belts
13 complaints
Suspension
7 complaints
Wheels
7 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2013 Nissan Sentra

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology