KnownCarProblems2013 Nissan Sentra Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 638 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Nissan Sentra, most often about the transmission (49% of complaints, typically around 75,000 miles). It is the most complained-about Sentra model year since 2000 and has 6 recalls.
Most common 2013 Nissan Sentra problems
Transmission
311 complaints · 49%Half of these problems showed up before 75,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
My 2013 Nissan has 75,000 highway miles. I've had no issues with the car until christmas eve. Driving home from work when my car started running rough, it didn't seem to have any pick up. I pulled into the closest Nissan dealership to find out I had transmission failure and that my warranty had just ran out..I am…
A few times when stopped at the top of a hill, upon proceeding to accelerate into a turn, my car would jerk forward like I was being rear-ended. The second issue with the vehicle, while accelerating, it would randomly start to shake violently. It was hard to pin-point at exactly what speed this occurred, but I'd guess…
Brakes
97 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 20,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. The contact was driving approximately 20 MPH and crashed into a deer. The contact stated that the brakes were applied but did not respond. The vehicle sustained body damage as a result of the crash. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was not…
Brakes appear to be making a weird creaking noise and barely stopping,when going downhill I almost have to put on my emergency brakes.this has never happened before.
Air bags
96 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 16,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
The issue began almost immediately after purchasing this vehicle. The passenger airbag would randomly go off, while the passenger was sitting in the seat. Shortly after noticing this Nissan put out a recall on this vehicle. We have now taken it back to the dealership 2 times, and although they told me the problem was…
The contact owned a 2013 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that the vehicle was struck on the passenger side by another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. There were very serious injuries and the contact was flown to the hospital for medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed and towed.…
Engine
91 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 41,000 miles.
While driving my 2013 Nissan Sentra fe + s on hwy and even inner city streets it seems to stall and loses power I need to know exactly what to do to make it safe to drive my vehicle if there is a way to take it back to a Nissan dealership to have it checked
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. While driving at an unknown speed, the check engine and traction control warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the soy based wire cable harnesses had been chewed and fractured by rodents and needed to be replaced. The…
Other or unspecified
64 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles.
As I was going 60mph on a highway with high traffic my car started to slow down no matter how much I stepped on the peddle. I made it to the shoulder and attempted to make the car go by shifting the gears. After a couple minutes I was able to move. Another time it happened I was crossing intersection speed limit is…
Total trans mission failure 2 times. Once at 60k miles, covered under extended warranty. I went in before warranty was over and complained about my transmission. They ran a test and said it was fine and sent me home. Told me that was the way it drives and it's fine. I dont even think they drove it or they would have…
Speed control
51 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 68,500 miles.
My vehicle has had ongoing issues with acceleration and the rpms going past what it should under normal circumstances. This issue occurs specifically when I accelerate. On january 21, 2018, as I was merging on to the highway trying to accelerate, my speed would not increase initially and my rpms were past 5. This is…
Vehicle in notion on city streets. Vehicle looses acceleration (gas peddle pressed, no rpms, no engine revving) would have to release gas and press peddle again a couple times before car would jerk into acceleration. Also, break lights flicker when car is in park (like if someone was tapping the breaks, but nobody was…
Electrical
43 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 29,000 miles. Parts named most often: 12v/24v/48v battery, instrument cluster/panel, wiring.
The contact owned a 2013 Nissan Sentra. While driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle veered off the road and crashed into a ditch. The vehicle burst into flames and was destroyed. The driver sustained fatal injuries. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 33,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that the vehicle would not accelerate properly. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it could not be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer…
Fuel system
37 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 64,000 miles. Parts named most often: delivery, storage.
While driving on the interstate at about 75 MPH, the vehicle started losing acceleration and eventually stalled. We were in the left hand lane and luckily made it to the shoulder because we were going downhill. It was found to have a faulty fuel pump at 57,749 miles.
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle decelerated when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle was maneuvered to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The VIN was not included…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2013 Nissan Sentra recalls
Air bags: occupant classification
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: occupant classification
Risk: If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
Fix: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet city express owners will be notified by general motors. Dealers will reprogram the air bag control unit (acu) and ocs electronic control unit (ecu) in altima, maxima, murano, rogue, and sentra vehicles, and replace the ocs ecu in leaf, nv200, nv200 taxi, pathfinder, infiniti q50, jx35, and qx60 and chevrolet city express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on may 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, infiniti customer ser
Full defect summary
Nissan north america, inc. (nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 nissan maxima, 2013-2016 nissan altima, nv200, leaf, sentra, and pathfinder, 2014-2016 nissan nv200 taxi, infiniti qx60, qx60 hybrid, and q50 hybrid, 2014-2017 nissan rogue and infiniti q50, 2015-2016 nissan murano, murano hybrid, and chevrolet city express, 2014-2015 nissan pathfinder hybrid, and 2013 infiniti jx35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger occupant classification system (ocs) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.
Air bags: occupant classification
Risk: If the ocs does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger air bag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the ocs software, free of charge. The recall began on november 30, 2015. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan north america, inc. (nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 altima and pathfinder vehicles, 2013-2014 nissan sentra vehicles, 2013 infiniti jx35 vehicles, 2014-2015 infiniti qx60 vehicles and 2014 infiniti qx60 hybrid vehicles. The affected vehicles received an incorrect occupant classification system (ocs) control unit during a repair. These ocs control units may incorrectly classify the front passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.
Electrical: software
Risk: If the ocs does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the ocs software, free of charge. The recall began on april 14, 2014. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan north america, inc. (nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 altima, leaf, pathfinder, and sentra, model year 2013 nv200 (aka taxi) and infiniti jx35 and model year 2014 infiniti q50 and qx60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (ocs) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.
Air bags
Risk: If the vehicle is involved in a crash necessitating airbag deployment and the passenger airbag is suppressed, there may be an increased risk of personal injury.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ods sensors and replace them as neccessary, free of charge. The recall began on may 6, 2013. Owners may contact nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2013 altima, leaf, pathfinder, sentra, and infiniti jx35 vehicles. Sensors within the passenger occupant detection system (ods) may have been manufactured out of specification. This may cause the system to malfunction and permanently suppress the passenger airbag.
Fuel system: tank assembly
Risk: A gasoline leak in the presence of an ignition source may lead to a vehicle fire.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tanks as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on april 1, 2013. Owners may contact nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2013 sentra vehicles manufactured from september 11, 2012, through october 4, 2012. Some fuel tank assemblies were not properly sealed during the manufacturing process. As a result, a small amount of gasoline may leak from the tank when it is full.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Occupant classification system failure
Summary
In may 2016, nissan north america issued a safety recall (16v-244) to address the problem of improper classification of adult front seat passengers in approximately 3.3 million vehicles, including those in the scope of this investigation when it was opened (almost one million vehicles) and additional vehicles, as shown below.nissan models: certain model year 2013-2016 altima, 2013-2016 leaf, 2016-2017 maxima, 2015-016 murano and murano hybrid, 2013-2016 pathfinder, 2014-2015 pathfinder hybrid, 2014-2017 rogue, 2013-2016 sentra, 2013-2016 nv200, and 2014-2016 taxi.infiniti models: certain model year 2013 jx35, 2014-2017 q50, 2014-2016 q50 hybrid, and 2014-2016 qx60 and qx60 hybrid.chevrolet m
Occupant classification system failure
Summary
In april 2014, nissan north america launched safety recall 14v-138 to address problems with the occupant classification system (ocs) algorithm in the following vehicles: model year (my) 2013-2014 nissan altima, pathfinder, sentra and leaf; my 2013 infiniti jx35; my 2014 infiniti qx60 and q50; and my 2013 nissan nv 200/taxi vehicles.according to nissan, the ocs may misclassify adult front passenger occupants and turn off the passenger's frontal air bag for an adult occupant of sufficient weight.in march 2015, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened this recall query after the agency received approximately 124 complaints alleging problems with the ocs after the recall repairs and/or o
Excessive brake pedal travel
Summary
On may 20, 2014, odi opened pe14-014 based on eight complaints alleging incidents of excessive brake pedal travel in model year (my) 2013 through 2014 nissan sentra, versa sedan and versa note passenger cars (figure 1) and information in early warning reporting field reports indicating issues with master cylinder internal seals.in response to an information request letter sent by odi, nissan identified a condition with the master cylinder in early production subject vehicles that could result in a slow internal leak past one of the recuperating seals to the brake reservoir when the brake pedal is depressed very slowly or lightly (figure 2).the subject vehicles are equipped with fixed seal ma
Questions about the 2013 Nissan Sentra
- What are the most common problems with the 2013 Nissan Sentra?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (311 complaints, typically around 75,000 miles); brakes (97 complaints, typically around 20,000 miles); air bags (96 complaints, typically around 16,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2013 Nissan Sentra have?
- 6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from April 26, 2016 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2013 a bad year for the Nissan Sentra?
- It is the most complained-about Sentra model year since 2000, with 638 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.