2020 Nissan Sentra Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 10about this part
- Share
- 5%of 207 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 25,500miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 10 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2020 Nissan Sentra, 5% of the 207 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 25,500 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“This car's emergency brake sensors have gone off twice now in the past two months. There is no car or any object in front of me and the sensor applies the brakes while in motion. Also, when slowing down to a stop at city speeds the car jerks and/or surges forward and I have to apply the brakes harder otherwise the car continues to move forward.”
NHTSA complaint #11340801, filed 2020-07, 2,710 miles“On Sept 25 23 I was driving and the engine light came on the car stalled in traffic and would not move when I tried to go forward the car would not move. I called my insurance roadside service they had to tow the car to the dealer. The dealer said the cause of the problem was the transmission they had to replace the automatic CVT transaxle assembly. These cars need to be recalled because I had a 2018 nissan sentra with the same transmission problem.”
NHTSA complaint #11592564, filed 2024-06“This Vehicle was bought back in Jun of this year. Since purchasing the vehicle with only 49,933 miles this Sentra has broken down 4 times, been in the shop for 1Month 2weeks consecutively. The first incident was 4.5 hrs after purchase. The Passenger side Tide Rod snapped in half on the highway causing the jam and slow down along with leaving me in fear for my life. The passenger rim was inverted facing the driver. The second time happened to be the same issue but at a different dealership. …”
NHTSA complaint #11615120, filed 2024-09“I have been having several issues with this vehicle since I bought it. I’ve had the vehicle break down on me about 3 times and need repairs or adjustments to previous repairs. The main issue right now is that the car has been in the shop for about 50 days or so for repairs on the suspension or tie rods, inner/outer. I’ve had the same issue with vibrations and shaking coming from the front end when going about 60MPH. This has been going on for about 4-5 months now since I bought the car back in June. The car has been repaired about 6 times already and still no resolution to the problem. …”
NHTSA complaint #11625987, filed 2024-11“Catastrophic failure today. Car was towed with special tow truck to dealer after hours. Will know more tomorrow. While driving Passenger right front tire: upper tie rod broke, lower control arm broke, trans-axel broke, smoke came out of hood. Right before this happened the car experienced a shimmy in the steering wheel and to keep car driving straight I had hold steering wheel at angle to the right (40mph). Next the anti-lock brakes engaged then disengaged. Four or so miles later I got a dashboard warning that had “malfunction” on almost every system (all amber lights). …”
NHTSA complaint #11547241, filed 2023-09Related service bulletins
- 10252811Mar 11, 2024CVT SUB-ASSEMBLY SERVICE PARTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE SERVICE INFORMATION The CVT Belt & Pulley (sub-assembly) Kit is now available to order. The sub-assembly kit part numbers and…
- 10235776Apr 4, 2023CVT SHIFT SELECTOR LEVER KNOB REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION SERVICE INFORMATION If the CVT Shift Selector Lever Knob needs to be removed or installed for any reason, refer to the…
- 10234046Mar 29, 2023PREVENT FRONT AXLE THREAD DAMAGE DURING NUT REMOVAL This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
- 10233904Mar 29, 2023CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of…
- 10227268Nov 23, 2022DRIVE SHAFT BOOT SERVICE INFORMATION SERVICE INFORMATION If a Drive Shaft (Axle Shaft) Boot on an APPLIED VEHICLE is found to be leaking grease, AND There is no abnormal noise or…
- 10222717Sep 27, 2022PREVENT FRONT AXLE THREAD DAMAGE DURING NUT REMOVAL This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
- 10222714Sep 27, 2022CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of…
- 10199148Jun 9, 2021CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of…
- 10188376Feb 26, 2021PREVENT FRONT AXLE THREAD DAMAGE DURING NUT REMOVAL SERVICE INFORMATION If an Applied Vehicle needs to have a front axle nut removed, for any reason, the staking of the nut into…
- 10178239Jul 22, 20202020 SENTRA; A/T SHIFT LOCK AND REMOTE START INOPERATIVE WITH NEW BCM SERVICE PART SERVICE INFORMATION After installing a new BCM service part, if the Intelligent Key UNLOCK…
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 13% |
| 2024 | 9 | 22% |
| 2023 | 2 | 10% |
| 2022 | 6 | 7% |
| 2021 | 4 | 3% |
| 2020 | 10 | 5% |
| 2019 | 54 | 24% |
| 2018 | 46 | 25% |
| 2017 | 76 | 33% |
| 2016 | 127 | 47% |
| 2015 | 173 | 49% |
| 2014 | 182 | 48% |
| 2013 | 311 | 49% |
| 2012 | 68 | 38% |
| 2011 | 18 | 13% |
| 2010 | 18 | 13% |
| 2009 | 3 | 5% |
| 2008 | 20 | 12% |
| 2007 | 17 | 11% |
| 2006 | 8 | 7% |
| 2005 | 10 | 6% |
| 2004 | 7 | 4% |
| 2003 | 9 | 5% |
| 2002 | 20 | 7% |
| 2001 | 9 | 4% |
| 2000 | 8 | 5% |
| 1999 | 4 | 7% |
| 1997 | 1 | 1% |
| 1996 | 11 | 8% |
| 1995 | 4 | 3% |
| 1994 | 5 | 5% |
| 1993 | 12 | 21% |
| 1992 | 11 | 18% |
| 1991 | 8 | 13% |
| 1990 | 3 | 8% |
| 1988 | 2 | 5% |
| 1987 | 6 | 17% |
| 1986 | 1 | 17% |
Other parts of the 2020 Nissan Sentra
60 complaintsSteering
55 complaintsOther or unknown
48 complaintsElectrical system
45 complaintsBrakes
25 complaintsBack-over prevention (rear camera)
11 complaintsSuspension
10 complaintsEngine
9 complaintsLane departure
6 complaintsVehicle speed control
6 complaintsExterior lighting
5 complaintsWheels
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2020 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